Jeb Bush, the son of President George H.W. Bush and brother of President George W. Bush, comes out swinging at President Obama and his policies in next months edition of Esquire. The former Florida governor, who left office with sky high approval numbers, rips the Democrats for their poor ideas on healthcare and the economy while also leveling a tough critique on the GOP for it’s failure to upgrade it’s message for a new generation.
Bush takes aim at Obama’s economic policies, calling the president “a collectivist” who believes that “through collective action, through government, you can solve more problems… The debt that will be created in his four years as president will exceed the debt that was created by all presidents before him.”
He also critiques the administration’s health care reform proposals, stating “Under Obama, we’re going to create a system that’s not focused on quality; it’s focused on access to care… We’re like gerbils running in place
And he dismisses the president’s popularity, saying “First of all, who cares?” before claiming that Obama’s popularity is less than Bush’s brother’s was at the beginning of his first term.
But Bush takes a hard look at the state of the GOP, saying “We haven’t upgraded our message. We haven’t updated it. If you close your eyes and listen to most Republicans, most conservatives, the same speech could have been given in 1990… If people think our message is outdated, our message is not relevant to the world we live in, and I think a growing number of people may feel that, you lose your relevance.”
With the stumbles of Gov. Palin and Gov. Jindal, and the implosion of Sen. Ensign and Gov. Sanford, could another Bush, arguably the smartest and most politically savvy of the bunch, step into the leadership vacuum in the GOP? Could he become the nominee in 2012? He certainly sounds like a candidate, even if it’s only out of habit.
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July 7th, 2009 at 9:59 pm
No.
Hell no.
July 7th, 2009 at 10:09 pm
“With the stumbles of Gov. Palin and Gov. Jindal”…
What are Jindal’s stumbles? I think he has incredible potential (maybe not for 2012 but def later).
July 7th, 2009 at 10:14 pm
no better way to stick it to the left then for jeb to beat obama. sweet revenge. he raises money, wins florida, and wins hispanics. jeb can win.
July 7th, 2009 at 10:40 pm
“Could he become the nominee in 2012?”
Jeb Smith? Maybe. Jeb Bush? No.
July 7th, 2009 at 11:47 pm
I think the Bush name may be more favorably looked upon in a few more years. Outside of the insular circles of Washington (of which G.W. Bush always snubbed in favor of real day-to-day Americans)the Bush name could muster a significant minority even today. After 4 years of Obama, another Bush might look like a God-send.
July 7th, 2009 at 11:48 pm
I cried with immense volatility while watching this video and knowing Obama is our President.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vjH4QBSwWlg
July 8th, 2009 at 12:07 am
Jeb Bush and Liz Cheney, ha ha the next generation! The bumper stickers would have to read JEB/LIZ so as to differentiate between generations. I’d vote that ticket.
Might I add, Obama is either a madman, or an imbecile, and with Biden on board you have both bases covered. The dude doesn’t understand what happened with the cold war thingey. I can’t be the only one so far beyond embarassed, I wish we could just keep him home at his bowling alley or basketball set-up for the next few years. Circulate the “no confidence” ballot….PUH-leeeeeeze.
July 8th, 2009 at 12:47 am
the key with jeb is that while his brother’s numbers went down, his remained strong, even today in a state (florida) that obama won. his numbers among hispanics are the key to not writing him off. jeb and his wife campaigning in hispanic communities could be the real weakness of the democrats in 2012. if jeb wins the same % that his bro won among hispanics with their growing numbers, he’s president.
July 8th, 2009 at 4:40 am
“What are Jindal’s stumbles?” A) he showed us, he has a serious charisma problem, B) he has a habit of backing the wrong horse in internal state of LA politics. For the record, I for one do not have any policy differences with him, but let’s say that there are various minor stumbling blocks that would prevent him from being on the ticket and a few of us continue to take this into account even in the new political landscape.
July 8th, 2009 at 4:54 am
Jeb could never win.
