Report: Jeb Bush “seriously considering” Senate run to replace Martinez
posted at 8:05 pm on December 2, 2008 by Allahpundit
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I’m reeling, but that’s probably because I can’t get over his growing resemblance to Chevy Chase.
Two sources close to Jeb Bush, including one who has spoken to the former Florida governor within the past few hours, say he is seriously considering a run for Senate now that incumbent Republican Mel Martinez has retired.
“He is receiving a lot of encouragement from both in and out of the state,” an longtime Bush adviser said tonight. “He is going to take his time and approach this very methodically.” Bush will weigh, according to this adviser, how a run would impact his family, his business, and whether the Senate would be the best platform for the causes he’d advocate — education, immigration, GOP solutions to health care and energy.
He sure didn’t sound like a Senator in the making earlier this year, noted Geraghty this morning. Maybe not, but that’s probably because he thought his political prognosis was terminal. Now, suddenly, he has an opportunity right in his backyard, just as the cancer on his last name’s about to go into remission and leave him with two years to redefine himself as more of a Bush 41 than a Bush 43. No wonder he’s leaping at the chance. Exit question: Does Crist appoint him to Martinez’s seat if Amnesty Mel quits early, or is Jeb better off lying low for awhile to let Dubya fade away before reintroducing the Bush brand?
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The House of Bush shall rise again.
D0WNT0WN on December 2, 2008 at 8:08 PM
Damn Allah, I was thinking the same thing.
Get outta my head will ya.
upinak on December 2, 2008 at 8:08 PM
Heads will explode. I can’t wait.
Punchenko on December 2, 2008 at 8:09 PM
I’m too damn lazy to research his immigration stance– thumbs up or down, those in the know?
Pasalubong on December 2, 2008 at 8:13 PM
Go get ‘em Jeb. As long as the MSM hates you, it means they fear you.
perroviejo on December 2, 2008 at 8:13 PM
Wouldn’t he be Bush IV?
- George H.W. Bush
- George W. Bush
- Barack Obama
- Jeb Bush
malclave on December 2, 2008 at 8:14 PM
Because Jeb Bush is a much better communicator than his older brother, President Bush, he will easily distinguish himself from President Bush, which will be a key aspect of a sucessful Senate run. I hope he runs.
RedSoxNation on December 2, 2008 at 8:15 PM
Good he can be in the Senate for two years and then America will be asking for Bush once again after four years of Obama, then he can be our 2012 Nominee.
lavell12 on December 2, 2008 at 8:15 PM
Innnnteresting…
CP on December 2, 2008 at 8:15 PM
Isn’t he opposed to offshore drilling?
Mark1971 on December 2, 2008 at 8:16 PM
He will win in a landslide, he is really popular in the state and was a great governor. He is also a lot different than his brother attitude and demeanor.
lavell12 on December 2, 2008 at 8:17 PM
Dubya will never, EVER fade away.
Libs will forever go into convulsions and drip spittle from the corners of their mouths at the mere mention of the name.
PBoilermaker on December 2, 2008 at 8:17 PM
Pro-amnesty.
D0WNT0WN on December 2, 2008 at 8:18 PM
I’m glad I don’t live in Florida. I don’t know if I could vote for another Bush. And as Obama would say; “the acorns don’t fall far from the tree.”
John Doe on December 2, 2008 at 8:19 PM
I would move to Florida to vote for Jeb just to stick it to the left once again.
lavell12 on December 2, 2008 at 8:22 PM
I actually think W will fade very, very fast. Why would liberals want to torture themselves by reliving his memory?
jimmy the notable on December 2, 2008 at 8:22 PM
He is their eternal scapegoat, that’s why.
PBoilermaker on December 2, 2008 at 8:23 PM
Yep.
lorien1973 on December 2, 2008 at 8:24 PM
no. No. NO!
ENOUGH WITH THE BUSHES.
We need new blood. Not the same amnesty-embracing family.
madmonkphotog on December 2, 2008 at 8:24 PM
That’s too bad. Even though he’s from a “dynasty” family, I do think he’s his own man and a good man, and more conservative (domestically) than W.
