Your Advice for Jeb Bush?

 

jeb-bushFrom “Crunch Time for Jeb Bush,” published today on Politico:

It’s now or never for Jeb Bush.

It continues:

The former Florida governor flirted with presidential runs in 2008 and 2012 but ultimately demurred, always with the flickering possibility of mounting a campaign down the road. But at 61 years old, the second son of former President George Herbert Walker Bush is now likely facing his last shot at the White House.

And the pressure on him to cast aside serious family concerns and enter the 2016 fray is growing. Friends say Jeb Bush’s father is eager for his son to run, even telling a visitor at a recent family gathering in Kennebunkport, Maine, that a presidential campaign and a return of the family dynasty to power was a near certainty. Wall Street financiers and Main Street CEOs eager for a centrist champion are longing for a Bush candidacy.

But people who have met in recent weeks with Jeb Bush in New York, Washington and Florida say they are far less certain that a campaign will ultimately materialize. Some described Bush as deeply engaged on issues beyond his usual focus on immigration and education, suggesting he was very much preparing for a national race. Others said it seemed like concerns over how a run would impact his family ultimately might keep Bush on the sidelines.

“He told me two things,” a person who spoke with Bush recently in Washington said: “that he knows he has to decide very soon, and that his wife is not at all happy with the possibility….”

Bush is already getting a taste on the campaign trail this year of just how unpopular both stands are with the GOP base. In North Carolina this week, Bush campaigned with Thom Tillis and the Republican Senate nominee distanced himself from Bush’s positions. Further highlighting the challenge, Bush’s own son, George P. Bush, declined to say whether he would back his father in a 2016 primary at a Texas Tribune event last weekend, when confronted with his own past comment that Texas Sen. Ted Cruz is the future of the GOP. “I think folks know that I love him,” was all that George P. Bush would say of his dad and the presidential race….

“He is well aware of party dynamics, but his view is that leadership matters, a lot,” said Arthur Brooks, a friend of Bush’s and president of the American Enterprise Institute, a conservative think tank. “What he says is, ‘I have strong views on Common Core and immigration and those are views that some people don’t share. But I’m going to provide leadership and ask people to go along with it, and if they can’t — they can’t,” Brooks added. “Isn’t it refreshing to have someone who values truth over victory?”

Gov. Bush has a last name of which many Americans have grown leery; his wife dislikes public life; his daughter has struggled with substance abuse; and on a couple of central issues he’s out of step with the most active and committed elements in his own party. For all that—here I insert my own views—he’s an unusually fine human being; he’s among the most well-versed public figures of the day; and as the former two-term chief executive of an enormous, complicated state—a man who reformed education, cut taxes, and left office with approval ratings in the sixties—he’s a man of genuine accomplishment.

Your advice for Jeb?

Published in General
Like this post? Want to comment? Join Ricochet’s community of conservatives and be part of the conversation. Join Ricochet for Free.

There are 123 comments.

Become a member to join the conversation. Or sign in if you're already a member.
  1. Jimmy Carter Member
    Jimmy Carter
    @JimmyCarter

    Peter Robinson: Your advice for Jeb

    Don’t run.

    • #1
  2. user_554634 Member
    user_554634
    @MikeRapkoch

    Get a real job.

    • #2
  3. Blue State Blues Member
    Blue State Blues
    @BlueStateBlues

    It’s unfortunate he is named Bush.  We are not going to have another president named Bush, period.  Unfair, perhaps, but one must be realistic.

    • #3
  4. Casey Inactive
    Casey
    @Casey

    Take the Romney competence slot before Romney does.

    • #4
  5. Bkelley14 Inactive
    Bkelley14
    @Bkelley14

    No. Just no. He will never get the vote of Millenials. Not a one.

    • #5
  6. EThompson Member
    EThompson
    @

    As a Floridian who had the good fortune to live in the state during his gubernatorial leadership and admires him greatly, I’d say Jeb might be flailing at windmills to run for the presidency. The American public is no longer capable of understanding or appreciating his unique assets. I regret to say that I agree with comment #5.

    If it were a perfect world I’d love to see him take a very active role in the RNC and continue to advise his friend Marco Rubio re: his political career. The Bush family is second to none in the ability to raise the donuts!

    • #6
  7. Macsen Inactive
    Macsen
    @Macsen

    Don’t talk about immigration. Please, for the love of G-d, don’t talk about immigration.

