Jeb Bush resigns from remaining board memberships

[Lite Beer]

Jeb Bush resigns from remaining board memberships
STEVE PEOPLES, Associated Press

WASHINGTON (AP) — Jeb Bush, the former Florida governor, has cleared a path toward a 2016 presidential campaign by resigning all of his board memberships.

Earlier in the month Bush announced plans to actively explore a White House bid. Bush, the son of George H.W. Bush and brother of George W. Bush, is seen as an early favorite of the Republican establishment as the next presidential primary season begins, though it's unclear how much enthusiasm there would be for a third President Bush.

On Wednesday, the last day of the year, he stepped down from his remaining board memberships, both nonprofit and business, an aide said.

Spokeswoman Kristy Campbell called Bush's review of his business interests "a natural next step as he turns his focus to gauging whether there is support for a potential candidacy."

Bush launched a series of private business ventures after leaving the Florida governor's mansion in 2007.

While the presidential race is wide open on the Republican side, Hillary Clinton is the clear front-runner on the Democratic side, though she hasn't said yet whether she'll run.

Potential foes in both parties have already begun to pour through Bush's extensive private dealings in search of fodder for criticism. Bush is seen as relatively moderate and could draw attacks from conservatives on the Republican right-wing.

Bush's team also confirmed Wednesday that he had declined an invitation to speak at a political event organized by Republican Congressman Steve King, one of Congress' most strident immigration critics. An aide cited a scheduling conflict, although Bush is one of the few high-profile presidential contenders not attending the Iowa Freedom Summit in late January.

Bush is one of the most vocal Republican advocates for comprehensive immigration reform. King generally opposes such efforts, but the Republican party is in a bind on immigration, as the electorate rapidly becomes more diverse, especially more Hispanic. Some Republican leaders have said the party risks obsolescence if it doesn't help find a long-term solution to America's immigration problems.

The Wednesday moves, first reported by The Washington Post, do not affect other business interests in which he is a partner. Those include his business consulting company, Jeb Bush and Associates, and Britton Hill Holdings, a Florida-based private equity and business advisory group.

While some strategists have said Bush's private-equity work could open him to some of the same criticisms that dogged Mitt Romney, the last Republican presidential nominee, Bush himself has said his business record would be an asset in a campaign.

He previously announced plans to step down from the board of Tenet Healthcare Corp. and leave his advisory role with British banking giant Barclays by Dec. 31. He severed ties to other business entities on Wednesday including the for-profit education company Academic Partnerships, Empower Software Solutions and CorMatrix Cardiovascular Inc.

Earlier in the week Bush resigned from the board of timber company Rayonier Inc.

-- (c) Associated Press 2015-01-02

[HeijoshinCool]

The world is doomed.

Only homeless veterans should be allowed to run.

[draftvader]

Oh dear. How is Elon Musk getting on with his bid for Mars?

[canuckamuck]

A country with 300 million people to choose from and this is the best they can do, Bush and Clinton again?

I think they are trying to break the record for most disliked president. But the bar is getting so low.

[Seastallion]

" though it's unclear how much enthusiasm there would be for a third President Bush. "

The last Bush's mental deficiencies might be considered to be genetic, so there may indeed be very little enthusiasm for the nincompoop's brother.

But then again, the electorate did vote Dubbya in a second time thus proving the electorate's lack of sense, so who knows, it may happen again.

[alfalfa19]

" though it's unclear how much enthusiasm there would be for a third President Bush. "

The last Bush's mental deficiencies might be considered to be genetic, so there may indeed be very little enthusiasm for the nincompoop's brother.

But then again, the electorate did vote Dubbya in a second time thus proving the electorate's lack of sense, so who knows, it may happen again.

I agree. The second president Bush is a near-imbecile, this is displayed every time he tries to be funny. And Jeb, I fear, is even more of a dimbulb, several steps backward in the evolutionary process. For this and other reasons, I would not be a bit surprised if he was elected president.

[maidee]

oh no , another bush ?

what is on the agenda ? invading IRAN ? NORTH KOREA ?

more MONSANTO poison on our plates ?

[Suffinator]

Could the US or indeed the world survive another Bush in the Whitehouse ... scary thought.

[Fritzz]

...., I would not be a bit surprised if he was elected president.

You are probably right with your prediction. So last chance to visit the place is this year. Take the kids to Orlando, stuff yourself at Dennys, Toni's and Alaskan crab places, then stock up on XXXL gear at Banana Rep., and get back on save ground before the onset of the DARK AGES.

Bon voyage!

[Pinot]

Apparently the seats in the GOP clown car are filling up fast and it is Jeb's turn, you know. Maybe he can help keep Darth Chaney alive for a few more years and the whole gang can get back together.

Edited January 2, 2015 by Pinot

[kiniyow]

The Bush Family is super Rich as it is..Don't they think they have fleeced the Public enough?

