Jeb Bush Distances Himself A Bit More From Adviser James Baker

[DonViejo]

Former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush (R) further distanced himself from foreign policy adviser James Baker on Thursday during a closed-door meeting hosted by the Manhattan Republican Party.

Bush had previously said it was a mistake for Baker, an adviser and former secretary of state, to speak at the left-leaning Israel policy group J Street. In that appearance, Baker criticized Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu over seeming to change his position on a two-state solution.

On Thursday, according to CNN citing two sources in the room, Bush light-heartedly noted Baker and former secretary of state George Shultz are over 85 years old. Bush then said he planned to bring in more foreign policy advisers who from hail from a different generation than Shultz or Baker.

Bush did add that he considers Baker a friend and he didn't think the former secretary of state's remarks at J Street were anti-Israel, according to CNN.

Queens Republican Party chairman Bob Turner told CNN that Bush was just trying to emphasize that some aspects of foreign policy are different than 25 years ago. "The point he was making is that some of the complexities of the modern world are different from the mindset they were dealing with 25 years ago," Turner said.

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http://talkingpointsmemo.com/livewire/jeb-bush-james-baker-foreign-policy-team

[geek tragedy]

1. "Two decades ago, I didn't have to kiss Shelly Adelson's ass" nt

[brush]

2. He'll still call Baker (or his firm Baker Botts) if he needs crisis management

Baker and his firm have been the "fixers" for Bush family for forever (see Florida/SCOTUS decision in 2000 election, and how Baker was dispatched to Iraq early in the war to instruct Bremer, contrary to what most of us thought was the objective, to keep the oil IN THE GROUND so oil prices stayed high).

[Brother Buzz]

3. All this means is Jeb Bush gave James Baker a bigger executive chair....

behind the curtain

[hollowdweller]

4. Will he save Bush's ass if the vote is close?

[DemocratSinceBirth]

5. Give it a few months and Baker will be air brushed out of all their pictures together/NT

[brush]

6. He'll still be on retainer though — see post 2. nt

[951-Riverside]

7. If I were James Baker i'd distance myself from the Bushes n/t

[Gothmog]

8. Jeb claiming to be his own man is an amusing lie that will not hold up

Jeb will be running away from his father and brother more and more as this race progresses