If Jebbie’s push to force Willard out, lock up the big donor class early, and try to create an atmosphere of inevitability sounds vaguely familiar, that’s because it is familiar: it’s what Jorge did in 2000.
Even though from PMSNBC, which we all assume as a default conclusion (rightly so) to be wrong, this portion of an article by Steve Kornacki is correct:
“The model for Jeb Bush’s campaign for the 2016 Republican presidential nomination is obvious: his brother.
“Sixteen years ago, George W. Bush joined an unusually cluttered and formless Republican field in a race considered more wide open than any the party had ever seen. Within months, though, Bush had imposed order on the process by raking in previously unimaginable sums of cash and racking up an all-star roster of endorsements. By the end of 1999, before a single primary or caucus vote had been cast, Bush had intimidated six separate rivals out of the race, with one poll putting him 48 points ahead of his nearest remaining rival.
“This rapid trajectory — from untested legacy candidate to overpowering front-runner — is exactly what Jeb Bush and his team are aiming for now with their “shock-and-awe” strategy, a belief that a massive cash haul will produce a self-fulfilling narrative of inevitability.
“The $100,000-per-head Park Avenue fundraiser that Bush’s PAC held last week illustrates this strategy in action, as is a Washington Post report that the former Florida governor is “far-eclipsing” his would-be opponents in the early chase for dollars. And with his declaration that he’s “willing to lose the primary to win the general election,” Jeb is making the same bet his brother did in his 2000 bid: That after eight years of being locked out, Republicans are willing to excuse an ideological apostasy or two in order to win back the White House.
“The 43rd president, in other words, is the biggest single reason why his younger brother may fall flat on his face.”
“But there are already signs that what worked so brilliantly for W may be futile for Jeb. The former Florida governor faces fiercer competition on his right and far stiffer resistance from the base; the mood of the party is far less pragmatic today; and even an obscenely fat bank account may not be enough to save him.”
http://www.msnbc.com/msnbc/jeb-bush-and-the-ghost-w
The billionaire/millionaire donor class and Chamber of Open Borders are obviously in the tank for Jebbie. But can Jebbie, with his big war chest, fool enough low information Republican primary voters to bring it off?
Ted Cruz 2016!
Bush II in 2000 was indeed the frontrunner before the primaries kicked off on the strength of a huge war chest.
However, Bush II won the the Iowa caucus straw vote, was second in New Hampshire and then won the South Carolina. As the primary season developed, McCain was the only alternative.
2016 will not be remotely similar except for a Bush with early money.
2016 is a considerably different environment than 2000.
Back then a LOT of GOP primary voters supported the son of GHW Bush, in part or whole, as a way of sending a message to and about Bill Clinton through his designated heir (Gore). There was a great deal of poetic justice in paying back Clinton by denying him this “third term” by electing the son of the President that Clinton had denied a second term to.
IMHO Bush was the only candidate in 2000 with a shot at beating Gore. Additionally, had the Dems chosen Bill Bradley as their nominee, Bush would have lost.
Obama has no designated successor, and the emotions over the Clinton Admin have faded in the last 15 years. There’s also the stigma still associated with the GW Bush Presidency.
If Jeb tries to run using his brother’s playbook, he’s fighting the last war.