    • #7
  8. otherdeanplace@yahoo.com Member
    otherdeanplace@yahoo.com
    @EustaceCScrubb

    Advice for Jeb?  Invite Mitt Romney on a Worldwide Goodwill tour for the next two years. If there are Republican slots open for the year 2020, they’re both welcome to give it a shot.

    • #8
  9. Western Chauvinist Member
    Western Chauvinist
    @WesternChauvinist

    Oh, dear, Peter. That he’s even considering it is, erm… shockingly out of touch with where the movement is and where the country needs to go.

    More central control of education? Seriously??! Common Core is noxious, and anyone with any regard for the West, and America in particular, knows it. See Michele Malkin’s article about the education union “sick-outs” in the JeffCo Colorado school district. Public education stopped forming western thinkers and well-informed, good American citizens decades ago. Subsidiarity in the form of school choice is the direction concerned parents are moving, not centralization by bureaucratic elites.

    I don’t know the particulars of Bush’s immigration policies, but the mess on the border is making even Democrats uncomfortable with the “open borders” mentality.

    The above doesn’t even begin to address the problem of being the third Bush to make a run at the presidency. It’s not “now or never.” It’s never.

    He’s a good man. He should enjoy his retirement from public office.

    • #9
  10. Vance Richards Inactive
    Vance Richards
    @VanceRichards

    “It’s now or never for Jeb Bush.”

    Go with the latter.

    • #10
  11. Valiuth Member
    Valiuth
    @Valiuth

    I’m not inclined to support him, but I will say this. Make sure you really want to run, Jeb. You have to not only want the job, but feel a need for it. You have to offer more to a skeptical public than just your competence and resume. You have to have a vision, a clear, concise vision that you can articulate in 10 minutes without stuttering, stumbling, or pausing. I say this because when I finally bother to tune in to the primaries I will probably decide in 10 minutes if you are worth listening to further. So you better make those 10 minutes count. No BS, Jeb. Respect us enough to disagree with us if you actually do. I don’t need you to agree with me 100% for me to give you my vote but I do need to be 100% confident I know where you stand. I don’t want surprises or gimmicks. Get, angry. I’m angry and the last thing I want from a candidate is someone who doesn’t share my anger and frustration at how far we have sunk. End positive.

    I leave you with the words of Ronald Reagan.

      The citizens of this great nation want leadership—yes—but not a “man on a white horse” demanding obedience to his commands.  They want someone who believes they can “begin the world over again.”  A leader who will unleash their great strength and remove the roadblocks government has put in their way.  I want to do that more than anything I’ve ever wanted.  And it’s something that I believe with God’s help I can do.

     

    I believe this nation hungers for a spiritual revival; hungers to once again see honor placed above political expediency; to see government once again the protector of our liberties, not the distributor of gifts and privilege.  Government should uphold and not undermine those institutions which are custodians of the very values upon which civilization is founded—religion, education and, above all, family.  Government cannot be clergyman, teacher and parent.  It is our servant, beholden to us.

     

    • #11
  12. user_44643 Inactive
    user_44643
    @MikeLaRoche

    Jimmy Carter:

    Peter Robinson: Your advice for Jeb

    Don’t run.

    Took the words right out of my mouth.  Literally.

    • #12
  13. EThompson Member
    EThompson
    @

    Maverick PAC – George P. Bush
    This is the spawn we should be keeping our eye upon. :)

    • #13
  14. user_44643 Inactive
    user_44643
    @MikeLaRoche

    Western Chauvinist:I don’t know the particulars of Bush’s immigration policies, but the mess on the border is making even Democrats uncomfortable with the “open borders” mentality.

    Jeb is a pro-amnesty squish, which renders him politically radioactive to me.  Any politician, Republican or Democrat, who favors amnesty is my enemy.  Period.

    • #14
  15. Jimmy Carter Member
    Jimmy Carter
    @JimmyCarter

    If Jeb ignores My advice, then I would advise Him to make sure all His Family and staff are legal.

    • #15
  16. user_44643 Inactive
    user_44643
    @MikeLaRoche

    EThompson:

    This is the spawn we should be keeping our eye upon. :)

    In the immortal words of Dr. Sam Beckett, “Oh boy.”

    ;-)

    • #16
  17. Nick Stuart Inactive
    Nick Stuart
    @NickStuart

    My advice for Jeb Bush. Stay home, please. Spare us the aggravation.

