Someone said something funny on MSNBC about George Bush Sr. and “no child left behind” (groan).
True, Walker is more recognizable nationally because of his wars with the pinkie ring wearing public sector union thugs.
But is he really known by regular people? The sort of average people who can’t even name their own senators? We know him. We also post on a message board about politics. We’re not typical.
What? Jeb campaigned in Florida as a moderate. He won 14% of the black vote, which for a Republican is very impressive. Other than executing a relatively large number of people, and his Terri Schiavo idiocy he mostly governed as a moderate, too. Other than vouchers, his education policy was decidedly liberal.
He obviously did lots of conservative things, like gutting the public sector (hat tip to Zakalwe) and forcing through some pro-business legislation, but he did most of that very quietly.
Rick Scott (to use a more recent example) does those things very loudly and crows about them in his campaign materials.
Well thanks! I agree with this with the possible exception of the “very quietly” part, but that’s hard for me to judge since I was VERY heavily involved with state government at the time and had a very different perspective on things than most people.
I suspect name recognition is the only significant factor in any polls today, Democrat or Republican. Which is, so far, what Hilary has going for her, and what Romney would have if he changes his mind. Jeb Bush has it to some degree, but that is partially offset by the anti-dynastic feeling that you (and I, and much of the electorate) hold.
But it will be a lot easier for any Republican to overcome the name recognition factor of Jeb Bush than for a Democrat to overcome Hilary’s name recognition. Walker can do it, perhaps, but he will do so based on his record, first to Republicans, and then if he gets the nom, to moderates. Hilary’s advantage is that she doesn’t need to attract Democrats so much - she is sort of the heir presumptive. Maybe she can sail thru the primaries without spending a lot of money or getting tired enough to say something catastrophic, or several somethings.
But if the feeling is that we need a fresh face in Washington, that is to the advantage of everyone except Hilary and Jeb. That feeling was some of the reason Obama won against McCain, and against Hilary. That won’t happen as much in a Jeb vs. Hilary match-up. Maybe a little - obviously Hilary is much more of a Washington insider than Jeb, who has never held federal office.
The election will be determined by moderates, as it always is. A moderate who just says “I want a fresh face” isn’t going to go for Hilary, and probably not for Jeb either. A Romney-Clinton match-up is subject to the same factor, but probably a bit less for Romney than for Jeb Bush - the name Bush was a Washington insider, even if the candidate wasn’t. The name Romney never was, unless the feeling is “I don’t want anyone who even ran before either”, which is possible.
I am still hoping Romney changes his mind later and runs, hopefully close to the beginning of the primaries and sails thru to the White House.
Regards,
Shodan
You and me both, brother.
I keep hoping that Mitt made his recent statement just to take the pressure off since it was looking increasingly like he was going to definitely run. He could still come back in, especially if there’s no clear front runner and/or if Jeb implodes.
And the “Draft Romney” movement builds even more momentum! Romney! He’s not insane!
Can’t disagree with any of that.
Yeah, the family connection is kinda hard to run away from. Not that he won’t try, when it suits him.
It won’t be easy if he keeps doing stupid shit like this:
Jeb Bush taps 21 people who worked for his father or brother to advise him on foreign affairs.
lol.
Also, I think that if anybody recalls her whatever it was on the TV screen can tell that she will need about 5 more years in developing a personality.
Given that the last two Republicans administrations have been Bush administrations, any Republican candidate who wants to get experienced advisors is going to draw former Bush hands.
I wonder if Jeb’s pursuing a run less to really win and more to raise the profile of his son, George P. I wouldn’t be surprised to see George P. running in 8-12 years himself.
The problem with that is that so many of those advisers have no Gawddamn business doing anything in the foreign policy arena post-Iraq War. The fact that Jeb is bringing those people back says a lot about his own judgement in regards to placing faith in completely delegitimized foreign policy “experts.” Jeb should not want the American public to be connecting him to the Iraq War, yet he’s doing everything he can to ensure that voters MAKE that connection.
That depends on who. The Bush 41 people who opposed the war still smell like roses. It looks like he’s mostly drawing from people who still have good reputations.
Exactly. And that fact is a serious problem for Jeb and Jeb alone.
And who would that be?
Scowcroft for one. I’m not sure what Baker and Schultz thought, but they weren’t cheerleaders for it. Anyone who wasn’t in GWB’s administration still has a solid reputation.
Ages 89, 84 and 94 respectively. Jeb could have the first geriatric cabinet.