Over the years, the Bush family and key aides have cold-shouldered critics, taking them off of Christmas cards list, shutting them out of Bush political inner circles, cutting them off from RNC contracts, and more. To insiders, there is no greater sentence than to be cast in the Bush's "phantom zone" as it was known, as a nonperson.
Is that something rare in politics?
I'm pretty sure Nixon must have done it -- maybe most politicians do.
Jack Germond was always going on about how mean Barbara Bush was.
Like he didn't play hardball himself.
And at least somebody in the family had some cojones.