# Jeb Bush is NOT Testing the Waters **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [May 1, 2015, 4:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jeb-bush-is-not-testing-the-waters/719017 "2015-05-01T16:46:19Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![septimus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/septimus/32/410_2.png) [@septimus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/septimus)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2015, 4:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jeb-bush-is-not-testing-the-waters/719017/1 "2015-05-01T16:46:19Z")
Political candidates are subject to certain limits about campaign contributions and participations in PACs (or Super-Pacs, Hyper-Pacs, Super-de-Duper-Pacs, or whatever we’re up to now). And candidates who are not yet “candidates” but merely “testing the waters” to see if they might want to be candidates are also subject to limits. [“Testing the waters” is a precise legal term.](http://www.fec.gov/rad/candidates/documents/CanGuideTestWater_000.pdf) But Jeb Bush is neither a candidate nor testing the waters, so is [free to manage his own PAC and raise $100,000,000.00 or more.](http://edition.cnn.com/2015/05/01/politics/jeb-super-pac-rule/index.html) This seems like cheating to me, but the quasi-judicial body that would prosecute the crime – the FEC – is set up to deadlock 3-3 GOP-vs-Dems, so is effectively emasculated. This is just yet another sickening example of what a joke American political process has become, and may not deserve its own thread. Certainly, any of the other scumbag candidates would have cheated the same way if they had as many corrupt judges in their pockets as Jerkbush probably has. But since this is the Pit, let me mention that I detest Jeb Bush more than any of the other despicable jackasses in the Bush family. He seems to be an extreme rightwing asshole, compared with his moderate Dad, and older brother too stupid to have any discernable leaning. I’d almost rather one of the other loathsome Republiopaths like Brownback or Santorum won the Presidency, and that’s saying a lot. And win the Presidency he will. (While I’m here, let me Pit the Dopers who think Hillary is a shoe-in. Wake up, smell the coffee, and work hard for sanity, or you’ll be very disappointed.) BTW, what will Jeb’s campaign motto be? _I’m not as stupid as my older brother_ I hope other Dopers will post with more condemnations of this heinous asshole. Oh, BTW, did you know [Jeb has admitted that his key mentor is the racist Charles Murray, author of _The Bell Curve_](http://www.alternet.org/news-amp-politics/jeb-bush-praises-book-notorious-race-theorist-charles-murray-says-his-views-were)? Let me Pit the whole American nation for even thinking of electing such a detestable racist tool. ---
**Author:** ![Locrian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/locrian/32/14146_2.png) [@Locrian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Locrian)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2015, 5:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jeb-bush-is-not-testing-the-waters/719017/2 "2015-05-01T17:05:16Z")
> [@septimus](#): > > I hope other Dopers will post with more condemnations of this heinous asshole. Oh, BTW, did you know [Jeb has admitted that his key mentor is the racist Charles Murray, author of _The Bell Curve_](http://www.alternet.org/news-amp-politics/jeb-bush-praises-book-notorious-race-theorist-charles-murray-says-his-views-were)? > > Let me Pit the whole American nation for even thinking of electing such a detestable racist tool. Frighteningly enough, I’m sure Jebbie isn’t the only Republican who is a fan of Charles Murray. (I’m looking at you Mittens…) However, I am seriously hoping Jeb IS the GOP nom. Hell, I could beat him as an Indy nominee. ---
**Author:** ![Lance\_Turbo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lance_turbo/32/6156_2.png) [@Lance\_Turbo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lance_Turbo)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2015, 6:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jeb-bush-is-not-testing-the-waters/719017/3 "2015-05-01T18:14:36Z")
> [@septimus](#): > > And win the Presidency he will. (While I’m here, let me Pit the Dopers who think Hillary is a shoe-in. Wake up, smell the coffee, and work hard for sanity, or you’ll be very disappointed.) I don’t think Clinton is a shoe-in, but right now it’s a coin flip. [Current betting lines](http://www.oddschecker.com/politics/us-politics/us-presidential-election-2016/winning-party) give the Dems a slight edge. And I know you’d notice this without me telling you, but there are arbitrage opportunities in there. ---
