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Bush-Cheney 2012?
Over the weekend, President Obama named Utah Gov. Jon Huntsman, a telegenic Republican moderate, as his pick for ambassador to China, removing one possible 2012 challenger from the fray. Gov. Mark Sanford of South Carolina, a straight-shooting right-winger I find it impossible to dislike, is loved by conservative activists, but not always by his fellow South Carolinians. Gov. Sarah Palin of Alaska has, for a variety of reasons, not all of them entirely fair, become a national punchline. My guess is that Republican primary voters won’t bite, just as Iowa Democrats turned against Howard Dean at the last possible moment. Gov. Tim Pawlenty of Minnesota is lacking in star wattage. Because Gov. Bobby Jindal of Louisiana is not insane, he's keeping his powder dry until 2016, and the same might even be true of former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney. As for Mike Huckabee, who has become a scourge of bailout capitalism, his failure to make headway outside of his evangelical base suggests that he's fundamentally a niche candidate.
The missing candidate, then, is Jeb Bush, a successful two-term governor of a big swing state with sterling conservative credentials, a record of appealing to Latino voters, and the raw brainpower and rhetorical skill to match Barack Obama.
While it's common to dismiss Jeb as the heir to a tarnished political dynasty, it's worth remembering that dynasties emerge for a reason. While any number of sane Republicans will bow out of the 2012 race in order to maintain domestic peace and their bank accounts, political heirs tend to have a sense of duty that transcends such considerations. A few months back, Jeb Bush bowed out of Florida's 2010 U.S. Senate race, but only after gently suggesting that he might jump in the fray. Now that Gov. Charlie Crist is running for the seat, many Florida conservatives believe that Jeb is conspiring against him. I doubt it. With Obama's popularity in the stratosphere, with his family's legacy under threat, and with private life proving more boring than expected, Jeb has bigger fish to fry.
I'll also note that there's a reason Bushes have succeeded where other Republicans have failed. The family, and Jeb Bush in particular, manages to reconcile many of the tensions and contradictions that have rankled the party. For example, the GOP is anti-elitist. Yet Mike Huckabee, an authentic by-his-bootstraps populist, was dismissed by the party's actual elite as a country yokel. Republicans are increasingly a Southern and evangelical party, yet they do best when they appeal to non-Southern suburbanites and Catholics. The Bush family, with its Yankee and Ivy League origins and its oil-patch mythology, is both Northern and Western. Jeb himself is a convert to Catholicism, who speaks fluent Spanish and is very much a creature of the Sun Belt. It helps that he is, as even his rivals will acknowledge, dazzlingly intelligent. He does have skeletons in his closet, including supposed ties to anti-Castro extremists. But for Republicans there really is no better candidate.
Reihan Salam is a fellow at the New America Foundation and the co-author of Grand New Party.
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Oh dear God-no!!! This country cannot bear it-Cheney needs to ride off into...whatever state he's from-and stay there.
This country will never elect another Bush. No way, no how. Jeb may be smart, but it doesn't matter. All that people will think about is that his older brother was a complete disaster. And Cheney is-and will continue to be-radioactive. Forget it. Won't happen. The GOP would have better luck with Palin.
I guess that Mr. Salam and his ilk really don't get it. Things have truly changed politically in this country. More people are paying attention than I have ever seen in my lifetime. I used to know two other people who watched C-SPAN. Now my whole neighborhood is watching.
It used to be that politicians could depend on the ignorance of their constituents to aid them. The pool of people that are ignorant about the political landscape and what is going on in D.C. has shrank dramatically. Heck, my grandmother even logs on to blogs to find out what is happening politically.
Another problem for the old guard is that young people are becoming politically involved and they aren't playing the same old games that their parents and grandparents have been playing. These kids haven't been arguing in circles over cultural issues for decades. They aren't as invested in arguing over abortion, gay marriage, etc. Their priorities are different and political parties are going to have to adjust to that.