[bheard]

" though it's unclear how much enthusiasm there would be for a third President Bush. "

The last Bush's mental deficiencies might be considered to be genetic, so there may indeed be very little enthusiasm for the nincompoop's brother.

But then again, the electorate did vote Dubbya in a second time thus proving the electorate's lack of sense, so who knows, it may happen again.

They'll probably vote for another Bush. Lets's face it, they voted in a b-grade actor a while back.

[rotary]

A country with 300 million people to choose from and this is the best they can do, Bush and Clinton again?

I think they are trying to break the record for most disliked president. But the bar is getting so low.

That will be a high mark to pass to beat Obama for most disliked President of modern times.

[connda]

When the same families become embedded in the top echelon of politics like ticks feeding on a dog it's referred to as a Dynasty and generally is the realm of third-world and newly developing nations. Which says a lot about where the US empire is heading.

[Jingthing]

So he is running. How surprising.

[wabothai]

His clown brother was elected !! Questionable family!!

[Jingthing]

His clown brother was elected !! Questionable family!!

Not fair to oppose him based on his family.

Fair to oppose him based on his politics and record.

[siampolee]

So tell me please.

When was the ''Retard Party'' formed and registered in the U.S.?

Nice party poster though.

Edited January 2, 2015 by siampolee

[Publicus]

oh no , another bush ?

what is on the agenda ? invading IRAN ? NORTH KOREA ?

more MONSANTO poison on our plates ?

Massachusetts.

And Vermont.

[elgenon]

Vote for Elizabeth Warren. Integrity mak mak. Though Repuplicans don't like her standing up to the bankers etc.

Hill lost me when she critisized Obama for not wearing a flag lapel pin. That is important?

Bush is more moderate and intelligent then bro. Can he get nominated?

[Prbkk]

Nominate him and he'll lose by a greater margin than Goldwater to Johnson.

[Suradit69]

Jeb Bush resigns from remaining board memberships

Probably better if he could resign his relationship to certain family members and hope they public forgets what happens to the economy and homeland security when a Republican is in the White House.

[Publicus]

Vote for Elizabeth Warren. Integrity mak mak. Though Repuplicans don't like her standing up to the bankers etc.

Hill lost me when she critisized Obama for not wearing a flag lapel pin. That is important?

Bush is more moderate and intelligent then bro. Can he get nominated?

The Republican party establishment has had its way in determining the nominee every time except 1964 when Sen Barry Goldwater wiped out New York Gov Nelson Rockefeller in a grassroots uprising.

After Goldwater got creamed in the general by LBJ, the smitten party faithful have stuck with the choice of the establishment although Reagan almost upset Gerry Ford in 1976....a challenge that so weakened the already vulnerable Ford that he got beat by some farmer peacenik from Georgia.

Back further, in '52 the establishment prevailed with Ike in a hard fight involving the right's sentimental favorite Sen Bob Taft of Ohio and the moderates champion Gov Earl Warren of California (whose consolation prize was chief justice and wow did Warren go on to shock the whole of each party.)

The hard and real present reality however is that R party establishment has lost its touch. Their gud ol' boy Sen Bob Dole got laid out by Bill Clinton in '96, George in 2000 needed an assist from bro Jeb and he got it but only after a fight to remember, McCain got zapped by fate in '08, Willard never had a chance in '12, and Jeb is a born loser from a family that most Americans have come to know as certain trouble -- a guarantee of economic hardship at home and sure disasters abroad.

Madam President......

[TPI]

How sad! The light on the hill! A third bush? HW is accused of organising to kill JFK and brothers, W goes to 2 wars without a cent in the bank and allows a dark and evil VP to control the country and economy! Now they want the man who cheated his brother into the white house to run........god bless america! They're going to need it!

[BoneRanger]

George could teach Jeb a thing or two.

[Seastallion]

His clown brother was elected !! Questionable family!!

Not fair to oppose him based on his family.

Fair to oppose him based on his politics and record.

You're correct in principle, but they are genetically similar...better to take some caution.

And then there's the chad debacle that got brother in......Has Jeb got integrity?

[umbanda]

Corporations don't want a smart president in the US......Bush will win the next election. No doubts.

[Jingthing]

Jeb seems smart enough. I just don't like his politics. I think he could beat a democrat though. Hopefully he won't be nominated and the elephants will try out a wacky one like Paul or Cruz.

[Donnie Brasco]

I have a one hundred dollar bet on that Jeb will take the GOP nomination.

Upon winning that bet, I'll bet a grand that he'll be elected US president in 2016.

The quadrennial dog-and-pony show that beards US foreign policy and leaves "the electorate" numbed and insensate must go on, must it not.

Bush in 2016.

[Jingthing]

I wouldn't take that bet. But it's hardly certain either.