Elder Bush Would like Son Jeb to Run for President

Reuters ^ | May 31, 2005

[MinorityRepublican]

Unfortunately, I think JEB is a great candidate. If GW had never run, JEB would have been a shoo in.

He is. Four years is a long time in politics. Americans will be tired of Hillary! regime and will look to Jeb as the only hope who can save them from her in 2012.

[MinorityRepublican]

Yep, I am all for JEB in 08. You think the Dims would have backed off from JFK from 61-68, RFK from 69-76, EMK from 77 to 84 and then gone on to the next generation had thinks worked out for them.

You have a point here. But Jeb should not run in 2008, allow Hillary! win, then in four years, Americans will realize Jeb is the only man who can get the job done.

[F.J. Mitchell]

I never claimed to have the right to decide what Jeb Bush does with his asperations, political or otherwise or of blocking anyone wishing to vote for him,from their polling place.

I can't even say I wouldn't vote for Jeb in the primary- it would depend upon his opponents. Thereafter were he to be our candidate, my options would be reduced to Jeb BUsh-period.

Among the Republican portion of the three hundred million or so Americans who have reached the age to be elected President of the USA, I feel we can find a few better qualified for the job, than another of Barbera and George's younguns.

[dsutah]

Do you mean to say that you don't, and we shouldn't support tax cuts, nominating conservative judges, trying to privatize Social security, getting us out of Kyoto,(well, I guess that would go under foreign policy)signing a ban on partial-birth abortion, not supporting funding for using more embryos for stem cells, turning back Clinton's forest policy, and putting a much better balanced one in that involves the public, instead of going over their heads, just to please the environmentalists, that is, after all a lot of his domestic agenda, isn't it? So, tell me why we shouldn't support these measures?

[numberonepal]

That is a catch 22. If you send an outsider in then the bureaucracy will simply ignore them and leave them powerless.

You really think so? You are probably correct, and I considered this before I made my comment. I was thinking the boss is the boss. And if there is a great deal of public support behind the president (which may be the ringer for the Catch 22), then I would think all the power needed would be there.

[alnick]

No, I mean that it would be stupid to fixate on name recognition.

It would be equally stupid to fixate on name. It doesn't matter what his name is. The only question is, is he qualified. Jeb would be a good president, so I'd vote for him, regardless of who he happens to be related to.

[alnick]

This Condi for President idea is interesting. How could conservatives say she has a chance while in the same breath stating that Hillary would never win?

Because Condi is qualified and the Hildebeast is not. Condi is not a screeching communist, either.

[alnick]

White, Anglo-Saxon, Protestant (except Kennedy) males. For more than 220 years. It's time to break that routine. Condoleezza Rice is perfect for the task.

I'd vote for Condi in a heartbeat, but not because of her race or gender. Those things are irrelevant.

[alnick]

And the humidity in Florida, it's just horrible. I blame Jeb.

And those four hurricanes did happen on his watch. ;-)

[traviskicks]

Many of those things you mention are important (although I'm not all that supportive of the 'social' agenda). But they are all small fry when compared to the general goal of shrinking government and stopping the advance of socialism. Massive entitlement spending, soaring spending, red tape, school choice. All of these things are the most important issues facing us and GW has dropped the ball on them all.

I do support his tax cuts. (obviously) and SS - so perhaps I am being overly critical as he is doing best he can? Perhaps.

[ARCADIA]

I was thinking the boss is the boss.

Our political process is dominated by two unions who control every aspect of policy discourse in this country. They decide what goes on the ballot, the primaries, the bureaucracy, the courts, and the legislature. No quality of reason or amount of public support can shift them. They care only about their own power and their ability to generate graft. They have nothing but contempt for the electorate and consider the country as little more then their cash cow.

Even if we found someone who could literally walk on water, these parties would continue to vote the party line, the bureaucracy would continue to undermine their policy (leaking information, spinning reports, ignoring instructions), and the MSM would even refuse to air the sitting President's speech.

You can not fix a poorly designed assembly line by replacing a worker. The reason we have the people we have in DC is because that is what the system is designed to produce. The only way to change that is to open up the mechanism so as to institutionalize much of the electoral process and take some of the hold on power away from Democrat, Republicans, and other parties.

The day we remove those little R's and D's from the ballot, when law rather then party dictates when and who shall be heard in runoff debates; then we will have better people in DC. Until then the country will remain divided into Democratic and Republican camps; and, the people mere serfs who occupy their precincts.

[numberonepal]

Good essay. You are most likely entireley correct, but there is one thing I refuse to believe (call me stupid if you must):

No quality of reason or amount of public support can shift them.

Agreed it would take a generation or more to cause this shift, but I believe it could happen. Term limits for Senators and House Members is the ONLY answer I can see. 4 for the house (8 years) and 2 for the Senate (12 years). This would take care of career politicians for the most part.

[ARCADIA]

Term limits for Senators and House Members is the ONLY answer I can see.

They would still be career politicians. Like Jimmy Carter, as long as they remain loyal to their political union, they will continue to work for the party as mouthpieces, and will be eligiable for a wide variety of bureaucratic appointments. No change really, just different names casting votes along the same old party lines.

[Palladin]

So what do you suggest? A full-fledged revolution, just like the first one?

[dsutah]

Well at least you're reasonable, and will concede something! You and I might not see eye-to-eye on everything Bush does/doesn't do. But at least you are nice about it! Some on here can't even be nice; and they'll act like their opinion is the only opinion that counts. They won't even consider another point of view; and will twist around everything I, and others (usually Bush supporters) say!

Some will criticize, but even those critics at least admit that he does some things they can support!

[latina4dubya]

Dick Morris on H&C tonight - he says the only republicans who can beat her are condi, mccain, or rudy.

if Dick Morris said it, i expect it to turn out otherwise... he is just about always wrong...

[Fledermaus]

"terrific governor"?

Really? The state of Florida is in total chaos. Nothing works. NOTHING. Every single department seems totally out of control with absolutely no leadership.

They couldn't run a smooth election process in 2000 because of the archaic laws giving way too much authority to the counties and the political (Dem) parties. This should have been fixed years ago but Bush didn't do anything to help.

All social service agencies are running amok. The law enforcement branches seem to be ineffectual if not in total disarray. Judges are in more control over policy than the executive and legislative branches.

But Florida has nice weather and no income tax. Subtract the hurricanes and the inability of anyone to seem to prepare for them and I guess it's okay.

But I wouldn't define Bush's tenure as "terrific". Not bad is my grade.

[Fledermaus]

I did also. But I was more angry in 92 because I knew I HAD TO knowing what Clinton was.

[ARCADIA]

So what do you suggest? A full-fledged revolution, just like the first one?

If you like fireworks then go for it. I would think it more productive to do whatever we can to pursuade the local elections board to remove those party designations from the ballot.