Key Republicans Making Big Push For Jeb Bush In 2016

by JASmius

I thought about waiting a couple of days and changing the name in the headline above to "Ted Cruz," but I figured, "Why not let Tea Partiers have all the fun with this piñata"?  Hell, I might take a swipe or two at it myself:

Former Florida Governor Jeb Bush is being encouraged to seek the 2016 Republican presidential nomination in a low-key campaign effort by Mitt Romney's former financial and political backers, The Washington Post reports.

That answers the question of which Republicans Newsmax thinks are "key".  Must be because of the size of their bank accounts rather than their track record of success.

Bush is seen as someone who can best unite the party as a viable alternative to New Jersey Governor Chris Christie, who has stumbled politically over the Bridge-gate affair.

Gents, let me assure you of something: the GOP grassroots don't think Chris Christie "stumbled" over the molehillian "Bridge-gate" affair; they do, on the other hand, think he's "stumbled" over embracing global warming hoaxism, homosexual marriage, and amnesty, among other heresies.  Which makes Jeb Bush a most unlikely candidate to unite the party on much of anything:

Among Bush's selling points is that he is viewed favorably by the party's establishment, and just as importantly, by evangelicals who are an important force in GOP primaries. He is known as someone who thinks seriously about public policy issues, and has the added advantage of being fluent in Spanish. Analysts say that to win the presidency, the GOP will need to reach out to Hispanic voters.... 

Bush has written a book advocating immigration reform, campaigned for common core education standards, embraced the traditional GOP foreign policy agenda, opposed Medicaid expansion, and has told audiences that the nation is experiencing a lack of economic mobility and a crisis of opportunity.

Let's tally this up: "Viewed favorably by the party's establishment"; pandering to Hispanic voters via amnesty; "campaigned for common core"; and, of course, Bush.  Just the surname alone would start Jeb out with barely a majority level of public consideration, much less favorability.  Nominating the third Bush in barely more than a quarter-century would, far from unifying the Republican Party, drive TPers bat[bleep] insane.  They'd be renting cranes to hang elephants in effigy.  There'd be nothing I could say to Mr. Gibbs on either American Daily Review and Constitution Radio, no defense of the party I could offer.  It'd be the coup de grace double-middle finger to the conservative grassroots.  With the ideal candidate, acceptable to "establishment" and Tea Party, Reaganian track record and all, in Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker tanned, rested, and ready, it would be unconscionably stupid of "key Republicans" to foist on the rank & file what they would see as the worst RINO of all.

Money can buy a lot of things, but it can't buy passion or enthusiasm, and it can't make Tea Partiers swallow a poison pill the size of a knockwurst.  Take my advice, gentles - tell Jeb to write more books and enjoy retirement.  That is, if you have any interest in winning.