I am a serious conservative. I plan to put a sign in my yard which says, "ABC" - ANYBODY, dear God please, ANYBODY but Hillary.
However, I also believe that George W. Bush's invasion of Iraq may go down in history as the most benighted, damaging, hubristic decision of the 21st century. So while it is entirely unfair, I can't help but associate Jeb Bush with that awful decision. It puts him way down on my list of potential candidates. And his lackluster campaign is doing nothing to change my mind. Right now, I'm leaning Rubio, though Carly Fiorina makes a lot of sense. But Jeb!? Probably not.
However, I also believe that George W. Bush's invasion of Iraq may go down in history as the most benighted, damaging, hubristic decision of the 21st century. So while it is entirely unfair, I can't help but associate Jeb Bush with that awful decision. It puts him way down on my list of potential candidates. And his lackluster campaign is doing nothing to change my mind. Right now, I'm leaning Rubio, though Carly Fiorina makes a lot of sense. But Jeb!? Probably not.
3
It is difficult for me to cry tears over Jebs! fall. For years the Bush's and the Republican't party have catered to the wacky right wing extremists in order to curry votes. Now the extremists have taken over the party and the plutocrats like the Bushes don't know what to do. Be careful what you cater to - you just may get it.
48
The exchange between Jeb and Marco regarding Marco's senate lack of attendance/voting record says it all. Jeb was making a valid point. Marco tried to avoid answering by accusing Jeb of attacking him now and then excused his performance by pointing out that John McCain had a similar lack of attendance/voting record. Jeb wasn't assertive enough and quick on his feet to respond. He should have said that this was a debate and anything can be on the table especially when Marco bragged about his senate experience. That Marco's poor attendance/voting record was a valid point and that by trying to justify it by the poor performance of others was a poor excuse and shows the character flaw or avoiding responsibility for one's actions.
40
Just as his father flew an Avenger to drop torpedo bombs, it's somewhat ironic to me that Ms. Dowd's column in The New York Times today has just contributed to sinking JEB's campaign for the White House.
Alas... "True, This! —
Beneath the rule of men entirely great
The pen is mightier than the sword." - Edward Bulwer-Lytton
Alas... "True, This! —
Beneath the rule of men entirely great
The pen is mightier than the sword." - Edward Bulwer-Lytton
10
"When the Bushes had to stick a shiv in the ribs of their foes, they behaved like gentlemen and outsourced it to henchmen. They can’t fathom a world where that vulgarian Trump is doing his own dirty work."
- - - -
I have always considered the Bushes to be like the Corleones of "The Godfather", W as Sonny, Neil as Fredo, James Baker as Abbandando; Dick Cheney as Clemenza, Colin Powell as Luca Brasi. You can really have fun trying to fill in the characters. But, the main missing part is the Bushes do not have a Michael. Jeb is more suited for the role of Tom Hagen. There was no need for the Bushes to assert themselves in this presidential race. But, I guess the family holdings are so exposed with the Iraq enterprise, that they could not wait for George P Bush to mature and take the reins of the family business. Perhaps Marvin should have stepped into the game to save the name.
- - - -
I have always considered the Bushes to be like the Corleones of "The Godfather", W as Sonny, Neil as Fredo, James Baker as Abbandando; Dick Cheney as Clemenza, Colin Powell as Luca Brasi. You can really have fun trying to fill in the characters. But, the main missing part is the Bushes do not have a Michael. Jeb is more suited for the role of Tom Hagen. There was no need for the Bushes to assert themselves in this presidential race. But, I guess the family holdings are so exposed with the Iraq enterprise, that they could not wait for George P Bush to mature and take the reins of the family business. Perhaps Marvin should have stepped into the game to save the name.
20
It seems quite clear that JEB! doesn't really want this for himself. Why should anyone want it for him? Let him be at peace with himself and let the clown car roll on.
38
How we got to even facetiously referring to bush 'dynasty' or royal family is an absurdist nightmare.
Need we be reminded that 'Poppy' Bush was the son of investment bankster Prescott Bush notorious for his deals with German steel magnate, Fritz Thyssen.
'Poppy' was that one-termer who managed to put Dan "No Jack" Quayle a heartbeat from office, and whose illustrious legacy includes gem of a justice Clarence Thomas, Ken Starr & pardoning 6 treasonous, traitorous Reagan officials who had secretly sold weapons to Iran in order to fund fascist anti-democratic death-squads in Nicaragua.
Then Jeb, with the support of Poppy's stacked SCOTUS, steals the election from Al Gore to bring us Dubbya's colossal failure to protect us from 911, Dick Cheney & the never ending invasions of Iraq & Afghanistan, & the near complete collapse of the global economy.
Referring to jeb as a dynastic heir of anything but an unending national disaster, even with Ms. Dowd's riotously brilliant irony, is just too dark to make light of.
Need we be reminded that 'Poppy' Bush was the son of investment bankster Prescott Bush notorious for his deals with German steel magnate, Fritz Thyssen.
'Poppy' was that one-termer who managed to put Dan "No Jack" Quayle a heartbeat from office, and whose illustrious legacy includes gem of a justice Clarence Thomas, Ken Starr & pardoning 6 treasonous, traitorous Reagan officials who had secretly sold weapons to Iran in order to fund fascist anti-democratic death-squads in Nicaragua.
Then Jeb, with the support of Poppy's stacked SCOTUS, steals the election from Al Gore to bring us Dubbya's colossal failure to protect us from 911, Dick Cheney & the never ending invasions of Iraq & Afghanistan, & the near complete collapse of the global economy.
Referring to jeb as a dynastic heir of anything but an unending national disaster, even with Ms. Dowd's riotously brilliant irony, is just too dark to make light of.
83
Let's review, with just the past 15 years in mind.
1) Jeb orchestrated election fraud in Florida in 2000 to give his brother the win.
2) W orchestrated criminal fraud in 2001 to justify an ill advised invasion of Iraq.
3) W and crew orchestrated the "own a home" initiative which precipitated the massive bad loans, securitized mortgages, and insurance fraud which led to the 2008 economic meltdown. Jeb oversees the Florida magnetic attraction to this initiative, causing hundreds of thousands of properties to now be under water (not literally - yet).
4) Jeb defends his brother during this campaign, oblivious to the damage caused, and the 10's of millions of Americans whose plight is now far worse than it was pre-W.
Is it any wonder that Jeb has no idea what has transpired in the past 15 years. Any cognizance of the reality of the destruction would send most who participated in it hiding in shame.
1) Jeb orchestrated election fraud in Florida in 2000 to give his brother the win.
2) W orchestrated criminal fraud in 2001 to justify an ill advised invasion of Iraq.
3) W and crew orchestrated the "own a home" initiative which precipitated the massive bad loans, securitized mortgages, and insurance fraud which led to the 2008 economic meltdown. Jeb oversees the Florida magnetic attraction to this initiative, causing hundreds of thousands of properties to now be under water (not literally - yet).
4) Jeb defends his brother during this campaign, oblivious to the damage caused, and the 10's of millions of Americans whose plight is now far worse than it was pre-W.
Is it any wonder that Jeb has no idea what has transpired in the past 15 years. Any cognizance of the reality of the destruction would send most who participated in it hiding in shame.
65
It seems plain from this piece that Ms Dowd would agree with Ben Bradlee, former editor of the Washington Post, who claimed in his memoir, “A Good Life,” that “To watch those people fall is to witness one of nature’s most entertaining and rewarding spectacles – special falling stars.” To Dowd, Bush is definitely “one of those people.”
4
Great essay!
As a teacher who has experienced first-hand what Jeb and other profiteers have done to children and teachers under the guise of education "reform" (which is really just a grab for tax dollars), it's WONDERFUL to see Jeb and the Bushes exposed as nasty, greedy people.
Scott Walker, Chris Christie and Jeb all embraced the make-my-friends-rich education plunder at the expense of innocent children and hard-working families and all are now political losers. Karma is getting even.
As a teacher who has experienced first-hand what Jeb and other profiteers have done to children and teachers under the guise of education "reform" (which is really just a grab for tax dollars), it's WONDERFUL to see Jeb and the Bushes exposed as nasty, greedy people.
Scott Walker, Chris Christie and Jeb all embraced the make-my-friends-rich education plunder at the expense of innocent children and hard-working families and all are now political losers. Karma is getting even.
59
The JEB insignia was the handiwork of political professionals. It was the campaign's slick effort to distinguish and protect the candidate Jeb Bush from the utterly misbegotten Bush/Cheney presidency. However, along the road to the next Bush presidency Trump happened. The insignia, as Maureen Dowd points out, is performing perversely. In the end, the JEB logo being solely attached to the hapless, 'low energy' Jeb Bush campaign will likely better serve the image of the Shrub. How's that for justice?
10
From the start, I’ve been bemused by Jeb!’s exclamation point.
Even more than suggesting energy, it seemed to be meant to trumpet, “Finally!” “The Bush You’ve Been Waiting For!”
And, most of all, “At Last! The Smart One! The Bush Who’ll Finally Get It Right!”
Was the exclamation point his mother’s suggestion - for her ‘good son’, forgetting that he’d never had to learn how to charm his way out of scrapes, how to distract from his shortcomings – because, in her eyes, he had none? Had to be.
Or else it was the work product of some (extremely well-paid) consultant -- someone with a background, not in politics, but rather in advertising. A pro adept at convincing people to spend money they don’t have on items they really don’t want. And probably are bad for them. Who retired around the time Pappy did, or certainly W. (What do you bet a rejected suggestion somehow conflated “Jeb” with “Jedi”?)
And, clearly, who’d never met Jeb. Who, it turns out, exudes even less excitement than Calvin Coolidge.
And so, poor, plodding, inept Jeb! has been waging a losing battle from Day One. Not only against Trump (& now Carson/) And against W’s ‘legacy.’ But also – always – against the mockery inherent in that @#$% exclamation point.
Even more than suggesting energy, it seemed to be meant to trumpet, “Finally!” “The Bush You’ve Been Waiting For!”
And, most of all, “At Last! The Smart One! The Bush Who’ll Finally Get It Right!”
Was the exclamation point his mother’s suggestion - for her ‘good son’, forgetting that he’d never had to learn how to charm his way out of scrapes, how to distract from his shortcomings – because, in her eyes, he had none? Had to be.
Or else it was the work product of some (extremely well-paid) consultant -- someone with a background, not in politics, but rather in advertising. A pro adept at convincing people to spend money they don’t have on items they really don’t want. And probably are bad for them. Who retired around the time Pappy did, or certainly W. (What do you bet a rejected suggestion somehow conflated “Jeb” with “Jedi”?)
And, clearly, who’d never met Jeb. Who, it turns out, exudes even less excitement than Calvin Coolidge.
And so, poor, plodding, inept Jeb! has been waging a losing battle from Day One. Not only against Trump (& now Carson/) And against W’s ‘legacy.’ But also – always – against the mockery inherent in that @#$% exclamation point.
21
We're into the 2016 campaign season for months now and it's not even 2016. But in all of these months of news about the campaign of JEB! I don't recall any comments about his use of the exclamation point being unoriginal because of Senator Lamar Alexander's short lived Presidential campaign way back when. Remember? Alexander wore plaid shirts and used the moniker LAMAR! for whatever reason. Didn't Jeb's handlers and campaign remember this and how poorly Mr. Alexander did in his quest for the presidency? So Jeb's exclamation point could be downright plagiarism or what's worse, cluelessness. I would say cluelessness.
21
Maureen you are on target. The Bushes see themselves as royalty and everyone else as the help. With our ultra conservatives there are the plutocrats and the surfs; and you pay your dues not by accomplishments or becoming qualified for public office but in bellicosity, incivility, being contemptuous of accepted provable facts, and because and insisting that those who are not 100% for them are fools, knaves or traitors; and because their extreme and irrational ends justify their destructive means, anyone who is pragmatic has no place in the Republican party.
Yet it makes no difference except for the TeaParty's irrational desire to shut the government down and default on the national debt, Disr egarding the craziness of various candidates like Trump, Carson, Firorina, Huckabee, etc. everyone in the GOP ticket stands for attacking SS, Medicare, Medicaid, Obamacare, unemployment insurance for long term unemployed, public education, any govt regulation of business. They want the corporatization of America. They say global warning is a hoax, they want tax cuts for the rich and are for keeping wages low and despise collective bargaining and support voter suppression laws. Just what the public wants or the plutocrats want.
Their massage: - no compromise. This nation shall be ungovernable unless fully controlled by Republicans – or Democrats. They want one party rule that is what the people may elect in 2016 because the Republican party has committed political suicide.
Yet it makes no difference except for the TeaParty's irrational desire to shut the government down and default on the national debt, Disr egarding the craziness of various candidates like Trump, Carson, Firorina, Huckabee, etc. everyone in the GOP ticket stands for attacking SS, Medicare, Medicaid, Obamacare, unemployment insurance for long term unemployed, public education, any govt regulation of business. They want the corporatization of America. They say global warning is a hoax, they want tax cuts for the rich and are for keeping wages low and despise collective bargaining and support voter suppression laws. Just what the public wants or the plutocrats want.
Their massage: - no compromise. This nation shall be ungovernable unless fully controlled by Republicans – or Democrats. They want one party rule that is what the people may elect in 2016 because the Republican party has committed political suicide.
21
Just so we are clear. This is not political analysis, and thinking it is explains why conservatives have such a voice in America when they should just be told to sit down and shut up. Family intrigue is MD's substitution for political analysis, here as well as with Obama. Look at the article. For the most part it is just a series of one line zingers: fun and cute to do, but hardly substantive. Is it too much to ask if liberal punditry could take some responsibility for the mess that is our current political process?
16
Maureen Dowd notes:
"As much as Poppy Bush scoffs at “the D-word,” as he calls any reference to dynasty, the Bushes do consider themselves an American royal family."
Let us not forget that the elder Bush gave us his two less than adequate sons by birth and by design as well.
His numerous operatives were involved for many years with the family Bush and they worked diligently in the promotion of all Bush family members.
Yes, we have had more than enough of the Bush family and its so-called dynastic tendencies.
The apples have not fallen far from the family tree.
The father strongly promoted, enabled, and endorsed his son George W. for the highest office in the land.
Surely he knew the limited capabilities of this son and he promoted this misfit ....... regardless.
He wanted a dynasty and he did it with little thought and/or regard whatsoever to or for the good of the country.
(We'll make a man of him yet, Barbara. We'll make him President.)
The sins of the father have been visited upon the nation.
The fact that he wants to do it a second time is ........ more than just disturbing.
It is a serious character flaw and a mental aberration as well.
Place blame where blame is due.
With his relentless pursuit he has diminished himself and finally destroyed his own legacy as well.
"As you sow, so shall you reap."
"As much as Poppy Bush scoffs at “the D-word,” as he calls any reference to dynasty, the Bushes do consider themselves an American royal family."
Let us not forget that the elder Bush gave us his two less than adequate sons by birth and by design as well.
His numerous operatives were involved for many years with the family Bush and they worked diligently in the promotion of all Bush family members.
Yes, we have had more than enough of the Bush family and its so-called dynastic tendencies.
The apples have not fallen far from the family tree.
The father strongly promoted, enabled, and endorsed his son George W. for the highest office in the land.
Surely he knew the limited capabilities of this son and he promoted this misfit ....... regardless.
He wanted a dynasty and he did it with little thought and/or regard whatsoever to or for the good of the country.
(We'll make a man of him yet, Barbara. We'll make him President.)
The sins of the father have been visited upon the nation.
The fact that he wants to do it a second time is ........ more than just disturbing.
It is a serious character flaw and a mental aberration as well.
Place blame where blame is due.
With his relentless pursuit he has diminished himself and finally destroyed his own legacy as well.
"As you sow, so shall you reap."
30
Thanks for the schadenFreude eulogy to Jeb impaled on his own ! of political ED. I guess we should all gather round to join you in singing a sad lament to this snarky, scion of King George I and brother, King George II. Alas, the Republican revolution has dashed the hopes of this plodding pretender. So, let us no longer beat around the Bush, bid a Dowdy farewell.
Poor Jeb is dead
Poor Jeb ! is dead
All gather round his coffin now and cry
He had a SuperPAC full of gold
But he wasn't very bold
Oh why did such a failure have to die?
Only Trump knows the reason why.
Poor Jeb is dead
Poor Jeb ! is dead
All gather round his coffin now and cry
He had a SuperPAC full of gold
But he wasn't very bold
Oh why did such a failure have to die?
Only Trump knows the reason why.
10
Jeb's problem was that he turned out to be an inept campaigner who put voters in mind of his clueless brother. Still in all, he might have been a somewhat viable candidate for the Republicans since most of their other candidates appear to be radical government-haters in the vein of the tea party. The success of the Republican Party never ceases to amaze me. They never propose any programs of any value to the average American.
24
A compilation of news stories rather than an op-ed opinion piece.
4
I find it pathetic, as a liberal who vehemently opposed W.'s invasion of Iraq, the onslaught of comments vilifying the Bushes as human beings. It's liberal group think, as it is with the Rush Limbaugh, conservative group think, to deify your political opponent with personal invectives. Like, being politically correct, it's so predictable and simplistic of these one dimensional liberal/conservative pundit wannabes.
3
As a registered Democrat, as a social studies teacher, and as an American who cares about politics, I am opposed to political dynasties in general and the Bushes in particular. We need some new blood in the campaign, not the same, old, tired families. I am glad that Jeb is trailing. Now, if there was only a viable alternative to that other dynasty. How can we convince Elizabeth Warren to run, or get more people to support Bernie?
13
Did somebody hold an "election" around here that I missed?
Oh, we are all becoming "invigorated" by "poll numbers" and how much "money" the candidate has collected versus any sort of "elective process" that might be enshrined in some kind of document perhaps the "Constitution?"
It's about time, even in this 'democracy', that the political nominating 'system' revert back to the old sausage story: "you never one to see how it's made."
I am at that point now. Bring back the "smoke filled" back rooms and let the two major parties hash it out without public or media attention.
Surely there's plenty other 'stuff' for you guys to write about, isn't there?
Oh, we are all becoming "invigorated" by "poll numbers" and how much "money" the candidate has collected versus any sort of "elective process" that might be enshrined in some kind of document perhaps the "Constitution?"
It's about time, even in this 'democracy', that the political nominating 'system' revert back to the old sausage story: "you never one to see how it's made."
I am at that point now. Bring back the "smoke filled" back rooms and let the two major parties hash it out without public or media attention.
Surely there's plenty other 'stuff' for you guys to write about, isn't there?
1
If Jeb! were selling Girl Scout Cookies, they'd be stale. If Trump were selling them, they'd be overpriced. If Carson were selling them, they'd be flavorless. And if Christie were selling them, the boxes would be empty and there would be crumbs everywhere.
Clinton would be the only one smart enough to just give them away.
Clinton would be the only one smart enough to just give them away.
24
There is something very likable about Jeb Bush. Yes, he's more of a Toyota than a Jaguar, but he's likable. Which should end up being a big asset in the current field as most of the GOP Candidates are so odious, I hate even seeing them on TV.
And Jeb would be moderate for that crop. Yes he'll funnel money up to his buds in the Military Industrial Complex and take care of Poppi's cronies but that seems mild when compared to the slash and burn, zero sum game in which the others engage.
Jeb is a bit embarrassing but in a nice, elite way, like his father who went into a store and was blown away by the scanners at the check out aisles.
I hope he doesn't drop out. Mostly for the sake of the Republicans because he's really the only candidate they have that isn't crazy as a loon. I'd include Kasich but his social policies are dangerously regressive and he wants women chained to the bedpost groveling.
So back away from my Jeb. He's doing the best he can in a world full of crazy. And I for one, like to see it. Gives me a little hope for the future. I'm not going to vote for him. I'm a liberal, but we always need someone on the other side.
And Jeb would be moderate for that crop. Yes he'll funnel money up to his buds in the Military Industrial Complex and take care of Poppi's cronies but that seems mild when compared to the slash and burn, zero sum game in which the others engage.
Jeb is a bit embarrassing but in a nice, elite way, like his father who went into a store and was blown away by the scanners at the check out aisles.
I hope he doesn't drop out. Mostly for the sake of the Republicans because he's really the only candidate they have that isn't crazy as a loon. I'd include Kasich but his social policies are dangerously regressive and he wants women chained to the bedpost groveling.
So back away from my Jeb. He's doing the best he can in a world full of crazy. And I for one, like to see it. Gives me a little hope for the future. I'm not going to vote for him. I'm a liberal, but we always need someone on the other side.
6
Still knocking out crisp and insightful commentary. On the last point, Jeb has an almost insurmountable task as Rubio is not only sparky, he possesses the intellectual gravitas with the youth and background to match. Barring some unknown spectacle in Rubio's past, it may be nearly impossible for any of the insiders to elbow their way past him.
1
“It looked out of character for him,” one said. “He looked like he was a little lost when Marco came back at him.”
If Jeb! can't muster a comeback to a twerp like Marco Rubio, what will he do when confronted with the President of China and Putin?
Jebbie is the beneficiary of the old saw "the wheels of justice grind slowly, but they grind" -- and now he is getting what he deserves for dumping "stand your ground gun" lawlessness on the country and for aiding and abetting the stolen 2000 presidential election that enabled his lame-brained brother to ignore the warnings of an attack on the US that killed thousands in NY, DC, and PA and led to the death and maiming of thousands more in his brother's wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and the ensuing insanity of ISIS in the Middle East. Losing the Republican nomination is a small price to pay for the evil that he and his family unleashed on the world.
If Jeb! can't muster a comeback to a twerp like Marco Rubio, what will he do when confronted with the President of China and Putin?
Jebbie is the beneficiary of the old saw "the wheels of justice grind slowly, but they grind" -- and now he is getting what he deserves for dumping "stand your ground gun" lawlessness on the country and for aiding and abetting the stolen 2000 presidential election that enabled his lame-brained brother to ignore the warnings of an attack on the US that killed thousands in NY, DC, and PA and led to the death and maiming of thousands more in his brother's wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and the ensuing insanity of ISIS in the Middle East. Losing the Republican nomination is a small price to pay for the evil that he and his family unleashed on the world.
20
The Fall of House of Bush
HALLELUJAH
The end of the Neo Cons
HALLELUJAH
No wait.....We still have madam neo-con
So, I aint celebrating just yet!
I'm waiting for Hilarious to flame out in disgrace.
