# Bush thinks Jeb would be a "great" president. **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [May 10, 2006, 7:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bush-thinks-jeb-would-be-a-great-president/356263 "2006-05-10T19:47:48Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 19\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Loopydude](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e56c9b/32.png) [@Loopydude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loopydude)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2006, 1:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bush-thinks-jeb-would-be-a-great-president/356263/41 "2006-05-11T13:59:22Z")
> [@Diogenes the Cynic](#): > > He also knew that Sammy Sosa could be of no use as a Texas Ranger. He’s got a real eye for talent. If I was aware of this I’d forgotten it. The Dems need you as a campaign manager, if you’ll have them (I’d understand if you declined). ---
**Author:** ![Kimstu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ecd19e/32.png) [@Kimstu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kimstu)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2006, 2:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bush-thinks-jeb-would-be-a-great-president/356263/42 "2006-05-11T14:09:50Z")
> [@wm--](#): > > Man, I know some people are determined to hate everything George Bush does no matter what it is, but… saying something nice about a family member? Really? > [@John Mace](#): > > B.F.D. Bush likes his brother and says something nice about him. From the linked article, though, it doesn’t sound as though Bush was just fielding an interview question “Do you think your brother Jeb would be a good president?” with the obvious “Yes, I think my brother Jeb would be a great president”. Rather, it sounds as though Bush stressed that he’s actively been **encouraging** Jeb to run for president: > [@](#): > > “I would like to see Jeb run at some point in time, but I have no idea if that’s his intention or not,” Bush said in an interview with Florida reporters, according to an account on the St. Petersburg Times Web site. > > The president said he had “pushed him fairly hard about what he intends to do,” but Jeb has not said. > > “I have no idea what he’s going to do. I’ve asked him that question myself […]” This reads to me like a little bit more than “saying something nice” about a family member when asked for one’s opinion in an interview. This sounds like actively pushing to extend a political dynasty. ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2006, 2:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bush-thinks-jeb-would-be-a-great-president/356263/43 "2006-05-11T14:14:43Z")
> [@Diogenes the Cynic](#): > > He also knew that Sammy Sosa could be of no use as a Texas Ranger. He’s got a real eye for talent. In fairness, Sosa \*was \* useless as a Ranger. He didn’t juice up until he joined the Cubs. There was very little comment adverse to the trade at the time, IIRC. ---
**Author:** ![mrklutz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ebca7d/32.png) [@mrklutz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mrklutz)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2006, 3:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bush-thinks-jeb-would-be-a-great-president/356263/44 "2006-05-11T15:04:34Z")
> [@Harborwolf](#): > > Mop is damp enough to promote economic growth, and the spread the sweet smell of freedom. Mmmmm… lemony-fresh freedom. ---
**Author:** ![Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bosda_di_chi_of_tricor/32/16845_2.png) [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2006, 4:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bush-thinks-jeb-would-be-a-great-president/356263/45 "2006-05-11T16:11:25Z")
> [@Diogenes the Cynic](#): > > Bush also thought that Brownie would make a great head of FEMA and that Rummy would make a great SOD and that his housekeeper (or whatever the hell she was) would make a great Supreme Court Justice. He also knew that Sammy Sosa could be of no use as a Texas Ranger. He’s got a real eye for talent. And, next year, George W. will name [Incitatus](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Incitatus) as our next Imperial Consul. All praise the Emperor! Ave Bush! 😛😛😛😛 ---
**Author:** ![Loopydude](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e56c9b/32.png) [@Loopydude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loopydude)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2006, 4:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bush-thinks-jeb-would-be-a-great-president/356263/46 "2006-05-11T16:15:14Z")
> [@danceswithcats](#): > > Sorry, I arrived late. What’s this I hear about Dubya’s brother mopping Hillary’s face with his testicles? 😕 Tyrannical teabagger indeed. ---
**Author:** ![DoctorJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/doctorj/32/2904_2.png) [@DoctorJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DoctorJ)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2006, 4:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bush-thinks-jeb-would-be-a-great-president/356263/47 "2006-05-11T16:32:10Z")
Bush could have given some boilerplate answer–he wasn’t aware that Jeb is considering it, there are a lot of good candidates out there, we aren’t thinking about that right now–and as the de facto leader of the party, that probably would have been the prudent thing to do if he wanted to be truly neutral on the matter, brother or not. This was a deliberate endorsement. They’d love to get a presumptive frontrunner out there, and Jeb is as good as anybody. I can’t imagine it going very far, though. In the Terri Schiavo fracas, he lost a lot of points with the large majority of the country who supported Terri’s husband’s right to remove her tube, and he lost quite a bit with her parents’ supporters when he wouldn’t go all the way and send in the National Guard. Unimaginable though it might be, from what I’ve seen of the man, I think he would be a step down from what we have now. ---
