Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Could Mitch Daniels and Jeb Bush lead the GOP back to the White House?
http://nwitimes.com/news/local/article_7b4c713f-d3bc-5e17-bdec-1b8d75f36410.html ^ | Sunday, September 6, 2009 | Dan Carden

Posted on 09/23/2009 2:47:27 PM PDT by MinorityRepublican

INDIANAPOLIS | Did Hoosiers get a first look last week at The Ticket?

Mitch Daniels. Jeb Bush. 2012?

Both Republicans frequently deny seeking higher office, but each man also told The Times the other would be a strong candidate for a presidential run.

"If he wants it, sure," Bush said of Daniels' national prospects.

"I honestly believe he is the best governor in the country in terms of the courage of his convictions, intelligence, strategic thinking," Bush said.

At the same time, Daniels said he's disappointed Bush says he's ruled out a future in government.

"I understand his answer, but I hope one day he'll rule it in," Daniels said.

"I think, honestly, he's the best I've seen in either party. He's smart, very principled, very open-minded, very practical, and he's proven in both private and public life that he can get results," Daniels said of Bush.

Daniels, an Indianapolis Republican who won re-election in 2008, is barred by term limits from running for governor again in 2012. Bush, the brother of former President George W. Bush and son of former President George H. W. Bush, served as governor of Florida from 1999 to 2007.

Bush now heads the Foundation for Excellence in Education, which promotes school-reform plans, as he did at Indiana's Education Roundtable in Indianapolis on Wednesday.

"I can tell him there's life after being governor," Bush said of Daniels. "It may not be as cool as being governor, but there's life after that."

Speaking to reporters after the event, Daniels and Bush looked comfortable standing together at the same podium, each wearing a single-breasted dark suit and blue shirt. While Bush stands a full head taller than Daniels, their friendly rapport was evident in the casual back-and-forth conversation between the two Republicans.

Indiana Treasurer Richard Mourdock says he hopes both men, but especially Daniels, will seriously consider a national run in 2012.

"I would love to see Gov. Daniels do it. He has so many qualities that this country is absolutely crying out for right now," Mourdock said.

And with Daniels at the top of the ticket, Mourdock sees Bush as a good pick for VP.

"When you start talking about vice presidents, oftentimes it isn't so much what they can do, it's what can they bring," Mourdock said.

In addition to Florida's 27 electoral votes, Mourdock said Bush also brings an experienced "Bush organization" that's already put two family members in the White House. Daniels was budget director under President George W. Bush from 2001 to 2003.

But Purdue University political scientist William Shaffer cautions it's probably too early to be speculating on 2012.

"That's a long way away. Who would have thought at this point as far in advance of the 2008 election that Barack Obama would even be a candidate," Shaffer said. "The world will change presidential politics between now and then."

But should he run, Daniels' biggest problem is that he's largely unknown. Shaffer said.

"That's one of the big hurdles, obviously. If somebody jumps in, they really have to become known. You'd think a governor of a state would be, but they're not, they're really not," Shaffer said.

At the same time, Daniels' relative national anonymity could also prove to be an asset, Shaffer said.

"I think part of it reflects a weakness of the Republican Party right at this point in time. Mitch Daniels might look good to a lot of people when you also mention Sarah Palin, for example," he said.

Daniels, who in his final re-election ad vowed that "governor is the only office I've run for or ever will," left the state Saturday for a 10-day trade mission to Asia. He's hoping to secure new jobs and investments in Indiana from companies based in China and Japan.

On the one hand, that is what governors do. On the other, foreign negotiations sure look rather presidential.


TOPICS: US: Florida; US: Indiana
KEYWORDS: 2012gopprimary; bush; daniels2012; getlostrino; gopcomeback; idiotschoice; jebbush; jebbush2012; mitchdaniels; nomorebushes; nomorerinos; sourcetitlenoturl; stayoutdabushes; vivalaraza
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-4041-6061-80 ... 101-104 next last

1 posted on 09/23/2009 2:47:27 PM PDT by MinorityRepublican
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

To: MinorityRepublican

I think we’re all Bushed out.


2 posted on 09/23/2009 2:48:39 PM PDT by rsobin
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: MinorityRepublican

NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO!!!!!!!!!!!!!