Pasalubong on December 2, 2008 at 8:25 PM
Stay out of the Bushes! Stay out of the Bushes!
Jesse Jackson
John Doe on December 2, 2008 at 8:26 PM
Take a wild guess. Just shoot in the dark. A) He’s a Bush; B) He’s the only Republican to have been re-elected in Florida; C) He’s fluent in Spanish; D) He’s married to a Mexican woman; and E) He insists Hispanics have assimilated well.
amerpundit on December 2, 2008 at 8:27 PM
Here.
amerpundit on December 2, 2008 at 8:27 PM
His wife is Mexican American and he speaks Spanish fluently. Maybe his immigration stance has changed or “refined.” I hope he is not an amnesty supporter. We don’t need another one in the senate.
I really like Jeb and he is tremendously popular in Florida. I live in NJ, but I go to Florida often. He is especially popular with the Cuban Americans in South Florida. Contrary to the garbage spewed by the MSM about Cuban American opinion of Bush, Cuban Americans absolutely love the Bush family especially Jeb.
He is different from his brother. I think he is a bit more conservative, no? I would like to hear from some of his stances if they are conservative or not.
jencab on December 2, 2008 at 8:28 PM
He wants to run for Senate – God bless him. But I WILL NEVER EVER EVER UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES vote for another Bush for president. Even if he divides loaves of bread and walks across the Gulf of Mexico I WILL NEVER NEVER EVER EVER vote for another Bush.
They single handedly destroyed the Republican party of Reagan.
Charles Martel on December 2, 2008 at 8:28 PM
How about Speaker of the FL House of Representatives Marco Rubio?
It's Vintage, Duh on December 2, 2008 at 8:29 PM
People will miss the good old days of George Bush with terrorist bombing every month under the ONE.
BroncosRock on December 2, 2008 at 8:29 PM
His wife Columbo likes to go on spending sprees like the RNC did for Palin. Jeb will need to do something to keep her shopping.
John Doe on December 2, 2008 at 8:29 PM
Like father, like son.
John Doe on December 2, 2008 at 8:31 PM
I’d vote for him for President easily, none of the Republicans could be much better plus how great would it be to stick it to the left and the MSM with another Bush in the WH. I seriously doubt he runs for Prez though.
lavell12 on December 2, 2008 at 8:31 PM
Probably a good idea. He was popular as a Governor, and probably could have been a better President than his older brother, and he’s a much better speaker. He also knows what to do about hurricanes!
Jeb probably should have run for Senate in 2006 against Bill Nelson, but he would be a shoo-in to replace Martinez if he retires in 2010.
Steve Z on December 2, 2008 at 8:32 PM
Palin/Jeb 2012
stick it to the left as much as possible.
lavell12 on December 2, 2008 at 8:32 PM
And we would be blessed with seeing Chevy Chase playing Jeb Bush on Saturday Night Live over and over and over again……….how long after Jeb announces a senate run will it take for Chevy to come out of retirement?
Sweetness0726 on December 2, 2008 at 8:32 PM
What in the Hell does that mean? In what meaningful way was Bush Sr. any better President than Bush Jr.? He was closer to Ronald Reagan – period. The father started the squandering of Reagan’s legacy, and the son finished it off. Other than that, they’re basically identical.
That family is dead to me.
logis on December 2, 2008 at 8:40 PM
That is exactly what we need to get away from. “He doesn’t suck any more than other Republicans” is NOT a winning campaign slogan.
For the first time in 28 years, we are going to need someone to vote FOR, not just another placeholder.
logis on December 2, 2008 at 8:45 PM
Jeb vs Hillary in ‘12! Wooo-hoo!
Little Boomer on December 2, 2008 at 8:47 PM
He would be awesome!!!!!!! That guy is a conservative. He kicked Obama’s ass when he spoke at the Cuban American Foundation dinner. He spoke out against talking to rogue dictators and being naive. Something our republican nominee McCain couldn’t do.
jencab on December 2, 2008 at 8:52 PM
Hey, even my mom, a dye in the wool left of centrist, who voted for McCain, LIKES JEB BUSH! And she and I don’t even live in Florida!
