It is conceivable that he will conclude that to indulge the process is only to invite humiliation. He might conclude that he is in much the same position as Hillary Clinton, top-heavy with money and standing on quicksand. In order to conduct a campaign in which the rank-and-file of the party is becoming increasingly disillusioned and increasingly impatient with watered down conservatism, Jeb Bush might sense that he will be forced to deploy his money in the same manner that Hillary will be forced to deploy her money, to attack rivals. Conceivably Bush might not have stomach for that kind of campaigning. Yes, we are fully aware of Karl Rove and how he operates, we are fully aware of the Bush family history in opposing Ronald Reagan but we simply hold out the possibility that Jeb Bush will flinch from the prospect of sullying the well-crafted if undeserved image of the Bush family by waging a campaign of mudslinging.
It is also more than conceivable that Bush will continue to observe his poll numbers declining and his prospects declining apace. He might conclude that it is the better part of valor to withdraw with his dignity and his family name intact not only for his own sake but for the sake of his son.
If Bush declines to pursue a campaign, the field is radically altered. First there is no apparent candidate of the establishment and a John Kasich or a Chris Christie would have to emerge. Meanwhile the conservatives might surge. Who knows what might develop with the Rino candidates having no inherited claim to the nomination and scrambling for money.
Just a rambling thought.
