Republican Primary: I Choose You, Jeb Bush???!?

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**WarOne**

Some of the Int'l Papers think old Jebbie can become a candidate in the minefield of Republicans already out there.

Question: Do you think he has what it takes to actually do it if he so chooses?

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2012/feb/24/jeb-bush-latest-white-knight-republican?newsfeed=true

Speculation that a late challenger might still emerge in the increasingly bitter race for the Republican presidential nomination is set to surge after former Florida governor Jeb Bush made remarks criticising the current field.

Bush, who is the brother of President George W Bush and son of President George Bush Sr, is a beloved figure among many conservatives who see him as a strong and charismatic leader who is popular in the must-win swing state of Florida.

That contrasts with a widespread unease among many Republican leaders and grassroots activists with the remaining crop of Republican candidates and the vitriolic nature of the fight between frontrunner Mitt Romney and his main challengers Rick Santorum and Newt Gingrich.

http://www.smh.com.au/world/a-new-job-for-jeb-bush-20120225-1tvam.html

Reactions:

http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0212/73261.html

Rush Limbaugh accused Jeb Bush on Friday of not having a “grasp on what’s happening” in the minds of Republican voters, as the radio show host reacted to reports that the former Florida governor had expressed concern about the GOP presidential candidates “appealing to people’s fears and emotion.”

“Honestly, when I hear some of these high-ranking Republicans discuss what this campaign is, sometimes I wonder if they really have a grasp on what’s happening, at least in the minds of Republican voters,” he said.

http://swampland.time.com/2012/02/24/did-jeb-bush-actually-say-that/?iid=biz-main-mostpop2

We may be reaching critical mass in the belief that this pathetic field of Republican candidates has jumped the shark…even many Republicans have come to that conclusion. Politico today cites several sources that Jeb Bush said this during a post-speech question and answer session the other night in Dallas:

“I used to be a conservative, and I watch these debates and I’m wondering, I don’t think I’ve changed, but it’s a little troubling sometimes when people are appealing to people’s fears and emotion rather than trying to get them to look over the horizon for a broader perspective, and that’s kind of where we are.”

You must understand: Jeb Bush really is a conservative, and a thoughtful one at that. And yet, he manages to live on this planet, in this country, in the 21st century, and has a track record of actually trying to solve the problems we’re facing without denying that they exist or demagoguing them. He obviously senses that the current Republican candidates are on a Jonestown course, drinking the Rush Limbaugh Kool-Aid on a wide variety of issues.

It is especially sad to watch Mitt Romney, who is not an unintelligent man, make such a fool of himself on so many issues. Part of his alleged “electability” had to do with the fact that he was not insane, that he could appeal to moderates and independents–the sliver where presidential elections are won and lost. But I’ve not yet seen him say, “Whoa guys, that’s a little bit extreme for my tastes” in any of these debates, much less disagree with his opponents from the center. Instead, he has–shamelessly and sometimes hilariously–tried to portray himself as righter than thou whenever the opportunity arises.

This hasn’t worked particularly well with the wing-nuts–who are, by the way, more radical than they are conservative–and, if Romney wins the nomination, his history of posturing is likely to be cataclysmic in the general election. Jeb Bush is clearly frustrated by the byplay, and his fellow Republicans would be wise to heed his words.

**biccat**

No.

Democrats (including the media) would freak the feth out about having someone named "Bush" on the ballot.

**Samus_aran115**

I think if his parents were dumb enough to name him 'jeb', they knew he wasn't going to be presidential material

Plus, do we REALLY want another four years of a bush? ugh

**Trondheim**

Oh my! This can get intresting.

**Melissia**

Jeb Bush would probably be a fairly nice win for Obama...

**purplefood**

Melissia wrote:Jeb Bush would probably be a fairly nice win for Obama...

^This^

**George Spiggott**

Samus_aran115 wrote:I think if his parents were dumb enough to name him 'jeb', they knew he wasn't going to be presidential material

Are Mitt and Newt seen as sensible names in your neck of the woods?

Could he do well off selling himself as another Bush senior rather than another Bush junior? From all the way over here he seems like a good choice. King Bush the third has a nice ring to it.

**Melissia**

Newt = short for Newton. As in, Isaac Newton, one of the most brilliant humans ever to live.

Quite a sensible name. His full name is Newton Leroy Gingrich.

**Ahtman**

Melissia wrote:Newt = short for Newton. As in, Isaac Newton, one of the most brilliant humans ever to live.

Quite a sensible name. His full name is Newton Leroy Gingrich.

Newton as a surname is fine, but as a first name it is pants on head silly. Isaac Newton wasn't the only person with the surname. Newt Gingrich was named after Percival Newton, a fruit stand vendor and mulch salesman.

**hotsauceman1**

Melissia wrote:Newt = short for Newton. As in, Isaac Newton, one of the most brilliant humans ever to live.

Quite a sensible name. His full name is Newton Leroy Gingrich.

