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DeMint Surveys the Field, Praises Jeb
National Review Online ^ | February 7, 2011 | Robert Costa

Posted on 02/07/2011 7:07:16 PM PST by ejdrapes

DeMint Surveys the Field, Praises Jeb

February 7, 2011 8:15 P.M. By Robert Costa

Sen. Jim DeMint, the conservative star from South Carolina, is keeping a close eye on the emerging 2012 presidential field. New names, he observes, keep popping up. One of those, of course, is former Florida governor Jeb Bush. Rich, Kathryn, and John have all written about Bush’s appeal in recent days.

DeMint, in an interview with National Review Online, calls Bush “one of the best” possible presidential contenders. “Maybe the person we are looking for has not stepped out yet; it could be a Rick Perry or a Jeb Bush.”

“[Bush] would be a really good president and a good candidate,” DeMint says. “He had a solid record as governor; he showed that he was willing to push innovative things in education and elsewhere.”

DeMint says President Obama is “clearly beatable.” But the GOP nominee, he argues, will need to be formidable, since the president may be able to bounce off of a rebounding economy. Numerous potential candidates, he says, “are watching to see where Obama’s popularity will be. A lot is going to depend on whether people believe that he has anything to do with the economy coming back. And it will come back; you can’t keep the American economy down.”

NRO wonders: In coming months, if Bush and other conservative favorites decide to sit out 2012, will DeMint feel compelled to jump in? “I really am trying to avoid that,” he tells us. “I’m looking for good candidates out there in the field.”

“I would have to feel a strong pull from people all over the country,” DeMint says. “Again, it’s not something that, right now, appears to be in my future.”

But could a grassroots ‘Draft DeMint’ movement stir him to run? “I don’t want to suggest that I’m waiting for any kind of draft,” he says. “It’s really not what I want to do. I really don’t have any intention of running. . . . I’m not ruling anything out, but it’s not something I want to do.”


TOPICS: News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: demint; election2012; jebbush; jimdemint; nomorebushes
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To: onyx

Took a tour of the thread here...I have to agree with you Onyx. The pickings haven’t declared yet. I just can’t imagine any the Republicans are trying to push up could possible win against Bo. The people want “new blood” and out with the old school regardless how conservative we might think some of them are.

Whoever goes up against him has got to be able to stand the test of popularity, because people are voting that way now. Further the grassroots arent going to settle for the same o’ same o’ either.

And ol Romney will not get even to first base...and never stand against BO....Look how the press still gets mezmerised by good looking attractive speakers who know how to smooth talk the masses...Romney is as stiff as a board in front of cameras and totally disengaged.

So at this point the only one who can draw all the markers is Palin. Doesn’t matter if they like her or not...she has it. Question is ...will she indeed run?


141 posted on 02/07/2011 11:27:02 PM PST by caww
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To: FTJM

I didn’t say for illegals....and there shouldnt be. But there is for citizenship to come to this country. Those here have broken the rules to begin with, and why they are “illegals”...not legal... and I do not want to see them rewarded for having done so. Send them home... that simple.


142 posted on 02/07/2011 11:32:14 PM PST by caww
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To: FTJM

Bush’s words hold no more validity than Obama’s . Obama says the border is more secure than it ever has been, Jeb probably agrees. He is against the Arizona law, which is just a state law doing what the federal law that’s already on the books should be doing. Jeb would no more enforce it than Obama.

You can bet Governor Palin would enforce the law to it’s fullest, and build the fence. When she says secure the border, it’s not just rhetoric. There is no potential candidate with a higher regard for this nations safety and security.

There are different plans that fall under the umbrella of ‘path to citizenship’ and yes she has used that phrase, to be implemented after the border is secured. Basically they would have to pay a fine and then apply like any other immigrant and go through the legal immigration process. This would cause many to self deport, as they wouldn’t have the funds for the fine or they have a criminal record that would flag them in the process.

Jeb’s path would be a much easier path, basically he has come out for amnesty, before anything more is done on the border...that is an invitation to a stampede of illegals. All paths to citizenship do not equate with amnesty, and if the laws are enforced, the illegals will self deport, as we’ve seen in Arizona.

You guys like to throw around terms like amnesty queen but it really is a misrepresentation. It is not something she is a strong advocate of.

She may not be as strong on illegal immigration as you would like, but she is 100 times better than freakin’ Jeb Bush.

I’ve heard there are some people with limited mental capacity who tend to see issues as all-or-nothing propositions. These poor souls have a hard time differentiating between various levels of complex issues that could be described as shades of gray...in their simple worlds everything is black and white.

This moral rigidity tends to make them anti-social for the most part, as normal people can only put up with their sophomoric misinterpretations for so long. What’s really odd is they derive some sort of feeling of moral superiority by holding these unyielding views. They are so dumb they think their ignorance and inability to process complex ideas as a sign of advanced thinking.

My parents were right. It’s hard to argue with ignorance.


143 posted on 02/07/2011 11:57:50 PM PST by t-dude (Sarah causes banal and vituperous evil snarks to shriek in horror!)
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To: pissant
DeMint will be formidable.

No, he won't.

IF he is pushed into a presidential run, then he'll head down the same path as Fred Thompson if his heart is not really in it. And all indications are, from his own recent statements, that he really doesn't want to do it.

