Should Jeb Bush Run?
Ross surveys the 'wilderness campaign' scene:
In the salons and bars of conservative Washington, there’s an obvious appetite for a kind of intra-establishment coup, in which Romney is knocked from his perch as the safe, sober choice and a fresher figure takes his place. One candidate for this role is Daniels: He’s too wonky for some tastes, but he’s a well-connected wonk, with access to the web of power brokers who helped elect George W. Bush. Another is Gov. Haley Barbour of Mississippi, who’s beloved of party bigwigs despite seeming like a liberal’s caricature of a Republican [...]. Then, of course, there’s the ultimate insider, Jeb Bush. [...]
All of this leaves Romney in a perilous position. If he’s going to win the nomination, he needs to co-opt some of the populist zeal that a Palin or a Huckabee — or even a Newt Gingrich, who’s busy railing against the American elite from his perch inside the Beltway — will seek to use against him. But if he goes too cynically populist, he risks alienating the establishment, and seeing a Daniels or a Barbour (or a Bush) move in and take his place.
It's no mystery how we at Ricochet feel about Govs. Daniels and Barbour. And we've already considered whether Jeb Bush could run. But I want an up-or-down vote: should Jeb Bush run?
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Jun '10
Re: Should Jeb Bush Run?
No, No, NO! In this nation of over 300 million can't we find a president whose name isn't Bush? Or Clinton? Or elected officials who are not Cuomos or Kennedys?
I respect the Bush family, but I want fresh blood in office. The family dynasty seems incompatible with my romanticized view of American egalitarianism.
Jun '10
Re: Should Jeb Bush Run?
No.
If he did, it would be one of those things Republicans could do to mess up what looks to be a sure thing.
Jun '10
Re: Should Jeb Bush Run?
Jeb Bush can contribute to the next Republican administration as Education Secretary, or Interior Secretary, something like that, but he's not indispensable enough to risk making the presidency of the United States of America look dynastic. Two from the same family is fine, and part of our tradition, but three goes too far. It goes against the American grain, my grain anyway, and it's absolutely not necessary.
May '10
Re: Should Jeb Bush Run?
No,and for all the wrong reasons of course.
If this country is to be rebuilt and taken back it won’t occur by Tuesday, and it won’t be done by widening the partisan divide as the first step. To succeed in changing the course of history it must also include working to unify the nation to the degree it can be, fiscal responsibility is not the only thing this country needs. To have the first act be nominating a polarizing figure like Jeb, Sarah or Newt, is marketing of the worst kind, your first act on a new product is not to start with a handicap of your own making. You wouldn't call the next revolutionary car an Edsel.
That is all too bad, and perhaps not the way it should be, but in 2012 it most certainly is the way it is, so much so that I’m astonished anyone even plays with the idea.
Jeb Bush is not the only capable man out there, but he might be the only capable man that could blow the opportunity the party may well be handed in 2012.
Jul '10
Re: Should Jeb Bush Run?
Besides Romney?
May '10
Re: Should Jeb Bush Run?
No. The "Bush Brand" is too tarnished.
Jul '10
Re: Should Jeb Bush Run?
NO NO NO No no!
We don't need royalty on the other side of the iasle. Let the left have their Kennedys, we don't need to become the Bush old party.
As for Romney...
I will never forget 1994. He had a shot at unseating Kennedy, but when the contract with America came out, he didn't hesitate one second to distance himself from it.
And the farther he got from it, the lower he sank in the polls. There are key points in any Romney interview where he "Goes Political" and gives the canned, safe, non answer that lets you know that, in truth, he stands for nothing more than Romney.
I remember in 1978 and 1979 all the same things said of Palin and Huckabee were being said of that unelectable doddering old fool Reagan. And by the same people.
Re: Should Jeb Bush Run?
One more emphatic "No." There was a fascinating poll a couple of weeks back -- all the questions that asked simply about policies and positions, without any party or personal identification, showed strong preferences for "conservative" or "Republican" ideas, on average by about 60-40. When the policies or positions were associated with parties (Dem, GOP), things came out in more-or-less a dead heat. But when policies or positions were associated with "Obama" or "Bush," anything associated with Bush lost by about 2-to-1. "Tarnished" is too weak a word -- the Bush brand remains positively toxic among large swaths of the electorate.
Jul '10
Re: Should Jeb Bush Run?
