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It's over: Jeb Bush will be the GOP nominee in 2016
The Week ^ | 02/05/14 | Damon Linker

Posted on 02/05/2014 4:05:46 PM PST by Carbonsteel

Democracy is starting to get me down.

Oh, I know what you're thinking: I write regularly about American politics, and democracy is only just starting to get me down?

Okay, good point. Maybe I should say that democracy is starting to get me down even more than it usually does.

And why is that? Because it's beginning to dawn on me that Jeb Bush is probably going to be the Republican Party's nominee for president in 2016.

Consider: With the ongoing implosion of Chris Christie's political career, the GOP establishment has lost its best hope for a candidate who could stop a libertarian-populist insurgency during the primaries. Rand Paul, Ted Cruz, Scott Walker — the list of viable fire-breathers is longer (and less dominated by incompetents, crazies, and one-note sideshow acts) than establishment types would like.

What are the alternatives?

(Excerpt) Read more at theweek.com ...


TOPICS: Constitution/Conservatism; Government; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections; US: Florida; US: New Jersey; US: Texas
KEYWORDS: 2014election; 2016; 2016election; bs; chrischristie; damonlinker; election2014; election2016; florida; fortlee; jebbush; newjersey; randsconcerntrolls; scottwalker; stayoutdabushes; tedcruz; texas; timeforathirdparty; tpinos
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To: Carbonsteel
 photo images_zps5826824c.jpeg
21 posted on 02/05/2014 4:15:37 PM PST by PhiloBedo (You gotta roll with the punches and get with what's real.)
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To: EveningStar

I agree.

Every so often things reach a point where the establishment candidate gets overwhelmed by the popular sentiment.

Case in point is the nomination of Reagan in 1980.

Now we don’t have another Reagan out there, but the movement groundswell is definitely present. It just needs to consolidate behind a single candidate and do so quickly.

The only way Jeb wins the nomination is if conservatives do a circular firing squad with three or four acceptable Conservative candidates in the mix. If that happens, we only have ourselves to blame ...


22 posted on 02/05/2014 4:15:39 PM PST by tanknetter
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To: ptsal

“Stay out’da bushes” - Jesse “Shakedown” aka “HymieTown” Jackson


23 posted on 02/05/2014 4:15:48 PM PST by Calvin Locke
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To: Carbonsteel
Most excellent! A trio of Bushes in my lifetime!

Are there any other Bush relatives in that family that can run in later years? I'm hoping it all doesn't end with Jeb.

24 posted on 02/05/2014 4:16:01 PM PST by SamAdams76
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To: Carbonsteel


25 posted on 02/05/2014 4:16:07 PM PST by 2ndDivisionVet (Jealousy is when you count someone else's blessings instead of your own.)
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To: Carbonsteel

Then the GOP has already lost another election


26 posted on 02/05/2014 4:17:26 PM PST by GeronL (Vote for Conservatives not for Republicans!)
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To: Carbonsteel

I will vote in the primaries but if Jeb gets the nomination—I will not vote for him. I am done with the hold your nose theory. I am also sick of the royal families of politics.


27 posted on 02/05/2014 4:18:13 PM PST by Irenic (The pencil sharpener and Elmer's glue is put away-- we've lost the red wheelbarrow)
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To: Telepathic Intruder
...conservatives won’t vote if the candidate smells just a little too liberal.

That's a false pretense right there.

Romney wasn't "a little too liberal."

Romney was literally on the activist wrong side of every crucial issue and principle, from forced acceptance of homosexual norming, to government-run health care. Some of us actually did our due diligence on the guy.

Did you?

28 posted on 02/05/2014 4:20:14 PM PST by Finny (Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path. -- Psalm 119:105)
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To: Theodore R.

“Then he can be the 2016 nominee without our votes and lose, maybe winning just a dozen smaller states, possibly not even TX.”

A Republican will win Texas.


