LAT: Oh, brother! | How George torpedoed Jeb's presidential hopes…

[kskiska]

and sank the family's political dynasty.

By Jacob Weisberg

Will America close the books on the Bush dynasty when George W. leaves office in January? Or is it still possible that his younger brother, Jeb, will rise from the ashes of the second Bush presidency -- perhaps even as part of the Bush clan's ongoing duel with the House of Clinton?

(snip)

As the second Bush presidency grinds to its dismal conclusion, both Jeb and his parents seem to think that George's mistakes have destroyed the second son's chances of ever occupying the White House, family friends say. Jeb was merely recognizing reality when he opted not to run for president in 2008. While a campaign in 2012 or beyond is theoretically possible, Jeb says he has no interest and complains that no one will believe him.

(snip)

While Jeb seems resigned to abandoning politics, family friends have described his parents as devastated that the older son spiked the chances of the younger one. In December 2006, the former president gave a glimpse of this when he paid tribute to his second son at a ceremony to mark the end of Jeb's two terms as governor. Bush began to crack when talking about Jeb's 1994 defeat, and how his son didn't whine or complain about the unfair attacks on him in the election. "The true measure of a man is ... " Bush tried to say, now openly sobbing as Jeb approached to comfort him, " ... is how you handle victory ... and also defeat."

Jeb, the obedient son, the one who was supposed to be president, who even after George Junior's election was regarded as a potential third in the line, now faces a political impasse. His older brother dashed ahead and blew up the bridge behind him. At this point, not many people inside or outside the family think it can be rebuilt.


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http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/commentary/la-op-weisberg10feb10,0,1370824.story?track=mostemailedlink

[mike_c]

1. cry me a fucking river....

Piss on Poppy Bush and all his evil spawn.

[LSparkle]

3. And Battleaxe Bar and her fetid womb

That's what probably makes Poppy weep -- the one who's more like QuakerOatsMan is the son who got to be president, not the one who took after him.

[Warpy]

5. ...and throw the lot of them into it to drown

However, I think Jebbie will be back in 2012, screaming about the incompetence of a Democratic administration unable to correct his brother's 8 years of solid bungling, thievery, shredding the constitution and regulatory agencies, and attempt to establish a theocracy to overrule science in a single four year term.

You know damned full well all the howler monkeys on AM radio and Pox News will be in full shriek for the whole four years.

Poor Jebbie, though, he'll have to campaign 100% on "I'm not my brother," something that will displease old Babs no end, meaning family gatherings will no longer be cozy back in Texas.

Better to cry them a river for them to jump into and drown.

[shain from kane]

2. Well, the world needs dogcatchers, too.

[ellenfl]

4. can someone get him out of florida, please? thanks. eom

[awoke_in_2003]

16. Sure...

We (texas) will take him, as long as you take W :)

[Diane R]

6. Words cannot describe that family's sense of entitlement. No More Dynasties!!

[ingac70]

7. Jeb knew what a fuck up George is...

So he should have thought about his political future before dicking with the vote in his state in 2000.

[TlalocW]

8. Good! Yes, it's petty

But the one thing that drives me nuts is that there is a very good chance that George W. is in such a bubble that he doesn't understand that he's (hopefully) destroyed the Bush political family. I can take a little comfort in knowing that at least the rest of them realize that, and I hope it fucking haunts them for the rest of their miserable lives.

TlalocW

[Olney Blue]

9. The parents were right- W was the lesser son. But it's too late now.

[aquart]

10. Let's focus on WHY they couldn't run Jeb in the first place.

His wife tried to smuggle in clothing.

His daughter is an addict.

His son is a pervert.

The womanizer scandals are just waiting for him to declare his candidacy.

There was no way in hell Jeb could have run back then and not a thing has changed.

[BrklynLiberal]

11. boo-f**kin-hoo. Don't let the door slam you on the butt on the way out.

The entire family...for generations past, and to come..reaks to high heaven.
They will probably all "retire" to their land in Argentina or is it Brazil....? Mamma Bush can then share her benevolence with the "natives" there. :puke:

[thereismore]

12. boo fucking hoo. nt

[Doctor_J]

13. Pssh. By the time Big Media has rewritten the last 8 years,

George Duh-bya will be a combination of Christ, Da Vinci, Genghis Khan, and FDR. This malignant family will never be cut out of the intestine of The Fatherland, or whatever they're calling it now.

[katty]

14. boo hoo and good bye

[Harry Monroe]

15. Boo Fucking Hoo!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Jack Rabbit]

17. And for that Jeb helped fix the 2000 election.

It serves him right.

Irony lives!!

[cap]

18. So where's the headlines about bush crying

how he's faking it; how he's using his tears to get over;

Why not dish up some of the crap used on Hillary?

[whatchamacallit]

19. Bummer

Bwahahahahahahaha!:rofl:

[freethought]

20. Quite bluntly, I will believe Jeb won't run from POTUS

when he is dead and buried. I know it sounds hateful and cruel, and I just may have raised Agent Mike's eyebrows a little bit but that is the way I see it. First of all, Americans tend to have very short memories. Second, as the article says "Never say 'never' in politics". If one was able to get the right bunch of spin doctors and muckrakers together then god only knows what's possible.

Also, Jeb has a son who is just as driven as he is. Who knows what kind of plans he has down the road.