# I'm so sick of the Bush Dynasty **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [September 7, 2004, 2:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-so-sick-of-the-bush-dynasty/263486 "2004-09-07T14:17:51Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Equipoise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/equipoise/32/151_2.png) [@Equipoise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Equipoise)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2004, 2:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-so-sick-of-the-bush-dynasty/263486/1 "2004-09-07T14:17:51Z")
I just read something that put into words something I’d felt, but hadn’t articulated to myself. There are a thousand reasons why I want George Bush to lose the election, and this one isn’t the top reason, but it still bugs me. This is from an open letter to John Kerry and the Kerry campaign. > [@](#): > > [Closing Time](http://www.dailykos.com/story/2004/9/6/233518/4477) > > 1. Royal Treatment. This last strength - the family dynasty and its connections - is different from the others because it’s an asset the campaign likes to utilize (see Baker arrival, above) but not discuss publicly (notice that father and brother never spoke from the stage in NYC). Now, you don’t need Euclid on your campaign staff to recognize that **somebody named George Bush has been on six of the last seven Republican national tickets. I repeat: that’s six of seven, every year since 1980 but 1996 (aka, The Kennebunkport Regroup Year). Um, how about pointing this out, say, daily? Try: "There’s been a George Bush on every Republican ticket since 1980. That’s six of the last seven elections!.** The president’s dad was on the ticket in 1980, 1984, 1988 and 1992. After taking a brief family hiatus, George W. Bush was on the ticket in 2000 and again this year. And if you think the reason Jeb Bush was quiet at this year’s convention means the mantle is going to be passed next to Rudy Giuliani or John McCain, folks, you’re not paying attention to how the Bushes run the family monarchy. Maybe George Bush slept through his American history classes at Yale, but I seem to recall that we fought a war 200 years ago to free ourselves from a monarchy led by a guy named George." The presidency is not won on esoteric arguments about this or that economic report; sadly, it’s won by convincing Americans - 70 percent of whom cannot identify their member of Congress - with schoolyard political tactics. Bush is the guy who gets the girls to do his homework, and still gets to be class president because he is a star on the baseball team and sits at the cool table at lunchtime. But enough kids, though scared of him, still hate him. Play on that base-level animosity (filmmaker John Hughes made a career doing so), because the “enough with the Bushes already” sentiment offers a strong motive people can access readily once they’re inside the voting booth that the latest Bureau of Labor Statistics report doesn’t. What, do they have delusions that Bush will win again, and that Jeb will be waiting to take over in 4 years? I’ve often heard that Jeb wants his shot at the WH. # I’m sick of the Bush family! Go the fuck away. Here’s another one… Reason #47 = My favorite female singer is Kate Bush. God dammit that I now have to always say “she’s not related!” if I talk about her. ---
**Author:** ![zev\_steinhardt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/97f17d/32.png) [@zev\_steinhardt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zev_steinhardt)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2004, 2:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-so-sick-of-the-bush-dynasty/263486/2 "2004-09-07T14:25:28Z")
So what’s your suggestion? Ban someone from running for President if a relative already held the office? The fact that “a George Bush” has been on the ticket so many times is nonsense. George H.W. Bush was elected twice as Reagan’s VP, and ran for the Presidency twice himself. Would you deny him the right to do so? And George W. Bush ran for the presidency himself and now is running again. So, what? And if Jeb decides to run in 2008, so what? Would you deny him the right to run simply because he had relatives that held the office? And if Hillary runs twice, will we hear you “complaining” that there was a Clinton on the ticket four times? Zev Steinhardt ---
**Author:** ![Earthworm\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/f07891/32.png) [@Earthworm\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Earthworm_Jim)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2004, 3:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-so-sick-of-the-bush-dynasty/263486/3 "2004-09-07T15:14:00Z")
They have money & power, and a large support base. That’s politics for you. You might as well say we should ban Teddy Kennedy from running. ---
**Author:** ![World\_Eater](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/f04885/32.png) [@World\_Eater](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/World_Eater)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2004, 4:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-so-sick-of-the-bush-dynasty/263486/4 "2004-09-07T16:04:11Z")
> [@zev\_steinhardt](#): > > And if Jeb decides to run in 2008, so what? Would you deny him the right to run simply because he had relatives that held the office? We should, add a constitutional amendment or something. ---
**Author:** ![Governor\_Quinn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/d26b3c/32.png) [@Governor\_Quinn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Governor_Quinn)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2004, 4:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-so-sick-of-the-bush-dynasty/263486/5 "2004-09-07T16:13:19Z")
Remember the “Rule of 3”\*, folks. - According to the “Rule of 3”, most prominant families decline after the third generation of note. Look at the Rockefellers after the Nelson-David-Winthrop-Laurence-John D III generation, or the Kennedys after the John-Robert-Teddy generation. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2004, 4:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-so-sick-of-the-bush-dynasty/263486/6 "2004-09-07T16:15:48Z")