HALLELUJAH
The end of the Neo Cons
HALLELUJAH
No wait.....We still have madam neo-con
So, I aint celebrating just yet!
I'm waiting for Hilarious to flame out in disgrace.
9
For the life of me, I will never understand the reverence extended to Poppy Bush. Whether or not you believe the sometimes-fantastical but nonetheless consistent stories of his supposedly nefarious past,it is undisputed that the man delivered Iran-Contra and formal relations (services to and support of) Central American drug runners. He pardoned nearly a dozen neo-con criminals to ensure that all of this stuff could be buried. If that begets a dynasty, so did Idi Amin. Thankfully, unlike Amin (who had several dozen children with a half dozen wives), Poppy only had two sons. Poppy was merely a more polite, educated, articulate criminal than most.
14
"Jeb said in New Hampshire that Poppy is prone to throw his shoe at the TV when Trump comes on."
How delicious! Reminds one of "the shoe" thrown at W during a press conference in Baghdad.
Poppy now must know a teeny bit about how the people of Iraq feel about his other son's war to bring "freedom and democracy" to Iraq. And he surely has a problem if he can't accept a "clown" running for President here. Is that not what freedom and democracy are about after all?
How delicious! Reminds one of "the shoe" thrown at W during a press conference in Baghdad.
Poppy now must know a teeny bit about how the people of Iraq feel about his other son's war to bring "freedom and democracy" to Iraq. And he surely has a problem if he can't accept a "clown" running for President here. Is that not what freedom and democracy are about after all?
8
revenge (usually a bush cabal tactic) or karma ... it is deeply satisfying to watch jeb!(?) -- the personification of entitlement -- collapse on the national political stage.
considering the destruction and chaos families and communities worldwide have suffered as a result of the policies of this insufferable family, this is likely the only accountability they will experience. and there's no antonin scalia, katherine harris nor kenneth blackwell riding to the rescue this time to steal the election.
considering the destruction and chaos families and communities worldwide have suffered as a result of the policies of this insufferable family, this is likely the only accountability they will experience. and there's no antonin scalia, katherine harris nor kenneth blackwell riding to the rescue this time to steal the election.
20
George Herbert Walker Bush as the scion of a white Anglo-Saxon Protestant New England blue -blood family embodies what is wrong with succession by divine royal reigning rule. It is not natural selection by DNA genetic biological evolution of the fittest. The genetic lottery is a gamble that produces an uncertain product.
Both W and Jeb are tiny chips off of their daddy's block by every measure of character, courage, intellect, morals, wisdom, smarts and judgment. But for the likes of Lee Atwater and John Sununu and Ronald Reagan there would have been no Bush dynasty. But for the likes of W and Jeb the dynasty would not be on the verge of collapse.
By one sperm and egg and event at a time is history made. Our destinies are not determined by either stars nor deities. Chance is the fate that awaits us all during our mortal lives. And things turn out when, where and how they are supposed to. Every inheritance has both benefits and burdens,
Both W and Jeb are tiny chips off of their daddy's block by every measure of character, courage, intellect, morals, wisdom, smarts and judgment. But for the likes of Lee Atwater and John Sununu and Ronald Reagan there would have been no Bush dynasty. But for the likes of W and Jeb the dynasty would not be on the verge of collapse.
By one sperm and egg and event at a time is history made. Our destinies are not determined by either stars nor deities. Chance is the fate that awaits us all during our mortal lives. And things turn out when, where and how they are supposed to. Every inheritance has both benefits and burdens,
6
The Bush family has given us nothing but tragedy. Poppy, as Ms Dowd alludes to him, headed the CIA and brought it out of a scandal, but failed to learn anything that could avert war in the Middle East or the rampages of Central and South American death squads. His enthusiastic endorsement of the death penalty and his racist Willy Horton campaign against Dukakis disgraced the nation, while his loyalty to the oil industry stifled moves towards energy independence. His choices arguably led us into terrible, endless wars in the ME and our national deterioration at the hands of the religious right wing. His warped values and tortured syntax have been passed on to his progeny, one namesake who should be tried for war crimes and another whose corruption of the electoral process and exploitation of the Schiavo trauma borders on criminality. They have done us enough harm. Trump could do no worse.
24
Oh please Maureen. He'll be the Republican nominee. Conservatives (Rush, Hannity) will do what they're told and vote for the guy.
4
Jeb Bush's fatal flaw is a basic basic arrogance and sense of entitlement that is quite evident to the American public.Jeb Bush is "soft and spoiled"and America can sense it. I would posit that it is the central reason that his polls numbers have plummeted.He will never be the Republican nominee. His father's weakness was his patrician disconnect illustrated by a bar code. George W.'s weakness was a basic ignorance of geo political reality, which he compensated for by a surface arrogance.It lead us the egregious debacle of Iraq. When Jeb is attacked or challenged you can sense a certain incredulity in him. He was raised as the over protected "good boy",which gave him a sense of unearned entitlement. He really can't accept the fact that people will dare to confront or demean him. The overprotected "good boy"never had to confront a school yard bully like Donald Trump.He absolutely can't handle it. Remember the "better things to do"comment. The "bully"made the "good boy"want to run.
12
I would feel sorry for Jeb if he had been man enough in the beginning to not pursue this foolish endeavor. It's been so obvious from the get go that his heart just wasn't in it, whether that's singularly from him, or combined influences from his wife and family, I don't know.
What I do know is that sibling rivalry is real, and how the parents react to each child has considerable repercussions on their emotional happiness. I can't quite put my finger on it, but Jeb seems to be in a constant state of irritation, which is masked by a plastic smile. Nothing about him seems genuine. His posture is slightly stooped as if he's carrying a heavy load. And then there's his communication. He's a Bush all right. What did he say?
All of this leads to a conclusion that he thought his name and connections would result in an easy win and he could be an equal with his father and brother. This is not to be.
What I do know is that sibling rivalry is real, and how the parents react to each child has considerable repercussions on their emotional happiness. I can't quite put my finger on it, but Jeb seems to be in a constant state of irritation, which is masked by a plastic smile. Nothing about him seems genuine. His posture is slightly stooped as if he's carrying a heavy load. And then there's his communication. He's a Bush all right. What did he say?
All of this leads to a conclusion that he thought his name and connections would result in an easy win and he could be an equal with his father and brother. This is not to be.
8
Being part of a dynasty is the reason that Republican support is shifting to Marco Rubio. By definition, a dynasty is about the past, whereas Mr. Rubio is about the future.
Jeb was cooked the moment Trump called him a low energy guy. It was as if Trump had fired him. Jeb did not know how to respond, and his campaign has been going sideways ever since.
10
Jeb is a nice guy who was lucky to be governor during the housing boom and even luckier to not be governor during the crash. He may be a brilliant administrator, but he is a dreadful campaigner. Too bad he drew Trump as an opponent. While Trump is unpredictable, he is delighting in campaigning and the perfect candidate for the diffuse digital age. Initially thinking we were in for a boring contest between ageing dynasts, Trump has upset the predicted Bush-Clinton matchup and revived the public's interest in politics. This election will set records for voter turnout and Trump may win all 50 states.
6
Jeb! “looked like he was a little lost when Marco came back at him.” Yes, but that's not the first time Jeb! has looked lost.
Just as in the third debate, Jeb! had moments in the first two debates where he showed he was not up to the job; he looked lame and forlorn as he was put in his place by other candidates; he looked NOT like Jeb! but like an anemic jehb?
jehb? still hasn't come to terms with W's legacy, which also includes the Tea Party, Freedom Caucus Crazies. These radical right-wing Republicans rose in anger, not to W's failure to keep us safe or his warmongering (which enraged the Left), but to his expanding Medicare, doubling the national debt and starting the Wall Street bailout.
The Republican crazies are an angry crowd that suffered during the collapse of the economy; they found W was not a "real" conservative and they were blind with anger, furious with Washington. They've directed their rage at President Obama, but it was W's presidency that brought them out of the woodwork.
So jehb? has a W albatross around his neck and he hasn't yet figured out what to do with it; but even without W's legacy, jehb? has shown he clearly is not up to the job and like W, never was.
Just as in the third debate, Jeb! had moments in the first two debates where he showed he was not up to the job; he looked lame and forlorn as he was put in his place by other candidates; he looked NOT like Jeb! but like an anemic jehb?
jehb? still hasn't come to terms with W's legacy, which also includes the Tea Party, Freedom Caucus Crazies. These radical right-wing Republicans rose in anger, not to W's failure to keep us safe or his warmongering (which enraged the Left), but to his expanding Medicare, doubling the national debt and starting the Wall Street bailout.
The Republican crazies are an angry crowd that suffered during the collapse of the economy; they found W was not a "real" conservative and they were blind with anger, furious with Washington. They've directed their rage at President Obama, but it was W's presidency that brought them out of the woodwork.
So jehb? has a W albatross around his neck and he hasn't yet figured out what to do with it; but even without W's legacy, jehb? has shown he clearly is not up to the job and like W, never was.
12
The "House of Bush" was doomed when the Neo-Conservatives took over George's brain and led him into the Iraq War. Iraq, of course, had nothing to do with 9/11 and the notion of weapons of mass destruction was a pure fabrication. The purpose of the war was to make the Middle East safe for Israel by fomenting conflict among and within Israel's enemies. Now, with a million or more people dead including thousands of young Americans, it's a fine mess indeed. Israel, however, is still raking in aid from American taxpayers, electing sympathetic U.S. politicians and demonizing anyone who criticizes it.
Had 9/11 not occurred George Bush would have remained the bumbling inarticulate stooge he always was with a raft of serious domestic issues that he had no idea how to handle.
One does not have to be a "conspiracy theorist" to realize that much surrounding 9/11 has never been satisfactorily explained. No "plot" needs to be involved in demonstrating incompetency on an enormous scale before the hijackings. The real issue is how such a clumsily constructed terrorist attack as 9/11 could have been pulled off without being discovered, or having been discovered nothing was done to stop. Human stupidity is not a "conspiracy theory" and it still needs to be exposed.
Had 9/11 not occurred George Bush would have remained the bumbling inarticulate stooge he always was with a raft of serious domestic issues that he had no idea how to handle.
One does not have to be a "conspiracy theorist" to realize that much surrounding 9/11 has never been satisfactorily explained. No "plot" needs to be involved in demonstrating incompetency on an enormous scale before the hijackings. The real issue is how such a clumsily constructed terrorist attack as 9/11 could have been pulled off without being discovered, or having been discovered nothing was done to stop. Human stupidity is not a "conspiracy theory" and it still needs to be exposed.
20
W and Jeb are well known public characters, as was brother Neil until he fell from grace in the 80s. But what about that FOURTH BROTHER - MARVIN BUSH? Now there's a mysterious character who's job seems to be sitting on the board of directors of large global companies. One of his companies ran security for the World Trade Center, United Airlines and Dulles International Airport around 9/11. A so- called "investment banker," Marvin seems almost invisible. Is there a more generic term than investment banker?
9
In a perverse way I feel sorry for Republicans, they have to choose their party's presidential standard bearer from this pathetic menagerie of "charlatans and demagogues" and than standby and watch that nominee get crushed by Clinton in the general election. When will Republicans stop peddling "mediocrity and incompetence" as virtues and finally acknowledge them as vices? The Republican presidential candidates remind me of stale Wonder Bread and rancid baloney.
7
@ Dr G
RE " "The diffident Obama" somehow found it in his diffident soul to run for President of the United States twice and win both times. "
Obama is the first president since Eisenhower to renew his tenure after having won more than 51 percent of the vote in two consecutive elections. More importantly, despite four years of battering by Fox News and Limbaugh and the Tea Party and Mitch McConnell, Obama was re-elected with a higher percentage of the popular vote than John Kennedy in 1960, Richard Nixon in 1968, Jimmy Carter in 1976, Ronald Reagan in 1980, Bill Clinton in 1992 or 1996 or George Bush in 2000 or 2004.
RE " "The diffident Obama" somehow found it in his diffident soul to run for President of the United States twice and win both times. "
Obama is the first president since Eisenhower to renew his tenure after having won more than 51 percent of the vote in two consecutive elections. More importantly, despite four years of battering by Fox News and Limbaugh and the Tea Party and Mitch McConnell, Obama was re-elected with a higher percentage of the popular vote than John Kennedy in 1960, Richard Nixon in 1968, Jimmy Carter in 1976, Ronald Reagan in 1980, Bill Clinton in 1992 or 1996 or George Bush in 2000 or 2004.
12
Brilliant article! Loved the line about the Bushes outsourcing everything.
5
I seriously wonder if JEB's "low energy" problem is a result of his diet. Reportedly he has lost 30 pounds since late last year by adhering to the paleo diet. That diet stresses low carbs and lots of meat. I too have cut way back on carbs, but I have also found that maintaining a certain balance in my diet (along with exercise) is critical to my energy level. This took years to attain through a process of weeding out a range of foods while stressing others. Maybe Bush jumped into his diet too quickly.
3
Poppy gave us Iraq and Clarence Thomas. He is as bad as his sons.
23
Jeb looks like a nice, boring guy while W gives me the creeps. They should mend fences and both live on the ranch in texas and give the American people a break. Maybe they could start a reality TV show about life after the WH down on the ranch.
5
Finally, Maureen is back on top of her game with a fun, on point Op Ed that doesn't somehow bash the Clintons.
I'm still laughing at the mental image of 91 y.o. Poppy Bush throwing his shoe at The Donald's image on TV.
Jeb Bush just seems out of place in all of the Republican debates and even awkward at his own campaign rallies. Did he really think he was going to be given the Republican nomination without earning it?
I'm still laughing at the mental image of 91 y.o. Poppy Bush throwing his shoe at The Donald's image on TV.
Jeb Bush just seems out of place in all of the Republican debates and even awkward at his own campaign rallies. Did he really think he was going to be given the Republican nomination without earning it?
6
“Poppy and Bush retainers like John Sununu are bewildered by a conservative electorate that rejects Republican primogeniture, prefers snark to substance and embraces an extremely weird brain surgeon and an extravagantly wild reality show star.”
Nouveau snark, weird, and wild rarely beats old money, power, and experience. However, the problem faced by the Republican Establishment this year is that the Republican electorate has bought into the snarky, weird, and wild policy statements fulminating out of the established Republican leadership for the last eight years. Trump and Carson are just better presenters of the absurd than even Rubio and his similarly merry and scary band of cohorts.
Nouveau snark, weird, and wild rarely beats old money, power, and experience. However, the problem faced by the Republican Establishment this year is that the Republican electorate has bought into the snarky, weird, and wild policy statements fulminating out of the established Republican leadership for the last eight years. Trump and Carson are just better presenters of the absurd than even Rubio and his similarly merry and scary band of cohorts.
6
Jeb is lost. Too bad. Seems Hillary is next unless Marco can step it it up.
The chickens have certainly come home to roost for the Bushes. W. nearly destroyed this country's economy and plunged the United States into a titanic quagmire in Iraq---and destabilized the region for decades. And with Jeb! defending his brother's legacy---he's reminding the country what lousy presidents the Bushes are.
As for that grifter Rubio--Jeb! was his mentor--so he's his creation.
As for that grifter Rubio--Jeb! was his mentor--so he's his creation.
18
President Bush I is "prudent" (thanks for the p word, Dana Carvey) and actually rather moderate.
President Bush II was apparently thought by the voting public as a loyal son who'd probably at the least be wisely well-counseled/advised by Bush I, yet both moderates James Baker and Brent Scowcraft for instances, were apparently not influential parts of the Bush II Administration.
Bush II was indeed counseled by the rather hawkish Dick Cheney of the Bush I Administration.
I've read that Jeb is intellectual, which I suppose is more like his Dad, Bush I, and his Grandfather Prescott, a very prominent Connecticut Yankee Senator.
What bothered me about Bush II was Kevin Phillips' HARPER"s article, which of course most voters never heard of prior to Bush II's first election.
Apparently the over-advertising on television Democrats failed to publicize that masterful & insightful Phillips' analysis.
President Bush II was apparently thought by the voting public as a loyal son who'd probably at the least be wisely well-counseled/advised by Bush I, yet both moderates James Baker and Brent Scowcraft for instances, were apparently not influential parts of the Bush II Administration.
Bush II was indeed counseled by the rather hawkish Dick Cheney of the Bush I Administration.
I've read that Jeb is intellectual, which I suppose is more like his Dad, Bush I, and his Grandfather Prescott, a very prominent Connecticut Yankee Senator.
What bothered me about Bush II was Kevin Phillips' HARPER"s article, which of course most voters never heard of prior to Bush II's first election.
Apparently the over-advertising on television Democrats failed to publicize that masterful & insightful Phillips' analysis.
Pretty accurate observations but I couldn't help but feel it is piling on a guy who has already been totally destroyed in a very embarrassing manner. Kinda felt like watching the bully sitting on the crying skinny kid who is getting slapped repeatedly. Guess the resentment toward the Bush family is so strong most feel it's deserved and enjoy it.
5
George H.W. Bush showed his true colors many years ago, when he repudiated his own opinion of Reagan's economic policy as "voodoo economics." I read (also many years ago) of an anecdote in which one of his brothers related an incident in which H.W. won a sailing competition by tying a bucket to the hull of his competitor's boat; apparently cheating was admired in this family. We also have Bush to thank for appointing Clarence Thomas to SCOTUS, possibly one of the least distinguished and incurious justices ever, and an alleged sexual harrasser.
13
And let's not forget the real reason that Jeb is failing.
Many of us remember what happens when low intelligence, lack of vision, irresponsible behavior patterns, and, a life of privilege without hard work intersect the Presidency. (George W. Bush for example)
We get the current Middle East debacle, endless war, millions of refugees (all of which is Jeb's brother's fault). We get collapsed economies, billionaire bailouts and million dollar bonuses for those responsible.
Who on earth wants another Bush in office after paying even mild attention to the US Policy Obama has been trying to clean up for the last 8 years?
Many of us remember what happens when low intelligence, lack of vision, irresponsible behavior patterns, and, a life of privilege without hard work intersect the Presidency. (George W. Bush for example)
We get the current Middle East debacle, endless war, millions of refugees (all of which is Jeb's brother's fault). We get collapsed economies, billionaire bailouts and million dollar bonuses for those responsible.
Who on earth wants another Bush in office after paying even mild attention to the US Policy Obama has been trying to clean up for the last 8 years?
15
Bush kept us safe? Come on Jeb! Tell us just what was your brother doing on his ranch with Cheney when they got intelligence reports that al qaeda was about to attack the US in the summer of 2001? It was a huge intelligence failure. It was on Bush/Cheney´s watch that the biggest domestic attack in US history happened. And to add insult to injury Bush through lies and deceptions precipitated the war on Iraq. destabilizing the ME region and unleashing a whole assortment of terrorist organizations full of hate toward the US. No, Bush did not keep the nation safe. He made it much less safe. And the catastrophic unbudgeted costs are still having major ruinous repercussions ... a massive 30% increase in the size of gov´t ($4 trillion for Homeland Security alone and counting), two unnecessary wars (another $4 trillion and counting), and the huge cost in blood and guts.
18
The Bush "dynasty" is over - the Clinton's is in the making. It is a certainty that if HRC wins the presidency Chelsea will go for a senator's seat - probably New York's - goodbye Kirsten. What a shame the Clinton's stopped at one - does not sound very Southern. It's hard to build a dynasty with only one kid - look at the Kennedy's - they had a tribe - and still just one made it all the way.
And why did they stop at one - kind of weird when you think about it. It wasn't as if they were southern "white trash" and couldn't afford more. They made tons of money from private dubious business dealings while Bill held the governorship - so they had the dough. Hillary writes "It takes a Village" but when it comes to filling that Village - well, she's no help.
Rubio - HRC's most likely opponent - has four children. Right off the bat that makes Rubio's marriage more normal; as if anyone thinks the Clinton's is "normal." It isn't - Bill's strange; and Hillary is even stranger. Jeez - would hate to see that dysfunctional pair back in the White House and using AirBnB to fill Lincoln's bed room.
And why did they stop at one - kind of weird when you think about it. It wasn't as if they were southern "white trash" and couldn't afford more. They made tons of money from private dubious business dealings while Bill held the governorship - so they had the dough. Hillary writes "It takes a Village" but when it comes to filling that Village - well, she's no help.
Rubio - HRC's most likely opponent - has four children. Right off the bat that makes Rubio's marriage more normal; as if anyone thinks the Clinton's is "normal." It isn't - Bill's strange; and Hillary is even stranger. Jeez - would hate to see that dysfunctional pair back in the White House and using AirBnB to fill Lincoln's bed room.
3
Maureen Dowd notes:
"As much as Poppy Bush scoffs at “the D-word,” as he calls any reference to dynasty, the Bushes do consider themselves an American royal family."
Let us not forget that the elder Bush gave us his two less than adequate sons by birth and by design as well.
His numerous operatives were involved for many years with the family Bush and they worked diligently in the promotion of all Bush family members.
Yes, we have had more than enough of the Bush family and its so-called dynastic tendencies.
The apples have not fallen far from the family tree.
The father strongly promoted, enabled, and endorsed his son George W. for the highest office in the land.
Surely he knew the limited capabilities of this son and he promoted this misfit ....... regardless.
He wanted a dynasty and he did it with little thought and/or regard whatsoever to or for the good of the country.
(We'll make a man of him yet, Barbara. We'll make him President.)
The sins of the father have been visited upon the nation.
The fact that he wants to do it a second time is ........ more than just disturbing.
It is a serious character flaw and a mental aberration as well.
Place blame where blame is due.
With his relentless pursuit he has diminished himself and finally destroyed his own legacy as well.
"As you sow, so shall you reap."
"As much as Poppy Bush scoffs at “the D-word,” as he calls any reference to dynasty, the Bushes do consider themselves an American royal family."
Let us not forget that the elder Bush gave us his two less than adequate sons by birth and by design as well.
His numerous operatives were involved for many years with the family Bush and they worked diligently in the promotion of all Bush family members.
Yes, we have had more than enough of the Bush family and its so-called dynastic tendencies.
The apples have not fallen far from the family tree.
The father strongly promoted, enabled, and endorsed his son George W. for the highest office in the land.
Surely he knew the limited capabilities of this son and he promoted this misfit ....... regardless.
He wanted a dynasty and he did it with little thought and/or regard whatsoever to or for the good of the country.
(We'll make a man of him yet, Barbara. We'll make him President.)
The sins of the father have been visited upon the nation.
