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(s)Elections See other (s)Elections Articles Title: Why Jeb’s Not Catching Fire — And Probably Never Will The good news for Jeb Bush is that hes the perfect candidate for the Republican presidential nomination. The bad news is that hes the perfect candidate in the year 2000. Thats the counterfactual scenario that most Bush-watchers have spun over the years. Had Jeb won the 1994 race in which he first pursued Floridas governorship, the theory goes, it would have been him rather than his older brother who became the GOPs standard-bearer in 2000. Instead, Jeb narrowly lost the 94 race to Democrat Lawton Chiles, George W. won his contest in Texas in the same year and the younger sibling looked on six years later as his brother ascended to the White House. That historical twist may have permanently thwarted Jebs White House aspirations. Its not just that the American people are inherently resistant to the dynastic impulse that would see three consecutive members of the Bush family serve as Republican presidents. Its also that the legacy of Jebs family has ineluctably changed the dynamics within the GOP. To understand the principle at work here, you have to recall that Jebs father, George H.W. Bush, was long regarded as an interloper by movement conservatives. Indeed, it was Bush 41 who coined the phrase voodoo economics as a criticism of Ronald Reagans economic policy and who pledged a kinder, gentler America in the wake of Reagans presidency (a promise that prompted Nancy Reagan to reply Kinder than who?). For the conservative base, the elder Bush was a man not to be trusted,a principle only reaffirmed by the violation of his Read my lips: no new taxes pledge. George W. Bush may have done a more thoroughgoing job of ingratiating himself to the right prior to taking up residency in the Oval Office, but by the time he departed office eight years later, many conservatives were starting to feel like they had been taken for a ride again. The younger Bush had dramatically increased federal spending, presided over a government bailout of the financial sector and pushed through an unfunded entitlement expansion. Indeed, though its often forgotten now, the Tea Party movement arose just as much in reaction to the big government conservatism of President Bush and a Republican congress as it did to the excesses of Barack Obama. Where the Bush family is concerned, many conservatives have now taken on the mindset of Fool me once, shame on you; fool me twice, shame on me. All of that means that Jeb Bush has a tougher row to hoe than any other candidate in the Republican field: Hes essentially saddled with defending three peoples records instead of one. And it doesnt help matters any that on two of Bushs signature issues immigration and Common Core education standards hes advocating policies that make the conservative base deeply uncomfortable. Heres the irony: Take a close look at Bushs record in Tallahassee not to mention decades worth of writing, speeches and interviews and youll discover a man far more in touch with movement conservatism than either his father or his brother. What undermines all of that, however, is the rhetorical notes the former governor has struck throughout the campaign: claiming that hes ready to lose the primary to win the general; describing illegal immigration as an act of love; referring to his own immigration prescription as the grown-up plan. Fairly or not, many conservatives find in those words an implicit indication that Governor Bush isnt especially fond of them; that theyre little more than an obstacle he has to overcome on the road to the White House. This, of course, is not necessarily fatal for a Republican presidential candidate. Indeed, both John McCain and Mitt Romney faced similar hurdles prior to earning their partys nominations. Theres one big difference this time, however: the competition. Romney triumphed over one of the weakest Republican presidential fields in recent memory. McCain shot to the nomination after Rudy Giuliani and Fred Thompson had flamed out, with neither Romney nor Mike Huckabee commanding wide enough popularity to give him a serious run for his money. Bush doesnt have that luxury. Facing the likes of Marco Rubio, Scott Walker, Ted Cruz, John Kasich and literally a dozen others, hell have to do something more than fatiguing voters into submission. The Jeb Bush campaign isnt based on passion, inspiration or enthusiasm. Its based on being just good enough for conservatives to reluctantly give in. In most years and with most fields that strategy would have a decent shot at working. But not in 2016. For the second time in his career, Jeb Bush is likely to become a victim of terrible timing. Post Comment Private Reply Ignore Thread Top Page Up Full Thread Page Down Bottom/Latest Begin Trace Mode for Comment # 12.
#6. To: HAPPY2BME-4UM (#0)
Catching fire? Not with a damp blanket for tinder. Heb gave a stemwinder this weekend. The applause line was, "This nation is going down the wrong path. The question is, what are we going to do about it?" It's hard to imagine a more bloodless candidate or rhetoric. George Jr. had a bit of the bad boy aura that could stir a crowd, but his younger bro hasn't got it. I'm ready to see us quit of this whole brood, and while we're at it they can flush the Xlintons out of the system as well. We need a thoroughgoing exorcism at the top echelons of this country.
I wouldn't mind keeping the morons at the top if we could get rid of all the alphabet bureaucracies.
Now, there's some news! This could indicate either that he wants to quit or he's serious about winning. Da Jooz aren't going to like this. Wolf's expression never changes -- aggrieved narcissistic scowl. Trump's against the war -- whaddya know. Even speaks up for Saddam and Iraqis? God BLESS him for all that. Busts the neocons under the GWB hologram and cites GHWB, but gives GWB himself a pass, we can't have everything. Give the GOP 10 more years and the Constitution Pty will be wooing them with flowers and candy.
Meant to ping you to above, NeoconsNailed.
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