As much as I think the OP is completely full of shit, there is something almost Third Worldish about having a father/son presidency. But I did notice that there was no complaint about how many Kennedys there are that have run for office and/or are in Congress. ---
**Author:** ![asterion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/4da419/32.png) [@asterion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/asterion)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2004, 4:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-so-sick-of-the-bush-dynasty/263486/7 "2004-09-07T16:17:22Z")
> [@Governor Quinn](#): > > Remember the “Rule of 3”\*, folks. > > - According to the “Rule of 3”, most prominant families decline after the third generation of note. Look at the Rockefellers after the Nelson-David-Winthrop-Laurence-John D III generation, or the Kennedys after the John-Robert-Teddy generation. Just out of curiosity, is that generally physical generations or political generations? ---
**Author:** ![Liberal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/848f3c/32.png) [@Liberal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Liberal)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2004, 4:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-so-sick-of-the-bush-dynasty/263486/8 "2004-09-07T16:17:47Z")
Actually, I think there’ve been many complaints over the years about Kennedy nepotism. ---
**Author:** ![Governor\_Quinn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/d26b3c/32.png) [@Governor\_Quinn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Governor_Quinn)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2004, 4:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-so-sick-of-the-bush-dynasty/263486/9 "2004-09-07T16:22:51Z")
> [@asterion](#): > > Just out of curiosity, is that generally physical generations or political generations? To explain how it works better, let’s look at the Kennedys. The first generation (ironically, technically not Kennedys) was led by John F. “Honey Fitz” Fitzgerald, who was for many years one of the top power-brockers in Boston. His son-in-law, Joseph Patrick Kennedy, is the member of note with the second generation. His sons, in turn, make up the third generation. ---
**Author:** ![dalej42](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@dalej42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dalej42)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2004, 10:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-so-sick-of-the-bush-dynasty/263486/10 "2004-09-07T22:17:50Z")
The Republicans have shown through the years that they are very willing to nominate people they are familiar with. 1952 Eisenhower/Nixon 1956 Eisenhower/Nixon 1960 Nixon/Lodge 1964 Goldwater/Miller 1968 Nixon/Agnew 1972 Nixon/Agnew 1976 Ford/Dole 1980 Reagan/Bush I 1984 Reagan/Bush I 1988 Bush I/Quayle 1992 Bush I/Quayle 1996 Dole/Kemp 2000 Bush II/Cheney 2004 Bush II/Cheney There has been a Bush or a Dole on every ticket since 1976 and Bush/Dole/Nixon on every ticket since 1968. Only the 1964 election was an aberration . 2008 could very well see Jeb Bush or Elizabeth Dole on the ticket to continue this “legacy.” ---
**Author:** ![zev\_steinhardt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/97f17d/32.png) [@zev\_steinhardt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zev_steinhardt)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2004, 10:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-so-sick-of-the-bush-dynasty/263486/11 "2004-09-07T22:35:01Z")
> [@World Eater](#): > > We should, add a constitutional amendment or something. **World Eater** , please tell me you’re kidding. You’re willing to take away someone’s rights based on something that was done by someone else and over which they had no control?! Zev Steinhardt ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2004, 10:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-so-sick-of-the-bush-dynasty/263486/12 "2004-09-07T22:41:44Z")
> [@Liberal](#): > > Actually, I think there’ve been many complaints over the years about Kennedy nepotism. I meant in the OP. Sorry if that was confusing. Anyone interested in the Bush family politica history might want to read [American Dynasty: Aristocracy, Fortune, and the Politics of Deceit in the House of Bush](http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0670032646/qid=1094596784/sr=ka-1/ref=pd_ka_1/002-6244986-2460844). Obviously negative in its tone, but it does have a good outline of the history of the Walkers and the Bushes. ---
**Author:** ![Loopydude](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e56c9b/32.png) [@Loopydude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loopydude)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2004, 10:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-so-sick-of-the-bush-dynasty/263486/13 "2004-09-07T22:47:53Z")
It seems kind of stupid to blame anyone for this. “You had a family member in the Federal Govt., how dare you get elected!” Why put the responsibility on the dynasties, be they Kennedy’s, Bushes, or whoever? I put the blame squarely on the electorate, and their fatuous belief that political acumen is as thick as blood. ---
**Author:** ![Evil\_Captor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/f17d59/32.png) [@Evil\_Captor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Evil_Captor)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2004, 1:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-so-sick-of-the-bush-dynasty/263486/14 "2004-09-08T01:31:35Z")
> [@zev\_steinhardt](#): > > So what’s your suggestion? Ban someone from running for President if a relative already held the office? > > The fact that “a George Bush” has been on the ticket so many times is nonsense. George H.W. Bush was elected twice as Reagan’s VP, and ran for the Presidency twice himself. Would you deny him the right to do so? And George W. Bush ran for the presidency himself and now is running again. So, what? And if Jeb decides to run in 2008, so what? Would you deny him the right to run simply because he had relatives that held the office? > > And if Hillary runs twice, will we hear you “complaining” that there was a Clinton on the ticket four times? > > Zev Steinhardt You stupid fuck. Whenever you have members of the same family ruling for generations, you’ve got a fucking DYNASTY in power, not a democracy! It doesn’t matter who it is, or where they are on the political spectrum, it ISN’T democracy, even if it USES the trappings of democracy to legitimize its rule. Nobody buys that “divine right of kings” shit anymore, so now it’s “the will of the people.” ---