The fact that he wants to do it a second time is ........ more than just disturbing.
It is a serious character flaw and a mental aberration as well.
Place blame where blame is due.
With his relentless pursuit he has diminished himself and finally destroyed his own legacy as well.
"As you sow, so shall you reap."
7
Up until the past couple of months, as Jeb! seemed to be moving inexorably toward the nomination for POTUS he felt he was born to, I kept thinking how Terri Schiavo must be turning in her grave. Now that Trump and the other GOP zanies appear to have quashed Jeb's dreams of being "the chosen one", I hope she is resting more peacefully.
7
A nice column(for a change) where Ms. Dowd makes many prescient points about the fragility of the Bush clan amidst the rough and tumble world of Presidential politics. The rags to riches saga has become such a cliche of American politics that it is barely used anymore, and when it is often becomes a parody of the cliche(Trump's 'small' milion dollar loan from Daddy).
But the Bushes didn't grow up scraping their way up any political ladder, or economic ladder for that matter, and it's finally, and thankfully, caught up with their ambitions. Remember when G.H.W. was flabbergasted on that N.H. stage by Reagan's "I paid for this microphone"? And most people sensed correctly that W, college cheerleader, was little more than a lapdog to Cheney and Rumsfeld and all the other Republican macho men when it came to flexing American muscle and involving us in needless wars?
Oh yes, the chickens have come home to roost, and Jeb(!) comes across as almost pathetic in his political discourse, be it when he's spouting canned dialogue or worse yet, ad libbing in a political moment. Trump's harsh, crude putdowns of Jeb have only accelerated what the Presidential spotlight would eventually would have exposed, but thankfully early enough to deny him the coveted nomination: this child of privilege and private schools and country clubs is at heart a wimp.
But the Bushes didn't grow up scraping their way up any political ladder, or economic ladder for that matter, and it's finally, and thankfully, caught up with their ambitions. Remember when G.H.W. was flabbergasted on that N.H. stage by Reagan's "I paid for this microphone"? And most people sensed correctly that W, college cheerleader, was little more than a lapdog to Cheney and Rumsfeld and all the other Republican macho men when it came to flexing American muscle and involving us in needless wars?
Oh yes, the chickens have come home to roost, and Jeb(!) comes across as almost pathetic in his political discourse, be it when he's spouting canned dialogue or worse yet, ad libbing in a political moment. Trump's harsh, crude putdowns of Jeb have only accelerated what the Presidential spotlight would eventually would have exposed, but thankfully early enough to deny him the coveted nomination: this child of privilege and private schools and country clubs is at heart a wimp.
14
Sifting through such thin political sand in hopes of finding a block, a brick a bone that might imply something of value, worth analysis, interpretation-anything. A useless activity. There remains only colossal despair, a Bush construction, a work still in progress.
2
Let's not forget it was Neil Bush who was neck deep in the Savings and Loan scandal.
9
At this point in time, piling on Jeb Bush for being a hapless campaigner is like shooting fish in a barrel - easy but pointless.
The bigger problem is that that political landscape on the right has changed dramatically - but Jeb has not. His campaigning style might have worked 10, 20 years ago, but not now when the base of the party has become so radicalized and the game is to see who can throw them the most raw meat. W has the instincts of s street fighter; Jeb doesn't.
It should not be forgotten that Jeb can pander as hard as anyone to the base. The Terry Schiavo travesty showed that, as did his blatant manipulation of the Florida election in 2000. But, here's the difference. Jeb didn't engineer either of those situations. They were handed to him.
And that's Jeb's problem. He still expects stuff to be handed to him. These days, you really have to hustle if you want to fleece the rubes. The GOP contest at the moment is all about who can sell the most snake oil. Jeb's heart isn't in it.
The bigger problem is that that political landscape on the right has changed dramatically - but Jeb has not. His campaigning style might have worked 10, 20 years ago, but not now when the base of the party has become so radicalized and the game is to see who can throw them the most raw meat. W has the instincts of s street fighter; Jeb doesn't.
It should not be forgotten that Jeb can pander as hard as anyone to the base. The Terry Schiavo travesty showed that, as did his blatant manipulation of the Florida election in 2000. But, here's the difference. Jeb didn't engineer either of those situations. They were handed to him.
And that's Jeb's problem. He still expects stuff to be handed to him. These days, you really have to hustle if you want to fleece the rubes. The GOP contest at the moment is all about who can sell the most snake oil. Jeb's heart isn't in it.
4
There was a time when experience mattered. Government experience. Because governing is not like running a company. There is simply nothing else like running a government. So for the GOP to be swayed by all the inexperienced candidates that currently are in the "fight", is telling.
Having said that, experience is also a double edged sword. There is good experience and bad experience. Jeb! is bad experience personified. And there is no good experience on the Republican stage that seems apparent to me.
Back bencher Senators, ineffective Governors, Trump and Carson, neophytes both. Sad.
Having said that, experience is also a double edged sword. There is good experience and bad experience. Jeb! is bad experience personified. And there is no good experience on the Republican stage that seems apparent to me.
Back bencher Senators, ineffective Governors, Trump and Carson, neophytes both. Sad.
1
Very nicely done. Totally on point and factually accurate. Willie Horton ads of GHW Bush were blamed on Bush's campaign manager. Cheney was the arttack dog when it came to lieing about WMD. UN Inspector Hans Blix led a large WMD team of experts to every one of the sites Cheney/Bush claimed had WMD found none and reported it to Bush/Cheney a full month before Bush attacked killing 4000 US men and women soldiers, wounding 80,000,producing 300,000 traumatic brain injuries, and 330,000 cases of PTSD, WHILE WASTING $2 Trillion dollars. After the attack began, Bush/Cheney spent $660 million trying to prove Blix wrong and ended up confirming Blix's highly accurate report. Jeb's economic plan is the same one GWBush used to run us into the 2008 collapse--Tax cuts, benefit cuts, lax business regulation. Hopefully we voters will not be stupid a third time.
10
Dowd, still coming off as just another high school teenaged gossip girl. Wouldn't it be great if we could get rid of the Bushes, the Clintons and all the elitist crooked DC royal attitude swine and start new with people whose only interest was to honor the constitution and our freedoms? Imagine that. What a great country we could once again be.
1
Given the damage that this family has visited on our country (and that includes 41 and 43), why would anyone in their right mind imagine that we would make the same mistake three times over? Jesse Jackson was right when he said, "Stay clear of the Bushes"!
9
Once I saw and heard Jeb speak I felt that he was enough like W. to not have a chance at the presidency. He seemed even more inept. Very good for me, I thought. Then along came Trump who I considered ever more inept. The rest is history!.
2
Jeb exudes confusion and weakness. Not exactly what we need in a President.
7
@ Socrates
RE "... the 2000 minority vote to give us the worst President in modern history"
Actually a 2010 Siena ranking of presidential scholars rated Bush as one of the nation's five worst presidents in all its history. A similar 2009 C-SPAN ranking put Bush in the bottom eight.
RE "... the 2000 minority vote to give us the worst President in modern history"
Actually a 2010 Siena ranking of presidential scholars rated Bush as one of the nation's five worst presidents in all its history. A similar 2009 C-SPAN ranking put Bush in the bottom eight.
5
The Bush legacy is that there will NEVER be another Bush in any office higher than dog catcher-oh, they are fabulously rich and famous for all the wrong reasons, and the fading star of 20th century politics, gun and booze running...so long and thank God!
3
I hope when George W. Bush left the fundraiser he took a little trip over to Arlington Cemetery where he could sign a few headstones.
13
The world is a better place when Maureen Dowd puts pen to paper.
2
The oil companies paid good money for this guy (John E. Bush), they aren't going to go down without a fight.
6
1.) Gore lost Florida; Jeb had nothing to do with it.
2.) Rubio will end your dream of a Clinton dynasty.
2.) Rubio will end your dream of a Clinton dynasty.
3
The establishment on both sides are mystified by The Donald and there's nothing they can do about it. This article implies Trump is snarky instead of substantive, just the opposite, he just uses a common sense approach, and keeps it simple, something the establishment doesn't seem to like. Trump 2016!
2
Even when Jeb was polling well early on the campaign, I knew it was just one to many Bushes in the White House. Sorry Jeb.
I think the old boys will still play dirty & get through Rubio.
Jeb Bush should start reading biographies- Alexander, Hannibal, Caesar or perhaps, Atilla the Hun, who would be the perfect leader for the current GOP. He might gain some insight and come roaring back into the game. He might even learn to use the verbal rapier much more effectively at the next debate, leaving Marco Rubio no space for a counter thrust. Jeb is causing Poppy Bush unnecessary anguish in his nineties. W. must be secretly happy, seeing the Good Son falter. He is probably rooting for the crazy neurosurgeon. Perhaps the best thing for Jeb is to sign the Do Not Resuscitate order on his campaign and do all the cool things he always wanted to do.
1
Extremely funny editorial. So I wonder who did more to turn Jeb into roadkill--Donald Trump or ISIS? And this is my advice to Jeb's disillusioned donors--save your cash and support someone else. Don't worry about the old man. He's very old news like Tower Records.
I rarely agree with her, but the lady sho' 'nuff can write.
We have had two from the House of Bush. Now is the time for the second from the House of Clinton. It is the only fair thing to do. It is Hillary's turn and we were all taught in kindergarten that we must let others have a turn.
Everyone omits Barbara Bush, mother of them all. She has been candid, at least once --when she said we'd had "enough Bushes". Like the huge momma--Alien facing Sigourney Weaver, Barbara knows her petty progeny, especially the one who never inherited her awesome strength and mighty malice, He-Who-Would-Be III.
As queen-mother of a band of bilious brothers, Barbara reminds me that Beowulf's monstrous enemy Grendel had a mother, too, and Rummy, Rove, and Cheney may have. It's not a dynasty. It's a broken family that broke hundreds of thousands of American families.
As queen-mother of a band of bilious brothers, Barbara reminds me that Beowulf's monstrous enemy Grendel had a mother, too, and Rummy, Rove, and Cheney may have. It's not a dynasty. It's a broken family that broke hundreds of thousands of American families.
7
We have no great candidates running for President in what used to be our great country. Obama got in because at least he was well spoken but inexperienced. The Democrats have Hillary Clinton running on her I am a woman issue. All of the candidates have no vision at all. The system is broken, the Bushes are exactly what is wrong with this country. Where is F.D.R when we need him.
2
Now we just need the fall of the House of Clinton, and the country can move on, free of family rule for the moment.
3
Bush era politics is over,Thank God!
No more spin the bottle wars for our troops. Our Nation continues to suffer the repercussions of the Cheney-Bush presidency. You never hear of Dick Cheney making a donation to build a veteran's hospital wing ,considering all he did to injure them fighting his legacy-income generating Halliburton benefited wars.
America can and will succeed with the right leadership.
Democracy is a messy business, sometimes the best man for the job is a woman!
Bush and the HELP! Well the HELP says no more!
(Lots of run on sentences but it couldn't be stated any other way)
No more spin the bottle wars for our troops. Our Nation continues to suffer the repercussions of the Cheney-Bush presidency. You never hear of Dick Cheney making a donation to build a veteran's hospital wing ,considering all he did to injure them fighting his legacy-income generating Halliburton benefited wars.
America can and will succeed with the right leadership.
Democracy is a messy business, sometimes the best man for the job is a woman!
Bush and the HELP! Well the HELP says no more!
(Lots of run on sentences but it couldn't be stated any other way)
If Jeb's name was Jeb Smith, he'd be at 0.1 percent. He's a hapless sap. He thinks other candidates have cut in line.
2
His policy perscriptions are as bad as his personality. There is nothing to indicate this is a man of substance let alone someone who is presidential material. The same can be said for his brother George.
2
Tough to be Jeb in the year of cartoon candidates.
a very amusing disection of Americas 'First Family' (joke!) - which again makes one think what rype of rulers or 'Presidents' my homeland deserves.
And as NYT moderation never let pass my 'amusing' thoughts about the 'Fitting Presidents' and their downfalls - let's finally say that much. If a country elects two times a Bush it thoroughly deserves him and I wish the same could have been said about Obama.
And as NYT moderation never let pass my 'amusing' thoughts about the 'Fitting Presidents' and their downfalls - let's finally say that much. If a country elects two times a Bush it thoroughly deserves him and I wish the same could have been said about Obama.
The diffident Obama? Jeesh, Maureen, at least support your claims with some evidence. Obama has solidly stuck to his agenda--insofar as its been possible to do so with unprecedented opposition due to the fact that he's black--throughout his entire president. More has been accomplished in his presidency than in the presidencies of an other president in modern history. How about the fact that he is the only president to have been able to do anything about the appalling state of "health care" in this country? Millions of people now have health insurance who formerly didn't. Insurers can no longer drop people for being sick, or refuse to provide insurance for those with pre-existing conditions. "Diffident?" Maureen, you are (deliberately, I suspect) pretty obtuse at times. Name one accomplishment of Bush, Bush, Clinton, or Ray-gun. Just one.
5
Jeb will fall...Clinton is too big to fall...so who will be debating Hillary? Hopefully it will be Trump. He'll waste no time or words to constantly remind us of the Clinton scandals and why she is unfit to be president. He's unafraid an un beholden to anybody.
1
Ms. Dowd - I can buy most of what you say here except your use of the word "diffident" to describe Barack Obama. He did, after all, face down Hillary and McCain and Romney; he eliminated bin Laden and he got Assad to give up his chemical weapons and he negotiated the Iranians into restricting their nuclear program. His manner is, I guess you could say, restrained, but I don't think you can call the man diffident.
185
Imagine... seeing the best in one another despite our many flaws.
Imagine... no longer tearing down those with whom we disagree.
Image... realizing we all are in this together and seeking to be compassionate, mutually supportive and respectful.
Imagine... no longer tearing down those with whom we disagree.
Image... realizing we all are in this together and seeking to be compassionate, mutually supportive and respectful.
The implication that the Clintons somehow constitute a dynasty is misleading to put it kindly. The Bushs have been rich, powerful and helping run America for six generations; both Clintons rose on their own talents from modest--and in Bill's case that is also putting it kindly--to positions of prominence and are of the same generation. If a Clinton grandchild runs for president, then Ms. Dowd would have a point.
4
Let's begin with the fact that Jeb is about as boring as an ! can possibly be.It seems to me that this because Jeb's heart isn't anywhere close to being in this campaign; that his remark that there are "other cool things " he can do is how he's felt since before his campaign began.Although I don't picture Jeb being any more capable of doing cool things than he's been capable of finding his family's way back to the White House,so far.
As to Jeb not being able get more support from Republicans who've been polled,too many of them remember that the previous two Bush Presidencies were followed by Presidents they utterly loath.These GOP voters may well see the good possibility of a second President Clinton,and have probably concluded that if Jeb is the nominee,another President Clinton will be inevitable .
Which prospect is probably alarming enough for those voters to gasp !
As to Jeb not being able get more support from Republicans who've been polled,too many of them remember that the previous two Bush Presidencies were followed by Presidents they utterly loath.These GOP voters may well see the good possibility of a second President Clinton,and have probably concluded that if Jeb is the nominee,another President Clinton will be inevitable .
Which prospect is probably alarming enough for those voters to gasp !
1
" And, of course, W.’s two misbegotten wars have been recruiting boons for terrorist fiends."
Ah at last someone with clout says what is the main reason for trouble in the Mid-East.
Ah at last someone with clout says what is the main reason for trouble in the Mid-East.
5
Jeb wins, Cheney will be back in the saddle. W was destroyed by the smooth talking ex-VP.
1
Time for new blood!
Bernie! Bernie! Bernie!
Bernie! Bernie! Bernie!
5
Maybe it's time for Barbara to run.
1
People are having a lot of fun with the collapse of the Bush campaign, withering exclamation points included. But in the field of candidates, I see noone on the Republican side with better qualifications for the job than Mr. Bush, as nauseating as that thought might be.
So absent a goal of an election with a candidate from only one party running, be careful what you wish for.
So absent a goal of an election with a candidate from only one party running, be careful what you wish for.
Most of America knew Jeb Bush by name only. One JEB! surfaced as a presidential candidate in this election cycle, we have witnessed a lackluster, hesitant and mistake-prone politician who certainly doesn't live up to his advanced billing as the one to defeat Hillary. When the bizarre Donald Trump more or less dismissed Jeb as a low-energy lightweight, most of us said to ourselves: "Yes, the Donald has pointed out the elephant in the room".
4
My view is that Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton, Kasich, and Jeb Bush are credible leaders.
1
A Trump presidency WOULD definitely be catastrophic! It would likely equal, or even exceed the catastrophic presidency of GWB.
3
A great spot-on piece of writing, that. Unfortunately for Republican candidates-- what none has the gumption to address--is that by not condemning George W. Bush's nasty warmongering legacy of blowing up the middle east and indirectly hatching ISIS, most voters will assume any Repub candidate could repeat those horrors by tacitly appearing to be fine with what happened.
3
Oh! So that's what happened in 2000! Thanks to the Supremes for digging into the Gory details, and reminding us that royalty trumps, (not Donald) commoners any old, election day!
2
Folks, you can thank a man named Bob Bullock for giving us W. He's the real reason W. became the Texas governor and how he helped the family beat one of the best governor's Texas has had -- Ann Richards (her daughter runs Planned Parenthood now). The Bush bunch never forgot Ann's line about Pappy being born with a "silver foot in his mouth." Bullock was a conservative Democrat and he's the one who orchestrated W's victory over Ann. I'm weary of the Bush Bunch and the Clinton & Carville Clan as well.
2
The fact that Bush insiders believe that his "support from Latin voters" is somehow going to sway white conservative voters shows how out of touch his advisers are.
Trump rose solely on the issue of stopping illegal immigration.
This time, it's not the economy, stupid. It's illegal immigration. And Jeb is on the wrong side of that issue for Republican voters.
Trump rose solely on the issue of stopping illegal immigration.
This time, it's not the economy, stupid. It's illegal immigration. And Jeb is on the wrong side of that issue for Republican voters.
4
So, W thinks there are people on ebay who would pay for his autograph? He's probably right and that is just sad.
4
Clear and simple, the last Bush President was a catastrophe and there is no reason to think Jeb will be any different He is failing miserably to stand up against the other Republican candidates and that condemns him soundly. The Republican candidate needs to by someone who has yet to stand up as a candidate and I don't know who that might be.
4
Jeb could not beat Mrs. Clinton. That is the biggest reason he should not be the Republican nominee . Forget about the dynasty thing . Mrs Clinton' dynasty is queen of the Ozarks !!
Really this is the best you can do, corporate plutocrat progeny as president!?!
W, or as Charles Peirce calls him, C+Augustus, should be in prison!
W, or as Charles Peirce calls him, C+Augustus, should be in prison!
4
Yep, it's that old dynastic entitlement thing. It happened in Europe for centuries and now it's happening right here in the USA, notably in DC and Hollywood.
1
Stephen Colbert's guest on his first Late Night Show was Jeb! Jeb was so listless and boring that even Colbert had trouble animating him. Jeb practically ruined his coming out party. Jeb! was so awful I even felt a bit of compassion for the guy who helped put the disaster that is his brother W into the White House. But I really felt more compassion for Stephen who wanted his first show to go well. Once he got Jeb! out of the chair, it went OK.
6
It is impossible to understand how the Bushes are so much in the spotlight. How on Earth do they do it?
4
While I am not a fan of Jeb, W was a success compared to the clown in the white house now!
If Jeb leaves, we are still stuck with the rest of the Bozos. Maybe Romney will become GOP's savior at the midnight hour. The next election may become America's Horror story!
2
"He thought he was still in an era when people had to pay their dues"--to the aristocracy--by admiring, envying, serving and obeying him.
As opposed to notifying aristocrats that inheriting money is not the same as earning or deserving it. Morons can do it and often do. But they whine when critics note that capital gains are unearned income and should be taxed at a higher rate than real earned income tax.
Obama may have launched the Tea Party--opposing government by the articulate, intelligent, knowledgeable and rational. But the great irony is they don't like Jebbie either. Go figure. He's the man for no seasons.
As opposed to notifying aristocrats that inheriting money is not the same as earning or deserving it. Morons can do it and often do. But they whine when critics note that capital gains are unearned income and should be taxed at a higher rate than real earned income tax.
Obama may have launched the Tea Party--opposing government by the articulate, intelligent, knowledgeable and rational. But the great irony is they don't like Jebbie either. Go figure. He's the man for no seasons.
2
To Ms. Dowd,
I hold the Bushes to their war crimes and the grueling pain they have wrenched out of humanity.
I write to the American mothers and fathers of dead veterans, lost to grief and lost to fragmented memory. I remember you.
I am the returning veterans seeking relief from the extremities of pain in violent deaths by their own hands.
I do not turn from the broken faces and mangled bodies and pilfered minds of returning American veterans.
I see the fullest picture of the Bush family legacy, and the picture is dark.
I hold you Bushes, insulated and cold to your crimes, to your crimes.
I hold the Bushes to their war crimes and the grueling pain they have wrenched out of humanity.
I write to the American mothers and fathers of dead veterans, lost to grief and lost to fragmented memory. I remember you.
I am the returning veterans seeking relief from the extremities of pain in violent deaths by their own hands.
I do not turn from the broken faces and mangled bodies and pilfered minds of returning American veterans.
I see the fullest picture of the Bush family legacy, and the picture is dark.
I hold you Bushes, insulated and cold to your crimes, to your crimes.
15
Maureen! Maureen! Maybe you should dial back on the hallucinogens just a little. We get that you have an intense dislike for the Bushes but isn't this a little over the top?
OK, Jeb is unworthy! We can all agree on that point. And, W. lacks a sophistication which Liberals yearn for (the cowboy thing was always too much). You're right, the Bushes like the Kennedy bloodline is no longer capable of producing a heir to the throne.
Maureen, stop obsessing over the Bushes for just a second and survey the field. There she is, the 'Evil Queen' indeed, complete with flying monkeys, she is the one to really worry about!
OK, Jeb is unworthy! We can all agree on that point. And, W. lacks a sophistication which Liberals yearn for (the cowboy thing was always too much). You're right, the Bushes like the Kennedy bloodline is no longer capable of producing a heir to the throne.
Maureen, stop obsessing over the Bushes for just a second and survey the field. There she is, the 'Evil Queen' indeed, complete with flying monkeys, she is the one to really worry about!
