How the Jeb Bush campaign went astray
There’s a loooong article in the WaPo about how Jeb Bush’s 2016 presidential campaign has failed to ignite much enthusiasm, and why that might be so. It focuses on errors of strategy and tactics, and the decisions made around those things
But the real explanation, IMHO, is much much simpler: Bush is an unappealing candidate.
Very few Republicans, and no conservatives (otherwise known as “the base”) think much of him. They don’t like his attitude about immigration. They don’t like the fact that he’s another Bush, and they are sick of Bushes.
Jeb also comes across as energyless. I’ve watched him speak a few times, and he’s a big snooze.
So, why would anyone (other than some financial backers who have a long association with the Bush family and think it’s in their interest to support Jeb) be interested in furthering his candidacy? There’s a huge slate of candidates this year—most of whom are conservative, articulate, young, and full of energy. Nearly all of them (or maybe all of them) seem better than Bush.
The only way Bush wins the nomination is if the sheer number of opponents splits the conservative vote into many little pieces. Even then, I don’t see how he’d get enough votes to win outright, and we’d probably end up with a brokered convention. As time goes on, I think some of the weaker candidates will end up dropping out, and this will help. I really wish it would be Bush who would drop out, but it appears he has enough money to keep going for a long time.
Can’t argue with your analysis, Neo. Even so, I think he would be a satisfactory President, if elected. That is a change of attitude on my part.
He is in my top five, but not in my top two.
I am sure hoping to hear Carly debate the boys. I don’t know that I can see her as President right now, that could change; but, I can see her as VP. I also see her as an energizer.
Oldflyer:
Yes, I would vote for him if he were nominated. But I would not vote for him in a primary, and I don’t think if nominated he could be elected.
basically he’s hillary from 2008
It seems self-evidently crazy to use the brand-name “Bush” once again after so much hatred was in the air directed at George W. Suicidal, even.
Let’s try a new brand-name.
Walker/Sessions 2016. Carly as designated secratary of treasury. Cruz as secratary of state. Bolton as secratary of defense. Palin as UN ambassador. Carson as surgeon general. Mark Levin as press secratary. Rubio as ambassador at large to Latin America. Rand as chairman of the fed reserve.
Bush’s own MOTHER didn’t want him to run!
Yes, that’s public knowledge — and goes back to years ago.
SHE’S held the opinion that too many Bush’s ruin the polity.
Jeb doesn’t bring anything to the party but defeat in November.
Which is the REAL reason why the WaPo and NY Times give the boob so much free notice.
Agree with you 100% for all the reasons you stated.
I don’t have the feeling that Bush really likes us.
The “Bush dynasty” idea is overblown. It is not and never has been a dynasty. Bush 41 never would have won any Republican nomination ever had Reagan not selected him to be his Vice-President in 1980. Bush 43 in 2000 had very light opposition (John McCain and Alan Keyes). The Bushes have always had tepid support at best from the base.
I too would never vote for Jeb in any primary, but I have no problem voting for him in November if he gets the nomination. I hate it when I hear otherwise conservative people say things like, “If Bush gets the nomination, I’m staying home.” Very much like, “if Romney gets the nomination, I’m staying home,” or “If McCain gets the nomination, I’m staying home,” or, “If Dole gets the nomination, I’m staying home.” Anyone who doesn’t believe that Bush, as bad as he is, wouldn’t govern to the right of Hillary, or whose Supreme Court nominees wouldn’t be superior to anyone nominated by Hillary needs some kind of intervention.
“But the real explanation, IMHO, is much much simpler: Bush is an unappealing candidate.”
1. And his name is “Bush.” Which makes election impossible.
2. And his name is “Bush.” Which makes election impossible.
3. And his name is “Bush.” Which makes election impossible.
Did I mention this Bozo’s name is “Bush?”
G. Joubert:
As I wrote in a previous comment, I would vote for him if nominated. And I agree about those who would stay home.