Do you really want another half-hearted candidate, who has no real national following, and has the public appeal of an insurance salesman to announce his candidacy and then quickly crash and burn because of his own indifference?

144 posted on 02/08/2011 3:50:51 AM PST by Virginia Ridgerunner (Sarah Palin has crossed the Rubicon!)
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To: rintense
DeMint praising Jeb Bush. Wow.

Really?

Et tu DeMinte?

145 posted on 02/08/2011 4:03:13 AM PST by Theophilus (Not merely prolife, but prolific!)
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To: ejdrapes

No, because several of us at FR would prefer NOT having Palin.


146 posted on 02/08/2011 4:08:15 AM PST by catfish1957 (Hey algore...You'll have to pry the steering wheel of my 317 HP V8 truck from my cold dead hands)
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To: t-dude
It’s Sarah or no one for me.

Enjoy your second term of Barak bucko......

147 posted on 02/08/2011 4:13:12 AM PST by catfish1957 (Hey algore...You'll have to pry the steering wheel of my 317 HP V8 truck from my cold dead hands)
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To: The Cajun
if he's in the Bushes

Quoting Jesse Jackson makes you sound so intelligent I tell ya......

148 posted on 02/08/2011 4:14:48 AM PST by catfish1957 (Hey algore...You'll have to pry the steering wheel of my 317 HP V8 truck from my cold dead hands)
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To: onyx

GEEEZZ... The woman has a 40% favorable rating among independents. The Palinistas want to take us down in a blaze of glory.


149 posted on 02/08/2011 4:20:09 AM PST by catfish1957 (Hey algore...You'll have to pry the steering wheel of my 317 HP V8 truck from my cold dead hands)
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To: ejdrapes
I’m not ruling anything out

You think Jeb would be a really good president? That rules you out in my book, Senator.

150 posted on 02/08/2011 6:04:11 AM PST by 668 - Neighbor of the Beast (BYOST -- bring your own sark tag. Thank you.)
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To: ejdrapes

Pathetic but I doubt Jeb is running so Jim DeMint is just playing footsie or something. Never hurts to be nice.... Since Jeb ain’t running anyway


151 posted on 02/08/2011 6:22:56 AM PST by dennisw (- - - -He who does not economize will have to agonize - - - - - Confucius)
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To: pissant

DeMint was probably just mentioning people who could actually string words together to craft a coherent answer to a controversial question. LOL


152 posted on 02/08/2011 6:43:30 AM PST by dforest
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To: Brices Crossroads; onyx; upchuck; All
No, they told me. He might be able to win in California, a reliably Republican state at the time, but not nationally... Too old, too conservative, too dumb, too dangerous. On November 4, 1980, they got a little education. I already knew he could win nationally. The doubters had to be convinced. A 44 state landslide did the trick.

Remember it well. . . Reagan's elections were incredible experiences.

. . . but the Bush name showing up along side a strong conservative electable candidate brings back memories of Daddy Bush worming his way on to that of Reagan's. We paid for it. Old weak pro-death sell out "H" eventually gave us Clinton.

We do not need another Bush worming his way on to an already winning ticket. Personally, at the moment I'm for DeMint/Palin.

I believe we can win with out selling out to the Bush family or any RINO.


153 posted on 02/08/2011 6:50:46 AM PST by mstar (Immediate State Action)
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To: t-dude; FTJM
My parents were right. It’s hard to argue with ignorance.

Your parents probably came to that conclusion as a result of arguing with you.

154 posted on 02/08/2011 6:53:42 AM PST by dforest
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To: ejdrapes
Jeb would be a disaster. It would be one way of assuring an Obama win. If by miracle he did win, he would go into a frenzy to push amnesty. Among others, his treatment of Terri Schiavo showed he is no leader.
155 posted on 02/08/2011 7:02:20 AM PST by Dante3
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To: Virginia Ridgerunner

When Palin says “I’ll run if it’s the right thing to do for the country” or “If no one else steps up” what she is saying is she really doesn’t want the job, but by golly, she’ll sacrifice if need be.

That is essentially what DeMint is saying, BUT, he really means it. Huck, Mitt, Barbour, etc are all but drooling over the job.

I prefer a sober individual who understands what incredible tasks lie ahead for the next president if he wants to save the country from ruin. Uncle Fred was half asleep half the time. DeMint is sharper and more focused, and importantly, more conservative than the gaggle of wannabes.


156 posted on 02/08/2011 9:31:09 AM PST by pissant ((Bachmann 2012 - Freepmail to get on/off PING list))
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To: indylindy

LOL. No doubt.


157 posted on 02/08/2011 5:30:39 PM PST by FTJM
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To: pissant

If Sen. DeMint needs to be drafted, then let’s draft him! The movement has begun! Conservatives4DeMint already has Coordinators in 30 states and is growing quickly. Join us! http://conservatives4demint.com/


158 posted on 02/08/2011 7:26:06 PM PST by Angela Toft
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To: Angela Toft

BUMP


159 posted on 02/08/2011 7:46:09 PM PST by pissant ((Bachmann 2012 - Freepmail to get on/off PING list))
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To: Angela Toft
Join your state’s effort to Draft Jim DeMint.

Thank you for the link. . . been wondering how those of us here in Texas could encourage Jim to run.


160 posted on 02/09/2011 12:36:13 AM PST by mstar (Immediate State Action)
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