2
Jeb! is cursed by memories of Dad and Rockbrain, aka "#43". Jeb! appears to have a conscience, something Rockbrain was never accused of as he went about unbinding four "angels" bound up at the Euphrates, flying over major hurricane ravaged Southern cities to see whom fate had spared, surveying the Epic Wreckage of New York after 911 and calmly taking phone calls from "Mr. Shadow" (aka Blankfein) asking for $20 billion to "tide him over" as millions entered a new Great Depression (which still lingers) awaiting a major World War to finally end it. Moral of the story: 1) Forget the Electoral College; when someone has 500,000 more votes, he's the President. 2) Don't elect a Dry Drunk to anything, including dogcatcher.
5
The Bushes are likely the US's most connected family, but they hardly divide the world into just family and the help. We do, however, have such a family, whose name anyone can guess. With the Bushes loyalty can go back generations and it is not just one-way.
No matter.
George Bush One barely made it as President and lost a 2nd election.
George Bush Two barely won over lukewarm, cardboardy Gore and easily won over abstractly voluble Kerry.
JEB has many of his brother's faults but few of his strengths.
No matter.
George Bush One barely made it as President and lost a 2nd election.
George Bush Two barely won over lukewarm, cardboardy Gore and easily won over abstractly voluble Kerry.
JEB has many of his brother's faults but few of his strengths.
Oh, the grandkids will want in, too.
2
Jeb will fall… Hillary is too big to fall. The question is who will win the debate with Hillary? My vote is Donald Trump, because he is unafraid to bring up Clinton's past And present scandals, her failures as SEcretary of state because he is unafraid of the political machine and is beholden to none.
2
One of your best articles! Enjoyed the analysis.
Fall of the Bush Empire!! Oh! How the mighty have fallen! All the king's horses and all king's men could'nt put the clan of Bushes together again!
4
Enough of the Bush and Clinton Clans. America needs a break from both.
1
Winning the Republican nomination would be like winning the Olympic gold medal in shin kicking.
5
"Fall of the House of Bush" is not an accurate title for this piece. Sen. Prescott Bush married Dorothy Walker, descendant of William P. Walker. The Walkers family has held various elective offices since 1824. The Bush/Walker clan may go into hibernation, but they'll be back I'm sure.
4
Anyone who needs reminding why we don't need yet another Bush anywhere near our government should see the current movie, "TRUST" with Robert Redford impersonating Dan Rather and Cate Blanchet as CBS News' Mary Mapes. Crossing the Bush Dynasty was a deadly as disrespecting Tony Soprano. As for Jeb and his exclamation point, the guy can't even string together a coherent sentence. One longs for the reincarnation of Molly Ivins to put his Caspar Milquetoast candidacy in proper perspective.
4
Reading -...his beat down by Trump is garishly entertaining- explains what is disturbing about Maureen Dowd. She trivializes and demeans anything she "touches" but especially the Clintons and now the Bushes. Let's not forget that she is putting down the presidential primary process and that is serious...it is how we elect our president.....if it is constantly the butt end of sarcastic commentary, eventually it erodes what is suppose to build up,our country. Let's get issue focused- especially in our social media era . Enough of Dowd easy swipes and character assassination.
1
Bush will fall. Hillary is too big to fall...or fail. The question is, "who will win the debates?" Trump would do well. Unafraid, unencumbered, and unbeholden to the superpac money machines. His rhetoric will be to remind Americans of her past and present scandals, and her absolute failure as Secretary of State. No other candidate has the gumption to take her head on.
1
John Sununu shouldn't be surprised by the evolution of neanderthal politicians in the GOP. He helped create them. His record and attitude are birthing places for the kind of rock-headedness now in evidence at the GOP debates.
5
One of the best written pieces on the Bush ever. I did not realize that Jeb was 61 years old. He looks marvelous! Too bad he won't be President for his dad's sake. Dad is 91 now. And, by the way, no one to my knowledge has written the real Military story of younger President Bush. Cannot fathom that daddy was very proud of his son's service time much like the service time of John McCain. Seems like these privileged young men, at least these two ----Thanks Maureen.
One interesting little nuance of this election that has escaped most commentators is that the time may have come to revisit public election financing. It is one thing when lefties don't trust the motives of Republican politicians because of who their donors are, but what we have seen in this election is that REPUBLICAN voters don't trust the motives of their own candidates anymore because of who their donors are.
The root of this lack of trust revolves around the immigration issue and corporate abuses of H1B Visas, such as the recent termination of 250 computer programmers by Disney, replaced by programmers from India. This is going to be a huge issue in the future.
The root of this lack of trust revolves around the immigration issue and corporate abuses of H1B Visas, such as the recent termination of 250 computer programmers by Disney, replaced by programmers from India. This is going to be a huge issue in the future.
5
I hope to be voting for some combination of a Fiorina, Carson, or Trump ticket. No one who's fed at the public trough will get my primary vote.
Ms. Dowd getis it exactly right: "This was going to be the year that settled sibling scores. Jeb would get what his parents considered his birthright."
I'll vote for Bernie Sanders before I vote for a petulant, entitled life-long politician who's got a lof of other cool things he could be doing.
Well, Jeb, Go Do Them! Don't grant us peasants your unwanted favors.
Ms. Dowd getis it exactly right: "This was going to be the year that settled sibling scores. Jeb would get what his parents considered his birthright."
I'll vote for Bernie Sanders before I vote for a petulant, entitled life-long politician who's got a lof of other cool things he could be doing.
Well, Jeb, Go Do Them! Don't grant us peasants your unwanted favors.
3
Dowd: "It was soon clear to me that the Good Son was not as scintillating a campaigner as the Prodigal Son."
Not sure what you were observing when covering W's campaign. My dictionary refers to scintillating as meaning "sparkling, shining, bright, brilliant." I saw none of that in W or any of his campaigning.
Not sure what you were observing when covering W's campaign. My dictionary refers to scintillating as meaning "sparkling, shining, bright, brilliant." I saw none of that in W or any of his campaigning.
4
And there she goes again, claiming the "diffident" Obama brought on the Tea Party. It makes one wonder what would have materialized from the right wing if Obama had proven to be a raging Trotskyite. The reality is that the tea party crowd has been around for a long time, back to the days of the John Birchers and the Kennedy haters at keast, but a combination of corporate sponsorship and racism provoked by Obama's ascendancy brought them to he fore.
9
Like a good wine, we don't need no stinkin' Bushes:
If it be true that good wine needs no bush,
'tis true that a good play needs no epilogue;
yet to good wine they do use good bushes,
and good plays prove the better by the help of good epilogues.”.
Please, let's get through this epilogue quickly. Slow and melodramatic stage-deaths drive me crazy.
If it be true that good wine needs no bush,
'tis true that a good play needs no epilogue;
yet to good wine they do use good bushes,
and good plays prove the better by the help of good epilogues.”.
Please, let's get through this epilogue quickly. Slow and melodramatic stage-deaths drive me crazy.
1
I agree with a lot of Ms. Dowds facile description of the decline of Jeb! since it is easy to see the obvious decline of the Bush dynasty starting with the invasion of Iraq and ending with the economic collapse of 2008, with many examples of the decline and fall along the way, Katrina and Abu graib to name just two.
I can't agree with her facile rewriting of history when she says "the diffident Obama led to a brand of furious tea party infused republicans." Was it a diffident Obama that led to the tea party movement or was it the Bush bailout of Wall Street and too big to fail banks that led to the no taxation without representation tea party?
Tea party republicans are the republicans who realize that they have not been represented by the mainstream republican politicians like the Bush dynasty; they want an anti-dynastic president like Trump or Carson or Cruz or Rubio.
She was speaking for the tea partiers when Barbara Bush so insightfully noted that America has had enough Bushes.
I can't agree with her facile rewriting of history when she says "the diffident Obama led to a brand of furious tea party infused republicans." Was it a diffident Obama that led to the tea party movement or was it the Bush bailout of Wall Street and too big to fail banks that led to the no taxation without representation tea party?
Tea party republicans are the republicans who realize that they have not been represented by the mainstream republican politicians like the Bush dynasty; they want an anti-dynastic president like Trump or Carson or Cruz or Rubio.
She was speaking for the tea partiers when Barbara Bush so insightfully noted that America has had enough Bushes.
6
Not a fan of the Bushes, especially not of W.
With Jeb, I laughed at his cardboard persona. But watching the Republican debates, I realized his politics are at least recognizably of the Bush variety. Something we know about pretty well and have managed to survive.
Upon reflection, the rest of the Republican candidates represent unknown dangers and insanities that are as yet unrecognized.
With Jeb, I laughed at his cardboard persona. But watching the Republican debates, I realized his politics are at least recognizably of the Bush variety. Something we know about pretty well and have managed to survive.
Upon reflection, the rest of the Republican candidates represent unknown dangers and insanities that are as yet unrecognized.
4
I'll take wonky and stiff over sparky and loosey-goosey anytime.
That Jeb is not a xenophobic reality star, not slick, not a quipster, not a holy roller, not a loud mouth bully, not a wannabe hawking himself or supplements, makes him a truly viable candidate for President. In the train wreck of the debates, his is the only car that hasn't derailed.
I'd suggest he pull out of the debates, forget Iowa, and go do some retail politicking: shake some hands, kiss some babies, and make stump speeches at every small town in New Hampshire, South Carolina, and Nevada. That's how his message will resonate.
That Jeb is not a xenophobic reality star, not slick, not a quipster, not a holy roller, not a loud mouth bully, not a wannabe hawking himself or supplements, makes him a truly viable candidate for President. In the train wreck of the debates, his is the only car that hasn't derailed.
I'd suggest he pull out of the debates, forget Iowa, and go do some retail politicking: shake some hands, kiss some babies, and make stump speeches at every small town in New Hampshire, South Carolina, and Nevada. That's how his message will resonate.
Another column, another swipe at Hillary and Obama. It seems that even when writing about the Bushes Ms Dowd cannot help herself. Jeb does not have a prayer in the current Republican climate and whether she likes it or not, it will be President Hillary Rodham Clinton because otherwise this country is in a lot of trouble.
8
Jesse Jackson had it right when he said, "Stay out of the Bushes." The father lost out when he said "No new taxes." and then raised them. W. screwed up by not pursuing Ben Laden, listening to Cheney and invading Iraq. The Bushes are very bad news for the U.S. Prescott Bush at least had some class, but his descendants are hopeless.
4
I'm sorry, but for "W" to have swiped Jeb's campaign slogan would have been nearly impossible as "W' preceded Jeb by 4 years! I know know you're a liberal Ms Dowd, but that is still no excuse to bend the truth.
2
Jumping to conclusions MODO. Dynasty may skip a generation but not end, George P. already moving through the Texas Pipeline. Notice P. has been operating below radar, the son reading the tea leaves before the Father. Going to have to run that down MO.
2
th bushes have purchased > 100,000 acre ranch in Paraguay
thery have as much allegiance to th usa as a cockroach
thery have as much allegiance to th usa as a cockroach
4
I hope now that the Poppy-W psychodrama has run its course Ms Dowd can focus again on serious things like the Bill-Hillary saga and Obama's jeans.
3
"the diffident Obama led to a new brand of furious, Tea Party-infused Republicans."
Somebody please tell Ms. Dowd that "diffident" does not mean "black."
Somebody please tell Ms. Dowd that "diffident" does not mean "black."
11
Statistically, Jeb entered the drain weeks ago. Rubio is in the the fourth circle. The only thing keeping either of them in print is media preoccupation with irrelevance.
2
The Bush family is like a medieval monarchy. King George the 1st was the only Bush to actually be elected. King George the 2nd never got the votes and had to rely on his cronies in parliament to stop the recount. Now Prince Jeb, the next in line for the throne, expects he will be crowned in due course.
Only the people have had enough.
Only the people have had enough.
6
Is Bush's ability to campaign well the same thing as his ability to be a good president? His biggest problem right now is he doesn't know how to deal with really stupid people. He seems flummoxed by it. I find that revealing in a good way. He's the best of the Republican lot, unless of course you want the bellicose Marco Rubio.
This is the downside to the red state domination in the South. Rick Perry also gave up having to explain himself in Texas by just refusing to debate or justify. They ooze entitlement.
These guys are indeed the GOP princes and they are making horrible candidates inevitable.
These guys are indeed the GOP princes and they are making horrible candidates inevitable.
2
Maureen, let this be the last time we see any Bush name on the Front Page of our dear New York Times. Enough, I say Enough. Thanking you in advance, Madigan.
3
Barbara handed out some sound advice, but JEB tuned her out. The simple fact is that JEB isn't the sort you would choose to go out for a beer with. He exudes no warmth and has become as peevish as the president. Lastly, it never was his job to be the sin eater for W. Taken together, all of these factors have blocked the voter's ability to get to JEB's message, leaving the impression that there isn't one. Better for him to bow-out and go do some of those cool things he has on his mind.
1
As a Florida resident I will give my opinion that JEB! Bush is a bad candidate because he would be a bad President, just like he was a bad Governor for Florida. Sneaky, vindictive, lacking compassion, intrusive and all for the old boys team, he was a completely disastrous leader.
10
Although I would not have voted for him, I am sorry to see Jeb go. And, yes, his remarks about Rubio seemed strained and out of character, petulant almost. But on the deeper side he seemed to be a decent sort who held to the old Greek vision of politics as service which I think Poppy held as well. I think it is a mistake to call Rubio a protégé of anyone or thing except personal aggrandizement. He wouldn't understand a political theory if he fell over one. He certainly doesn't understand economics. Even though I didn't vote for Poppy I respected him because I felt he really cared about the country and the people in it. As for W, I have nothing nice to say, so I'll say nothing.
4
I think the Bush family had one goal for the 2000 presidency and that was the establishment of a military industrial profit center by invading Iraq. Of the two, GW was the least likely to somehow become presidential and undermine that goal. As Cheney put it when he squeezed GW's knee in an interview, "George, stay on message."
4
This is a thoughtful and insightful article on the fading fortunes of a first-born son. It gives me hope that vast amounts of cash alone - in this case, anyway - cannot launch nor enhance the appeal of a candidate.
If what Ms. Dowd writes regarding Jeb's meddling in the 2000 Florida Presidential election, perhaps there's a nasty dose of payback here, too - perhaps the collective schadenfreude of Florida Democrats is too much to overcome.
If what Ms. Dowd writes regarding Jeb's meddling in the 2000 Florida Presidential election, perhaps there's a nasty dose of payback here, too - perhaps the collective schadenfreude of Florida Democrats is too much to overcome.
3
Never having viewed courtesy and manners as character flaws, and with a couple friends who knew and thought highly of George HW Bush, I was inclined to think respectfully of a longtime public official. Today I hold neither of the two President Bushes in high esteem for the same reason: to reach the top of the greasy pole, both jettisoned principle and human dignity in scurrilous, race-based dives into the gutter of American politics.
This weighed heavily on the conscience of Lee Atwater, architect of '41's strategy, so much so that on his deathbed he begged forgiveness of his campaign's cardinal sin. Twelve years later, the turning point for "W"s nomination came in South Carolina, Atwater's home, where John McCain was routed following the false but well-spread rumor that the former POW had fathered a black child. Of course it was not McCain, but South Carolina's own senior senator, Strom Thurmond, the original Dixiecrat, who had done so, but that was still secret then.
Atwater repented and made his apology as he prepared to meet his maker. Neither Bush has ever done so. Both were pleased to receive the benefits and high honors of the office without ever facing the truth of their dishonor. That cowardice cannot be forgotten and whatever else either have done will be forever stained by their willingness to sacrifice honor, integrity and dignity at ambition's altar. It is not too late for both to atone, and to make positive healing gestures while they are still among us.
This weighed heavily on the conscience of Lee Atwater, architect of '41's strategy, so much so that on his deathbed he begged forgiveness of his campaign's cardinal sin. Twelve years later, the turning point for "W"s nomination came in South Carolina, Atwater's home, where John McCain was routed following the false but well-spread rumor that the former POW had fathered a black child. Of course it was not McCain, but South Carolina's own senior senator, Strom Thurmond, the original Dixiecrat, who had done so, but that was still secret then.
Atwater repented and made his apology as he prepared to meet his maker. Neither Bush has ever done so. Both were pleased to receive the benefits and high honors of the office without ever facing the truth of their dishonor. That cowardice cannot be forgotten and whatever else either have done will be forever stained by their willingness to sacrifice honor, integrity and dignity at ambition's altar. It is not too late for both to atone, and to make positive healing gestures while they are still among us.
5
This piece was about the Bushies, but Maureen still managed to sneak in a swipe at Obama. Diffident? Come on! And Obama's "diffidence" isn't what gave rise to the Tea Party. If you really believe this, then you were not paying attention.
6
The worst is that Europe and Americas had come to believe that dynasties is not scandalously antidemocratic. Those “great” families just do not care a bit about people who are not they. Listening to them should make us puke.
1
Jeb! should do something exciting, like switch to the Democratic Party and run to the right of Clinton.
Karma is so interesting. The man with the wilting exclamation point (love the metaphor Ms Dowd) who denied the presidency to the real winner in 2000 is now denied the crown. Priceless.
6
Oh, come now, Ms. Doud. Jeb has plenty of cool things he'd rather be doing. He's got a really neat set of electric trains, and there's puzzles, and Lego, and....
6
Perhaps if Jeb managed to talk a little more Spanish in his interviews and speeches. Or, maybe he just needs more money, more organization, and more endorsements.
Then again, maybe the more simple explanation about Jeb is that "the dogs just don't like the dog food."
Then again, maybe the more simple explanation about Jeb is that "the dogs just don't like the dog food."
Ms Dowd, do you really believe that President Obama is "diffident"?
I almost always agree with everything you write. However, in this case, even your past writings does not support your claim of Obama being diffident. As such, I think you are wrong.
I almost always agree with everything you write. However, in this case, even your past writings does not support your claim of Obama being diffident. As such, I think you are wrong.
6
Jeb Bush may be a fine man, but another Bush with same wide circle of friends, operatives, corporate buddies is not desirable. Neither is it desirable for the same handful of families to offer up their own election after election. A fusion of democratic establishment ideas and republican establishment ideas offers up to candidates, Bush and Clinton who offer little if any difference between them. They both coalesce around the idea that big government and more big government is the solution to the problems we currently have. Bush no thank you. Clinton no thank you.
19
Good article by a fine writer. However, I believe that Dowd exaggerates the acrimony within the Bush family, especially between the brothers. Money is always the best buffer zone against any disappointment in life, so I am sur that BUSH 43 and JEB will get over their sibling jealousy.There is a great deal to be said about BUSH 43's spontaneity, whicn explains his popularity to this day. Back in 2000 both BUSH and GORE appeared separately on the JAY LENO show. GORE and his staff insisted, as a precondition, that LENO's questions be submitted in advance to them so that there would be no slip ups.BUSH, on the other hand, told the show's producer,"Ask me anything."
1
This piece produced a frisson of horror up and down my spine. I suspect that it was because I recognized the truth in it. The notion of my country becoming the rightful inheritance and plaything of any entitled class makes me almost physically sick. The "story" of the Bush family has cost us the Twin Towers, fifteen years of warfare, an economic meltdown, and a fractured and polarized country that has become close to ungovernable. The entitled class still suck out the juices leaving an ever-more desiccated husk, all the while considering that the natural order. How is it we have come to this pass?
7
Jeb! is one of the least impressive plodding dullards in the wasteland of US politics. What does anybody see in him?
5
"They can’t fathom a world where that vulgarian Trump is doing his own dirty work."
And I can't fathom a world where JEB! (John Ellis Bush) becomes president.
If he had just been honest about W. messing up in Iraq, he'd still be in the middle of this race. Everybody would have given him some props and respect for honesty, and being his "own man' in a ticklish family situation.
But, no. He stepped right in the bucket with that question from the jump, and hasn't been able to get out of his own way since then.
"W" kept us safe? Come on, JEB, you're talking to a Corleone here!
Jeb needed to be able to figure out a way to admit that W. messed up without throwing him completely under the bus, but he was afraid of his big brother, and the result is this moving catastrophe of a campaign.
Babs was right, we've had enough Bushes already, anyway.
And I can't fathom a world where JEB! (John Ellis Bush) becomes president.
If he had just been honest about W. messing up in Iraq, he'd still be in the middle of this race. Everybody would have given him some props and respect for honesty, and being his "own man' in a ticklish family situation.
But, no. He stepped right in the bucket with that question from the jump, and hasn't been able to get out of his own way since then.
"W" kept us safe? Come on, JEB, you're talking to a Corleone here!
Jeb needed to be able to figure out a way to admit that W. messed up without throwing him completely under the bus, but he was afraid of his big brother, and the result is this moving catastrophe of a campaign.
Babs was right, we've had enough Bushes already, anyway.
5
"Jeb got confused. He thought he was still in an era when people had to pay their dues."
And what dues exactly has Jeb Bush paid? He is a former governor and hasn't held public office for several years. What are his accomplishments either in office or out? How did Jeb strive to remain relevant once out of public office? The answer is he didn't. Jeb Bush doesn't think about paying dues, he thinks about entitlement. Jeb thought that this runing for president thing would be a cakewalk becuase he is a Bush. Surprise.
And what dues exactly has Jeb Bush paid? He is a former governor and hasn't held public office for several years. What are his accomplishments either in office or out? How did Jeb strive to remain relevant once out of public office? The answer is he didn't. Jeb Bush doesn't think about paying dues, he thinks about entitlement. Jeb thought that this runing for president thing would be a cakewalk becuase he is a Bush. Surprise.
7
He also looks like he was too chicken to run against Obama.
1
JEB! is clueless. He reminds me of his father when he encountered the supermarket in 1992. Neither of them, as well as W., have any idea of what goes on in the lives of the 99%.
nytimes.com/1992/02/05/us/bush-encounters-the-supermarket-amazed.html
nytimes.com/1992/02/05/us/bush-encounters-the-supermarket-amazed.html
6
Mr. Jeb Bush is intelligent, although lacking in true creativity. He is lacking order and clarity. He appears to be rather dull and mechanical, occasionally enlivened by somewhat corny puns and flahes of no judgment. He seems to have little feel and little sympathy for other people, anddoes not enjoy interacting with others. Self-centered, he nonetheless has a deep moral sense but he is not presediential material.
The American electoral system with its primaries is not perfect, but it allow us to anticipate regression. We shouldn't be surprised that some candiates often fail to meed our expectations.
