Posted on 03/30/2014 12:04:22 PM PDT by SeekAndFind
The chore of determining who is the inevitable candidate for Republicans – at least in the minds of beltway insiders and the media – is clearly becoming more difficult. But the Washington Post takes a swing at the problem this weekend as they delve into the number of big donors who are now courting Jeb Bush to get off the bench and toss his hat in the ring.
Many of the Republican Party’s most powerful insiders and financiers have begun a behind-the-scenes campaign to draft former Florida governor Jeb Bush into the 2016 presidential race, courting him and his intimates and starting talks on fundraising strategy.
Concerned that the George Washington Bridge traffic scandal has damaged New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie’s political standing and alarmed by the steady rise of Sen. Rand Paul (Ky.), prominent donors, conservative leaders and longtime operatives say they consider Bush the GOP’s brightest hope to win back the White House…
Many if not most of 2012 GOP nominee Mitt Romney’s major donors are reaching out to Bush and his confidants with phone calls, e-mails and invitations to meet, according to interviews with 30 senior Republicans. One bundler estimated that the “vast majority” of Romney’s top 100 donors would back Bush in a competitive nomination fight.
One fly in the ointment is that Bush is still insisting that he won’t be making a decision until the end of this year, or possibly the beginning of next year. It’s not an unreasonable position, since people are still working hard on the upcoming mid-terms, but it looks as if it’s frustrating to some of the serious bundlers who want to get to work early. For his part, Bush is still telling reporters that his decision will hinge on whether or not he can “run joyfully” for the nomination, since Republicans will need a standard bearer who can lift their spirits and bring a positive message.
That may not play well with the base these days, though. Bush isn’t just rusty from more than six years on the sidelines. He’s also racked up some serious hits among conservative voters for his positions on immigration and Common Core, among other things. Upon reading this piece, Dan Gainor of Media Research Center immediately took to Twitter with the following:
Post has big article about push to nominate Jeb Bush for GOP. I won't EVER vote for Jeb. If he gets nomination, mark me down as busy.
— Dan Gainor (@dangainor) March 30, 2014
I wouldn’t be too shocked to see more of that popping up. But in order for this next primary cycle to play out according to the preordained script, we have to have a big, conventional wisdom, establishment candidate to face down the grassroots upstarts, right? And if turns out that Christie is damaged goods and it’s not Bush, then who would it be?
Looks as it is time for a now healthy (back) Rick Perry to get into the race :)
What are Scott Walker’s vulnerabilities? I think he is the strongest candidate; I read his book and I believe he showed great courage in fighting the public service unions in his state; he even had to fight RINOs in his state legislature.
The murderer of Terri Schiavo.
Not only is the murderer of Terri Schiavo unfit for any public office, his murder of Terri Schiavo proves he will do nothing to oppose abortion that might displease Nancy Pelosi.
Conservatives must be crystal clear on this early on.
“We will not vote for Jeb Bush. We will not support him. We will not give any money to him. And if he is foisted on us, like other RINO losers have been, conservatives may go so far as to split the party. And while that is acceptable to RINOs, who would prefer a Democrat to win instead of a conservative, it will also mean that RINOs will no longer have a place at the table.
“They will be stripped of party power and denied funds, and their corporate sponsors will be left out in the cold, without any political allies. They will be denied government contracts, and their lobbyists might as well pack up and go home, because conservatives will not meet with them.
“You have demonstrated in past that your loyalties are not to the United States. So you should be prepared to face the punishment for this disloyalty.”
I don’t mean to say he couldn’t overcome, but they’d go after his so-called ethics issues, which so far have turned up nothing but you know how they wouldn’t care. Also, even though there are many positive signs in WI as a result of the budget reforms he pushed for, there’s been so much delay and obfuscation in implementing them that the results are mixed - at least it’s possible for opponents to find ways to say they haven’t produced the intended results (yet).
The biggest thing, which isn’t as bad as it might sound once you get into the details, is that his recent budget actually increases the size of state gov’t and spends 6.2% more than the previous year. But it built on the surplus that was created from the previous very tough budget and he’s bankinng on economic recovery to carry the rest. Plus, while there is increased funding for education, for example, it includes more charter schools and not just pouring money down the same old rathole.
I’d like to see him get a change to present his accomplishments and make the case. My comment only was to say that he’s drawn criticism from what should be a favorable crowd such as Tea Party conservatives.
Bushie and Fat Boi can run in the ‘Rat party. Both are worthless DemocRats.
The problem is.. it’s moderate OR electable.
They should have learned that by now. But there is a reason we call um the stupid party.
When the left is screaming “YOU NEED A MODERATE TO WIN!” it’s because they know.. you will lose.
Jeb Bush left the office with the highest approval rating of any Florida governor, IIRC 64%. Great. Now he should fade into history or take up a cause that supports the fundamentals of Republicans. But, another Bush for president...Nay.
Take these bastards over already and throw the rino rats out. Rolling out the carpet for hilldabeast
I’m tellin’ ya, y’all want this SOB?
I’ll stay home, and clean my, uh, toys!, yeah, toys.
The silver lining is that maybe some of the elitist fake conservatives will be identified and stopped from a chance at higher office.
Today, the only potential candidate with whom I am enthused is Ted Cruz.
Getting back to the article’s question, if not Jeb or Christie, who could the GOPe support? If they narrow it down to a single candidate he or she will be hard to beat because of all the money shoveled his or her way
Ackkkk !
They love coming in second in these races. That way the Party can keep raking in campaign donations and those in Washington DC can continue to suck from the Federal teat, yet won't have to make all the hard decisions.
I see that they want another Dole / McLame / Romney campaign - and outcome.
I could be persuaded to vote for George P. Bush, but there is no way he would run for president in less than ten years. Till then, I agree with you.
If Jeb is the nominee, I won’t just stay home, I will vote for Hillary twice
(Once legally, and once illegally). Do you hear me Rove?
foolish foolishness. Deserting America to spite your nose
No - let’s all vote democrat so we can bankrupt the country faster. Because with the RINO’s it’s going to happen anyway - it will just take a bit longer. The sooner we hit bottom the sooner we can rebuild.
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