**Author:** ![Loopydude](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e56c9b/32.png) [@Loopydude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loopydude)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2006, 4:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bush-thinks-jeb-would-be-a-great-president/356263/48 "2006-05-11T16:44:05Z")
::coughs Pepsi up through nose:: Step _down_?!? What the Hell happened to this crop of Bushes? Babs drop 'em on their heads a few too many times? Despite his other faults, I never thought Poppy was an _idiot_. Hey may have been a bit out of touch, but the nincompoop gene must have skipped a generation or something. ---
**Author:** ![ScoobyTX](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ec9cab/32.png) [@ScoobyTX](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ScoobyTX)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2006, 5:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bush-thinks-jeb-would-be-a-great-president/356263/49 "2006-05-11T17:21:36Z")
My mom thinks I would make a great president. She’s a little biased. As for Jeb, how would you like it if your drooling idiot of an older brother is known as “the smart, successful one”? (has degrees from Harvard & Yale instead of just a liberal arts bachelor degree from UT, is POTUS instead of just a governor, still married to his first wife, hasn’t been caught with his hand in the S&L cookie jar, etc., I guess Marvin might be smarter and more successful, staying out of politics except as a campaigner.) ---
**Author:** ![Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bosda_di_chi_of_tricor/32/16845_2.png) [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2006, 5:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bush-thinks-jeb-would-be-a-great-president/356263/50 "2006-05-11T17:46:52Z")
In wealthy families the rule is- [ol] [li]First Generation makes the money.[/li][li]Second Generation makes the family fortune grow.[/li][li]Third Generation squanders the money.[/li][li]Fourth Generation is either ruined or brings total ruin.[/li][/ol] Apparently, this also applies to political capital. Reflect on the Bush Clan, & you will see the truth of the proposition. ---
**Author:** ![Kimstu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ecd19e/32.png) [@Kimstu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kimstu)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2006, 5:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bush-thinks-jeb-would-be-a-great-president/356263/51 "2006-05-11T17:50:23Z")
> [@ScoobyTX](#): > > My mom thinks I would make a great president. She’s a little biased. For most of us, though, our somewhat-biased immediate family members can’t get a national audience when they want to brag about what a great president they think we’d make. Jeb Bush’s brother, on the other hand, can. Now, I’m not particularly upset about this incident, and I think there are a lot more important things to criticize Bush for. However, I do think it represents something a little beyond mere routine family-folksy I-love-my-little-bro rhetoric. Bush is telling us in so many words that he’s explicitly encouraging Jeb to run for President someday, and according to the linked article, so is their father. I think we should take that fairly seriously as an indicator of what’s to come. Remember, when George the Younger started making candidacy noises in 1998, a lot of people hadn’t heard of him and didn’t think of him as a contender. But the party leaders backed him and he got the nomination. If the party leaders are now boosting Jeb, that probably means he’ll get the nomination too at some point. Not necessarily in 2008, in order to avoid too overt an appearance of dynasty-building, but very possibly in 2012 if a Democrat wins in 2008. Would the President’s current low approval ratings ruin his chances? I doubt it. Remember that Bush I wasn’t viewed as a very successful president during the nineties, and a number of people initially thought it was absurd that the GOP would even consider trying to run his son for the same office. ---
**Author:** ![UncleBeer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/977dab/32.png) [@UncleBeer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UncleBeer)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2006, 7:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bush-thinks-jeb-would-be-a-great-president/356263/52 "2006-05-11T19:26:25Z")
> [@](#): > > . . . Jeb is as good as anybody. That ain’t sayin’ much. Frightening, eh? ---
**Author:** ![SteveG1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bb73d2/32.png) [@SteveG1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SteveG1)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2006, 12:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bush-thinks-jeb-would-be-a-great-president/356263/53 "2006-05-12T00:39:16Z")
Yeah, I’m terrified. To me, it’s a non-issue. What is George supposed to say? “That no good rat bastard Jeb! I hate him! Next Christmas I’m gonna kick his damn ass, right in Mom’s living room! George SMASH!” Uh, no. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2006, 4:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bush-thinks-jeb-would-be-a-great-president/356263/54 "2006-05-12T04:32:05Z")
