Comparisons to brother 'interesting challenge' for Jeb Bush

[webfact]

Comparisons to brother 'interesting challenge' for Jeb Bush
By THOMAS BEAUMONT

DETROIT (AP) — It's a question Jeb Bush gets often, and will surely get again, over and over.

At a meeting of Republican donors who helped pay for 2012 GOP presidential nominee Mitt Romney's campaign, one wanted to know: How does the former Florida governor plan to distinguish himself from his brother, former President George W. Bush?

"He said we are bound by religious faith and our family's values, but have different interests, strategies and leadership styles," said Craig Duchossois, a Chicago-based investor and GOP donor who was at the meeting.

Others who have attended similar private events with Bush in recent weeks, as he aggressively seeks to raise a pacesetting amount of money before formally launching a 2016 campaign, say Bush has told them the same. His overriding message, although not one yet offered with many specifics: I am my own candidate.

"He dealt with that tough question like a champ," said another donor at the meeting, Terry Graunke. "He said, 'We may have the same principles and values, but everybody in our family is different.'"

Part of Bush's strength in the early days of the 2016 race undoubtedly comes from his family ties, including a robust fundraising network and connections inside the Republican Party built over generations — his father served as president, his grandfather as a member of the Senate.

In public, Bush offers nothing but love and respect for his older brother, a figure who still divides Americans more than six years since leaving office — but less so now than upon his exit from the White House. In private, the younger Bush notes that they differ and see the world differently.

"It's an interesting challenge for me," Jeb Bush told an audience earlier month, offering a public glimpse into his thinking about how the legacy of his family might impact his own campaign.

"If I have any degree of self-awareness, this would be the place where it might want to be applied," he told the Detroit Economic Club, earning a chuckle. "If I was to go beyond the consideration of running, I would have to deal with this and turn this fact into an opportunity to share who I am, to connect on a human level with people."

At this point, few believe Bush isn't running in 2016. On Wednesday, he will speak to the Chicago Council on Global Affairs to offer his views on the U.S. role in the world, and it's hard to imagine questions about his brother's guidance of the country after 9/11 and the subsequent invasions of Afghanistan and Iraq won't come during the Q&A that will follow.

"Gov. Bush seems to be a detail-oriented person, a policy wonk highly involved in the details, and less of a gut-instinct player," said Peter D. Feaver, a former special adviser at the National Security Council in the George W. Bush administration. "That would distinguish him from his brother."

Bush has broken with his brother before, although few times publicly, including during his time as governor, which overlapped with six years of George W. Bush's administration. In 2003, for example, Jeb Bush publicly criticized the administration over its decision to return 12 suspected hijackers to Cuba.

"Despite the good intentions of the administration to negotiate the safety of these folks, that is an oppressive regime, and given the environment in Cuba, it's just not right," he said at the time.

Amid an unpopular war in Iraq and an economy in freefall, George W. Bush left office in January 2009 with 58 percent of Americans holding a negative view of him, according to polls conducted by NBC and The Wall Street Journal.

That view has softened over time, with a NBC/Wall Street Journal poll conducted in September finding 37 percent of Americans with a positive view of the elder Bush brother, 38 percent with a negative view, and 24 percent neutral views.

Jeb Bush brought up the issue on his own during a series of meetings with donors, former governors and top lobbyists last month who were in Washington for a meeting of the National Association of Wholesale Distributors. Some there said Bush affirmed his pride and affection for his father and brother, while noting the siblings are not clones.

A week later, Bush blithely said during a paid speech to the National Automobile Dealers Association in San Francisco that his older brother "has become a painter. Who would have thunk it?" He finished the brief family rundown with a solemn, "I love my brother and his service for our country."

The brevity, in what was not a political-style speech, struck a vastly different tone about the former president than when Jeb Bush was campaigning in Texas three months earlier for his son, George P. Bush, who ran a winning campaign for state office of land commissioner.

"Ten years from now, mark my word, he will be considered a great president because he got us through very, very difficult times," Bush said of his older brother.
___

Associated Press writer Michael J. Mishak in Miami contributed to this report.


-- (c) Associated Press 2015-02-18

[Publicus]

The OP doesn't say that JebBush said yesterday he does not want to talk about the Iraq war and WMD, that he wants to talk about the "joyful" future he promises everyone.