“Jeb Hitler” would almost be an improvement over “Jeb Bush“
July 8th, 2009 at 8:02 am
Jeb Bush could be a great candidate. After 4 years of Obama and his change…unless by some miracle it pays off for him, then he has given us every political slogan we can use in every political commercial in 2012. We will regain the states that were fooled by hope and change. Bush could win Florida in a landslide and Ohio easily. It would be a rough general but he could definitely win!!! Florida democrats even liked Jeb.
July 8th, 2009 at 8:22 am
No. Jeb’s son, George P, in 20 years yes. Jeb lost his chance in 1994 when he failed to become Florida Governor and W won Texas, thereby becoming the brother who would become the 2000 GOP presumptive nominee.
July 8th, 2009 at 9:07 am
We could and probably will do worse. Jeb would only be slightly less electable than Romney or Huckabee and a sight better on policy/principle. And he’d be more electable than Palin. But, he won’t run.
July 8th, 2009 at 9:12 am
Romney/BushIII ticket sounds sweet. I just worry about the Bush brand.
July 8th, 2009 at 9:14 am
It is probably a moot point, but I of course think Mr. J. Bush is less electable than Mrs. Palin, but I agree that is policies would probably be better than both Ms. So are stuck with one of the two Ms or your candidate.
July 8th, 2009 at 9:20 am
Jeb Bush: The Future of the Republican Party
With no obvious candidate to lead the Republican party (and one having just stepped down), some are looking to Jeb Bush. Which is news to him.
By Tucker Carlson
http://www.esquire.com/print-this/jeb-bush-interview-0809
July 8th, 2009 at 10:25 am
Don’t underestimate Jeb. I personally would vote for him over any of the other candidates being put forward right now.
Who cares if his last name is Bush? It is his policies that matter most. Did Obama’s middle name hurt him?
July 8th, 2009 at 11:13 am
I have no problem with Jeb, I believe he would far outshine either HW or W, but what leadership vaccuum? Romney has been coasting into this slot without even trying. As far as electability, with the vast number of ignorant voters, I am afraid that the name alone will lose us the election, regardless of how poorly Obama is doing.
July 8th, 2009 at 11:22 am
He should have been the candidate in 2000–too bad. But it’s a little late now.
July 8th, 2009 at 11:23 am
Okay Ohio Joe, I will give you he def didn’t demonstrate charisma in his response to Obama’s state of the union, but I don’t see that as a stumble. And backing the wrong people? Are they wrong because they didn’t win or because they turned out to be corrupt people?
I’m still not convinced that those are “stumbles”, not to be constantly linked with Sarah Palin. He has never expressed an interest in 2012, in fact, he has said he wants to be the governor. Let him continue to try and turn Louisiana around and he might be a good candidate for 2016 or 2020.
July 8th, 2009 at 11:58 am
some things people need to understand before writing off jeb:
1) he can raise huge money, far more then mccain
2) he has a personal connection to hispanics and historic success with them
3) he turns florida red on day one
4) the bush machine is perhaps the best organized gop campaign operation ever
5) obama won ohio by 2%, virginia 4%, NC 1%, Indiana 1%, and florida by 2%, plus southern/sunbelt states will gain 11 electors at the expense of the northeast and CA.
when you break it down, jeb is instantly superior to mccain, instantly more appealing to hispanics, and a fundraising machine. these factors coupled with obama’s poor economy would make jeb even money in 2012, and certainly no worse then romney, huckabee, gingrich, or palin.
July 8th, 2009 at 12:09 pm
To be clear, I would be happy with Mr. Jindal in 2016 or 2020 and I even would certainly not vote against him in 2012 should he somehow be our candidate. However, I for one do not see him on the 2012 ticket. I am not anti-Jindal at all, but I for one am going on the assumption that Mr. Jindal will not be anybody’s VP candidate in 2012 and this in a small way will help determine my second choice in 2012. Also to be clear Mr. Jindal did not back any bad people per se in his state of LA, he chose a few losers (sorry to use that word, but I cannot think of a better one now.)