**Author:** ![septimus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/septimus/32/410_2.png) [@septimus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/septimus)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2015, 6:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jeb-bush-is-not-testing-the-waters/719017/4 "2015-05-01T18:30:40Z")
Remember in 2012 a Brit made an account at SDMB just to post that he had thousands of dollars profit locked-in by buying Romney in England and selling him in U.S. (Speculation was U.S. Romney supporters were overbidding deliberately for psychological purpose, though on election day it turned out that many had ignored any sensible news and just swallowed Kool-Aid.) If I were going to bet on the 2016 election (but I’m not) I’d be tempted to buy the longshot Romney on the theory that GOP might come to its senses and he’s the closest to sane they have. (Come to think of it, the long odds on Romney seems to tell us that GOP coming to its senses is very likely. 🆒 ) BTW I have to fire up a Tor Browser to access your link. _Thailand censors_ :mad: . ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2015, 7:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jeb-bush-is-not-testing-the-waters/719017/5 "2015-05-01T19:07:16Z")
[Jeb spent state money on “crisis pregnancy centers.”](http://www.salon.com/2015/04/14/jebs_abortion_nightmare_how_he_funneled_tax_dollars_to_quack_anti_choicers_gutted_real_health_care/) ---
**Author:** ![FasterThanMeerkats](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/278dde/32.png) [@FasterThanMeerkats](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FasterThanMeerkats)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2015, 8:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jeb-bush-is-not-testing-the-waters/719017/6 "2015-05-01T20:12:17Z")
Not commenting on the pitting, but Jeb is apparently more moderate than most Republicans, according to 538 (see the chart in [http://fivethirtyeight.com/features/marco-rubio-announcement-2016/](http://fivethirtyeight.com/features/marco-rubio-announcement-2016/) ) ---
**Author:** ![bup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/6bbea6/32.png) [@bup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bup)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2015, 8:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jeb-bush-is-not-testing-the-waters/719017/7 "2015-05-01T20:16:40Z")
> [@septimus](#): > > If I were going to bet on the 2016 election (but I’m not) I’d be tempted to buy the longshot Romney on the theory that GOP might come to its senses and he’s the closest to sane they have. Yes, please! If our choices are between Hillary and someone in the Cruz/Rubio/Walker mold, I’m going to lay down and die. ---
**Author:** ![Typo\_Negative](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/typo_negative/32/484_2.png) [@Typo\_Negative](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Typo_Negative)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2015, 8:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jeb-bush-is-not-testing-the-waters/719017/8 "2015-05-01T20:37:41Z")
Todd Smith for President! ---
**Author:** ![Morgyn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/morgyn/32/3041_2.png) [@Morgyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morgyn)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2015, 9:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jeb-bush-is-not-testing-the-waters/719017/9 "2015-05-01T21:13:46Z")
> [@FasterThanMeerkats](#): > > Not commenting on the pitting, but Jeb is apparently more moderate than most Republicans, according to 538 (see the chart in [http://fivethirtyeight.com/features/marco-rubio-announcement-2016/](http://fivethirtyeight.com/features/marco-rubio-announcement-2016/) ) That’s a frightening thought, considering ol’ JEB is the guy who had a law passed specifically so he could interfere in a single medical case (and yes, I mean Terry Shiavo) based on his religious beliefs rather than the legal system. ---
**Author:** ![Leaper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/4bbf92/32.png) [@Leaper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaper)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2015, 10:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jeb-bush-is-not-testing-the-waters/719017/10 "2015-05-01T22:42:08Z")
> [@septimus](#): > > =[“Testing the waters” is a precise legal term.](http://www.fec.gov/rad/candidates/documents/CanGuideTestWater_000.pdf) So to clarify, it’s not just an FEC colloquialism, but an actual, enforceable-in-court legal phrasing? If so, I didn’t know this. But I doubt the media, and 99% of voters, know that either. ---
**Author:** ![GIGObuster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gigobuster/32/421_2.png) [@GIGObuster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GIGObuster)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2015, 12:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jeb-bush-is-not-testing-the-waters/719017/11 "2015-05-02T00:05:47Z")
> [@FasterThanMeerkats](#): > > Not commenting on the pitting, but Jeb is apparently more moderate than most Republicans, according to 538 (see the chart in [http://fivethirtyeight.com/features/marco-rubio-announcement-2016/](http://fivethirtyeight.com/features/marco-rubio-announcement-2016/) ) And IMHO that will last just a few days before the primaries start. Too many litmus tests for wingnuttery in the race field. Jeb can win the primary but those tests he will have to pass will follow him to the general election. ---
