Here Comes Jeb

[Joanne98]

Can another Republican presidential candidate named Bush - George W.'s younger brother Jeb - actually make it to the White House in 2012? It hardly seems possible given the ugly tarnishing of the Bush "brand" that occurred during Dubya’s own corrupt and bellicose presidency, which historians have ranked among the country's five worst. It's a tarnishing that President Obama and the Democrats have done their best to keep fresh in the minds of the American public even though they've both managed, in one form or another, to continue so many of those same Bush policies in tact - on terrorism and foreign intervention, especially.

And Bush's former vice president Dick Cheney, arguably one of the despised men in US politics, and one of the reasons the Bush presidency is considered such an abject moral failure, has publicly endorsed the idea of a Jeb Bush presidency. You wouldn't think that would help matters much.

But look around, and the signs of a Bush “renaissance” - or perhaps, "rehabilitation," is the better word - are everywhere. Dubya, who's largely remained out of the limelight since his ignominious departure from office - in part, not to damage GOP prospects in 2010 - has recently gone on a book tour of sorts to promote his presidential memoir, Decision Points. While the mainstream media has largely ignored the book, conservatives haven't, and neither has the American public; in fact, its still selling briskly, having recently passed the 1 million mark. In Florida, Bush has appeared at speaking events with brother Jeb dutifully at his side, confirming an ominous sense of presidential "torch-passing" that appears to be well underway.

And then there's Jeb Bush's own calculated maneuvering. Having formerly doused speculation in July that he'd run for the White House in 2012, he's suddenly making significant personal appearances, and some intriguing public statements, of his own.

http://www.counterpunch.org/lawrence12222010.html

[SugarShack]

1. DUPE

Why is a dem board continuing to give Jeb life?

[DrDan]

2. well . . . . I guess Dems here are interested in who might be running in 2012

just a guess

[Faygo Kid]

3. Yeah, I guess ignoring them hasn't worked out too well.

I'm with you. Don't trust Jeb or the Bushes. Ever.

[DrDan]

5. being from Florida - through experience, I agree - he has done irreparable

damage to our schools

[LongTomH]

8. Why was Dr. van Helsing interested in Dracula?

:scared:

[liberal N proud]

4. Question is, are the American voters stupid enough to fall for it three times?

My guess is, probably so.

[DrDan]

6. the same who continue to re-elect Michele Bachmann?

'nuff said

[Tesha]

7. Do you have any doubts? (NT)

[Joanne98]

13. That's pretty sad that Americans are this dumb but it's true.

[DCKit]

9. Another glowing article about BushCo*. Yeechhhh.

:sarcasm:

[pscot]

10. The Decider's $33 Memoir

is selling for $18 on Amazon.

[locopolitico]

11. If he's smart he'll wait until 2016

and hope the country forgets what a disaster the first two Presidents Bush were.

[molly77]

12. If the bushes are smart , they are overwhelmed with delusions of grandeur

When bad press started up with Mark Stanford, then another attractive repub gov, I thought they were trying to knock out all competition for Jeb. It is so unusual for our MSM to discredit a repub, I always look for an agenda. Maybe I am wrong. But delusions of grandeur fits nicely with my hypothetical.

[Pacifist Patriot]

14. If this country elects Jeb Bush president in any year....

I will find a way to move abroad. The thought makes me physically ill.