BobAnthony on December 2, 2008 at 8:52 PM
I think most republicans voted for Bush both times but against Obama in 2008. My point wasn’t that Jeb or the other Republcians will be bad but that they will all be good and Jeb is a great candidate to.
lavell12 on December 2, 2008 at 8:54 PM
You can trim the bush, but it’ll grow back.
SouthernGent on December 2, 2008 at 9:05 PM
can we all agree that the bush clan needs to find another line of work outside of government… please!!!
gatorboy on December 2, 2008 at 9:05 PM
Hate to say it, because I suspect GWB has more integrity and fortitude than we’re likely to see for a long time… and he did keep us safe!… but I’m thinking Jeb may have been the better choice, at least in 2004.
That was then. Now is now. And, after the first four years of great hopes and the last four years of near despair, I’m feeling just about Bushed out. Let’s move on.
petefrt on December 2, 2008 at 9:06 PM
I think some powerful strings are pulling this into reality.
jp on December 2, 2008 at 9:07 PM
Florida, please do it just for fun. He’s ‘da man! I’d love to see him in the Senate.
Mason on December 2, 2008 at 9:08 PM
the current media narrative has Bush 41 as a Statesman and wise President, while Bush 43 is a careless evil idiot.
Also, the Dems/MSM defeated Bush 41 and failed to defeat 43, which really ticks them off
jp on December 2, 2008 at 9:11 PM
Just remeber, Jeb is the “dumb” brother….
paulsur on December 2, 2008 at 9:16 PM
Never thought I would say this but I am tired of Bush..
DaveC on December 2, 2008 at 9:24 PM
Does Crist appoint him to Martinez’s seat if Amnesty Mel quits early, or is Jeb better off lying low for awhile to let Dubya fade away before reintroducing the Bush brand?
No, and Yes.
It’s not his fault, but I’m so tired of the Clintons and the Bushs. America is not, and should not be, a monarchy.
Entelechy on December 2, 2008 at 9:25 PM
JEB IS GREAT.
I HOPE HE RUNS.
reliapundit on December 2, 2008 at 9:29 PM
Yeah, it does seem like a back and forth battle between the Bushes and any other democrat.
Bush-Clinton-Bush-Obama-Bush *pulls hair out*
ThePrez on December 2, 2008 at 9:30 PM
I hope Bush loses
.
FloatingRock on December 2, 2008 at 9:43 PM
That would be interesting for sure! Chambliss Won!!! Saxby Won!!!!
sheebe on December 2, 2008 at 9:45 PM
Dammit!
It would be fun to watch heads explode on the left, but the GOP needs senators to vote the party line.
chunderroad on December 2, 2008 at 9:50 PM
I thought that was Neil, and he’s not running for anything.
Anyhow, I don’t know if Jeb can win that seat. Too early to tell.
newton on December 2, 2008 at 9:52 PM
jmo, but the no[limited, whatever] drilling and the amnesty SHOULD be deal breakers …
Buckaroo on December 2, 2008 at 9:54 PM
No wonder why Martinez didn’t want to run. Jeb would have easily defeated him. I knew something was fishy when Martinez announced he wanted to spend more time with his family..which is always a lame political excuse. Who don’t want to be with their families.
tdavisjr on December 2, 2008 at 9:55 PM
As a Floridian-Where do I send Jeb a contribution? Go for it Jeb.
I am suspicious of Martinez’ early decision to “retire”. I think there may be a lot more behind his departure than meets the eye.
Let the games begin….
AnthonyK on December 2, 2008 at 9:56 PM
Chaingang Charlie owes. He was a foundering hack who failed at his own Senate run, and didn’t gain statewide prominence until he decided to ride Jeb!’s coattails, both as Education Secretary (I think), and then AG. If Crist has a shred of decency, he’ll appoint Jeb! to Melky’s seat if the spot opens up. As far as brands go, Jeb!’s is solid within Florida lines. Had he beaten Lawton Chiles in ‘94, we’d be talking about President-Elect Ridge (or Powell!) right now. Yeah, yeah, yeah…if if was a fifth we’d all be drunk, I know…
Kid from Brooklyn on December 2, 2008 at 9:59 PM
I am holding out for George P.