There’s a rumor that I heard quite a while back that Jeb Bush was the one that was supposed to follow in his father’s footsteps to the White House, but Bush 43 decided to make his run anyway.
In any event, Bush 43 and Jeb have very different feels. With Bush 43, I got the feeling that the things he was doing were because of principles that he believed in. It felt as if he had a core set of values that propelled everything he did, and he stuck to those values. And he loved his country, warts and all.
Jeb just projects arrogance. “You will agree with me, or else.” There can be a fine line between what W. projected, and what Jeb is projecting. And Jeb seems unable to realize that he’s on the wrong side of that line.
W. could also show a certain degree of humility at times, which is something that always helps boost politicians, and helps with the appearance of arrogance. Jeb’s comments have not suggested any such thing in his personality.
I agree with your analysis. Persona and charisma both matter, and with Jeb, they’re both questionable. The one thing that Jeb has going for him (per Glenn Beck, who pinballs between odd and perceptive) is real affection for military vets and the sacrifices they’ve made. In that, he’s like his brother.
Beck went so far as to say that Jeb Bush making his entrance announcement flanked by the Luttrell twins (Navy SEALS both) gave him instant credibility. I would not go that far, but having the Luttrells in your corner is a good thing.
}}} There’s a loooong article in the WaPo about how Jeb Bush’s 2016 presidential campaign has failed to ignite much enthusiasm, and why that might be so.
Is the very FIRST of those suggested reasons “2 Bushes in one generation is enough”?
If not, then the author is a nitwit and a moron, and has nothing useful to add to the conversation.
I won’t seriously consider Jeb not for any other reason but that we don’t need another Bush to be president for at least another 20 years. If one of Bush’s (GHWB) GRANDsons comes up for election in 20-odd years, yeah, I’d consider it.
But now? Fuck no. 2 of them is enough for a good long while.
And that’s got nothing to do with any displeasure over the presidency of either of the former ones.
I never understood the rationale for his candidacy right from the start. The only thing he had going for him was the last name, and his brother helped destroy its value as a conservative.
miklos000rosza:
“It seems self-evidently crazy to use the brand-name “Bush” once again after so much hatred was in the air directed at George W. Suicidal, even.
Let’s try a new brand-name.”
That solution doesn’t address the source of the problem.
The priority should be to counter the activist producers and directors who created the “so much hatred was in the air”. Distinct from Jeb Bush’s bid for the presidency, rehabilitating President Bush’s legacy would be an effective focusing vehicle to counter the Left propagandists and flip the frame in the activist game.
Patrick: I think it was Rick Perry that announced with the Luttrells by his side.
I don’t think the dynasty thing is overblown at all. It doesn’t matter how they got into office, they still served. I am not sick of the Bushes, but more than two is a dynasty. And sorry, we are already on a fast enough track to becoming like Europe to vote for a political dynasty.
I’d like to revisit the voting for all Republicans topic again if the Republicans bail out Obamacare. Will it matter then?
In my book it only counts as a dynasty if it’s by popular acclaim, not by finessing one’s way in through the back door.
As long as Karl Rove is alive, Jeb Douche is going will rake in the cash. In the minds of men like Rove and Preibus, it’s not the candidate with deficiencies, it’s the ignorant base who don’t know what they need.
Neo,
Related, because it’s about his brother – I’m interested in your take on this interview with George W. Bush by an Israeli site *:
http://www.israelhayom.com/site/newsletter_article.php?id=26127
* I appreciate that the interviewer gets the casus belli for OIF right as Iraq’s noncompliance with the UNSC resolutions, ie, material breach of the terms of ceasefire. In US media, even Republican pundits who should know better usually get it wrong by assuming the fundamental false premise that the casus belli was pre-war statements on the intelligence.
Stalord, sadly I think you are right. Rove is the king-maker of RINO’s.
I voted for Jeb! for governor 3 times. I will not vote for him for President because of his support for Common Core and immigration.