The American electoral system with its primaries is not perfect, but it allow us to anticipate regression. We shouldn't be surprised that some candiates often fail to meed our expectations.
1
Looks like you set your clock back to 1988, not 60 minutes. Good luck.
3
Vintage Dowd analysis of a failing dynasty. If W, the Village idiot, could get two terms, surely Donald the Court jester deserves one! Wake up America, the world needs you.
5
Thanks for the schadenFreude eulogy to Jeb impaled on his own ! of political ED. I guess we should all gather round to join you in singing a sad lament to this snarky, scion of King George I and brother, King George II. Alas, the Republican revolution has dashed the hopes of this plodding pretender. So, let us no longer beat around the Bush, but bid hima Dowdy farewell.
Poor Jeb is dead
Poor Jeb ! is dead
All gather round his coffin now and cry
He had a SuperPAC full of gold
But he wasn't very bold
Oh why did such a failure have to die?
Only Trump knows the reason why.
Poor Jeb is dead
Poor Jeb ! is dead
All gather round his coffin now and cry
He had a SuperPAC full of gold
But he wasn't very bold
Oh why did such a failure have to die?
Only Trump knows the reason why.
1
Not clearly obvious is Jeb's under lying 62 years of living an entitled life. Rubio, and W, for that matter, had to overcome more adversity in their lives. They really knew what it was to "fight for it". Jeb's is boardroom fighting, with all it's rules and "etiquette"; leaving him ill prepared for "Snark-O-Rama".
Like the Romans, the Republican base loves blood sports. Jeb lacks a gladius, a shield or any other weaponry. He just cannot perform in the Circus Maximus of the Republican field. Trump softened him up with his pummeling, and now Rubio is ready to land the fatal blow. And Jeb can only say, "this was the most unkindest cut of all."
1
Looking at his record and not his pedigree, I think Jeb Bush would be the best Republican candidate for the Presidency. Wether he could win the Office over Hillary Clinton is another thing.
1
With 12 months to go, I would not start shoveling dirt in Jeb's grave yet. Can Rubio take the heat?
1
Contrary to many readers here, I fully supported W in his response to 9/11 and I still do. It did not all fall apart on his watch, the Muslim world fell apart due to neglect afterwards. His father did the world no favors by bowing to Gorbachev's demands upon the fall of the USSR in 1993. That is where the term 'moral equivalence' entered our political lexicon and we blew the golden chance to destroy communism in Russia then. Jeb Bush just seems as if he is doing what his legacy demands him to do, regardless of talent or ability. His mom had it right originally, that she did not want him to run.
oh, you mean looking under his desk for WMD? Raiding a country when it was clear that Al-Queda was everywhere but there.? Letting bin Laden family members fly out of the US the day after 9/11?
9
Funny in all the nonsense I've heard about Jeb Bush and from Jeb Bush - only recently did I hear the two words that made up my mind about Jeb Bush long ago - Terri Schiavo. Bill Maher was the author of that sad reference.
8
Welcome to the Decade of Hate, Jeb.
1
Maureen you practically fell asleep writing this column, because all the Bushes are boring, not just Jeb. Your most fascinating insight was the Trump does his own dirty work with vulgarity that Bush loyalists typically carry out. And that is the essence of the new politics, men developing and putting forth their own barbs. Witness Jesse Ventura of Minnesota, as the style developer, with that make believe disbelief of fake body slamming and intimidation and actual body contact when there is really no body slamming with real force. Again, this is the new style of Republican politics, and the crowds, jeering and guffawing, love the faux theater. Could you write about this sometime?
3
This country has lost its pool of talented people in politics.
Both sides of the aisle are not what they used to be....Republicans used to stand for fiscal responsibility and thought government should stay out of people's lives. Now they are socially involved in every aspect of what they consider to be moral behavior.
Democrats cared for the poor and middle class, although as a middle class Democrat, I have been hit with tax after tax. But they have morphed into Neoliberals---hanging out with Wall Street and education reformers.
The Democrats are stuck with Hillary because Bernie is being ignored by the media. Trump makes sure he is everywhere in the media.
The Republican voters seem to hate the Mexicans. The Democrats are buying into Hillary's being against Wall Street when in fact her campaign is being financed by many from WS.
Jeb and Hillary have one thing in common. They both think the presidency should be belong to them. The majority of voters are just shaking their heads wondering which candidate will be the lesser of 2 evils. That seems the only predictor of voting these days.
Both sides of the aisle are not what they used to be....Republicans used to stand for fiscal responsibility and thought government should stay out of people's lives. Now they are socially involved in every aspect of what they consider to be moral behavior.
Democrats cared for the poor and middle class, although as a middle class Democrat, I have been hit with tax after tax. But they have morphed into Neoliberals---hanging out with Wall Street and education reformers.
The Democrats are stuck with Hillary because Bernie is being ignored by the media. Trump makes sure he is everywhere in the media.
The Republican voters seem to hate the Mexicans. The Democrats are buying into Hillary's being against Wall Street when in fact her campaign is being financed by many from WS.
Jeb and Hillary have one thing in common. They both think the presidency should be belong to them. The majority of voters are just shaking their heads wondering which candidate will be the lesser of 2 evils. That seems the only predictor of voting these days.
6
And praying praying praying that a new, relatable, candidate appears, either party.
1
A great summary of the Bush situation, Maureen. But to be fair, the Republican voter is the entity that is flooding these polls with Trump and Carson endorsements. Jeb is a man of the past. On YouTube, it's the silly cat videos that get the hits, not videos of calm discussions, if there are any of those.
Still, being able to run a campaign is a useful capability. We know who could run them... Nixon, Reagan, Clinton, Obama. I guess W is in there; Karl Rove was a master. He succeeded in getting the wrong person elected with fewer votes than his opponent. He had to invent McCain's illegitimate child for South Carolinians, but maybe that's knowing how to run a campaign.
Jeb can't run a campaign, mainly because, as you write, he was supposed *not* to have to run a campaign. He was the shoe-in. Now it looks like Trump gets the shoe from Poppy.
It's the age of nonsense, Maureen, and Trump and Carson do it best. Remember back when Pat Paulsen ran for president? We all thought it was wonderfully funny. We didn't realize that Pat Paulsen was way ahead of his time.
Jeb needs a schtick. In politics, we're back to the days of vaudeville. Badumbum.
Still, being able to run a campaign is a useful capability. We know who could run them... Nixon, Reagan, Clinton, Obama. I guess W is in there; Karl Rove was a master. He succeeded in getting the wrong person elected with fewer votes than his opponent. He had to invent McCain's illegitimate child for South Carolinians, but maybe that's knowing how to run a campaign.
Jeb can't run a campaign, mainly because, as you write, he was supposed *not* to have to run a campaign. He was the shoe-in. Now it looks like Trump gets the shoe from Poppy.
It's the age of nonsense, Maureen, and Trump and Carson do it best. Remember back when Pat Paulsen ran for president? We all thought it was wonderfully funny. We didn't realize that Pat Paulsen was way ahead of his time.
Jeb needs a schtick. In politics, we're back to the days of vaudeville. Badumbum.
It is not true that "the diffident Obama led to a new brand of furious, Tea Party-infused Republicans". It was the Republican party deliberately fanning the flames of racism, paranoia and anything else they could find under the rocks in the human psyche to destroy the presidency of Barack Obama. They acted with no restraint, no decency. And now they are stuck with the results - white-hot haters who are beyond the reach of reason.
We and you lived through this Maureen Dowd, day after day. It had nothing to do with diffidence. It had everything to do with deliberately rousing and nurturing the worst impulses in the human psyche. Now they have their Frankenstein and he's on the loose. You reap what you sow.
We and you lived through this Maureen Dowd, day after day. It had nothing to do with diffidence. It had everything to do with deliberately rousing and nurturing the worst impulses in the human psyche. Now they have their Frankenstein and he's on the loose. You reap what you sow.
18
FFS There isn't a hair's breadth of difference between Obama and the Bushes on many issues or between the two parties for that matter, and that is what the tea party hates. You can bring anyone into the country as long as they get a job that an American can't fill and don't blow things up or traffic in heroine. Nobody knows how to do that, and the taxpayers get the check.
Just couldn't resist that "Little Rock" dynasty snark, could we?
There is a big difference between conflating a scion with the bush it sprouts from and confusing a woman with her husband. Hillary was a star before she married Bill. Even Bar is voting Hill.
There is a big difference between conflating a scion with the bush it sprouts from and confusing a woman with her husband. Hillary was a star before she married Bill. Even Bar is voting Hill.
12
Bwahahaha Lady MacBill was canned from the Watergate investigation for corruption on par with Nixon's and Bubba was a Rhode scholar. She stuck with him through the blue dress affair, because she needed him more than he needed her. But Babs is voting for her.
2
Jeb Bush gives substance to the oft used term "Bush League". Unfortunately he is a candidate of little substance. Once the GOP roster of Presidential wanna-bes finishes withering there will be nothing left but a fractured and dysfunctional party.
5
If nothing else, we learned from this latest debate that Jeb has been racking up his own pretty impressive Tom Brady-like 7-0 numbers in fantasy football. That's nothing to get snarky about.
2
Fall of the House of Bush? Long overdue!
12
Setting aside other bones I would pick with the tone of Ms. Dowd's piece, here's a quibble pertaining to its probable accuracy. Ms. Dowd wrote, "His brother’s muscle-bound presidency led to Barack Obama and the diffident Obama led to a new brand of furious, Tea Party-infused Republicans."
It seems to me far more likely to say something like, "the careful, evidence and consensus-seeking, Democratic, not to mention black-skinned, Obama led to a new brand of furious, even more insane, Tea Party-infused Republicans."
Imagine if the "diffident" president was a white Republican. The GOP base / Tea Party would be as they were in the Bush years - less furious and at least marginally less insane.
It seems to me far more likely to say something like, "the careful, evidence and consensus-seeking, Democratic, not to mention black-skinned, Obama led to a new brand of furious, even more insane, Tea Party-infused Republicans."
Imagine if the "diffident" president was a white Republican. The GOP base / Tea Party would be as they were in the Bush years - less furious and at least marginally less insane.
17
"A diffident Obama led to....a furious Tea Party" Hardly.
"An African-American Obama led to a ...furious Tea Party."
"An African-American Obama led to a ...furious Tea Party."
16
Liberal's accusations of racism whenever Obama or his policies and actions have been criticized only cheapens Obama himself reducing him to a caricature instead of a thinking man with opinions.
The TEA Party was formed in reaction to the ACA and the attendant costs that were passed on to tax payers via the subsidies. It has always been about taxation. TEA stands for "Taxed Enough Already".
The TEA Party was formed in reaction to the ACA and the attendant costs that were passed on to tax payers via the subsidies. It has always been about taxation. TEA stands for "Taxed Enough Already".
Jeb has a skeleton in his closet; the remains of Lehman Brothers. This will disqualify him eventually, he knows it, but he's so conceited he will still run. Heaven help us if he's nominated because he'll go down in flames.
Hillary is corrupt, but we don't see how it affects our economy, but tying Jeb to the financial crisis in any way will tar and feather him to many.
Supporting amnesty for illegal alien workers who drive down wages has already hurt him among working Americans.
What's ironic is that Jeb was paid to go begging to Carlos Slim to bail out Lehman, which never happened. Carlos did bail out the NYTimes with $250 million at 14% interest. Funny, these articles don't mention that much.
Hillary is corrupt, but we don't see how it affects our economy, but tying Jeb to the financial crisis in any way will tar and feather him to many.
Supporting amnesty for illegal alien workers who drive down wages has already hurt him among working Americans.
What's ironic is that Jeb was paid to go begging to Carlos Slim to bail out Lehman, which never happened. Carlos did bail out the NYTimes with $250 million at 14% interest. Funny, these articles don't mention that much.
3
The ONLY thing that has sunk Jeb is his views on immigration. If he had taken Trumps stance, he'd be one of the party leaders.
1
The comment from Donna from Boston is spot on with respect to Jeb's actual performance in Florida.
Presidential candidates who have been, or still are, Governors, have a long history of touting their gubernatorial accomplishments at the same time that those candidates are viewed unfavorably by voters in their home states. Facts become irrelevant to most of the country, because people do not have the time or the necessary research skills to delve into the details about another state's Governor's performance, but the home state electorate knows the truth.
I don't know why Jeb is running, other than that he is expected to run, and there are power hungry long-time Bush family supporters and, despite his 'I have so many other cool things I could be doing" comment, apparently he isn't all that into any of those other cool things.
Presidential candidates who have been, or still are, Governors, have a long history of touting their gubernatorial accomplishments at the same time that those candidates are viewed unfavorably by voters in their home states. Facts become irrelevant to most of the country, because people do not have the time or the necessary research skills to delve into the details about another state's Governor's performance, but the home state electorate knows the truth.
I don't know why Jeb is running, other than that he is expected to run, and there are power hungry long-time Bush family supporters and, despite his 'I have so many other cool things I could be doing" comment, apparently he isn't all that into any of those other cool things.
5
Two generations of Bushes now, have shown themselves to be progressives flying under a GOP flag: big government, big spending career politicians.
3
"¿Jeb?", we hardly knew ye.
1
And here we have a clown dethroning the crown prince while in the UK the clown will shortly be crowned.
1
What a bizarre writing style. So many periods.
That said, Jeb perpetually looks somewhere between arrogant, irritated, and exhausted.
I hope he gors home and gets some rest soon.
That said, Jeb perpetually looks somewhere between arrogant, irritated, and exhausted.
I hope he gors home and gets some rest soon.
2
Barack Obama is diffident??? I don't think so.... He has the confidence to do what is necessary despite being knocked down at every turn by the Republicans. He just keeps working and doing what needs to be done. Day after day. With a smile. With confidence.
Diffident seems to define Jeb.
Diffident seems to define Jeb.
12
The problem is, we are in the era of an angry electorate and after enjoying more than 3 generations of WASP priviledge what has Jeb Bush got to be angry about?
2
The Bushes and Clintons are not dynasties so much as they are syndicates.
2
Maureen, Jeb never thought we lived in an era when people had to "pay thier dues" because he hs never had to pay any dues himself. The first office Jeb ever ran for was Governor of Florida. Why work you way up the ranks when you can have the top job rght away? He had never served in any other political office, had no political experience, and his only "qualification' was working on his Father's presidential campaigns. That's not "paying your dues," that's having a sense of pure, unbridled entitlement due to his last name. Unfortunately for him, that last name is not very popular any more.
9
This is one of your funnier columns. Really enjoyed it. But one part is inaccurate. "tragic under involvement in Katrina" Sorry but it's not the job of POTUS to tell people to come in out of the rain and then save them when they don't. The Katrina problems were the failure of New Orleans and Louisiana officials. But blaming a republican POTUS was too much for the main stream media to resist.
5
I think the blame which attached to Dubyh was less a matter of neglected responsibilities and more a matter of a questionable - to say the least - appointment and the ignorance of the situation in LA as illustrated by his famous evaluation of Michael Brown's effectiveness. "You're doing a heck of a job, Brownie!"
3
Sometimes I get the feeling Jeb is only standing ready to elect our first female from what must be an inner circle. The feeling has been so strong at times, I've wanted to throw her in, just to get it over with --- but, then I turn, and try to "believe" - for lack of a better word. (In what, I don't know?) I've always thought or hoped, though, that, "SHE" would come with a struggle or two and a couple of kids on the hip - a "kiss the host ... and burn the soufflé" kind (Carly Simon) and a resume packed full of doing good without mention or benefit. Not, Hillary - more Elizabeth. But, then, what do I know? If I were still young and knew what I know, now, I'd army crawl for miles into that Bohemian Grove thing in Northern California!
don't count Jeb out yet, in 2000 after John McCain won New Hampshire, i witnessed on raw CNN his South Carolina crucifixion by the Bush machine, calling everybody in the state and spreading vicious lies. maybe there are a lot of differences now but the machine is waiting in the wings
1
Still time to donate to Jeb. Dial 1-800- I am toast.
Trump 2016 - Make America Great Again!
Trump 2016 - Make America Great Again!
A positive thing. Now let's go after the House of Clintons.
The house of greed, of practicing sly strategy in lieu of ethics.
Of entitlements. It's all despicable.
The house of greed, of practicing sly strategy in lieu of ethics.
Of entitlements. It's all despicable.
1
The main problem with JEB! is that he continued to have the same mindset as W on everything. Hence his confusion about whether we should have attacked Iraq and his list of potential advisers that was little changed from the discredited group of neocons that blundered into that country. W was also looked upon as a spendthrift by the fiscal conservatives and therefore a proponent of big government by the Tea Party. JEB! might as well have been W's Siamese twin.
5
"JEB, dragging his wilted exclamation point around, is so boring that it’s hard to focus on the epic nature of his battle."
Your best opening line ever! Yes, his campaign has gone flaccid and no cure for what ails him. Low energy is one problem. Lack of focus another. Disillusions have played a part. And very soon, the real killer, money problems.
Your best opening line ever! Yes, his campaign has gone flaccid and no cure for what ails him. Low energy is one problem. Lack of focus another. Disillusions have played a part. And very soon, the real killer, money problems.
2
Ms. Dowd hit the nail on the head about The House of Bush.
She, like to many others though, makes a mistake by talking about Hillary being a member of a 'dynasty'. The crown in a dynasty always goes to member of the same bloodline, not to spouses they marry.
Only if Chelsea would ever run for president could one talk about dynastic entitlements.
She, like to many others though, makes a mistake by talking about Hillary being a member of a 'dynasty'. The crown in a dynasty always goes to member of the same bloodline, not to spouses they marry.
Only if Chelsea would ever run for president could one talk about dynastic entitlements.
5
Jeb doesn't have the fire in the belly. He hasn't from the get-go. One senses he's been running because he thinks that his extended family expects him to 'give it a try.' Now he can't back out, regardless of his distaste for the process. It's sad, in a way, to see him so wounded and clueless in the debates. He wants out, but he can't do it himself. He's waiting for voters to do it for him.
11
The press should stop referring to the Clintons as a dynasty. The Bushes with generations of wealth, privilege, access and power are a DYNASTY. Its sloppy and inaccurate and unworthy of the NYT and their reporters to conflate the Bushes and Clintons as the same thing. A poor boy for middle America with no Dad, wealth or power is an upstart.
14
Jeb Bush's Flaws
1. He isn't an attack politician and was clearly coached during his reset in Houston, to become something he is not. Of course the attack on Rubio failed.
2. Besides a lack of personality and charisma, Jeb is also rusty after 8 years of being out of politics. It shows.
3. When the GOP says "everything is worse of under Obama", they lose the credibility of history and facts. But for Jeb - due to being W's brother - the GOP's false meme of the state of the first 21st decade is worse, because when he makes this claim, he reminds everyone who he is related to. It's one thing to tell GOP voters what they want to hear; but the echo chamber just doesn't fit W's younger brother.
4. To run for president, in a serious way. you need to be driven and hunger for the job. The GOP doesn't see Jeb that way. And either do I.
4. the modern presidency doesn't move backwards. FDR, Truman and Eisenhower were WWI generation candidates that one. The came JFK, LBJ, Nixon, Ford, Carter, Reagan and Bush 21. They were of the WWII generation. Clinton and Bush 43 were Vietnam generation candidates. Obama - the first late stage baby boomer - defeated two Vietnam generation candidates (McCain and Romney). This means candidates such as Jeb and HRC don't pass the history of the modern presidency.
5. Who does? Rubio. He could be the first Gen X president. AND THAT'S WHY JEB HAD NO OTHER CHOICE BUT TO ATTACK HIM IN THE DEBATE.
6. Poor Jeb. He is a dead man walking and I think he knows it
1. He isn't an attack politician and was clearly coached during his reset in Houston, to become something he is not. Of course the attack on Rubio failed.
2. Besides a lack of personality and charisma, Jeb is also rusty after 8 years of being out of politics. It shows.
3. When the GOP says "everything is worse of under Obama", they lose the credibility of history and facts. But for Jeb - due to being W's brother - the GOP's false meme of the state of the first 21st decade is worse, because when he makes this claim, he reminds everyone who he is related to. It's one thing to tell GOP voters what they want to hear; but the echo chamber just doesn't fit W's younger brother.
4. To run for president, in a serious way. you need to be driven and hunger for the job. The GOP doesn't see Jeb that way. And either do I.
4. the modern presidency doesn't move backwards. FDR, Truman and Eisenhower were WWI generation candidates that one. The came JFK, LBJ, Nixon, Ford, Carter, Reagan and Bush 21. They were of the WWII generation. Clinton and Bush 43 were Vietnam generation candidates. Obama - the first late stage baby boomer - defeated two Vietnam generation candidates (McCain and Romney). This means candidates such as Jeb and HRC don't pass the history of the modern presidency.
5. Who does? Rubio. He could be the first Gen X president. AND THAT'S WHY JEB HAD NO OTHER CHOICE BUT TO ATTACK HIM IN THE DEBATE.
6. Poor Jeb. He is a dead man walking and I think he knows it
4
The only Bush who really added up to anything on the national scene was the father. In his handling of the first Gulf War he handled himself like a true statesman. I think the sequel with his sons, both the one who wrecked his father's achievement and the watery wannabe, is a metaphor for our times. How great a falling off there was.
4
I am no fan of W or Jeb....And it is interesting to read Ms Dowd trash the Bush family --- and the post-er's here eat it up. Her analysis of the family is pretty accurate -and as usual very acerbic.But looking at the this upcoming election, no one should be too excited. The GOP has NO credible candidate. BUT Hillary (and Bill Clinton) are no bargain. In many respects they represent the worst in American politics. They have traded on their political careers to become millionaires. Like some how they feel entitled to the $$. They have not created a job, built a business, invented a life altering device or intellectual property --or created any wealth for anyone.. What they have done --if ever so cleverly-- is to sell "influence",-- under the flag of charity ---just like any lobbyist on K street. Somewhere this country needs to find a leader.
None of the candidates in this race come even close to qualifying.
Look at men like Truman, or Eisenhower for example --Presidents who did the job as a service to their country-never really wanted the job--never got rich at the public trough-- and then faded quietly into private life.
I think both Parties should 'start over" and find REAL candidates for the 2016 election ---fat chance! But i can hope. Oh--and no more rookies-- The "Obama experiment" has not worked out too well either.
None of the candidates in this race come even close to qualifying.