It has been said already in many ways, but I will throw in my 2¢ worth. We could lose the next presidential election simply on the basis of a name. Bush is hated. We have Obama as the legacy of eight years of Bush and his statism. There have to be other names out there with something more to recommend them. Someone who truly represents the views of the conservative movement.
Re: Should Jeb Bush Run?
I say he should run. A leader with his ideas and conviction and accomplishment should run for national office, no matter what his name is. Having him in the race would just make the rest of the candidates work harder, be smarter, and compete to be the bolder, more truly conservative choice. Jeb Bush in the race makes the race better.
Re: Should Jeb Bush Run?
In theory, Rob, I'm inclined to agree. Jeb would act as a sort of measuring stick: you must be at least this tall to ride this coaster. But in practice our members sound pretty persuasive. The party establishment is at a crossroads: the most establishment-sounding of all possible candidates is also the one who'd cause the most turmoil during nomination season.
Jul '10
Re: Should Jeb Bush Run?
He's the Bush I would have preferred from the beginning...but at present, I'd come down against it for several reasons. I believe the "brand" has been almost irrevocably damaged and it would give Obama an easy out. He seems determined to run against George W. for his entire presidency. That's losing steam but...putting him up against another Bush--no matter how qualified--could easily change that. There's also a lot of personal family baggage that would be controversial (but who can't say that?), and his position on immigration could ignite a firestorm in the primary and lead to a deeply fractured party susceptible to an (idiotic) Tea Party challenger for the general. Also...I don't think he wants it, and do we really want to nominate Adlai Stevenson? There's plenty of people who want it and will demonstrate passion once they have it, why waste our time on someone who would only accept the mantle with great reluctance and weariness? I mean, have you guys watched him talk about it lately? He's just not that into us.
Re: Should Jeb Bush Run?
I think the Republicans can come up with a couple of candidates who'd cause more turmoil. One of them, I think, is currently a front-runner.
What Jeb would bring to the campaign is ideas. No, more than that: ideas in practice, ideas based on real-world big-time experience. Who knows if he'd win or lose? Who knows if his name would be a liability? Maybe. I just mean, in the race, in the primaries, in the debates, as a reminder that this cause is about something serious, he'd be a welcome voice. Jeb Bush talking to voters about school reform, or entrepreneurial capitalism, or how to balance a state budget, would be a useful and valuable thing for Republicans. He should run.
Jun '10
Re: Should Jeb Bush Run?
No.
Jul '10
Re: Should Jeb Bush Run?
He can run so long as someone else gets nominated.
Jul '10
Re: Should Jeb Bush Run?
coughcoughFloridaisakeystatecoughcough
May '10
Re: Should Jeb Bush Run?
George Bush is a very good- maybe great- man, who is a victim of history and our media establishment. Sadly, Jeb Bush, a very good man, is tarred with the same brush.
I'm fine with him running as long as others do as well. The votes that need to be won are in the middle. Only the wackiest survivalists on the "Right" would abandon a good candidate because of a name, and he has the ability and appeal to overcome that by his words and demeanor (there will be problems, though, regarding Jeb's immigration stance, because he isn't a "round 'em up on the bus and ship 'em back" troglodyte).
The press will abuse him because he isn't a lefty- his name is just one more weapon they will use.
Can Jeb appeal to those in the center? That is the question. Can he get independents to listen to him?
It is 100% dependent on the political landscape in 2012- I wouldn't rule him out. Obama wouldn't have won in 2004 had he entered the Senate in 2000; his time wasn't right. Viewed rationally, Jeb has as much chance as any other person.
Re: Should Jeb Bush Run?
Duane Oyen: I'm fine with him running as long as others do as well. The votes that need to be won are in the middle. [...] Can Jeb appeal to those in the center? That is the question. Can he get independents to listen to him?
It is 100% dependent on the political landscape in 2012- I wouldn't rule him out. Obama wouldn't have won in 2004 had he entered the Senate in 2000; his time wasn't right. Viewed rationally, Jeb has as much chance as any other person.
Several questions, then: would voters give him a chance to -- as Al Gore put it -- "be his own man"? Would the primary give Jeb Bush a chance to make some bold propositions and draw some sharp distinctions? Could he possibly surprise the GOP, and surprise America, in a way that would cause him to transcend the tarnish we've all described?
May '10
Re: Should Jeb Bush Run?
Duane, reason has no place in electoral politics!
May '10
Re: Should Jeb Bush Run?
What I mean is we can't expect enough voters to act rationally with regard to Jeb Bush. Politics involves selecting a man who will make a really good President (check) and will also be an really good candidate (nope).