He's gonna have to talk about it cause the more he says he won't talk about it the more everyone else will talk about it and demand he speak. A part of the JebBush amnesia syndrome is the 2000 hanging chad vote count in Florida while Jeb was governor.

Rubio doesn't want to talk about the age of the earth.

Scott Walker doesn't want to talk about evolution.

Republicans don't want to talk about climate change.

These guys are not ready for prime time.

[Ulysses G.]

The present administration does not want to talk about radical Islamic terrorism , the most important issue of our times. I know what concerns me most.

Jeb Bush called Obama's foreign policy record an "unmitigated disaster" that lacks guiding principles, especially regarding the jihadist group Islamic State. He gets credit for that.

Edited February 18, 2015 by Ulysses G.

[Seastallion]

" Amid an unpopular war in Iraq and an economy in freefall, George W. Bush left office in January 2009 with 58 percent of Americans holding a negative view of him"

Not to mention a plethora of idiot things he (dubbya) said.

Despite the above, " "Ten years from now, mark my word, he will be considered a great president because he got us through very, very difficult times," Bush said of his older brother."

So, Jeb thinks the American public have short memories.

[ABCer]

Will USA ever get out of the bush?

Doubtful. During elections Americans as a rule go for the worst choice.

In rather rare cases when their choice is good - they take a shot at it - also as a rule.

And this is the kind of 'Democracy' they export and force onto other Nations.

Edited February 18, 2015 by ABCer

[2fishin2]

Will USA ever get out of the bush?

Doubtful. During elections Americans as a rule go for the worst choice.

In rather rare cases when their choice is good - they take a shot at it - also as a rule.

And this is the kind of 'Democracy' they export and force onto other Nations.

Your statements are debatable.

At least we have choices where, countries like Thailand have none.

Its not a "kind" of democracy, it IS democracy.

Where are you from? Do you vote in America?

[Anthony5]

" Amid an unpopular war in Iraq and an economy in freefall, George W. Bush left office in January 2009 with 58 percent of Americans holding a negative view of him"

Not to mention a plethora of idiot things he (dubbya) said.

Despite the above, " "Ten years from now, mark my word, he will be considered a great president because he got us through very, very difficult times," Bush said of his older brother."

So, Jeb thinks the American public have short memories.

No Jeb thinks his brother was doing a great job, since he doesn't even get it that his brother got us IN very, very difficult times.

[Publicus]

The present administration does not want to talk about radical Islamic terrorism , the most important issue of our times. I know what concerns me most.

Jeb Bush called Obama's foreign policy record an "unmitigated disaster" that lacks guiding principles, especially regarding the jihadist group Islamic State. He gets credit for that.

JebBush spent eight years as a governor and that is the extent of his public office experience.

Jeb's only foreign policy experience is listing to his elderly father's war stories which are many and his big brother's war lies which are endless.

Not good credentials. Given these two previous war presidents, who knows what a Prez JebBush would actually do.

Expect Prince Jeb to try to convince us IS came from out of nowhere.

No thx.

So Prince Jeb Doesn't Wish to Discuss the Past

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2015/02/14/1364470/-So-Prince-Jeb-Doesn-t-Wish-to-Discuss-the-Past

Edited February 18, 2015 by Publicus

[wabothai]

No need for any comparison.

No more Bushes in the White House, or even close, actually in jail would be better.

[Ulysses G.]

The present administration does not want to talk about radical Islamic terrorism , the most important issue of our times. I know what concerns me most.

Jeb Bush called Obama's foreign policy record an "unmitigated disaster" that lacks guiding principles, especially regarding the jihadist group Islamic State. He gets credit for that.

JebBush spent eight years as a governor and that is the extent of his public office experience.

8 years of governing a big, very important state with many millions of people. That is 8 years of managing experience that Hillary does not have and 8 years more than the current occupant of the White House had when he was elected. I am not a Bush supporter, but it is silly to pretend that he is not well qualified for the office.

[Pinot]

The Republican clown car is filling up fast. I think he would probably be the best opposition candidate. Of course he doesn't have a chance in hell of being elected, but he would be the best candidate. He is going to have to appeal to the right wing, tin foil hat, base to get the nomination. When you consider that village idiot, Scott Walker, is leading currently in Iowa, getting the nomination won't be easy.

Chaney is sitting in the Death Star licking his lips, rubbing his hands together. Yes, finally a chance to back in the game.

[ABCer]

Will USA ever get out of the bush?

Doubtful. During elections Americans as a rule go for the worst choice.