Look at men like Truman, or Eisenhower for example --Presidents who did the job as a service to their country-never really wanted the job--never got rich at the public trough-- and then faded quietly into private life.
I think both Parties should 'start over" and find REAL candidates for the 2016 election ---fat chance! But i can hope. Oh--and no more rookies-- The "Obama experiment" has not worked out too well either.
4
Eight years as Florida Governor, tells us something we don't already know.
1
Bush41 had maybe the best dossier of any presidential candidate. I voted for him, and I think he was a pretty decent president, thoughtful and pragmatic. He built a powerful coalition to oppose Saddam and he had a good end game.
Idiot that I am, I voted for Bush43 with doubts, but hoping he would rely on his father's expertise. Instead we got a person who retired the trophy for worst president. Amazing that all of Bush41's sons turned out to be losers. Jeb is DOA.
Idiot that I am, I voted for Bush43 with doubts, but hoping he would rely on his father's expertise. Instead we got a person who retired the trophy for worst president. Amazing that all of Bush41's sons turned out to be losers. Jeb is DOA.
121
It is no surprise the Bushies are characteristically losers, as they show gigantic contempt for the help, because American candidates that are most appealing to them do not have help, because they are, in a way, the help, no matter how resourceful. Do Bushies really engage in kitchen table debates over the nuances of a wide range of policies? Or the latest dynamic high-minded political policy books a la Clinton or Kennedy and others? Reality check is that Bushies are, in fact, as vulgar as Trump. Lol. Mr. Smoke 'em out, and Mr. Vision Thing are, as Maureen asserts, endlessly boring.
Yes, Maureen, you got it. Jeb! is a smarmy, smirky, snarky, stolid, self-entitled, snore-inducing snob. His missing last name is all he has to offer and America has been there (twice, no less) and done that. The reign of Kings George I and II is over as the Tea Party has revolted and has overthrown the House of Bush and their preppy second son, the pretender, for the anarchy of anyone else, preferably from the more plebeian class who doesn't believe in government or governance having previously shown no interest in it. So, as they might say across the pond, "The King is dead, long live the man who Trumped him."
I would really appreciate hearing, Ms. Dowd, some engagement with and analysis of the issues, rather than all the affairs at court. We all know, don't we, the importance of the former? The latter take up too much air.
19
The problem here is that Dowd has nothing of value to say about "the issues." Her intellect is an awe-inspiring blank. She has the People magazine mentality just as surely as Rubio, Trump, Bush, or, for that matter, any of the candidates and most of the pundits. It's a shame that this sort of baloney (polite word) commands so much of our attention.
1
It's a YEAR until the election. So we're amusing ourselves with reality TV candidates. Bush is boring because he's a serious candidate and it's too early to be worried about serious issues.
3
That's exactly his problem! Jeb is NOT serious. Listening to his campaign ads is almost as good as taking a sleeping pill. No sincerity at all!
1
Consider his advisors (Wolfowitz, et al., and other wonders who helped spawn the Iraq invasion), and you will realize that our national self-interest demands that we not take him seriously.
3
There is a part of me (granted that part is tiny) that feels sorry for Jeb Bush. He is anything but his "own man." In fact, between the adoration-for-breathing-since-birth syndrome, and the education from George and Barbara about what is true and what is not in the world, the man never had a chance. This started to become obvious when he took the advice to delete the name "Bush" from the promotional materials of his campaign, using just "Jeb!" I don't know about you, but when I first saw that, I thought how bizarre that a man who is in the race for president only because of his last name, wants people to forget what that name is.
133
Trump is correct about Saddam: Saddam iron fists will suppress the Muslim extremists, and balance militarily against Iran (Iraq and Iran fought each other in the past).
Bush, Cheney, crony Halliburton and others were greedy of Iraq oil mines; thus, caused wars, but Bush did not achieve his childish goals, because the new Iraq government is not puppet of Bush, these Iraqis did not let Bush & Crony take advantage of their oil mines.
Moreover, the presence of American military in Iraq invoked Iraqi patriotism, and the Muslim extremists propagandizes against the U.S. as invasion to their country ! Thus, Bush's Iraq war was the cause of emerging ISIS and emerging other Muslim extremist organizations
Bush's 2 wars caused many American soldier deaths, ten thousands disabled veterans, multi-trillion dollars wasted, increased ceiling of National Debt and budget deficit multi-trillion dollars.
Bush's greed, and selfish for his own personal gain (though not gaining any thing due to failure and childish thought about benefiting from oil, except possible kickback from Halliburton), Bus has devastated America and Americans.
Jeb Bush as governor of Florida privatized Prison and Water Plants for his own benefits. Jeb once said if he is elected President, he would privatize Social Security, too. Bush & Cheney only serve the 1% top rich, and sacrificed 99% Americans.
Bush, Cheney, crony Halliburton and others were greedy of Iraq oil mines; thus, caused wars, but Bush did not achieve his childish goals, because the new Iraq government is not puppet of Bush, these Iraqis did not let Bush & Crony take advantage of their oil mines.
Moreover, the presence of American military in Iraq invoked Iraqi patriotism, and the Muslim extremists propagandizes against the U.S. as invasion to their country ! Thus, Bush's Iraq war was the cause of emerging ISIS and emerging other Muslim extremist organizations
Bush's 2 wars caused many American soldier deaths, ten thousands disabled veterans, multi-trillion dollars wasted, increased ceiling of National Debt and budget deficit multi-trillion dollars.
Bush's greed, and selfish for his own personal gain (though not gaining any thing due to failure and childish thought about benefiting from oil, except possible kickback from Halliburton), Bus has devastated America and Americans.
Jeb Bush as governor of Florida privatized Prison and Water Plants for his own benefits. Jeb once said if he is elected President, he would privatize Social Security, too. Bush & Cheney only serve the 1% top rich, and sacrificed 99% Americans.
35
How did Bush gain "personally" from the Iraq war? Provide facts please.
Maureen, while I seldom agree with your assessment of Republicans, I almost always find you witty and clever. However, your attempt in this column to create a narrative of Bush Family presumption of privilege is strained, even fractured. You seem uncharacteristically oblivious to the fact that Bush 41’s satire is a rejection of the idea that the Bush’s are royalty. I find your characterization of the Bush Family dynamic unpersuasive, to put it politely. You assure us that Jeb fought for his brother to win Florida, but you also assure us that he did not really want to do it. I’m not a Jeb Bush supporter, I’ve been for Rubio since he announced, but your belittling of the entire Bush Family has an air of meanness and falseness to it.
You are on much more solid ground in the second half of your column when you have artfully capture the awkwardness of Jeb the campaigner. I think Jeb can honestly make the case that he has best record as an effective leader of anyone in either party running for president. He can also make a case for being the most effective conservative politician, but like his father, he lacks vision, and because he lacks vision he lacks passion, and because he lacks passion he lacks that spark to which you allude. Marco on the other hand, has the vision, the passion, and the spark; he will defeat Queen Hillary, who exudes much more presumption of privilege than any Bush ever did.
You are on much more solid ground in the second half of your column when you have artfully capture the awkwardness of Jeb the campaigner. I think Jeb can honestly make the case that he has best record as an effective leader of anyone in either party running for president. He can also make a case for being the most effective conservative politician, but like his father, he lacks vision, and because he lacks vision he lacks passion, and because he lacks passion he lacks that spark to which you allude. Marco on the other hand, has the vision, the passion, and the spark; he will defeat Queen Hillary, who exudes much more presumption of privilege than any Bush ever did.
15
Marco? Really? Don't hold your breath.
2
Jeb is a failure all on his own. No one to blame but himself...He lost us with his comments about loving the illegal aliens instead of respecting our laws.
5
Jeb doesn't have the fire in his belly to want the Presidency. Someone told him he could win and he believed them. Trump never thought he'd get this far, (nor did most of us in the real world). Marco is a lousy Senator here in Florida. He has been running for. President since the day he took office. He can't handle money, his personal finances are a mess, and he consistently misses votes. I have no clue what the guy stands for. But I do know who he stands for. Big Daddy money. Even the Hispanics here don't trust him. Kasich has the only chance against the dems. Unfortunately he is too bright, politically skilled, and moderate for the crazies in the Republican party. The Bushes may not be done yet, but not too sure I'd hold my breath.
177
Good riddance - a bad guy, though not quite as unacceptable as Fiorina, Jindal, Huckabee, Christie the lying crook, or those wacky, lying fools, Trump and Carson. As for those below comparing the Bushes and the Clintons unfavorably, give-me-a-break. Compare Bill C's presidency on any issue to W's and tell me once again you see no difference.
21
Yes, Jeb is a tawdry, tattered, lumpen vestige of the 90s. But so is Clinton. Ossified ideas for a new age. She is why Obama's unique foreign policy vision went nowhere--until John Kerry took over State. The entire American electoral process--and the undersized "leaders" that have come to the top like flotsam from a mammoth shipwreck--makes one weep for the country, and the world it influences.
Perhaps we should begin again.
Perhaps we should begin again.
15
In John E Bush we're seeing the classic case of the sibling who doesn't want to go into the family business.
If ol' Poppy were younger, he would have browbeat and forced his eldest, into the firm. When he was younger he forced John E. into the governorship of the third largest state of the union (Florida), and the lynchpin of the Republican's "southern strategy". His presidential future, a foregone conclusion. But J.E. can't get over the reality of how he detests, the object of his exertions, electioneering and the holding high office.
Can anyone imagine J.E. as a ten or twelve term Congressman? Has anyone heard of J.E's plan for education reform, that he pushed in FL, and that he now wants to take to the "next" level? Well of course not.
If poppy was healthy and 73 instead of 93, he could make up J.E's mind for him, and it would be all right. But a lifetime of following Poppy's lead has left a bitter taste in J.E's mouth. He doesn't want to be lectured to. But he doesn't know yet what else he's to do. And even if Poppy was alert and calling the shots, he can't make his son J.E.B. see the world from the "proper" perspective.
If ol' Poppy were younger, he would have browbeat and forced his eldest, into the firm. When he was younger he forced John E. into the governorship of the third largest state of the union (Florida), and the lynchpin of the Republican's "southern strategy". His presidential future, a foregone conclusion. But J.E. can't get over the reality of how he detests, the object of his exertions, electioneering and the holding high office.
Can anyone imagine J.E. as a ten or twelve term Congressman? Has anyone heard of J.E's plan for education reform, that he pushed in FL, and that he now wants to take to the "next" level? Well of course not.
If poppy was healthy and 73 instead of 93, he could make up J.E's mind for him, and it would be all right. But a lifetime of following Poppy's lead has left a bitter taste in J.E's mouth. He doesn't want to be lectured to. But he doesn't know yet what else he's to do. And even if Poppy was alert and calling the shots, he can't make his son J.E.B. see the world from the "proper" perspective.
7
I agree that the Tea Party burst onto the national scene because of President Obama , but it wasn't because President Obama was "diffident". Now, Maureen, I think you should go sit in a corner and dive deep into your brain and soul and try to discover the real reason the Tea Party hates our President.
48
The same reason Ben Carson has no chance, in spite of the Fox News hype.
2
Val in Brooklyn, NY
Ms. Dowd, In fairness, I forgot to precede my criticism with the compliment on your title. Fall of the House of Bush is brilliant, absolutely brilliant. And so apt for Halloween. My first reaction was "quote Bush nevermore."
Ms. Dowd, You are such a clever lady. I may have said that one piece in particular just before a gov. shutdown, was Pulitzer worthy. What you have here is positively juicy. Why not just leave it at that sans the hits at Obama & HRC. And, cover Sanders more. Everyone seems to forget he's running, has principles and is quite viable.
Submitted 10-31-15@11:00 p.m. EST
Ms. Dowd, In fairness, I forgot to precede my criticism with the compliment on your title. Fall of the House of Bush is brilliant, absolutely brilliant. And so apt for Halloween. My first reaction was "quote Bush nevermore."
Ms. Dowd, You are such a clever lady. I may have said that one piece in particular just before a gov. shutdown, was Pulitzer worthy. What you have here is positively juicy. Why not just leave it at that sans the hits at Obama & HRC. And, cover Sanders more. Everyone seems to forget he's running, has principles and is quite viable.
Submitted 10-31-15@11:00 p.m. EST
6
Was getting rid of Saddam worth the 200,000 civilian dead that resulted from the invasion? Nobody talks about that.
46
Republican Americans don't count non-American dead - to them, of course it was worth it.
3
No one talks about that because the United States when it engages in these stupid wars doesn't care what happens to those suffering "collateral damage" even if that damage is killing everyone on the planet. Have you ever heard one president ever say - let's give peace a chance? No - and you never will.
1
This is why we don't pick the children of the Olympic athletes in 2000 as the team for 2020. Regression to the mean. This is why oligarchies fail. The Bushes have regressed toward the mean. Actually in the case of 43 they have gone way under the mean.
33
Same with most family run companies. You cannot breed good management.
Hypocrisy has no bounds if the Bushes “can’t fathom a world where that vulgarian Trump is doing his own dirty work.” For decades they have been practitioners of dirty politics. It is impossible to forget Lee Atwater and his dirty tricks to advance Bush’s candidacy for President in the 1988 election. Michael S. Dukakis, his opponent, was made then the target of a campaign about Willie Horton, a black convicted murderer who escaped from the Massachusetts prison system while on a weekend furlough and raped a white woman and stabbed her husband. After Dukakis clinched the Democratic Party’s nomination, the Bush/Atwater propaganda machine asserted that he was directly responsible for Horton’s being the beneficiary of a Massachusetts weekend furlough program while serving a life sentence for murder. Atwater said then "By the time we're finished, they're going to wonder whether Willie Horton is Dukakis' running mate." Bush named him chairman of the Republican National Committee as a reward for managing his 1988 campaign. He said "I was very proud of him, proud to serve with him."
On March 5, 1990, Atwater collapsed. Then, the man renowned for the politics of attack turned to apologies. He said in a Life article: "In 1988, fighting Dukakis, I said that I 'would strip the bark off the little bastard' and 'make Willie Horton his running mate.' I am sorry for both statements: the first for its naked cruelty, the second because it makes me sound racist, which I am not."
On March 5, 1990, Atwater collapsed. Then, the man renowned for the politics of attack turned to apologies. He said in a Life article: "In 1988, fighting Dukakis, I said that I 'would strip the bark off the little bastard' and 'make Willie Horton his running mate.' I am sorry for both statements: the first for its naked cruelty, the second because it makes me sound racist, which I am not."
27
This comment makes the most important point about the Bush family that can be made. Everyone should watch the old Frontline program about Lee Atwater. He was a despicable human being, and the Bush family gleefully used his hateful skills to get elected, caring not a whit about the damage he did to the Americsn political process.
3
Jeb has outlived his shelf life. In the old-school GOP, you waited patiently in line for your shot at the prize, even if you grew stale and irrelevant in the process. Jeb watched in horror and dismay as his older, dimmer brother drove the Legacy into a Middle East ditch, and convinced himself that America would greet him as a liberator. Instead, all the electorate now wants is to be diverted by the antics and insults of no-nothing candidates. I think Jeb will be relieved when his finally lays down the family burden and closes the book on the Dynasty.
120
Obviously, Jeb is way too boring. If only he had used the last 8 years to travel the world shaking down foreign governments for a little cash for the till and then put a server in his basement and passed on some classified information. For good measure, he could have spun a few whoppers and then gotten himself hauled in front of a Congressional Committee or two.
But nooo......he had to be goody two shoes . Look where that has gotten him!
Definitely a man stuck in the past.............
But nooo......he had to be goody two shoes . Look where that has gotten him!
Definitely a man stuck in the past.............
3
Because the Democrats have a horrible candidate does not make Jeb an acceptable one. America is in deep doo doo because no one worthwhile seems interested in running any more. The press and opponents digging up dirt that may be 50 years old is just not worth it to those we need to lead the country.
1
41 was a decent president who exercised the most pragmatic option he could under the given situation. 43 was a disaster without any discretion, back up plan or understanding of the situation.
Though from the same family their impact on America and the world has been significantly different.
Baby Bush by defending 43, is demonstrating that he has no ideas of his own. He reminds me of the 43rd who we all rejected.
Though from the same family their impact on America and the world has been significantly different.
Baby Bush by defending 43, is demonstrating that he has no ideas of his own. He reminds me of the 43rd who we all rejected.
12
The early betting was heavy on Jeb v Hillary. Now, we can stick a fork in Jeb, while the Republicans inadvertently elevated Hillary by being upstaged by her stamina and smarts at the inane Benghazi hearing. The wise one in the room was the Bush matriarch, who said we've had enough of Bushes and Clintons. We are left with the Bushes and Clintons going in opposite directions. Jeb lacks the statesmanship of his father, the quirky down-home appeal of his brother, and the wisdom of his mother, while Hillary is as adroit as her hubby at deflecting criticism and clawing her way to the top.
81
Or you can look at the Bush/Clinton face-off like this: the much smarter person is rising to the top, and the dumber one is sinking. As it should be.
3
Clinton isn't having to do much "clawing".
At that fake Benghazi hearing all she had to do was kegels for 11 hours while the Tea Party smurfs self-imploded all around her.
At that fake Benghazi hearing all she had to do was kegels for 11 hours while the Tea Party smurfs self-imploded all around her.
3
And lying her way to the top. Although I voted for her in my state's 2008 Dem primary, I no longer trust her to keep America safe or even to promote our country's best interests over her own. I've watched every single Trump rally on YouTube, read all his policy papers on DonaldJTrump.com and his books. All I see is the super strong determination of a winner, a doer, a man of great success who has set his comfortable life aside to turn this huge sinking ship around. He knows how to bring millions of jobs - really no other candidate running has the abilities Trump has. He knows how to lower our debt while others will only increase it.
" Poppy and Bush retainers like John Sununu are bewildered by a conservative electorate that rejects Republican primogeniture"
They are bewildered precisely because it is no longer a CONSERVATIVE electorate but a RADICAL one. Let's start calling a spade a spade.
They are bewildered precisely because it is no longer a CONSERVATIVE electorate but a RADICAL one. Let's start calling a spade a spade.
21
Maybe there is and has been enough shrubbery around the White House already.
8
Good riddance to the Bush dynasty, burned to the ground by the legacies of Iraq, Afghanistan, Katrina, the Great Recession, and the dismantling of the American middle-class.
Joseph in Missoula
Joseph in Missoula
27
Maureen, you took a lot of words to say something rather simple: these two Bush brothers are spoiled brats. You might have added that their sense of entitlement comes from their snotty, indulgent mother who thinks that public services is what the public does when it serves the Bushes.
27
The last sentence is devastating, and apt -- not just for Bush, but for the mainstream GOP.
3
Thanks for ruining my Sunday, NYT!! This election is about everything except responsibly guiding the US through the rocky shoals. Instead, it's about the Ewings making sure that both sons get a chance at popping the Presidential Pinata!!
11
So... Is Jeb losing because W. won? Because Jeb helped him "snatch Florida away from Al Gore"?
5
Ms. Dowd, the presidency is not, nor should it be, about personality quirks. Sadly in a column on the Bushes you yet again have to take Jabs at Obama and Clinton. Obama is diffident and that gave rise to the tea party? Really? It wasn't the incessant cry he wasn't born in the United States? It wasn't that he was maligned and mischaracterized by the rightwing media and the leftwing media had no rebuttal? It wasn't that the the leadership in the republican party met on the night of his inaugaration and pledged to undermine him, when we were at the height of a global economic crisis?
Good lord woman, get a grip.
Now you are comparing the "Clinton Dynasty" to the "Bush Dynasty" as if they are equally a threat to the country? Do you look at issues anymore Ms. Dowd? Or do you just evaluate politicians from the view of a vindictive middle school girl? Hlllary Clinton is a competent, knowledgeable and experienced diplomat and politician. She understands the complexities of the global issues we face. She supports policies that will actually reduce the income inequality that is destroying this country. Evaluate the republican candidates Moe. Ask yourself if there is a single one that would be remotely better than Hillary as POTUS. Or better yet, ask if there is a single one that would not be bottom line scary. And then write your next column.
Good lord woman, get a grip.
Now you are comparing the "Clinton Dynasty" to the "Bush Dynasty" as if they are equally a threat to the country? Do you look at issues anymore Ms. Dowd? Or do you just evaluate politicians from the view of a vindictive middle school girl? Hlllary Clinton is a competent, knowledgeable and experienced diplomat and politician. She understands the complexities of the global issues we face. She supports policies that will actually reduce the income inequality that is destroying this country. Evaluate the republican candidates Moe. Ask yourself if there is a single one that would be remotely better than Hillary as POTUS. Or better yet, ask if there is a single one that would not be bottom line scary. And then write your next column.
42
Jeb Bush has 5 major problems that are/will be almost impossible for him to overcome:
1) his last name; 2) he's a terrible candidate; 3) he has ZERO new ideas; 4) he's running an analog campaign in the 24/7 digital age; 5) did I mention his last name is Bush
1) his last name; 2) he's a terrible candidate; 3) he has ZERO new ideas; 4) he's running an analog campaign in the 24/7 digital age; 5) did I mention his last name is Bush
9
First, Dubya was not elected, he was anointed by SCOTUS. Second, JEB! is really boring and tongue-tied. Maybe his mind works faster than his mouth(?) But in my view, JEB! has selected Dubya's advisers on the Middle East, so he has hopeless lost my vote.
21
Great column Mo.
I used to send your columns to Jeb when he was un Tallahassee while W was in Washington with my own editorials telling him that he would never be President because of his brother. How right I was. I was hoping they wiuld have been made public when Jeb made some emails public a while back but I couldn't find them.
Some of your columns really irked him resulting in responses from him or agency heads. I treasure those. Jebs a loser and Florida voters know it.
I used to send your columns to Jeb when he was un Tallahassee while W was in Washington with my own editorials telling him that he would never be President because of his brother. How right I was. I was hoping they wiuld have been made public when Jeb made some emails public a while back but I couldn't find them.
Some of your columns really irked him resulting in responses from him or agency heads. I treasure those. Jebs a loser and Florida voters know it.
6
For once, I agree with Maureen Dowd. I never understood the ascendancy of the Bushes, but I do understand the rejection of yet another mediocre, thin skinned Bush. It would seem that entitlement does not come with the job of president, nor should lunacy, xenophobia, or misogyny. The Republicans could use some self examination here, and try for any insight into why they are on a course of self destruction. They have put before the country a group of potential candidates who are lacking in all things needed in a leader. They have given us people who lie smoothly and easily, as a cover for both incompetence and wrong doing, making even the weak and tired Jeb! look like the best of the worst. The GOP will be rejected yet again, but will they learn?
