Sure sounds like Jeb Bush is getting closer to running for president

The smart take on social media last night was that Romney’s new op-ed on national defense is a signal that he’s quietly thinking of running too. So maybe we’ll finally get that Mitt versus Jeb match-up that conservatives have been dreaming about lo these many years.

In fact, I tend to think the only rational explanation for the Jeb buzz is that it’s some sort of sly “Romney 2016″ psy op. There’s just no way, no way, that the Republican Party’s going to take another bite at the Bush apple. The donor class may despise the base and would doubtless enjoy sticking it to righties by handing the nomination to the RINO-iest member of the Bush clan but the baggage that would come with it is too heavy. They want to win. The only rational explanation, then, is that Jeb’s clearing a path for Mitt by teasing conservatives with the prospect of a retread who’ll make Romney seem palatable by comparison.

The message from Mr. Bush’s inner circle during the past few months is in part an effort to bat down speculation that the former Florida governor has ruled out a 2016 run, say GOP donors and strategists who have spoken with the Bush camp. The message, as one put it, is: “Before you do anything, let us know.”

Jim Nicholson, a Bush supporter who served in President George W. Bush’s cabinet, said: “I think the chances are better than 50-50 that he runs, and that is based on some conversations I’ve had with members of the Bush family.”…

In addition to keeping potential donors and supporters on deck, Mr. Bush is taking other steps that typically precede a presidential campaign: traveling the country, engaging in public policy debates and raising money for his party.

A newly established fundraising committee allows him to funnel donations from his financial backers to GOP candidates key to winning a majority in the U.S. Senate.

That fundraising committee is planning a gala event a few weeks from now for GOP Senate candidates with Jeb as the main speaker, naturally. The people in charge of it, notes the Journal, would obviously end up as the nucleus of a Jeb 2016 campaign finance committee if he jumps in.

Jen Rubin argues, correctly, that Bush could clear the centrist wing of the field more thoroughly than anyone else if he runs. Christie, Paul Ryan, and Rubio might all be willing to take their chances with each other, but if Jeb zooms in and vacuums up the biggest bankrolls in the donor class, as seems likely, there’ll be no point in running for the rest of them. Thanks to the Bush family’s connections, Jeb seems to have first dibs on establishment cash. What you’d likely end up with, fairly quickly, is a Bush versus Paul race with Ted Cruz possibly jumping in too as a tea-party wild card. I don’t think that field is sustainable, though; lots of middle-of-the-road conservatives would find Bush too squishy and suspect Paul and Cruz are unelectable. With one bowl of porridge too cold and another too hot, someone would step up to present a “just right” option. I thought that’d be Walker, but I don’t know if Walker will even win his gubernatorial race this fall. If he loses, will it be Jindal? He’s headed to New Hampshire this weekend, and not for the first time. Is he “just right”?

Rand Slams Congress for Funding Egypt's Generals: 'How Does Your Conscience Feel Now?'
Sen. Rand Paul is hammering his fellow senators for keeping billions in financial aid flowing to Egypt's military -- even as Cairo's security forces massacre anti-government activists. [by "anti-government activists" is meant church-burning Christian-murdering jihadists]
[Posted on 08/15/2013 5:44:10 PM PDT by Hoodat]

Rand Paul On Shutdown: "Even Though It Appeared I Was Participating In It, It Was A Dumb Idea"
I said throughout the whole battle that shutting down the government was a dumb idea. Even though it did appear as if I was participating in it, I said it was a dumb idea. And the reason I voted for it, though, is that it's a conundrum. Here's the conundrum. We have a $17 trillion debt and people at home tell me you can't give the president a blank check. We just can't keep raising the debt ceiling without conditions. So unconditionally raising the debt ceiling, nobody at home wants me to vote for that and I can't vote for that. But the conundrum is if I don't we do approach these deadlines. So there is an impasse. In 2011, though, we had this impasse and the president did negotiate. We got the sequester. If we were to extend the sequester from discretionary spending to all the entitlements we would actually fix our problem within a few years.
[Posted on 11/19/2013 12:16:51 PM by Third Person]

Rand Paul: Time for GOP to soften war stance
...by softening its edge on some volatile social issues and altering its image as the party always seemingly "eager to go to war... We do need to expand the party and grow the party and that does mean that we don't always all agree on every issue" ... the party needs to become more welcoming to individuals who disagree with basic Republican doctrine on emotional social issues such as gay marriage... "We're going to have to be a little hands off on some of these issues ... and get people into the party," Paul said.
[Posted on 01/31/2013 5:08:50 PM PST by xzins]

Rand Paul's immigration speech
...The Republican Party must embrace more legal immigration.

Unfortunately, like many of the major debates in Washington, immigration has become a stalemate-where both sides are imprisoned by their own rhetoric or attachment to sacred cows that prevent the possibility of a balanced solution.

Immigration Reform will not occur until Conservative Republicans, like myself, become part of the solution. I am here today to begin that conversation.

Let's start that conversation by acknowledging we aren't going to deport 12 million illegal immigrants.

If you wish to work, if you wish to live and work in America, then we will find a place for you...

This is where prudence, compassion and thrift all point us toward the same goal: bringing these workers out of the shadows and into being taxpaying members of society.

Imagine 12 million people who are already here coming out of the shadows to become new taxpayers.12 million more people assimilating into society. 12 million more people being productive contributors.
[Posted on 03/19/2013 7:04:07 AM PDT by Perdogg]
Rand Paul calls on conservatives to embrace immigration reform
Latinos, should be a natural constituency for the party, Paul argued, but "Republicans have pushed them away with harsh rhetoric over immigration." ...he would create a bipartisan panel to determine how many visas should be granted for workers already in the United States and those who might follow... [and the buried lead] "Imagine 12 million people who are already here coming out of the shadows to become new taxpayers...
[Posted on 04/21/2013 1:52:42 PM PDT by SoConPubbie]
[but he's not in favor of amnesty, snicker, definition of is is]

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