**Author:** ![zev\_steinhardt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/97f17d/32.png) [@zev\_steinhardt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zev_steinhardt)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2004, 2:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-so-sick-of-the-bush-dynasty/263486/15 "2004-09-08T02:34:22Z")
> [@Evil Captor](#): > > You stupid fuck. Excuse me, sir. While I do realize that we are in the Pit, I don’t think that that was called for. > [@](#): > > Whenever you have members of the same family ruling for generations, you’ve got a fucking DYNASTY in power, not a democracy! It doesn’t matter who it is, or where they are on the political spectrum, it ISN’T democracy, even if it USES the trappings of democracy to legitimize its rule. Nobody buys that “divine right of kings” shit anymore, so now it’s “the will of the people.” I take it that you’ve noticed that the Adamses aren’t running the country anymore. Nor are the Harrisons, the Roosevelts, the Tafts or the Kennedys for that matter. I don’t think having two or three people by the name of Bush in the White House equates to a monarchy - at least not any more than having a zillion Kennedys around the country in positions of power. Historically, this country has shown that having relatives in power has not made it into a monarchy ruled by “divine right.” In any event, I will present to you the same question - will you advocate taking away someone’s eligibility for office based on something that a relative did and that they have no control over? Would you take away Hillary Clinton’s or even Chelsea Clinton’s right to run for President because Bill held the office for eight years? If your brother ran and won, would want to be disqualified on that basis? Please see if you can answer me civilly. Zev Steinhardt ---
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2004, 2:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-so-sick-of-the-bush-dynasty/263486/16 "2004-09-08T02:36:04Z")
> [@zev\_steinhardt](#): > > **World Eater** , please tell me you’re kidding. You’re willing to take away someone’s rights based on something that was done by someone else and over which they had no control?! > > Zev Steinhardt I think he was refering obliquely to Bush’s ill-fated anti-gay marriage amendment. Hey, if we’re going to start using the Constitution to disenfranchise people for factors that have exsisted since the moment they were born and which they can not possibly change, let’s at least do it to people I don’t personally like. What’s so unreasonable about that? ---
**Author:** ![Bricker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/977dab/32.png) [@Bricker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bricker)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2004, 2:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-so-sick-of-the-bush-dynasty/263486/17 "2004-09-08T02:36:15Z")
> [@Evil Captor](#): > > You stupid fuck. Whenever you have members of the same family ruling for generations, you’ve got a fucking DYNASTY in power, not a democracy! It doesn’t matter who it is, or where they are on the political spectrum, it ISN’T democracy, even if it USES the trappings of democracy to legitimize its rule. Nobody buys that “divine right of kings” shit anymore, so now it’s “the will of the people.” You call **Zev** a “stupid fuck” – but in fact there is a difference between a dynasty and the present situation. In the dynasty, the heirs ascended to leadership as a matter of right. Here, they must be elected by the Electoral College, which in turn are elected by the people of each state. Someone that doesn’t understand that is more likely to be the stu… well, is woefully uniformed. ---
**Author:** ![Starving\_Artist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/aeb1de/32.png) [@Starving\_Artist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Starving_Artist)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2004, 2:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-so-sick-of-the-bush-dynasty/263486/18 "2004-09-08T02:40:11Z")
> [@Equipoise](#): > > I’m sick of the Bush family! Go the fuck away. Why don’t you elope with Reeder and go away your own self? 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Governor\_Quinn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/d26b3c/32.png) [@Governor\_Quinn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Governor_Quinn)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2004, 2:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-so-sick-of-the-bush-dynasty/263486/19 "2004-09-08T02:58:54Z")
> [@Miller](#): > > Hey, if we’re going to start using the Constitution to disenfranchise people for factors that have exsisted since the moment they were born and which they can not possibly change, let’s at least do it to people I don’t personally like. What’s so unreasonable about that? I would recommend reading about the last 100 years or so of the Roman Republic. ---
**Author:** ![Loopydude](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e56c9b/32.png) [@Loopydude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loopydude)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2004, 3:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-so-sick-of-the-bush-dynasty/263486/20 "2004-09-08T03:06:52Z")
> [@Evil Captor](#): > > You stupid fuck. OK, that was obnoxious, but kinda beautiful too. (Nothing against Zev…it’s not a personal assessment) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-so-sick-of-the-bush-dynasty/263486.md?page=2)