In rather rare cases when their choice is good - they take a shot at it - also as a rule.

And this is the kind of 'Democracy' they export and force onto other Nations.

Your statements are debatable.

At least we have choices where, countries like Thailand have none.

Its not a "kind" of democracy, it IS democracy.

Where are you from? Do you vote in America?

Any statements are debatable. I have not been licensed for Absolute.

Surely you have choices. This is what I said. No license to right choices though.

"It IS democracy" - that statement is also debatable.

I am not from USA. Otherwise I would think you have Democracy.

Not only USA have 'a kind of democracy', but Democracy itself is not always working good.

Edited February 18, 2015 by ABCer

[puck2]

8 years of governing a big, very important state with many millions of people. That is 8 years of managing experience that Hillary does not have and 8 years more than the current occupant of the White House had when he was elected. I am not a Bush supporter, but it is silly to pretend that he is not well qualified for the office.

..... That is 8 years of managing experience that Hillary does not have - ..... including including election fraud / ballot rigging.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_presidential_election_in_Florida,_2000

[Berkshire]

I actually like Jeb Bush (relative to other GOP dudes) and almost feel sorry for him going into the primaries. The right wingers are going to rip him to shreds. If he manages to survive that, the poor guy is going to get clobbered in the general election. The Tea Party will give the Democrats all the ammunition they need.

[ALLSEEINGEYE]

The present administration does not want to talk about radical Islamic terrorism , the most important issue of our times. I know what concerns me most.

Jeb Bush called Obama's foreign policy record an "unmitigated disaster" that lacks guiding principles, especially regarding the jihadist group Islamic State. He gets credit for that.

considering the Bush clan and their foreign policy is probably the greatest contributing factor to the destabilization of the Middle east I find that quite laughable. Let's give the Bush clan the full credit they deserve while you are at it.

If I was him I wouldn't want to focus on my families proven history of lying and war mongering either. Better to focus on criticizing the next administration for the way they are trying to clean up your families mess.

[Neurath]

"Gov. Bush seems to be a detail-oriented person, a policy wonk highly involved in the details, and less of a gut-instinct player," said Peter D. Feaver, a former special adviser at the National Security Council in the George W. Bush administration. "That would distinguish him from his brother."

Wow, is that a slap to the face of GW when he's not looking or what? Does he mean to say that Jeb and GW would come to the same conclusions and make the same decisions but one do it wonkishly and the other by gut? If he does, then that hardly distinguishes between them does it? Or, more menacingly, does he mean that Jeb is more careful, more considered and hence would come to different conclusions and make different decisions? That is, better decisions - In which case he's calling GW a gutted twit. Hardly a nice thing to say.

Edited February 18, 2015 by Neurath

[wabothai]

Hundreds of millions of people all over the world with a right to speak out don't want to see another Bush in the White House.

It is simply too big of a risk and too dangerous for the future existance of our planet.

No need to fuel the hatred even more.

Start making friends for a change.

[willyumiii]

His brother, GW, set the bar so low that they needed to dig a trench and bury it!

He should not have any problem out shining his idiot brother.

Don't like Bushes.

Don't like republicans.

I am impressed that Jeb has a hispanic wife.

That alone disqualifies him from being a real republican!

[Publicus]

Anyone who wants the old fashioned warmongering American president, Jebbush looks the guy.

For the rest of us who are in the vast majority of opposition to 'war presidents,' the following diagram is informative and instructive.....

[Publicus]

Ah, the good ole daze of the Bush speech...it brings back memories of what it would mean to have a Bush as president again. If Bush were elected, it would be the third Bush president of the past three Republican party presidents of the US.

Jeb Bungles Facts, Pronunciation in His Big National Security Speech

Trying to sound presidential, Bush instead came off like a confused former governor.

Likely presidential candidate Jeb Bush delivered a nervous, uncertain speech on national security Wednesday, full of errors and confusion.

Bush was also short on describing how he might combat the threat of ISIS. “We have to develop a strategy, that’s global, that takes them out,” Bush said. “First, the strategy, you know, needs to be restrain them, tighten the noose, and then taking them out is the strategy.”

“We shouldn’t be as pessimistic as we are. We’re on the verge of the greatest time to be alive,” Bush said. “We’re in our ascendancy as a nation, we just have to start acting like it again.”

http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2015/02/18/jeb-bungles-facts-pronunciation-in-his-big-national-security-speech.html