**Author:** ![septimus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/septimus/32/410_2.png) [@septimus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/septimus)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2015, 5:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jeb-bush-is-not-testing-the-waters/719017/12 "2015-05-02T05:55:15Z")
> [@Leaper](#): > > So to clarify, it’s not just an FEC colloquialism, but an actual, enforceable-in-court legal phrasing? IANAL. Perhaps the legal meaning is specific to FEC adjudication, which would cast doubt on its importance given FEC’s farcical(\*) automatic 3-3 standoff. (\* - Is it so farfetched to imagine a society with at least a few fair-minded impartial wise men? Perhaps so in today’s bizarre and pathetic America.) ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2015, 6:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jeb-bush-is-not-testing-the-waters/719017/13 "2015-05-02T06:34:05Z")
> [@septimus](#): > > IANAL. Perhaps the legal meaning is specific to FEC adjudication, which would cast doubt on its importance given FEC’s farcical(\*) automatic 3-3 standoff. > > (\* - Is it so farfetched to imagine a society with at least a few fair-minded impartial wise men? Perhaps so in today’s bizarre and pathetic America.) Oh, they exist, they exist. But there are forces at work keeping them out of public offices. ---
**Author:** ![Derleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Derleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Derleth)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2015, 8:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jeb-bush-is-not-testing-the-waters/719017/14 "2015-05-02T08:04:33Z")
> [@Lance\_Turbo](#): > > I don’t think Clinton is a shoe-in, but right now it’s a coin flip. [Current betting lines](http://www.oddschecker.com/politics/us-politics/us-presidential-election-2016/winning-party) give the Dems a slight edge. > > And I know you’d notice this without me telling you, but there are arbitrage opportunities in there. And with the advantages the Democrats have in the Electoral College right now, what with California and New York being pretty safely Blue and Texas and… uh… Missouri being pretty safely Red, “even odds” at this point is not enough of a handicap to make it an even race. As we get closer to the election, and more betters enter the market, the line will reflect the true odds better and better. Despite everything we’re hearing, it’s still over a year out. ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2015, 9:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jeb-bush-is-not-testing-the-waters/719017/15 "2015-05-02T21:31:37Z")
> [@Derleth](#): > > Despite everything we’re hearing, it’s still over a year out. Yes. And if we’re subjected to another Bush v. Clinton race, it’ll seem like over a hundred years. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2015, 10:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jeb-bush-is-not-testing-the-waters/719017/16 "2015-05-02T22:06:19Z")
> [@Derleth](#): > > Despite everything we’re hearing, it’s still over a year out. [Hard to believe, isn’t it?](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=641320) ---
**Author:** ![eschereal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eschereal/32/18939_2.png) [@eschereal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eschereal)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2015, 8:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jeb-bush-is-not-testing-the-waters/719017/17 "2015-05-03T20:32:51Z")
> [@septimus](#): > > … But since this is the Pit, let me mention that I detest Jeb Bush more than any of the other despicable jackasses in the Bush family… Are you sure? His next younger brother is quite vile … > [@](#): > > BTW, what will Jeb’s campaign motto be? > _I’m not as stupid as my older brother_ _… or as evil as Neil_ ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2015, 7:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jeb-bush-is-not-testing-the-waters/719017/18 "2015-05-08T19:30:05Z")
Maybe Jeb IS just testing the waters. Now that he’s named George as a key foreign policy advisor, he surely can’t expect to _win_, can he? ---
**Author:** ![Smeghead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f1d935/32.png) [@Smeghead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smeghead)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2015, 8:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jeb-bush-is-not-testing-the-waters/719017/19 "2015-05-08T20:50:27Z")
Another interminable 18 months of listening to bickering between Evil and Incompetent. ---
**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:** [May 8, 2015, 9:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jeb-bush-is-not-testing-the-waters/719017/20 "2015-05-08T21:39:14Z")
I can’t see that Jeb is a racist, and I think the OP is out of his mind if he thinks he’s made any sort of case to the contrary. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jeb-bush-is-not-testing-the-waters/719017.md?page=2)