Obama seems to get these changes more than his counterparts. They are still living in the past fighting the same old ideological battles. It simply wont work. If the future of the republican party lies in the past (Bush/Cheney) then they may be a regional party for years to come. Surely they can do better. If not, then I think they deserve the utter and complete landslide losses that will come their way. JMHO.
I agree. I think it's totally impossible for this country to elect another Bush even if it's revealed he's Barack Obama's long lost brother!
Apparently Mr. Salam was trying to be funny.
Perhaps it was a really slow day where he had to be creative.
Maybe next time he can balance this sarcasm
with something realistic, something with substance.
"The GOP would have better luck with Palin." Let's hope that's true because we know how far they'd get with her. Can you imagine her in the White House managing this complicated economy and international issues (other than Russia, which she has under control)? Just check out her plummeting approval rating in AK where she fails to show up to govern to know how disasterous she'd be in any federal role.
The future of the Republican Party rests in the hands of Mitt Romney. He could have beaten Obama on experience and fresh ideas alone. So what if he is a Mormon? Mormons are good honest people who get things done. Obama has broken almost every campaign promise he made in the first 100 days and has yet to present a clear plan for fixing anything other than to throw more money at the problem. There is a reason that "community organizer" is not a career path.
Perhaps we should check the Constitution first. Cheney is not elligible to run for VP again as he has already served two terms. Obviously, he will not be steering anyone anywhere from the number two spot.
Not only could our country bear it . . . THE WORLD could not . . . the world would shutter and shake and all the Jihadist that HATE the Bush Dynasty and the policies that they pushed into action would drive them into action.
It makes me scared to think of . . . after I stop laughing at the notion!
Bush-Cheney 2012. I just threw up in my mouth a little. Yuck.
If there ever any doubt, this column just removed it....the GOP is fresh out of new ideas.
I guess it is very true that the repugs have a lack of ideas and new blood....this is a disasterous joining....good for the dems though.
Fidel Castro said that Jeb was, "Just George's fat little brother," but he was wrong. Dubya's redeeming virtues were affability and gormlessness that made his missteps inadvertence rather than maliciousness . By contrast, Jeb is a mean b@stard, who politicized all he touched in Florida, while using every divisive technique to gain and hold power.
If the nation wants a round of politics by divisive aggravation along the rifts that divide us, Jeb is the man. His self-righteous, ideological, good guys versus bad guys politics is sure to make Karl Rove salivate.
He's the perfect candidate for the Republican right, who see themselves as fighting a culture war to seize control of the duressive power of the state to punish apostates who, while Americans by birth, are in every other way dangerous subversive aliens.
I actually think that Jeb Bush would've been a better president than George W.... but I have knicknacks on my desk that would've been a better president than George, too, so I'm not sure what all that proves. Nevertheless, I think that Jeb has a measure of savvy that George never will--"gormlessness" being a perfect word for it.
But would I vote for yet another Bush after the mess the first two have left this country in? It'd take a gun to my head and I think I'd have to think about it even then. Meanwhile, I'm looking forward with considerable glee to Cheney's death in 2002 being revealed and the alien slug that's been controlling his carcass like a puppet being burned at the stake.
No, no, no, no, NO!!!!!
Even if a candidate was named Bush but was no relation, I wouldn't vote for him.
Dear God! This and the article about Palin and Hilary almost cozying up--my brain might explode.
"Even if a candidate was named Bush but was no relation, I wouldn't vote for him"
Um. Yea, that makes alot of sense. What if he was black and liberal? Then would you?
Jeb has a bit too much baggage - Wife Columba is not going to go over well with the populace - she has a "let them eat cake" attitude.
When was the last time YOU tried to smuggle $19,000.00 worth of clothing and jewelry bought during a Paris shopping spree past a customs agent?
You or I would be in jail in a hearbeat. Columba gets off with a $4,100.00 fine and a scolding.
And then we have those kids of theirs ... oy !
If this country elects Dick Cheney to ANYTHING EVER AGAIN, even dog catcher, I will give up on my own country. If any politician EVER appoints Dick Cheney to ANY political position EVER AGAIN, I will support that politician's opposition with everything I have.