XWing5 on December 2, 2008 at 9:59 PM
Great news. I’ll move back to my place in Ft. Walton so I can vote for him (again).
Zorro on December 2, 2008 at 10:00 PM
I’m not tired of the Bushs but I’m tired of people here acting like the MSM and attacking them. I might get sick of hearing the media attack the Bushs but I’ll take it for eight years to stick it to the MSM and to have a better President than the One.
lavell12 on December 2, 2008 at 10:06 PM
I knew it. The good ole boys in the GOP are digging the final Bush out of mothballs so as to position him to be their candidate in 2012. We can’t let it happen.
Percy_Peabody on December 2, 2008 at 10:06 PM
While the party needs shaking up we don’t need yet another Bush to fall out as a result. Moving on does Not involve recycling, even if in name only.
RuffledRaven on December 2, 2008 at 10:10 PM
Run Jeb, run.
Years ago, I was at a speech by Barbara Bush and I was able to ask her what it felt like as a mother on election night to have 2 sons running for governor. She answered that it was difficult because they “expected” Jeb to win and were hopeful for George and then it turned out the opposite. I believe she said George was riding down to give his victory speech when his brother called and he had to return to the suite before taking care of business. She is one terrific matriarch. The Senate would be a better place with Jeb in it.
Buckeye Babe on December 2, 2008 at 10:28 PM
We may get to see if there is actually a conservative in the Bush family. Shamnesty Jeb is their best shot?
Valiant on December 2, 2008 at 10:41 PM
I hope Jeb runs.
reshas1 on December 2, 2008 at 11:03 PM
War of the Masons.
Coronagold on December 2, 2008 at 11:07 PM
Do we want more Bush?
gringo69 on December 2, 2008 at 11:12 PM
Jeb has the fortune of being a proven commodity in Florida. The Bush name is damaged but if he’s looking to repair it, the Senate is the place to do it. In the end, who knows. After Bill Clinton won I doubt anyone expected the President after him would be another Bush.
amazingmets on December 2, 2008 at 11:18 PM
No more fron the Bush.
Wade on December 2, 2008 at 11:21 PM
Yes! We do! I live here and this is the best news I’ve heard in months. Jeb is a fine, fine person. Pro-amnesty?? There have been a lot of changes in opinions over the last several years as the times have dictated. Jeb is not stupid or uninformed.
I thought for sure he had given up the spotlight and “public service” after the terrible time with his daughter. He’s the best combination of mother and father and a stedfast conservative. He’s flexible, smart, and decisive. I would put his sign up in my yard.
jatfla on December 2, 2008 at 11:23 PM
Oh, Jeebus. No more dynasty politicians!
PattyJ on December 3, 2008 at 12:15 AM
Hello! Isn’t Hollywood (the MTV voter news service) just now coming out with another hit-piece movie on Nixon? Bush is the current left’s Nixon. BDS will be around for a long time! Good luck, Jeb.
Christian Conservative on December 3, 2008 at 12:18 AM
Allahpundit,
I think Bush the 3rd was reserved for McCain and is now reserved for Palin.
mycowardice on December 3, 2008 at 12:25 AM
I hope Palin doesn’t tap Bush. I’m so tired of these politicians tappin each other and they still aren’t getting it!!!
gringo69 on December 3, 2008 at 12:32 AM
Oh good. That issue works so well for us. He can call us bigots and tell us to shut up right up to the primary, then ask us to vote for him. Maybe he can pick Mike Huckabee as a VP and guarantee a massive landslide loss. Enough with the Bushes already. W did some things well, and I do like the guy, but I’m sick to death of him and his family.
austinnelly on December 3, 2008 at 1:15 AM
Negative. I’m hoping Jeb runs with Palin in 2012. I don’t care if it’s a Bush/Palin or a Palin/Bush ticket. I just want to watch liberal heads explode.
The resulting carnage should depopulate the country of 25% of Democrats, resulting in Republican administrations for a generation.
theregoestheneighborhood on December 3, 2008 at 1:26 AM
In all seriousness, Jeb Bush was voted the best governor by his own peers, other governors. This in a state that neither his brother nor his father were from. Hardly what you’d consider a “dynasty,” and certainly no nepotism there.