I want to make a leroy jenkins joke about newt rushing headlong into a race without thinking about it but i cant.
But really. I dont even think republicans are stupid enough too nominate bush.

**George Spiggott**

Further it turns out that Jeb Bush's full name is John Ellis Bush. John is a nice sensible name.

**ifStatement**

Maybe he goes by Jeb because he's a confederate sympathiser.

**Melissia**

So he's not actually Jeb Bush, he's J.E.B., heh.

**AustonT**

Samus_aran115 wrote:I think if his parents were dumb enough to name him 'jeb', they knew he wasn't going to be presidential material

Plus, do we REALLY want another four years of a bush? ugh

His parents didn't name him Jeb those are his initials, which became what people call him publicly at some point. Which is less of a deviation than say Newton McPherson from Newt Gingrich.

Knowing the differences between Jeb and George Jr, yes I'd be prepared to vote for Jeb.

Melissia wrote:Jeb Bush would probably be a fairly nice win for Obama...

I'm betting Jeb will remain critical but out of the race; that said it would be closer than Santorum v Obama, and probably closer than Romney v Obama.
When Jeb goes out to bat he has a lot of cards to play. Not the least of which is motivating Hispanic voters: with his Mexican wife and very brown kids he has a lot more to reach out to Hispanic voters than the current president who has deported more people in one term than G.W. Bush did in two. On the heels of a Time cover that says Latinos will decide the election I think that indicates Jeb has more of a fighting chance than any current candidate.
If he walks the same line he has talked he won't pander to fringe groups and lobbies, and he changed his position on gay marriage he'd be a sure winner.

Automatically Appended Next Post:
It appears I was ninja'ed on both Newt and Jeb. Balls.

**George Spiggott**

AustonT wrote:[...and he changed his position on gay marriage he'd be a sure winner.

Away from the direction he's headed in or towards?

**Seaward**

biccat wrote:No.

Democrats (including the media) would freak the feth out about having someone named "Bush" on the ballot.

You know, given how fast and how far Republicans have run from Dubya's presidency, I don't think they'd go for it, either.

**Zakiriel**

In Republican primary, Jeb Bush chooses You!!!

Before now all I've heard about J.E.B.'s role in things is as a king maker of sorts.

**dogma**

WarOne wrote:
Question: Do you think he has what it takes to actually do it if he so chooses?

Its too late in the primary cycle, and he has too little infrastructure.

**Archaeo**

I would vote for him. Of course I would vote for Bush Sr and Jr again also.

Paul - no.

Romney - do not like, but would choke on my bile for having to vote for him over Obama. Basically he is Obama white in my opinion (which like everyone doesn't count for much)

Santorum - have not kept up with him, but would also vote for him over Obama

**moom241**

Seems a bit late for him, doesn't it?

**dogma**

Archaeo wrote:
Romney - do not like, but would choke on my bile for having to vote for him over Obama. Basically he is Obama white in my opinion (which like everyone doesn't count for much)

This sort of confuses me. What are you basing this assessment on? The MA healthcare thing?

**Kilkrazy**

UK papers have been discussing JEB Bush as a sensible candidate in 2016.

**dogma**

Kilkrazy wrote:UK papers have been discussing JEB Bush as a sensible candidate in 2016.

That makes far more sense than 2012.

He's a good candidate if for no other reason than he can count a major swing state as a home state.

**Joey**

The guy's name is a tautology how can you trust him with anything?

**J.Black**

Joey wrote:The guy's name is a tautology how can you trust him with anything?

We can trust him because he can be trusted

**AustonT**

Kilkrazy wrote:UK papers have been discussing JEB Bush as a sensible candidate in 2016.

But let's be honest there were rumblings for him in 2008, and rumblings again as early as 2010 for him in 2012. He keeps playing hard to get.

**DoctorZombie**

He's waiting for Obama to clear out. He'll probably run in 2016.

**George Spiggott**

DoctorZombie wrote:He's waiting for Obama to clear out. He'll probably run in 2016.

That relies on the Republicans losing this election (just saying).

**AustonT**

George Spiggott wrote:
DoctorZombie wrote:He's waiting for Obama to clear out. He'll probably run in 2016.
That relies on the Republicans losing this election (just saying).

Everytime the Republican frontrunner opens his mouth, whoever mouth it is, that becomes more and more of a foregone conclusion.

**dogma**

AustonT wrote:
George Spiggott wrote:
DoctorZombie wrote:He's waiting for Obama to clear out. He'll probably run in 2016.
That relies on the Republicans losing this election (just saying).

Everytime the Republican frontrunner opens his mouth, whoever mouth it is, that becomes more and more of a foregone conclusion.

We'll see what happens in the general, but at the moment I agree.

This isn't like Obama and Hillary looking to differentiate themselves from one another despite almost identical platforms. Santorum and Romney have very little in common, and Newt is a weird middle-of-the-road.