I’m sometimes obliged to say nice things about my younger brothers, but I’d never say that either of them would be a great President. 😛 It’s not even because I’m an honest guy- it’s because the idea is too horrible to contemplate. Perhaps you know where I’m going with this? ---
**Author:** ![sleeping\_mud](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/58f4c7/32.png) [@sleeping\_mud](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sleeping_mud)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2006, 6:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bush-thinks-jeb-would-be-a-great-president/356263/55 "2006-05-12T06:33:48Z")
After a few Bush presidents, the ctiizens would start revolting against the obvious dynasty. How many do they have coming up anyway? Lots of young Bushes ready and primed? ---
**Author:** ![foolsguinea](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/foolsguinea/32/14751_2.png) [@foolsguinea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/foolsguinea)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2006, 12:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bush-thinks-jeb-would-be-a-great-president/356263/56 "2006-05-12T12:06:57Z")
> [@xtisme](#): > > p.s. What possible difference could it make if GW thinks Jeb would be a good president?? Does that mean we have to vote for him?? 😉 [fascist]If you’re a loyal American who respects your Commander-in-Chief, it does. Just like in 2004 we had to keep the President because he already was the President, if your President tells you that you need to keep his family in the White House, it would be disloyal & anti-American not to![/fascist] Not to mention, Jeb, not W, was the Bush son many in the Religious Right _wanted_ for President. Apparently, Jeb winning the '08 nomination _& the Presidency_ seemed reasonable to a disturbing number of people a couple of years ago. So, probably still. They’ll insist it has nothing to do with a desire for hereditary monarchy, it’s just a historical fluke. Yeah, right. With any luck, though, the hyperrich who give the GOP its marching orders will anoint someone not tied to the Bushes (like McCain), lest either a) the populace come to see the GOP as just being this one family’s playpen (& a big joke) or b) the Bushes start to see their dynastic status as being enough to keep them in power even as they ignore their masters. They don’t want any Bush to become a Bobby Kennedy, with conscience, self-importance, & _biting the hand that feeds him_. ---
**Author:** ![Purd\_Werfect](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/e47c2d/32.png) [@Purd\_Werfect](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Purd_Werfect)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2006, 4:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bush-thinks-jeb-would-be-a-great-president/356263/57 "2006-05-13T04:31:44Z")
I would think that, at this point, the name of Bush is so besmirched, that not only Jeb can’t get elected, but that Hillary can’t either by the simple fact that she has a Bush. Then again, I’m one of those troublesome liberals. ---
**Author:** ![Kimstu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ecd19e/32.png) [@Kimstu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kimstu)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2006, 12:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bush-thinks-jeb-would-be-a-great-president/356263/58 "2006-05-13T12:10:19Z")
> [@PurdWerfect](#): > > I would think that, at this point, the name of Bush is so besmirched, that not only Jeb can’t get elected, but that Hillary can’t either by the simple fact that she has a Bush. How do you know? Maybe she waxes. In any case, as I said, I wouldn’t underrate the power of political PR machines and plain old public apathy. Bush I wasn’t all that admired after he lost to Clinton, but as an ex-pres he’s kind of been rehabilitated (and, to be fair, he’s done some pretty good ex-prezzy stuff to deserve it too). Most importantly, IMO, from the point of view of the people who really decide who gets tapped for the ticket, Bush II has actually been a pretty successful president. He’s massively cut taxes and relaxed regulations and governmental oversight. He’s consistently supported expanding access for business to low-wage workers and low-barrier trade. In the foreign-policy realm, he’s consistently defended US unilateralism and independence from international agreements. These are the things his backers wanted. The fact that a number of things he’s undertaken have been disastrous major screwups is secondary. His only real drawback is that he might at some point get so many people pissed off at him that he provokes a serious policy backlash. Short of that, though, if the Republican kingmakers have reason to believe that Jeb will be the same sort of president that Dubya has been, then Jeb is likely to get the nomination. Probably not in 2008, as I said, but probably in 2012. ---
**Author:** ![SteveG1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bb73d2/32.png) [@SteveG1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SteveG1)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2006, 3:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bush-thinks-jeb-would-be-a-great-president/356263/59 "2006-05-13T15:10:58Z")
If Jeb does run, I intend to vote against him. My vote hinges on the whole Schiavo mess. I have no use for Jeb, whatsoever. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bush-thinks-jeb-would-be-a-great-president/356263.md?page=2)