Just the sight of this story's headline made me sick to my stomach. Dick Cheney spent decades behind the scenes in Washington, wielding enormous power, and look at what we have to show for it.
When will people learn?
This is their best hope? Eww, just... eww.
I can't believe people actually think that another Bush/Cheney or even Bush/non-Cheney ticket has a chance at winning, regardless of how Obama performs over the next few years.
I don't mean to be crude but I doubt if Mr Cheney will be with us too much longer. I hope this is a joke.
Interesting juxtiposition of Rep. candidates for the 2012 election cycle. The Daily Beast posted this for shiggles, so that the lefties can rid themselves of their political venom.
Let the games begin..........
So you would think that is a great pairing? Don't you think this country has gone through enough trouble already from a Bush/Cheney union? Americans aren't that crazy Carole65. Thank god we have turned the pages on any Bush or Cheney again. When my husband was on active duty he thought Cheney was an ass already.
I guess you needed a translator for what I said, but you certainly did prove my point.
As a Republican for the last 30 years I want to ask you if your truly this stupid? as a Republican who voted for Obama this past 2008 I want to encourage you along this line of thought.....be honest man...were your parents breeding for stupid? Have you checked the recent Gallup Poll to see what is going on with this party? Your inability to deal with reality will not make it go away nor will it change anyone's mind. Things are getting worse and people like? Leaky Pieholes? are the reason.
Bulldoglover100, these people are in a state of denial. Plan and Simple they are in a state of denial. The more they want to keep things the same the more they are in denial. There is no help. Sad to because this country does better with a 2 party system. I am a democrat. Truly a 2 party system works well for all of us. If this party does stop putting the bedroom issues first they will keep losing people.
Gosh! I hope this is a joke!
I just can't be sure. The finessing on this one is so deep that it's hard to say who's kidding whom. I mean, who'd have thought that a twit (or whatever other vowel suits) like Sarah Palin could've made it to Governor, let alone be considered a viable VP candidate for McCain.
The whole thing right now with the remaining GOP faithful, all 3 dozen or so of 'em, is "purity." Do you meet their standards for purity on their select issues? If not, you're going to get a lot of friction as a GOP member/wannabe.
Pathetic.
Before running Jeb, the Bush family would do well to consider Oliver Wendell Holmes' maxim: "Three generations of imbeciles is enough." Sounds like a Democratic campaign slogan, doesn't it?
Reihan Salam at it again...
this article is obviously just trying to get a rise out of democrats....
again.
it takes a ridiculous premise and attempts to look smart while giving a big FU to liberals...
again.
goddamnit, why does this dude have a job...
I agree 100% with your take on this nonsense. It's like Salam sat down at his PC and said "What pair of knuckleheads can I put together as a dream team to send the bloggers off the edge?...hmmm" Something like this was another post on Huff that teased with a Palin/Cheney ticket. There is absolutely no basis, rhyme or reason to suggest this coupling.
I would like to schedule an interview with my dog, who has a better chance of being elected President than a third Bush. Who do I speak to at TDB?
If Jeb Bush ran in 2012, it will be a blowout for Obama. Jeb Bush would have the worst of every possible angle. He would be define by his last name, His brother would be tied to him like an 800lb gorilla. He can't refute his brother, but he can't embrace him as well. George W. Bush has left office with a 25% approval rating, and his favorability ratings are still around that mark even today.
When Walter Mondale ran in 1984, he was basically running as Jimmy Carter's proxy, so the Republicans could define the race as going back to 20% inflation or moving forward. Jeb Bush would be running as George W. Bush's proxy. There is no way he can escape the label.. The Democrats could complete their political ads against him for the entire campaign in one afternoon.
Besides, adding on to his antics during the Florida Recount in 2000, and his actions with the Terri Schiavo case. Jeb Bush has little chance of winning an US Presidential contest.
This is a comedy piece. Who else but a comedian would write: "For example, the GOP is anti-elitist."
Yea, right, they are against themselves.