    Peter, what is it with you and this unrequited obsession with Jeb Bush?

    • #17
  18. user_1938 Inactive
    user_1938
    @AaronMiller

    I’ve got a tougher question: If Jeb runs, how would that impact Romney in the early primaries?

    • #18
  19. user_44643 Inactive
    user_44643
    @MikeLaRoche

    Speaking of Scott Bakula, “Star Trek: Enterprise” should never have been canceled. You know, I think I once wrote a post about that…

    • #19
  20. EThompson Member
    EThompson
    @

    Aaron Miller:I’ve got a tougher question: If Jeb runs, how would that impact Romney in the early primaries?

    They wouldn’t run against each other. Romney cleared 2012 with Jeb Bush before he got into the race.

    • #20
  21. Western Chauvinist Member
    Western Chauvinist
    @WesternChauvinist

    Oh, lord, I’m dreading another clown-car primary season with 20 candidates jostling for center-stage. Oof. Makes me nostalgic for smoke-filled back-room nominee selections. There’s got to be a better way to choose our nominee.

    • #21
  22. Jimmy Carter Member
    Jimmy Carter
    @JimmyCarter

    Will Jeb be the new “Sarah Palin” for comment reaction? Hmmm…

    • #22
  23. user_333118 Inactive
    user_333118
    @BarbaraKidder

    Western Chauvinist:Oh, dear, Peter. That he’s even considering it is, erm… shockingly out of touch with where the movement is and where the country needs to go.

    More central control of education? Seriously??! Common Core is noxious, and anyone with any regard for the West, and America in particular, knows it. See Michele Malkin’s article about the education union “sick-outs” in the JeffCo Colorado school district. Public education stopped forming western thinkers and well-informed, good American citizens decades ago. Subsidiarity in the form of school choice is the direction concerned parents are moving, not centralization by bureaucratic elites.

    I don’t know the particulars of Bush’s immigration policies, but the mess on the border is making even Democrats uncomfortable with the “open borders” mentality.

    The above doesn’t even begin to address the problem of being the third Bush to make a run at the presidency. It’s not “now or never.” It’s never.

    He’s a good man. He should enjoy his retirement from public office.

    Well said, in every way.

    • #23
  24. EThompson Member
    EThompson
    @

    Western Chauvinist:Oh, lord, I’m dreading another clown-car primary season with 20 candidates jostling for center-stage. Oof. Makes me nostalgic for smoke-filled back-room nominee selections. There’s got to be a better way to choose our nominee.

    No question I prefer GOP system to the back room manipulations of Harry Reid who got Obama elected in the first place. Never thought I’d read these words on a comment of mine, but I’m sorry Hillary Clinton lost the 2012 primary. I’m convinced she would have incurred far less damage upon this country than BHO.

    • #24
  25. user_44643 Inactive
    user_44643
    @MikeLaRoche

    “It’s been a long road, gettin’ from there to here….

    • #25
  26. user_44643 Inactive
    user_44643
    @MikeLaRoche

    Jimmy Carter:Will Jeb be the new “Sarah Palin” for comment reaction? Hmmm…

    Ted Cruz, more likely.

    • #26
  27. AndTheRest Inactive
    AndTheRest
    @AndTheRest

    1) Work as hard as possible to rally his friends and followers to Walker, Rubio, Cruz, Jindal, Paul, or etc.

    2) Enjoy his cabinet position or ambassadorship

    • #27
  28. Scott Reusser Member
    Scott Reusser
    @ScottR

    Travel back in time to 1994 and somehow squeak out that win for Fla. governor in your first run. That was your path to the presidency.

    Tough break for a good man, but it’s time to move on. Let the new govs with the new names , Jindal and Walker, take their shot.

    • #28
  29. user_44643 Inactive
    user_44643
    @MikeLaRoche

    Apropos of nothing, Suntory is a *fine* whiskey.

    http://youtu.be/_7v1h4mgHeE

    • #29
  30. Jimmy Carter Member
    Jimmy Carter
    @JimmyCarter

    Scott R: Travel back in time to 1994 and somehow squeak out that win for Fla. governor in your first run.

    The Delorean ain’t startin’. Perhaps someone on His staff could…

    • #30
Become a member to join the conversation. Or sign in if you're already a member.