29 posted on 02/05/2014 4:20:28 PM PST by Marcella ((Prepping can save your life today. I am a Christian, not a Muslim.))
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To: ZULU
I would hold my nose and vote for Christie or even Romney again... "

Rove and his inside-the-beltway "club-rinos" are in your corner.

30 posted on 02/05/2014 4:20:42 PM PST by Labyrinthos
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To: Carbonsteel

I thought he said that he wasn’t running?


31 posted on 02/05/2014 4:20:47 PM PST by Politicalkiddo (Forgiveness is the fragrance that the violet sheds on the heel that has crused it. -M. Twain)
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To: Carbonsteel

It’s too soon to be this despondent.


32 posted on 02/05/2014 4:21:59 PM PST by trisham (Zen is not easy. It takes effort to attain nothingness. And then what do you have? Bupkis.)
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To: Carbonsteel

four more years for Bill


33 posted on 02/05/2014 4:22:23 PM PST by 1st Division guy
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To: 2ndDivisionVet

We “rinos” just don’t go for rookies. Cruz has no chance in 2016 because he is a rookie. If he runs well in 2016, it will be his turn in 2020 or 2024.

The next nominee will be Romney again (not a rookie due to 2012), Paul Ryan (not a rookie because of 2012), Rick Santorum (finished 2nd in 2012 and not a rookie), Jeb Bush (not a rookie because dad and brother have been potus) or maybe Palin (not a rookie due to 2008).


34 posted on 02/05/2014 4:22:41 PM PST by staytrue
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To: trisham
It’s too soon to be this despondent.

You're right. Valerie Jarret may suspend all federal elections and we don't have to worry...

/s

35 posted on 02/05/2014 4:23:35 PM PST by nascarnation (I'm hiring Jack Palladino to investigate Baraq's golf scores.)
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To: Carbonsteel

I am sure Ann Coulture will come out shortly and tell us we are idiots and rubes if we don’t vote for dasBush.

But I say no and HELL no!

If they pick a RINO I will be staying home and not voting.


36 posted on 02/05/2014 4:25:24 PM PST by stockpirate (It appears good men have decided to do nothing, so evil is prevailing......)
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To: PhiloBedo

I agree with you!


37 posted on 02/05/2014 4:25:50 PM PST by SandRat (Duty - Honor - Country! What else needs said?)
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To: Carbonsteel

Choices, a big govt Bushie or a bigger govt dem...me vote down ticket Conservative.


38 posted on 02/05/2014 4:27:34 PM PST by RginTN
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To: tanknetter
The only way Jeb wins the nomination is if conservatives ...

... operate the primaries as usual.

I'm mentally prepared for it now, which I most certainly WASN'T when McCain actually got the nomination in '08. In 2007, I'd have said anyone who thought it possible was insane.

In 2014, I'm saying that anyone who thinks it likely that Business As Usual will dominate the GOP primaries, where liberal north-eastern states do the weeding-out, will give America in 2016 another Romney-like "Republican," is very sane indeed.

Prepare for action, is all I'm sayin'. I hope I'm wrong and the GOP nominates a TEA type limited government conservative, but ... I don't think so.

I'm looking ahead figuring that in 2016, we're going to be in a familiar pickle. The GOPe will force a third party split, and it's best to start now figuring out how we might use it to advantage for the advance of limited government conservatism.

39 posted on 02/05/2014 4:27:52 PM PST by Finny (Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path. -- Psalm 119:105)
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To: Carbonsteel

What a strange article. As soon as the guy said he was counting on Christie you have to know he was full of crap. Then he says “Indeed, for the Republican establishment, it may come down to this: Only a Bush can beat a Clinton.” Say what? A Bush has run against a Clinton once that I can recall. The Bush lost. Clinton was smart, articulate and up and coming dude against Daddy Bush who was not much of a speaker.

It’s not about names. It’s about getting conservatives like Cruz that can communicate, persuade and reach people.


40 posted on 02/05/2014 4:27:54 PM PST by plain talk
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