9
No republican should be surprised that the base they've whipped up into a mob frenzy has rejected GOP primogeniture, or the genteel, traditional and, well, sane branch of the party. They created this monster, and now seem shocked at just how out of hand this particular reckless experiment has gotten. Like the reckless decision by W and his puppeteers to avenge Saddam's threats against Poppy. Like so many reckless decisions, made by so many of the GOP brain trust, that have resulted in the systematic dismantling of a society that was a world leader in so many important aspects of society -- education, technological and scientific innovations, charitable and cultural endeavors. The Reagan revolution ushered in a society obsessed with a zero-sum game, in which everyone is out for him/herself, and making and keeping every last penny for him/herself, society and common good be damned. The me generation - or the "it's all about me" generation. The country more interested in the carnival barker, Trump, the bizarre doctor who seems to have forgotten just how much he benefited from the "great society" programs, Carson, and the latest antics of the Kardashians, famous for having achieved nothing other than making a great deal of money. With that backdrop, it's not the least bit surprising that the GOP now has the exact field of candidates that its efforts over the last 30 - 40 years created. And the exact field of candidates it deserves.
298
Even if you don't particularly like the Bushes, you would find this article mean and demeaning to all, not just to the Bush family. The allusion to Poe's story is understood, but at least Edgar Allan Poe wrote with elegance!
4
I once witnessed the Bush to-whom-the-manor-is-born style while attending a Drew University program in which Barbara Bush was the keynote speaker. After she had finished her unmemorable talk, a couple of female students asked her to sign their autograph books. The response they received was a haughty, "I'm not here to sign autographs" before she wafted off into the night. The impression she left with the autograph seekers was probably, "What a miserable old bag." And they would have been right.
17
Hillary is hardly a " dynasty" candidate, like Jeb! is. A dynasty is something inherited from your parents, not something you've earned from years and years of experience.
21
Jeb paid dues? :-o
6
Great column til then, right? The truth is, he didn't pay dues. And that's the entire point, of course. He waited in line.
2
To the Country Club maybe.
Wow. Thanks for that take-down of Jebbie. Now can you do a piece on that balding blowhard idiot Trump?? I'm voting for Hillary!
13
With Jeb and the Mets both on the verge of elimination, you wouldn't say in baseball parlance that Jeb heroically "battled the opposition" or that he "struck our swinging". In his debate performances, in his low energy label, his deer in the headlights look, he "struck out looking".
4
The takeaway from this column is Jeb's reason for running: to defend and try to rewrite his brother's horrid record as president, much the way Liz Cheney is helping her daddy rewrite his sordid history. You can tell by Jeb's demeanor and stumbling speech that he was forced to run by Bush sycophants, who promised huge dollars and a cake walk. Oops.
11
Maureen, because President Obama is diffident to you does not mean he is diffident to the country .
This column is just another example of your delusions about your own importance.
This column is just another example of your delusions about your own importance.
26
Is this Halloween or April Fool's Day? Are we to believe a family which gave us pointless wars, Clarence Thomas, and Lee Atwater is shocked by today's lack of civility?
27
Best thing I've read on the Jeb crisis. But how many of those dissecting his campaign go back like this to 1993? You show that Jeb's current troubles seem to reflect a kind of long-term tendency. Well done!
2
Way over-analyzed. Bush is simply a horrible candidate -- boring, stilted, out-of-touch and unappealing (although as he tanks, there's a pity effect, perhaps negated by his own self-pity). You don't have to be a rock star to win the nomination, but you have to show some personality. All nine of them on the stage with Bush had more charisma in the debates, with the possible exception of Rand Paul.
106
Four years ago this time, the pizza guy - 9-9-9 Herman - was leading in the polls.
Eight years ago this time, Queen Hillary was cleaning the messiah's clock.
We all know what then happened.
Why is it going to be any different this time around?
Eight years ago this time, Queen Hillary was cleaning the messiah's clock.
We all know what then happened.
Why is it going to be any different this time around?
4
With regard to the reference competing "dynasties," I have written before and will do so again because it bears repeating (at least as much as the misleading "dynasty" meme): There is no "Clinton dynasty" comparable to the Bush family. Compare: Three generations of Bushes have worked in Washington. Prescott Bush was a Wall Street banker and Senator. His son George H.W. Bush was a V.P. and President. That man's son, George W. Bush (we're now into the third generation), was a president who left Washington with the economy collapsing and a needless, gigantically expensive war still raging. (One would think the prior two generations of family experience would have helped avoid those.) President Bill Clinton, on the other hand, was the first in his genealogy to work in Washington. His wife Hillary was a Senator and became Secretary of State under President Obama, but she is of the same generation as her husband, and a "Clinton" by marriage only. So there is no "dynastic" comparison whatsoever between a second Bush son (Jeb) from a third generation of bankers, oil men, and politicians, and a Clinton (Hillary) from the first and only generation of Clintons/Rodhams ever to have political jobs, and whose generational predecessors were employed not as career politicians, but as nurses, salesmen, and small business owners.
33
Mark, you left out Pappy Bush's CIA tenure!
1
House of Bush? And who helped create that dynasty? James Baker may have greased the transom in Florida, but Ms.Ddowd herself helped set up the squeaker with relentless gratuitous mockery of Al Gore in his campaign against W., balanced with wide-eyed reportage of W.'s favorite books. (Remember Maureen's bits about Al's bald spot?)
Now with a Bush legacy of global warming, a vortex of failed states in the Middle East following a senseless war, and a supreme court that gave us plutocracy, we can look back and see what Ms. Dowd helped achieve. But no mea culpa comes from her; just cackling delight at the country's exasperation with Bushes. Why? She's comfortably ensconced. Dynasty indeed.
Now with a Bush legacy of global warming, a vortex of failed states in the Middle East following a senseless war, and a supreme court that gave us plutocracy, we can look back and see what Ms. Dowd helped achieve. But no mea culpa comes from her; just cackling delight at the country's exasperation with Bushes. Why? She's comfortably ensconced. Dynasty indeed.
44
A thousand times this. Thank you.
2
I don't know, Ms. Dowd. What you say makes its own kind of sense, I suppose, if one accept your unstated premise: that Jeb Bush actually wants to run for and become the president of the US.
I've begun to wonder if Governor Bush's heart is really in the game, whether he has the so-called "fire in the belly" to campaign for the Republican nomination, not to mention the campaign for the office itself.
I've begun to wonder if Governor Bush's heart is really in the game, whether he has the so-called "fire in the belly" to campaign for the Republican nomination, not to mention the campaign for the office itself.
7
Wow, Maureen you got through an entire article without bashing Obama or Hillary! Are you losing your edge? Though calling Obama "diffident" because he does not repeat W's rush to start wars is an odd choice.
9
I don't know about that as Ms.Dowd draws a straight line from GW's wars to the so called "diffident" Pres. Obama as the roots of the Tea Party. Barack Obama had zero to do with the Tea Party, which was the creation of wealthy conservatives who bankrolled a few restive senior (mainly) citizens alarmed by changing demographics (I want my country back), white folks whose tri corner hats and dogeared copies of the Constitution belie their prejudices. The Republican Party planted and watered this movement which may well devour them and now asks where all this anger and mutiny comes from.
4
I don't like W at all, but in all fairness to him, however bungled it was, I think it unfair to label the war in Afghanistan "misbegotten." If Gore had won, and 9/11 happened, as I have no doubt it would have, there would have been an American invasion of Afghanistan. Iraq is another story entirely, but no matter who was in the White House after 9/11, we would have ended up in Afghanistan.
5
@Bradley Bleck
Spokane, WA
A completely un-provable hypothetical. We don't even know the 9/11 attack would have been successful had Gore been president which is another un-provable hypothetical. The only reality we have is that Bush chose to invade Afghanistan, stay there, and completely screwed it up.
Spokane, WA
A completely un-provable hypothetical. We don't even know the 9/11 attack would have been successful had Gore been president which is another un-provable hypothetical. The only reality we have is that Bush chose to invade Afghanistan, stay there, and completely screwed it up.
24
I never has a problem with the Afghanistan venture. We gave the leaders there full warning and they chose not to take action against those who attacked us. I do, however, disagree vehemently with the Iraq invasion. At the time, it made no sense to me, unless Iraqi oil was all-important. It removed Iran's major enemy, as well as an enemy of the radicals. Stupid.
7
Hypotheticals are always impossible to debate. I do suggest, however, that there probably would not have been a war in Afghanistan because Gore would have read his briefing notes and not dismissed the the intelligence on the pending 9/11 attack. Hence, no Afghanistan, no Iraq, no ISIS. Instead, the US and the world were saddled with a brainless war criminal and his puppeteer, and no Jeb claiming how his brother kept everyone safe.
3
It's not like Jeb is the last Bush. Both of the Bush sons have progeny.
Jeb! just doesn't have it in him. He wasn't prepared for the long and difficult primary, he seems as if he expected a simple coronation and what he got was the War of the Roses.
The Republican 'deep bench' is looking more like a deep ditch you might find in boot camp, with barbed wire.
Jeb! just doesn't have it in him. He wasn't prepared for the long and difficult primary, he seems as if he expected a simple coronation and what he got was the War of the Roses.
The Republican 'deep bench' is looking more like a deep ditch you might find in boot camp, with barbed wire.
17
Did Jeb really want this to begin with...or is he a somewhat reluctant candidate?
2
President Obama diffident?
This is someone who came from nowhere and defeated the Clinton political machine in the Democratic primary, went on to defeat a war hero in the general, and subsequently defeated someone representing corporate America, to win re-election.
To say nothing of his spectacular achievements in the face of Republican opposition.
It's like, if you hate someone, you don't bother with facts in judging them. It doesn't make you look good, Maureen.
This is someone who came from nowhere and defeated the Clinton political machine in the Democratic primary, went on to defeat a war hero in the general, and subsequently defeated someone representing corporate America, to win re-election.
To say nothing of his spectacular achievements in the face of Republican opposition.
It's like, if you hate someone, you don't bother with facts in judging them. It doesn't make you look good, Maureen.
89
I would say more disengaged than diffident to describe Obama. It doesn't make him look good IMO (and I'm not a Republican nor do I hate him).
All in all, the stupor is wearing off. The plebeians know they've been had. But, they still don't know who to turn to! This creates an opportune moment for the transgressors, and as you say the Elvis impersonators to make their seductive pleas.
We're along way from November 2016. The world is changing at a rapid pace. Today, I heard some frustrated traveler talk about "Eurabia" and another guy talk about retiring in Panama.
November 2016, we might see the election of a socialist from Brooklyn, or a far right wing reactionary, pledging to undo Obamacare and the agreement with Iran. Then we'll be able to shoot first!
Bush? Royalty? Didn't we get the jester instead!
We're along way from November 2016. The world is changing at a rapid pace. Today, I heard some frustrated traveler talk about "Eurabia" and another guy talk about retiring in Panama.
November 2016, we might see the election of a socialist from Brooklyn, or a far right wing reactionary, pledging to undo Obamacare and the agreement with Iran. Then we'll be able to shoot first!
Bush? Royalty? Didn't we get the jester instead!
14
No, we got the jester when Obama was elected.
All of the discussions are concentrated on "performance".
All those people who are paid millions to explicate issues are giving their time to wether this guy had a clever retort, a breaking out moment, they call it. It is a great disservice to the politics of the country and a distortion of their purpose. If they continue to engage in political gossip, we may end up with a smooth talking individual with no ideas, or even worse, bad ideas, in mind. This pandering to people's prejudices or ignorance comes at a bad time. By emphasizing style over substance, we may end up with candidates who after being elected may repeat the words of Robert Redford in The Candidate: "what do we do now?"
All those people who are paid millions to explicate issues are giving their time to wether this guy had a clever retort, a breaking out moment, they call it. It is a great disservice to the politics of the country and a distortion of their purpose. If they continue to engage in political gossip, we may end up with a smooth talking individual with no ideas, or even worse, bad ideas, in mind. This pandering to people's prejudices or ignorance comes at a bad time. By emphasizing style over substance, we may end up with candidates who after being elected may repeat the words of Robert Redford in The Candidate: "what do we do now?"
19
Good, fun-to-read column as always....
Only disagreement: I would'nt describe Obama as diffident"; polite or unassuming or unBushlike maybe - one who does not have to blow his own trumpet
Only disagreement: I would'nt describe Obama as diffident"; polite or unassuming or unBushlike maybe - one who does not have to blow his own trumpet
28
Maybe Shrub the Elder actually got it right when he opined - "There's an old saying in Tennessee - I know it's in Texas, probably in Tennessee - that says, fool me once, shame on - shame on you. Fool me - you can't get fooled again."
11
Dubya said that.
2
"Diffident Obama"???? I guess there really are parallel universes going on. Perhaps Ms. Dowd inhabits the one that lies between the absolute blind age and ignorance of much of the Republican electorate and the one that sees President Obama as a thoughtful, successful and, if actions are to mean anything, forceful leader.
52
Trump would be a disaster for the country. He will never get elected but as the GOP nominee he is a godsend for Democrats.
21
Jeb would be an okay candidate if no one else was running.
4
and even then, he'd still probably come in third place.
5
then, too, there's the begetter of the bush enterprise, grampa prescott...next time things are slow in the office, google him.
8
i'll agree obama is diffident if diffident means winning every single battle he's had with republicans while smiling that great smile of his and not breaking a sweat.
49
"He thought he was still in an era when people had to pay their dues."
Only Bush I paid his dues with his WWII service and upping the family fortune in the post WWII oil boom and then years paying his dues in government including eight years as VP.
Bush II and Bush III appear as what they are, spoiled rich kids who never paid their dues. Bush II's dodging the draft in the National Guard. Neither one did any of the political dues paying that Bush I did.
Rubio on the other did pay his dues City Council, Speaker of FL House, US Senator. He certainly deserves to get beaten by Hillary more than Bush III.
Only Bush I paid his dues with his WWII service and upping the family fortune in the post WWII oil boom and then years paying his dues in government including eight years as VP.
Bush II and Bush III appear as what they are, spoiled rich kids who never paid their dues. Bush II's dodging the draft in the National Guard. Neither one did any of the political dues paying that Bush I did.
Rubio on the other did pay his dues City Council, Speaker of FL House, US Senator. He certainly deserves to get beaten by Hillary more than Bush III.
16
So well stated. When one views the republican noise as picking the loser in the presidential election, one can relax.
2
Rubio didn't pay his dues, he "got his ticket punched" in a succession of positions in which he accomplished little and apparently was bored by having to do the job. That's not "paying your dues."
1
Not only did W dodge the draft by using family influence to get into the Texas Air National Guard. He also used his family influence to avoid prosecution for desertion when he failed to fulfill his Guard obligations.
Wealth equals the power to get away with all kinds of things in modern USA life. Look at Mittens Romney getting away with blatant voter fraud by voting in Massachusetts while claiming to live in his son's basement and that that residential location was "the focus of his and his wife's social and financial life". If you're rich enough and have the right connections you can get away with almost anything.
You can even be a middle-aged man having sex with a 13 year old girl, secure in the certainty that you won't be required to return from escaping to another country to answer for your crimes. It really pays to be rich in the USA. White too!
Wealth equals the power to get away with all kinds of things in modern USA life. Look at Mittens Romney getting away with blatant voter fraud by voting in Massachusetts while claiming to live in his son's basement and that that residential location was "the focus of his and his wife's social and financial life". If you're rich enough and have the right connections you can get away with almost anything.
You can even be a middle-aged man having sex with a 13 year old girl, secure in the certainty that you won't be required to return from escaping to another country to answer for your crimes. It really pays to be rich in the USA. White too!
2
It's a lie of omission to limit the fall to just the Bush brand. Just look at the Republican Party's record in congress and their behavior at the debates. It should be no surprise when the Howard Stern of politics gets all the laughs and makes us all uncomfortably aware of harshest parts of the issues we face everyday. I may not agree with Trump in anyway, but he's produced some clever political theater.
6
Is it any wonder that the Clintons are still relevant while the Bush's are not? The Clintons were ahead of their time for today's soap opera trash talking reality TV star era. The Bush's still live in a world where rules and decorum are supposed to matter. It's a post modern world and we are back to the mentality of the wild, wild, West. The Clintons actually ushered in the smash mouth 24/7 down and dirty slash and burn politics that we revel in today. So of course Trump outshines Jeb! And of course America prefers Little Rock to Kennebunkport.
8
24/7 slash and burn down and dirty politics -- Bush 41s campaign manager Lee Atwater. No one worse has ever held the job.
3
Did you not ever here HW say in a snarky voice, "Read my lips"? Where is the decorum in that?
The Bush family and their peers have ruled this country since before the Revolutionary War. HW didn't even know what a grocery story check-out was. The United States is close to electing a female and/or a great socialist or, seriously, some version of a full-on nut job from the GOP. Who pays attention to decorum? There is much more to worry about now than politeness.
The Bush family and their peers have ruled this country since before the Revolutionary War. HW didn't even know what a grocery story check-out was. The United States is close to electing a female and/or a great socialist or, seriously, some version of a full-on nut job from the GOP. Who pays attention to decorum? There is much more to worry about now than politeness.
1
Which rules would that be? The ones that only apply to the plebs. No, It's not a throw back to the wild west. It looks more like a prelude to the rise of a Robespierre. Prescott, his progeny, and their ilk, created this. I'm stocking up on popcorn.
1
Take Jeb and Hillary.....it's like comparing apples and oranges....both are bad apples who rode into town on somebody else's coat tails. Hillary has managed to corrupt her already soiled and disgraced set of tails with her lying, and manipulating the facts to the point of making voters wonder if she has the experience, accomplishments or moral authority to be commander in chief.
Jeb's claim to fame is that his last name is Bush. Little did 'Poppy" know that his close association with bill clinton was paving the road to clinton's rehabilitation from the scandal of his impeachment and would open the door for Hillary to run for president. Hillary's claim to fame is that her last name is Clinton. The only difference between them is one is a man and one is a woman and neither one should be president...
Jeb's claim to fame is that his last name is Bush. Little did 'Poppy" know that his close association with bill clinton was paving the road to clinton's rehabilitation from the scandal of his impeachment and would open the door for Hillary to run for president. Hillary's claim to fame is that her last name is Clinton. The only difference between them is one is a man and one is a woman and neither one should be president...
4
@flojo–You may not like Hillary's politics but she has worked hard and has not rested on the Clinton name. She got herself elected twice to a U.S. Senate seat, got 18 million votes in 2008, and was overwhelmingly approved by congress to be Obama's SOS. Clinton has remained relevant to her party and Bush has not.
304
You cannot make an equivalency between Jeb and Hillary. Hillary is an accomplished officeholder who has done anything but rest on her laurels. Jeb is a hardline conservative and lousy ex-governor who thought that his road to the presidency would be, if not a cakewalk, at least within his skillset. It turns out his time has come and gone, as well as several other Republican contenders.
13
There is no job or position Hillary has had that did not result from her last name being Clinton. Face it, if she had not married Bill she would be just another obscure corporate lawyer making the millions she seems to prize above everything else.
2
A very funny piece about a very silly family. A Dynasty? Only in the sense of a Texas oil baron soap opera. Poor ol' Jeb. It's hard not to feel sorry for him. One good outcome of his collapsed campaign is that a lot of Republican money has been used for him to no end! Money that otherwise might have gone to Rubio or Ted Cruz, God forbid.
9
Jeb got confused. He thought he was still in an era when wealthy families paid the dues for their golden boys.
16
Bush might not be an articulate speaker but what he is talking have substance, I hate to see another president who is good in rhetoric but flip flop with his decision, My relatives in Florida have witnessed the greatness in Bush as a governor...
1
Greatness? I am a Florida citizen. Bush, as Governor. ruined the education system and left with the 2008 crash in his wake.
Amazing how these candidates attempt to take credit for what they did not do.
Amazing how these candidates attempt to take credit for what they did not do.
9
I am pretty certain this Floridian does not live near any of your relatives. For as far and wide as I've traveled my state, I've mostly meet people who detest Jeb. Almost 2 million private property citrus removed to Advantage the Katherine Harris family. I love watching Jeb get chainsawsed down like a 1999 key lime in Miami. And like with the trees, the foul Trump is the no-bid contract.
3
"...the diffident Obama led to a new brand of furious, Tea Party-infused Republicans."
No Maureen, Obama didn't have to be "diffident" to inspire the fury of the Tea Party. All he had to be was black.
No Maureen, Obama didn't have to be "diffident" to inspire the fury of the Tea Party. All he had to be was black.
68
Exactly!
5
I totally agree. Once Obama came into office, racism became more obvious than it had been. It's destructive to the core and most commentators refuse to acknowledge this. Now we have increased incidences of sexism to look forward to as Hillary succeeds. I learned that the isms were dangerous in 7th grade. I see them playing out without any shame at all.
9
Oh for Pete's sake! Obama would not have been elected if white people had not voted for him. And we are still racist?
Voters want a champion. Bush has zero physical presence and unlike his brother he hasn't been able to get the phony gunslinger pose down.
13
Phony gunslinger pose? Bush could give you a serious beat down and not break a sweat.
Normally I love Ms Dowd's opinions, but this one is over-the-top psycho-babble. Jeb could still pull this one out. NEVER underestimate the big money, econo-fascist political class
9
Although I am a Democrat I am also an American, and I was hoping that Jeb Bush would be a viable candidate for the presidency, because if the Democratic presidential candidate lost and Jeb won, then at least America would have a competent president; however, Jeb has not done well in the age of sound bites and continual TV coverage - he is not charismatic, he is not quick, and he is not forceful - characteristics that have become extremely important in a race for the presidency. I do believe he is probably the best choice in the Republican field, but he is extremely unlikely to get the nomination. All this makes me wonder if the ungainly and un-photogenic Abraham Lincoln could have won the Republican nomination in 2016.
104
Highly unlikely.
1
"...because if the Democratic presidential candidate lost and Jeb won, then at least America would have a competent president..."
I repeatedly heard this said about GW Bush...
I repeatedly heard this said about GW Bush...
1
Where did you get the idea that past presidents did not have to be charismatic, quick or forceful? Gaining recognition and position in their parties, and maneuvering themselves into their party's nomination required those characteristics and then some. Think Teddy Roosevelt. Lincoln won over people and politicians with his thoughtful grace and quick wit, and was just as forceful as any contemporary politician when he needed to be. Just because their every waking hours weren't broadcast 24/7 doesn't mean those folks didn't possess mad political skills!
