McNeely: George P. and the Bushes

Longview News Journal ^ | 2/5/14 | Dave McNeely

[jimbo123]

The Bushes don’t hanker to inch up the political ladder. They start at or near the top. For four generations, it’s either Congress or statewide office.

George P. Bush, 37, is no exception. Brandishing the well-known Bush brand, he announced early in September 2012 that he would run for a statewide office, and was considering several, maybe attorney general.

He filed papers that November to run statewide. The same month, George P.’s father, Jeb, emailed a donor list seeking support for his son in 2014 for land commissioner.

In January 2013, Bush confirmed he was running for the office, which incumbent Jerry Patterson was leaving to run for lieutenant governor. George P. had raised $1.3 million. By July, it was $3.3 million.

The lone Democrat is former El Paso Mayor John Cook. Libertarian Steven Childs is also running.

The earlier Bushes’ initial races: Great-Grandfather Prescott Bush: U.S. senator from Connecticut, 1950. Grandfather George H.W. Bush: U.S. senator from Texas, 1964. Father Jeb Bush: governor of Florida, 1994. Uncle George W. Bush: Texas’ 19th congressional district, 1978.

All four lost their first race, but won the second. And now comes George P.

Land commissioner is a well-used springboard for higher political office. Democratic Land Commissioners Bob Armstrong (1971-1983) and Garry Mauro (1983-1999) both ran for governor. Both lost.

Republican Land Commissioner David Dewhurst (1999-2003) ran for lieutenant governor and won. Land Commissioner Patterson (2003-2015) is running for lieutenant governor against Dewhurst this year.

Every experienced Republican politician who might have wanted to run for land commissioner backed out after George P. got in. They didn’t want to go against the huge name ID and fundraising Golden Rolodex of a George Bush.

[basil]

Let this Texan be the first to say it this morning”

NO MORE BUSHES!!!!

[txrefugee]

“P” needs to lose and get a real job. Texas does not need to have another Bush in any office....ever. We have many Texans who are more worthy and have worked their way up from nothing by hard work. They have a more realistic view of the world than the privileged Bush family members do.

[JacksonCalhoun]

Seriously, the first Bush paved the way for the Clintons, possibly a 30+ year nightmare for this country, and the second one paved the way for the Obamas, an 8 year or more nightmare.

[fieldmarshaldj]

Stay out da Bushes !

[Lurkina.n.Learnin]

“Seriously, the first Bush paved the way for the Clintons, possibly a 30+ year nightmare for this country, and the second one paved the way for the Obamas, an 8 year or more nightmare.”

Ronald Reagan paved the way for the first Bush.

[Machavelli]

If Bush runs, he should run as a democrat. He is not conservative—they are moderates at best. It’s all about money and power and they have both. Wake up America!

[Count of Monte Fisto]

In a race between a Bush and ANY Democrat I would vote for the Democrat just out of spite.

[Guenevere]

7 years later we are still on the ropes and fighting against what George W. Bush tried to jam through the system.......AMNESTY

They think they are dynastic royalty with a right to rule our nation

Insufferable elites!

[jimbo123]

The Bushes jump to the front of the line because they’re better than us commoners.

[Hatteras]

Is George P. the little brown one?

[Hostage]

RR increased the value and prestige of the Republican brand. GHW Bush used this created value in RR’s ‘Afterglow’ but he promptly diminished what value and prestige there was.

GHW Bush used the prestige of RR, Clinton used the stench of GHW Bush. Big difference.

[latina4dubya]

“P” needs to lose and get a real job.

he is 37-years old, and in that time he has had real jobs...

the following is something i found online, and something that seems to be true of the Bush family:

When asked in 2003 about whether he planned to run for office himself, Bush replied that his grandmother, Barbara Bush, had advised that anyone thinking about entering politics should distinguish himself in some other field first: "Make a name for yourself, have a family, marry someone great, have some kids, buy a house, pay taxes, and do the things everyone also does instead of just running out and saying, 'Hey, I'm the nephew of or the son of or the grandson of...'."

fyi--i do not live in Texas, but i do hope his Tea Party opponent wins this race...

[latina4dubya]

The Bushes jump to the front of the line because they’re better than us commoners.

the Bush family does not act like that... i have relatives who have been in their home, who have had lunch with them, who were invited to a bbq at their home in Texas (George and Barbara) and they were said to be very humble, pleasant, regular folk... sure they have a lot of money and have been in power, but they are not elitists...

[Guenevere]

Of course they’re not ~

[pithyinme]

You realize since Reagan only Republicans to actually win are Bushes.

[JacksonCalhoun]

Yes, but that says nothing special about them, but rather it speaks to the general impotence of the Republican party at the national level due to their own stupidity or the stupidity of the American people. I think it's a combination of both.

Back to the original point of my post with some more detail. Bush 41 lost to a draft dodger and sexual deviant whose wife may be president in three years. Bush 43 was so despised by the end of his term that people willingly swallowed the Hope and Change B.S. from a man who clearly hates this country and all it stands for, and six years later still blame him for the country's economic problems. The point is, both of them left their party in far worse shape than they found it as President.