George W. Bush’s legacy for the Republican Party is one of disillusionment and failure, followed by costly face-saving operations. That goes for foreign policy and economic policy generally. The bailouts and the surge fit perfectly into the Boomer pattern of expensive, unprincipled attempts at cleaning up the mess they made with their high ambitions. The country is growing too tired and too broke to tolerate many more of these.

To mount a winning campaign, Jeb Bush needed to show that he learned from his brother’s mistakes and would not repeat them. Similarly, the eventual Republican nominee will have to not just run against Hillary Clinton, but against George W. Bush too. But Jeb and Rubio have allowed Trump to goad them into running with him.

George W. is charming, affable, and friendly. And he is leading the GOP off another cliff.