Here's the key sentence: "But one increasingly gets the sense that given the depressingly barren state of the Republican bench, it seems possible-remotely possible, to be sure, but possible-that the Republican ticket in 2012 could include a Bush. And maybe even a Cheney."
What the writer is saying is, "This is totally made up to fill space or satisfy my articles quota for Tina, but don't kid yourself it's worth reading."
I absolutely had the same response that you did. I guess it must be hard to come up with something intelligent to write about several times a week. This column proves it.
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I think you've pegged it, Banjo. Bravo.
I say RUN! RUN! RUN!
It will be the final nail in the Bush dynasty. Just as with the Kennedys, who came to prominence right along side the Bush Family (and both made their initial family fortunes in bootlegging), the Bush's time is long past done.
PLEASE run... PLEASE run... PLEASE!
I am now 67 years old, I have two children & 4 grandchildren & I can tell you without any doubt that if I am still alive in 2012 or 2016 & if another Bush & Cheney were elected to the White House I would without doubt, without question pack up & move out of this nation & do so with profound sadness & regret that my country had fallen to such a low point in history as to elect these two men. I would move away form my country of birth, a country that I worked in & a country that both my wife & I served with pride in both the US Army & the US Navy. would leave this nation because if this nation elected these two men it would no longer be the nation I would consider mine. It would be a nation that has & will become a nation to be talked about in the history books of the future as a nation that has been dragged nto the dumps of history.
Lastly I would tell you that this nation would lso lose hundreds of thousands of other people who can still hold their heads up & say they "USED" to be part of America, a nation that is no longer a nation of the people.
Promises! Promises! If you haven't looked lately this country is well on it's way to the dump of history with Obama and his socialist ideology. If the Republicans win in 2012 I would be more than happy to help you pack.
I love socialism. I am not moving anywhere. I love this socialism. Lets see. I received health care while my husband served 22 yrs in the military and now get military retired insurance that is socialism. I can apply for social security, that is sociallism, oh, I can get medicare at 65 that is socialism. Yep I love my socialism. I guess you republicans are ok with that Corp welfare, Tax breaks when they move to a small town and built a company. Than they move to Mexico and leave the town holding the bag. Oh you are alright with these big companies that have off shore havens. Yep, I'll keep my socialism. I am willing to bet you will too when its time you get near retirement. Social security is helping alot of people, especially people who lost alot of money in the stock market. Please stop your crying Obama is doing the best he can. He was handed a lemon and he is try to make lemonaide out of it. At least he is trying. Bush spent at least 900 days on vacations.
See ya.
This makes sense. But unfortunately for Jeb his brother has done so much damage to the Bush name that it will never happen. During the 2000 election Republicans pitched W as a moderate Republican, and we all know how that turned out. Whatever message Jeb may try to peddle, Americans will be hit over the head with Katrina, the Iraq war, and the fact that W was the poster boy for a fraudulent party. While Republicans are now trying to throw W under the bus by claiming he was not a REAL conservative, they elected him twice, and all he left us was a world of emboldened radicals and an economy in shambles.
2012 is way too early for another Bush. if he's serious about becoming president (and he is), then he has to wait until 2016 to a) run when the seat is open, and b) let me time pass between the debacle of his brother's presidnecy and his own run for that office.
Jeb as GOP nominee in 2012 is a "far likelier scenario" than Cheney? Yes, the first is infinitesimally small; the second is zero. This article is just silly.
Sir, after reading one of your other articles about how you just recently gave up on Palin, I would say your political instincts are about as reliable as a FORD car.
Have you lost your ever loving mind? Bush/Cheney again? are you trying to send this country to the crazy hospital? how much more do we have to be traumatized? get your head out of the sand and start living in the real world.
But think of the money they'll save on bumper stickers and yard signs... :)
Definitely, Abelard! I write button slogans for a button company on the side, and a Bush/Cheney ticket would allow the company to continue making a mint selling buttons and bumper stickers that say things like "I never thought I'd miss Nixon" and "They warned me this would happen if I voted for Nader."
Thank you.
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