3 posted on 09/23/2009 2:48:48 PM PDT by devane617 (Republicans first strategy should be taking over the MSM. Without it we are doomed.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: MinorityRepublican

NO MORE BUSHES!


4 posted on 09/23/2009 2:48:52 PM PDT by FatherofFive (Islam is an EVIL like no other, and must be ERADICATED. Barack OBORTION is a close second.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: MinorityRepublican

Jeb Bush?!!! The Bushes are the reason why we are in such a sorry state now as a party. No more.


5 posted on 09/23/2009 2:50:01 PM PDT by kabar
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: MinorityRepublican

OH HELL NO!

Maybe they missed the sign.....NO MORE RINOS!


6 posted on 09/23/2009 2:50:05 PM PDT by rightwingextremist1776
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: MinorityRepublican

No more Bush for President. Jeb is a great guy and would probably make a better POTUS than George. It would kill the GOP’s chances if we try to elect another Bush anytime before the next 20 years.


7 posted on 09/23/2009 2:50:26 PM PDT by Truth is a Weapon (Truth, it hurts soooo good!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: MinorityRepublican

No.


8 posted on 09/23/2009 2:50:32 PM PDT by mysterio
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: MinorityRepublican

not no...but HELL NO.

It’ll have to be Palin and ___________ to save the GOP.


9 posted on 09/23/2009 2:50:38 PM PDT by PhiloBedo (I won't be happy until Jet-A is less than $2.00 a gallon)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: MinorityRepublican

Hunter, Demint, Pence, or Palin. Jeb and Mitch can stay put.


10 posted on 09/23/2009 2:50:53 PM PDT by pissant (THE Conservative party: www.falconparty.com)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: MinorityRepublican

Is this the next chapter of the book, “How to Lose Every Election From Now On”?


11 posted on 09/23/2009 2:50:56 PM PDT by alicewonders (Sarah Palin is the face of America's future.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: rsobin

I think we’re all Bushed out.

I’m over the Bush’s as well.


12 posted on 09/23/2009 2:51:09 PM PDT by tennmountainman
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: MinorityRepublican
Daniels would be a strong candidate but he needs to start becoming more visible on a national scale. Even though Jeb is the strongest Bush yet leadership wise, his last name is political kryponite.
13 posted on 09/23/2009 2:51:53 PM PDT by mrsixpack36
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: MinorityRepublican

NO HELL NO NEVER !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


14 posted on 09/23/2009 2:52:12 PM PDT by Cheetahcat (Zero the Wright kind of Racist! We are in a state of War with Democrats)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: MinorityRepublican

Liberal media picking our candidates again.


15 posted on 09/23/2009 2:52:15 PM PDT by Extremely Extreme Extremist ("It (Gov't) can't make you happier, healthier, wealthier, and wise" - Sarah Palin 07/26)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: MinorityRepublican

I don’t know anything about Daniels, but I have had a belly full of the Bush family. I was in FL when Jeb was governor, better than his DIMocrat predecessors, but nothing to get exited about. IMO, we could expect a similar screw job to what W gave us. No thanks.

We need to take back the GOP from these clowns.


16 posted on 09/23/2009 2:52:17 PM PDT by ChildOfThe60s (If you can remember the 60s........you weren't really there)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: FatherofFive
NO MORE BUSHES!

Daniels is to the left of the Bushes.

17 posted on 09/23/2009 2:52:45 PM PDT by Always Right (Obama owes Joe Willson an apology!!!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 4 | View Replies]

To: MinorityRepublican

6


18 posted on 09/23/2009 2:53:21 PM PDT by Lando Lincoln
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: MinorityRepublican

Stay out the Bushes!


19 posted on 09/23/2009 2:53:24 PM PDT by discomatic
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: MinorityRepublican

No. These two will not do it. Another Bush ain’t gonna do it. We’ve got others besides those named “Bush” in the Republican party.

Problem is, we’ve got nobody defending the core conservative beliefs other than talk radio hosts, too many in the party think core beliefs are negotiable. It’s just politics to them, not heart-felt beliefs.


20 posted on 09/23/2009 2:53:38 PM PDT by Secret Agent Man (I'd like to tell you, but then I'd have to kill you.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-4041-6061-80 ... 101-104 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson