Thursday, July 9, 2009

Jeb Bush 2012? Thanks, but no thanks!


Tucker Carlson interviews Jeb Bush in the current issue of Esquire magazine. After reading the article, I find Jeb to be the typical boring moderate Republican. In typical moderate Republican fashion, Jeb says repeatedly throughout the article that Republicans must put their principles in the context of today.

That is all well and good, provided one fully understands what the principles are in the first place. This is where I start to question Jeb’s credentials. Tucker puts forth the question to Jeb; "should McCain have opposed the bailout? Here is Jeb’s answer (emphasis added):

I don't know. That's a great question. It seemed he was just uncomfortable with the whole thing. Canceling the debate, then going back to the debate, calling for the White House to have a meeting with people whose ideas were already pretty entrenched, then not using the skills he clearly has...

I think [Obama] handled it very well. McCain didn't handle it poorly. He just looked uncomfortable. I don't think people felt necessarily that he had an answer. To answer your question, maybe if [McCain] had opposed the bailout based on some actual principles he could express, and that led to some solutions, that would have shown leadership and people might have turned to him in the election.

[…]

[Jeb defends the early bailouts, the ones implemented by his brother.] If there wasn't any support, given the intricate nature of all these credit-default swaps, you could have had an unraveling of the financial system. So I'm not sure there was another choice.

I guess Jeb is no better at finding actual principles than McCain was and that is enough for me to say "no thanks" to Jeb in 2012 or beyond.
Jeb continues on about the need for the Republican Party to have more 21st century players, but when asked by Carlson who does he like, he first picks Newt Gingrich. How’s that for 21st century? Jeb does get around to saying Jindal, but omits Palin. No surprise there either, Jeb lets his inner elitist slip out over a reference to Joe the Plumber.

Running Jeb Bush in 2012 will be a huge mistake for the Republican Party. His name alone would be problematic at best, but most importantly the Bush family seems to have a real problem with keeping with conservative principles. After 4 years of Obama’s socialism, America will need a strong and principled conservative to begin the difficult process of pulling America back towards capitalism or we could risk decades of a stagnant economy like Europe’s. Jeb Bush simply isn’t principled enough to do that.

12 comments:

Reaganite Republican said...

Great summary Clifton, I hope everyone reads this and doesn't waste anytime talking about running this guy- he doesn't even make my short list.

His opportunity has passed, and IMHO he has anything to say worth hearing.

~Leslie said...

The sheer fact that he is a Bush makes it impossible for him to even have any kind of a chance to be elected. People will not even look at his record, beliefs, or political stance on anything, no matter what they are; they will be lost on his name alone. I don't back anyone as of yet for 2012, but I can only hope that Mr. Bush is not even considered as a candidate...it will only guarntee four more years of Obama.

Red said...

Geez, please no "Jeb 2012". Bleech.

Just a conservative girl said...

I agree about Jeb Bush. I liked him what little I knew about him while he was Governor, but my view has changed since he has left office.

I was also wondering if you saw this quote from Justice Ginsburg.

“Frankly I had thought that at the time Roe was decided, there was concern about population growth and particularly growth in populations that we don’t want to have too many of.” Justice Ruth Bader-Ginsburg.

What populations is she refering to? Could it be the poor minorities?

conservative generation said...

This is slightly off the topic of how bad a pick Jeb Bush is and it's true.

During that race for bailout number one. Jeb says how Obama handled it was good and McCain did bad. Here's the truth. McCain doesn't know thing one about the economy and it was apparent to everyone. Obama doesn't know thing one about the economy, but he's arrogant enough to think that he does and that looked good to everyone.

Now Jeb Bush doesn't know thing one about the economy and doesn't understand his own party. Really candidates like him should be running on the other side of the isle. It seems to be progressives who he is trying to appeal to. If he started running democrat they might actually get their voted as well.

Clifton B said...

RRR:

I was not surprised to see Tucker Carlson try to push a dead horse like Jeb. What the heck is the matter with the GOP leadership. They have a superstar with Palin but instead the would rather push boring RINOs.

Clifton B said...

Leslie:

You are so right about the name thing. Even if Dubya left with high approval ratings, many people would look at the name and say enough is enough.

I certainly would not vote for Jeb, after McCain, I have washed my hands with voting for moderates.

Clifton B said...

Red:

You took the words right out of my mouth. LOL

Clifton B said...

JACG:

I was never a major fan of any of the Bushes. Bush 41 was a let down because he abandon Reagan's principles, Bush 43 I knew would be trouble the second I heard the term "compassionate conservative"

Clifton B said...

CG:

Republicans like Jeb are only good at running massive government a little cheaper than the Dems. They know nothing about really shrinking the government.

Reaganite Republican said...

Clifton-

I couldn't agree with you more.

Palin is looking more like the way to go every day... just watch her rise now and crush her DNC/MSM tormentors... not to mention McCain staffers, lol

The Gipper in Heels... how can she miss?

Unknown said...

Jeb Bush should go back to Texas

Related Posts with Thumbnails