As a case for his son, this is not the stuff of 30-second ads: I share my dad’s weaknesses as a politician, so maybe I’d actually be a pretty good president. I’m Jeb Bush and I approve this message.

But the funny thing is, it might be true. Jeb has proven, over many painful months, that he lacks the gifts required to win a primary campaign. But the democratic process is hardly infallible, and a great deal of damage can be done by presidents rich in political charisma — and with it zeal, self-righteousness and certainty.

Between Cruz, Rubio, Hillary and Bernie — to say nothing of Donald Trump — there’s a lot of those qualities to go around. Which makes me fear that we could do a lot worse than John Ellis Bush. And that we probably will.