It would be a shame if he never ran for President because people obsessed about his last name.
Besides, how cool would it be to have a President Jeb?
theregoestheneighborhood on December 3, 2008 at 1:31 AM
They are the same; they are not evil in a personal sense; the MSM is wrong again. Feckless decision-making processes and grow government idiocy came from the first one (tax increases, wetlands land-grab, gun control, David Souter, ADA). Ross Perot and the American people said enough; the schism led to Clinton. The second Bush came in hyper-surround sound version of the first (liberal trickster faking conservative, indeterminate PC war, budget busting, Medicare D, Shamnesty, McCain-Feingold, Harriet Miers, sovereignty sell-out). The close election of 2000 was the conservative base gagging on another Bush. Bush II, McCain, and corrupt RINOs led to Obama. If Jeb gets near the WH, a third party will appear again (if not sooner).
Bush Dynasty: Reason Number One for a Term Limits Amendment to include a three generation ban on descendants in elected or appointed federal office.
Governance is a medieval nightmare of ruling aristocracy. The Bush Dynasty is the gift that won’t stop giving. When the line comes to a natural end, it will suddenly become imperative to legalize cloning. Bush LXVI: The Clonus Horror.
Feedie on December 3, 2008 at 3:51 AM
The liberal media hate Ronald Reagan more than all the rest of the Republicans who have ever lived. But they finally gave up on him; they even sometimes try to steal some of Reagan’s good will for liberal candidates.
Liberals and terrorists pick their targets in the same way. The reason they keep going after Nixon is because nobody defends him. And that’s why they’re going to keep going after Bush just as long.
After the 2006 elections, when Bush became a lame duck, conservatives dropped him like a hot potato. Both sides new it was always a marriage of convenience. Now, like Nixon before him, Bush has a huge following of moderates to jump up and defend him tooth-and-nail from every liberal smear job for the next 20 years. I wish him the best of luck with that.
logis on December 3, 2008 at 4:26 AM
Why not. Just stay the F away from the white house. I’m tired of pulling knives out of my back with Bush fingerprints on them.
SKYFOX on December 3, 2008 at 6:08 AM
SKYFOX:
I think it is the other way around. Neither Jeb or George Bush ever changed their policies for anyone. The back stabbing was coming from socalled conservatives who hate just about everyone who has an R behind their name.
Terrye on December 3, 2008 at 6:36 AM
Allah:
Terminal?? Jeb Bush was a very popular Governor in the state of Florida. If he still wanted the job there he could have it. He would have a lot better chance of winning that state for the GOP than some hispanic basher who does not care about anything but screaming shamnesty! If Jeb Bush thinks he can win the seat, I would rather see him run and win it for the GOP than see someone who can not possibly win run and lose it for the GOP.
Terrye on December 3, 2008 at 6:39 AM
logis:
The real damage done to Bush was not by moderates or even liberals, it was the right who found out that they did not run the whole country just because they had a Republican president. So when Bush did not say how high when they said jump!they joined with liberals to stab a Republican president in the back, even though there was a war on. They did not give a damn. They went off the deep end about immigration, even though it was not a major issue in either of the last two presidential elections. They went paranoid over issues like Dubai and Miers and they proved to people like me that voting Republican really does not pay off because you can not count on the hard right to do anything but make impossible demands and sit home and pout. One thing about Democrats, when push comes to shove they stand behind their candidate…not so with the right. Just look at all the socalled conservatives and Republicans who either supported Obama or could not bring themselves to vote for McCain Palin. It is not as if they just hate Bush, they are like Mikey…they hate everything. The only reason they don’t find more to complain about where Reagan is concerned is that he is dead. And therefor they know he can not run..thus he can sit atop Olympus. Otherwise we would be hearing about how he signed a bill for amnesty or raised social security rather than reforming the system or failed to shut down the Department of Eduacation like he promised, or made deals with the mad mullahs or a thousand other things they could find to complain about.
Terrye on December 3, 2008 at 6:46 AM
No, Bush 2 1/2!
RD on December 3, 2008 at 7:04 AM
No 1/2 at all. Jeb Bush is a good politician in his own right.
But the most likely outcome on a federal level in the near future is a comprehensive immigration reform bill that will probably be worse than the one killed by hardliners in 2006, a move that resulted in them losing a boat load of seats. And when and if such a bill passes, they will blame everyone but themselves. They will blame Bush and McCain and the entire Republican party, but it will never occur to them to wonder how many people their rhetoric alienated and just to what extent they created the very situation they were trying to avoid.
Way to Go. Now once Bush has gone, you can all move on the bashing the next Bush or the next Republican nominee or whatever or whoever. And see where it leads to.
Terrye on December 3, 2008 at 7:11 AM
Jeb Bush for U.S. Senate in Florida is fine with me. Maybe he can help bring some sense and order in the Florida Republican Party.
A lot of people on this site are jumping to national possibilities. Actually, what would be really useful for the Republican Party is for the Florida Republican Party to get its act together and, among other things, keep the Senate seat presently held by Martinez in Republican hands. If Jeb Bush can help accomplish those tasks, then Jeb Bush would be doing a real service for the GOP.
Phil Byler on December 3, 2008 at 7:35 AM
Enough of the Bushes and the Clintons! Good grief!
sabbott on December 3, 2008 at 7:42 AM
I agree that GW Bush has been liberal on domestic & economic politics. But he took the war on terror to another country (for real or imagined reasons) & we’ve had no attacks here.
So he’s accomplished something. Something very impt. And if he would defend himself on the other issues, we might find out why he did what he did.
kelley in virginia on December 3, 2008 at 7:45 AM
So let’s see Hillary ran and won.
Jimmy Carter’s son ran for senate in Nevada in 2006 and lost. Although he will try again soon enough.
Elizabeth Dole was a Senator.
George I and George II of course.
There are two Udall brothers who will be in the Senate in 2009- NM and CO, who are the cousins of another Senator, Smith from Oregon who lost this year.
Joe Biden’s son is a shoe-in to become Senator from Delaware in 2010 while is pop is VP.
Hey it’s a really good thing we got rid of the monarchy, right guys? Othwerwise we’d have all the powerful families ruling us. Phew, we dodged that bullet.
angryed on December 3, 2008 at 8:12 AM
its not monarchy. its about name ID & contributors & ground game already in place. How about the mayor of Chicago, Daley? that may be the worst example.
kelley in virginia on December 3, 2008 at 8:25 AM
What was so great about Bush 41?
exdeadhead on December 3, 2008 at 8:31 AM
I would vote for Jeb… This is great for FL., Mel was a waste and horrible for Conservatives. I think he will WIN big in FL., he did a GREAT job as Gov., but I am under no delusion, he’s still NOT a real Conservative, no Bush is!
Mark Garnett on December 3, 2008 at 9:14 AM
Good move. Jeb cannot and should not run for President anytime soon. If he can win the Senate seat, keep it Republican, and do well there he might have a shot at the White House at some point in the future.
I think Jeb is a good man. There are probably some more conservative possibilities for the ticket, but none of them have his name id, record as Gov., etc. In other words, he stands a much better chance of winning both the primary and the general if he wants it.
Overall, I think he governed Florida well during his tenure. I suspect he would be a more positive than negative influence in the Senate. I’m concerned about the immigration issue, but don’t think it’ll matter by the time he would be in office (Obama, McCain, & Co. will already have that problem “solved.”)
cs89 on December 3, 2008 at 9:46 AM
The good thing about the Bushs even if you disagree with their ideas and policies you must recognizes their class and their family. They are a good family of classy people who love this nation and have done more to help it than any Dems in power. Bush 41 volunteered to fight in WWII when he was just 17. W took a beating from the left and in fact the American people in order to defend this great nation.
Go Jeb Go!!
lavell12 on December 3, 2008 at 9:48 AM
Just say no to Jeb Bush! No more Bushes. The United States isn’t a monarchy.
Percy_Peabody on December 3, 2008 at 9:49 AM
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