By the way, can you imagine TR or Lincoln petulantly complaining about having to answer tough questions during a debate? The ability to think quickly on one's feet has always been a requirement for effective leadership. It's both shocking and depressing how far the party of TR and Lincoln has dropped in stature.
By the way, can you imagine TR or Lincoln petulantly complaining about having to answer tough questions during a debate? The ability to think quickly on one's feet has always been a requirement for effective leadership. It's both shocking and depressing how far the party of TR and Lincoln has dropped in stature.
3
Turns out none of them--the father, the son and the lowly ghost--were the smart one.
32
First, I do not like any of the Bushes. Second, I found the article to be quite mean and snarky and typical of a liberal. Third, I really enjoyed it, for the most part because of my first point.
3
Nice guys do finish last in these turbulent days.
1
JEB! No last name. I'm wondering if he is secretly ashamed of it, or if he feels that by not having in in sight people will forget or not know he is a Bush, or if he thinks that he's as famous as those people who don't need but one name to be instantly recognized such as opera stars or artists.
5
"“I’m in phenomenal shape for an old 62-year-old guy."
That is the problem, Jeb! You are and OLD 62-year-old. The country is looking for someone NEW.
That is the problem, Jeb! You are and OLD 62-year-old. The country is looking for someone NEW.
5
The Jeb! candidacy is the best of all worlds: You can vote against Baby Brother, who is a horrible, inept campaigner; you can register your disgust with Big Brother's presidency, the worst since the Civil War; and you're telling 41 and Bar that the voters who easily fell for Lee Atwater and Karl Rove schemes and Dan Quayle and Clarence Thomas owe the family nothing in exchange for a deflated exclamation point.
22
...in other words, you`ve hit the Bush trifecta.
2
Unfortunately we will be living with the Bush family mistakes, especially those of W, for decades to come. Make them all go away.
9
In America, we don't do royalty. Let us do away the Clintons and Bushes. How about a instituting a merit system! If media will help with this crazy idea; maybe, for Christmas next year, we can ask for a Constitutional Republic.
3
It is too early to write Jeb off and coronate Rubio or the clown, Trump. Many primary voters are intrigued by Trump's style that lacks substance, and will be hesitant to vote for a guy whose only message is, "am I great or great"?
Jeb is not comfortable in the style of debating that has gone on this past three occasions. The new format that Fox Biz and WSJ have announced will expose Trump as messenger without a message and Carson as clueless about economic realities.
My prediction is, it will ultimately be either Kasich or Jeb who will win the nomination. Marco is too financially irresponsible to go any further than he has gone so far.
As Dubya would have said, don't misunderestimate Jeb.
Jeb is not comfortable in the style of debating that has gone on this past three occasions. The new format that Fox Biz and WSJ have announced will expose Trump as messenger without a message and Carson as clueless about economic realities.
My prediction is, it will ultimately be either Kasich or Jeb who will win the nomination. Marco is too financially irresponsible to go any further than he has gone so far.
As Dubya would have said, don't misunderestimate Jeb.
4
As a fellow New Yorker, you should understand what moxie, braggadocio is all about, since we "Neufyorkais" r always accused of possessing it in abundance. DT's statement is justified, is it not? He's a successful businessman, now a winning, popular politician, who does not read from a teleprompter, and always imparts information that few of us knew about."A titre d'exemple,"his response to Kasich's smear that Kasich was the point
man for the Lehman Brothers bailout which left millions of us indignant, feeling that we had been shafted, was news to me as well as to many others. Anytime the orofessional political, class is caught playing a double game, we need a muckraker like DT to expose them. What is it you don't get? For sheer moxie, no one could compete with Mayor KOCH, and his question,"How am I doin'?"
man for the Lehman Brothers bailout which left millions of us indignant, feeling that we had been shafted, was news to me as well as to many others. Anytime the orofessional political, class is caught playing a double game, we need a muckraker like DT to expose them. What is it you don't get? For sheer moxie, no one could compete with Mayor KOCH, and his question,"How am I doin'?"
we know from dowd's previous writings that poppy bush invited her to kennebunkport, joked with her, and wrote little notes, including the gently whimsical satire of his family, which she references here. now she uses hw's private joke to enrich a thorough skewering of his family. nice way to repay the courtly generosity of an old man. you could have made your point without that tacky betrayal.
8
Bush Senior, a born-and-bred Washington insider, knows the rules of the media game. If you let a media personality like MoDo into your home, you should expect to be skewered when you are down. I weep for my country, not for any of the Bushes.
6
Enough of the Bushs already.
Bring on tomorrow's generation!
Bring on tomorrow's generation!
Um, like Hillary Clinton?
@robert-I couldn't agree more. Bring on HRC! She actually seems modern and astute compared to anybody in the GOP. Rubio may be young but his ideas are old.
2
"When the Bushes had to stick a shiv in the ribs of their foes, they behaved like gentlemen and outsourced it to henchmen."
Bushes aren't gentleman and Dowd shouldn't be peddling the view that they are. Lee Atwater was working for Herbert Bush as campaign manager, when he performed a test on 32 voters who favored Dukakis in which they were exposed to the Willie Horton story. 50 percent of the sample switched their support to Bush on this issue alone. The Bush campaign changed course to undertake a campaign of racially charged politics, that reenergized racial negativism. Under Bush's leadership, the Republican campaign in 1988 moved "racial resentment to a more central place in the white vote than it would have otherwise occupied,” according to Kinder and Sanders 1996, p. 240. As C. Van Woodword put it, "More fundamental are the skills and expertise, the cynicism and unscrupulous methods, by which the electorate was successfully gulled and deceived. All the tested methods of McCarthyite character assassination and phobia were employed, but the main reliance was on race. Not only familiar code words but blatantly outright racism such as use made of Willie Horton. The people who did this were not rednecks or Western toughs from the boondocks. George Walker Bush, Yale 1948, come from a higher economic elite than any other front running leaders since FDR."
If you consider inflaming racism to be gentlemanly, then Maureen is right that Bush is gentleman. But I protest.
Bushes aren't gentleman and Dowd shouldn't be peddling the view that they are. Lee Atwater was working for Herbert Bush as campaign manager, when he performed a test on 32 voters who favored Dukakis in which they were exposed to the Willie Horton story. 50 percent of the sample switched their support to Bush on this issue alone. The Bush campaign changed course to undertake a campaign of racially charged politics, that reenergized racial negativism. Under Bush's leadership, the Republican campaign in 1988 moved "racial resentment to a more central place in the white vote than it would have otherwise occupied,” according to Kinder and Sanders 1996, p. 240. As C. Van Woodword put it, "More fundamental are the skills and expertise, the cynicism and unscrupulous methods, by which the electorate was successfully gulled and deceived. All the tested methods of McCarthyite character assassination and phobia were employed, but the main reliance was on race. Not only familiar code words but blatantly outright racism such as use made of Willie Horton. The people who did this were not rednecks or Western toughs from the boondocks. George Walker Bush, Yale 1948, come from a higher economic elite than any other front running leaders since FDR."
If you consider inflaming racism to be gentlemanly, then Maureen is right that Bush is gentleman. But I protest.
25
Dowd has taken a week off from bashing her favorite hate figure, Clinton, to give us some pop psychology on the dynamics of the Bush family. Really this woman is unutterably silly.
21
Jeb's claim not to have seen his campaign's Rubio attack powerpoint until it was leaked to the press is at best an admission that he is not in charge of his campaign. So, perhaps he just saying that he is incompetent as a leader.
2
We should never forget that the grandfather, Prescott, attempted to persuade a decorated Marine general, Chesty Puller, to lead a coup against FDR and his New Deal. Perhaps this is justice at last.
24
I appreciate your criticism of all politicians, but the word diffident in relation to Obama is misplaced. Obama does not lack confidence. No one successfully making their way to the presidency today could lack confidence. That in fact, seems to be part of Jeb's problem. His confidence is based on his family and not on something inherent in himself. That kind of false confidence can't get one to the top office.
16
It's all rather sad. I'm a raging progressive, but I feel sorry for Jeb!
I'm not sure he is incompetent. He seems like the sort who could be a good manager - of an Applebee's perhaps. By birth he was tossed into a pool too deep and too turbulent. He's like a skinny kid with thick glasses, trying mightily to keep his head above water, even though he hates swimming.
Everyone always suggested that W was the sort who would be fun to have a beer with (when he was still fun). Jeb! seems like the kind of guy who would be fun to . . . . . . . . . .
Gosh, I honestly can't think of anything. Never mind.
I'm not sure he is incompetent. He seems like the sort who could be a good manager - of an Applebee's perhaps. By birth he was tossed into a pool too deep and too turbulent. He's like a skinny kid with thick glasses, trying mightily to keep his head above water, even though he hates swimming.
Everyone always suggested that W was the sort who would be fun to have a beer with (when he was still fun). Jeb! seems like the kind of guy who would be fun to . . . . . . . . . .
Gosh, I honestly can't think of anything. Never mind.
5
It’s never too late to elect Gore, Comrade Socialists. He’s got Nobel prize! I’m pitiful of your fate, losers.
4
I have fond memories of Barbara and Poppy Bush, cue Glenn Miller's "In The Mood." Although I voted against him, W. won the 2004 election because he demonstrated a sincere passion for the job during the four debates. Jeb seems to lack these traits. Things might be quite different if the Bush dynasty was stopped in its tracks back in 2000. The press gave W. a pass regarding his alcoholic past. The same thing is happening today with Hillary's health issues. All the candidates deserve the highest scrutiny by the press.
1
It was pretty clear soon after 9/11 that Karl Rove decided that the only way his mediocre hero would win the next election was as a wartime president. He was right.
5
No mention of Bush the Dumber's radio under his suit jacket when mentioning his debate performance I see. How easily the lemmings are fooled.
Guess what. This country deserves Jeb Bush. A country that sit's back while 3000 people are killed and NEVER asks any questions.... about Building Seven.... About thermite..... about fires that burned for 2 months... about rescheduled military exercises, deserves to fail.
The strong point of Jeb Bush is he understands what fools the American People are.
The strong point of Jeb Bush is he understands what fools the American People are.
4
Jebbie's strong point is that there are plenty of room-temperature IQ people that think he is a credible candidate. Kool-Aid is mixed a little too strong maybe.
1
You know what? I never voted for a Republican for president and certainly won't in the next election, but I am loathe to snicker at the stumbling campaign of Jeb Bush.
Jeb Bush strikes me as a rational, intelligent and decent person. I cannot say that about the rest of the GOP contenders.
Remember, fellow liberals, that one of those candidates will be running for president and may win.
When you consider the likely alternatives, Jeb! does not seem so bad. Bad, but not as bad.
Jeb Bush strikes me as a rational, intelligent and decent person. I cannot say that about the rest of the GOP contenders.
Remember, fellow liberals, that one of those candidates will be running for president and may win.
When you consider the likely alternatives, Jeb! does not seem so bad. Bad, but not as bad.
200
If by decent you mean a person who as governor of a US State used his power, lawful and otherwise, to ensure a presidential victory for his older brother, then, yes, JEB! is decent.
7
The bad news is that Jeb isn't going to make the cut. The good news is that the Canadian and Mexican borders are mutually accessible to anyone concerned about a Trump or Carson or Cruz or Rubio presidency. The really, really good news is that no one need fear the presidency of a Fiorina or a Jindal or a Pataki or a Santorum. But the very worst news is that New Jersey is stuck with Christie.
3
"Jeb Bush strikes me as a rational, intelligent and decent person."
Two words: Terri Schiavo.
Two words: Terri Schiavo.
3
there was a palpable pall over america during th bush years
it started on 911, and lasted till he was out of office
nothing good happened in between
i think americans dont want to chance a repeat of that era
it started on 911, and lasted till he was out of office
nothing good happened in between
i think americans dont want to chance a repeat of that era
10
Jeb just oozes self entitlement. When another candidate attacks him there is a momentary eye flicker and an ever so slight delay, and you know what he wants to really say is "how dare you,don't you know who I am" it's transparent and we've all seen it. He knows that politically he has to hold his tongue. I would posit that in that brief instant the American public has internalized Bush's fundamental arrogance and they viscerally reject his sense of entitlement.
11
"Old school" Republicans have had ample opportunity over the past eight years to call out the craziness and vitriol of the radical right wing of the GOP, but they stood by silently and said nothing. Either out of cowardice or the false notion that "people will come to their senses" when required.
Poppy and his ilk allowed the reckless and dangerous Tea Party "blob" to grow unchecked, and now he must watch helplessly as it consumes Jeb and every other somewhat "moderate" Republican.
Poppy and his ilk allowed the reckless and dangerous Tea Party "blob" to grow unchecked, and now he must watch helplessly as it consumes Jeb and every other somewhat "moderate" Republican.
19
Brilliant comment!
1
"But this campaign has been defined by Trump parachuting in, like an Elvis impersonator in Vegas, and disrupting the royal coronation. "
yes! and this is why i love trump! it's not just that he is raining on the bush parade...... he's rainiing on the entire republican field! imagine the bill of goods the RNC would be successfully peddling if he weren't around completely changing the conversation?? it would be really boring but it would be effective and even though it looks impossible now? the sheep would be dutifully following JEB towards 11/16.
yes! and this is why i love trump! it's not just that he is raining on the bush parade...... he's rainiing on the entire republican field! imagine the bill of goods the RNC would be successfully peddling if he weren't around completely changing the conversation?? it would be really boring but it would be effective and even though it looks impossible now? the sheep would be dutifully following JEB towards 11/16.
6
Maureen Down reveals a knowledge of the history of the Bushes that I have not heard before. I do not doubt her, but I question a media that speaks of these interesting and important facts that reveal character only when a candidate is mired. Shouldn't the media be telling these tales before someone gets elected? That might have spared us the enormous pain we have suffered under Prescott, George H.W., Neil, George W. and Jeb!.
So what do we need to know about Rubio that you're withholding?
So what do we need to know about Rubio that you're withholding?
9
Just for the sake of accuracy, there was a bit of a kerfluffle in Florida about recounts and hanging chads so the Supreme Court chimed in with a decision that can never be used as a precedent for any other case. George W. didn't get elected so much as chosen by his father's golf buddies.
3
That he cashed out his IRA for a boat and can't balance a checkbook to save his life and billed the Florida Republican Party for personal expenses and he's the only member of congress with more debt than assets? And we want this guy in charge of the federal budget and hypocritically lecturing everyone else about making efficiencies while he drools over the speaking circuit after leaving office? Someone who refuses to live within his means but orders everyone else to do so is dangerous, a walking tool for the billionaires that are bankrolling him.
3
Remember the hanging chads Jeb? Some of us haven't forgotten this.
26
So Donald Trump is the cause of the fall of the House of Bush? Wow!
2
If W really is more comfortable in his skin these days, he's even more of a monster than I thought.
8
A comedienne referred to him as a jar of mayonaise.
2
I agree with Maureen's assessment and conclusions, but for God's sake will someone set the record straight about Iraq being the worst mistake in American History! FDR's allowing the OSS to morph into the clandestine killer it became in the CIA and paving the way for Stalin and the Soviets to take-over Europe was also bad. But Vietnam, started by Kennedy and nurtured by Johnson (and ended by Nixon) was far worse and sowed the seeds of America's decline from greatness which we feel today. Oh, yeah, I forgot- they were Democratic liberal Presidents. I forgot. So does the press.
2
Stan Ward
Budapest
Yes it was obviously a huge mistake allowing the OSS and it's successor the CIA (which was created by Truman not FDR btw) to use ungentlemanly methods to resist such benign figures as Hitler and Stalin. You'll also be shocked to learn we were actually reading the mail of the Japanese before and during the war. Was there no end to US perfidy?
Budapest
Yes it was obviously a huge mistake allowing the OSS and it's successor the CIA (which was created by Truman not FDR btw) to use ungentlemanly methods to resist such benign figures as Hitler and Stalin. You'll also be shocked to learn we were actually reading the mail of the Japanese before and during the war. Was there no end to US perfidy?
7
Here you an read about Eisenhower's role in the VN war: http://thevietnamwar.info/who-started-vietnam-war/
1
Nixon prolonged the Vietnam war for political gain. In 1968 when he was a candidate, Nixon convinced the South Vietnamese to not accept a deal Johnson had worked out with North Vietnam to end the war. Ending the war was Nixon's platform and he needed the war to continue if he was to be elected president. Then, despite his campaign promise of ending the war, once he was elected, Nixon escalated it and prolonged it for five more years, costing an additional 22,000 American lives. Giving Nixon credit for ending the Vietnam war is like giving Regan credit for bringing the American hostages held in Iran home (similar story ... remember Iran/Contra?) But, I suppose these weren't "mistakes," since they were designed and executed on purpose.
3
Many simply assumed that Jeb would make a good president because he was a Bush and "steady". But you are in a world of hurt when Donald Trump has more appeal to your party as a presidential candidate than you do even though your father and brother were elected president. Go Hillary!
11
Yeah, go away Hillary, time for a good president for a change, not the first something or other just to go down in the record book as "proof" of how progressive we are as a country.
Watching Bush-the-last perform is downright painful. No spark. No energy. He make's Obama seem engaged and outgoing. What a disaster of a campaign.
JEB! - put a fork in him - he's done.
JEB! - put a fork in him - he's done.
2
Well, not bad, but don't overplay the tragedy aspects of the Bush failures; It's high farce.
Also, the GOPers haven't been about substance in decades and decades and decades.
Beyond that; good riddance to Bush. Please leave. There's a lot more to get rid of after him. Just look down the bench and keep swallowing.
Also, the GOPers haven't been about substance in decades and decades and decades.
Beyond that; good riddance to Bush. Please leave. There's a lot more to get rid of after him. Just look down the bench and keep swallowing.
9
The only way Jeb! is going to win any elections is if the Bush Cabal appoints Kathleen Harris to count the votes and then appoints some judges to rule not to really count the votes. Democracy Undone.
7
When George Washington was asked by the fellow countrymen after his first term as President of the nascent nation to proclaim himself as King, he declined the request. He had a vision at that time for that nation. As a result we are still not a dynastic kingdom. I hope the rejects the political advantages made by Hilary & Jeb.
4
Jeb should have never entered the race!
4
As a conservative I have never been impressed by the Bush dynasty. Daddy Bush inherited the Presidency because people wanted to see a Reagan third term and Bush had the best resume for the job. Daddy did a good job of putting together a tremendous coalition to get rid of Saddam Hussein, unfortunately at the key point of the war when we had Saddam Praetorian Guard trapped, he decided to let them go and Saddam remained in power. Later on when Junior was in-charge he took care of Afghanistan first and then he and Cheney decided they would clean up Daddy's mistake which was unnecessary and proved to be a major mistake for his presidency. Junior also showed himself as incompetent with 9/11 and Katrina. The Bush's never should have come close to becoming a dynasty as they have proven to be a pretty incompetent bunch.
2
Bush Senior's war on Saddam set the stage for all the mayhem that followed. Our nation had no business defending Kuwait and by extension Saudi Arabia, both totalitarian monarchies.
As my grandmother used to say when someone was finally served his just desserts, "The mills of the gods grind slowly but exceedingly fine." As governor of Florida in 2000, JEB! disenfranchised, intimidated and miscounted enough voters and ballots to give us W, the worst president since Buchanan. Fifteen years later he is finally being served a heaping helping of ignominy and humble pie. He should just be glad he's never been served with the arrest warrant for high treason he so richly merits.
16
It's puzzling that Donald Trump has had such a run, but it was also puzzling that George W Bush became president and even more puzzling that he was re-elected.
We have somehow developed a political system where personality is more important than policy and people want to elect someone with whom they'd like to have a beer. Reagan was a great "communicator" because he knew how to deliver his lines. Lee Atwater and Karl Rove pioneered political campaigning that relied heavily on manipulation and even dirty tricks.
What could go wrong? I don't think Donald Trump or Ben Carson will come close to the presidency, but we shouldn't be surprised that they seem to be in contention.
We have somehow developed a political system where personality is more important than policy and people want to elect someone with whom they'd like to have a beer. Reagan was a great "communicator" because he knew how to deliver his lines. Lee Atwater and Karl Rove pioneered political campaigning that relied heavily on manipulation and even dirty tricks.
What could go wrong? I don't think Donald Trump or Ben Carson will come close to the presidency, but we shouldn't be surprised that they seem to be in contention.
10
It is also puzzling that a community organizer with zero experience governing was elected president and reelected. Reading teleprompters and making promises of transparency, improving racial relations and expressing hope and change fooled many. Voters want smooth talkers and actors, not competent leaders who have a tract record of governing. It seems we have not learned from these inept, deceitful years of a clueless president who will leave us with a legacy of racial tension, world chaos, economic stunted growth and a diminished sense of hope and change. WAKE UP AMERICA.
Another catastrophically stupid column from Dowd. She has nothing to say and she says it badly.
4
Interesting comment, Katie. It would be interesting to know specifically what you take issue with. Can you do that?
This one actually had some interesting information -- the bit about the line W swiped from Jeb!
1
Truth apparently does cause pain.
About time. You would think after W, the worst president in history, they would skulk off in shame.
And it is Trump who claims the scalp and the credit for speaking his mind and many truths.
Now if only we had a decent alternative to Hilary.
And it is Trump who claims the scalp and the credit for speaking his mind and many truths.
Now if only we had a decent alternative to Hilary.
5
FDR is probably the worse president. Prolong the depression by nearly a decade then finally juiced the economy with a war. And we're left with the Ponzi scheme called Social Security.
Maureen, didn't you use to refer to Obama as the "chosen one." With all the Messianic hubris that implies how did he become "diffident?"
6
She's been down on him since day one. She sees his diffidence as coming from his view that being the chosen one means you don't have to be selling or closing.
3
We all now know that this family is a disaster. From a President that didn't know what scanning an item in a supermarket was, to the mean-spritied disgusting action of Jeb in interfering in the Shiavo family drama, to G.W.'s allowance of 9/11 to happen and his response to invade Iraq, these "leaders" have shown they are out of touch with the average person's issues, and don't care.
In addition, Jeb talks garbage when the issues that Trump has brought up of exported jobs, bad trade deals, support of illegal immigration from both parties, and understanding that clear talk and lack of PC-approved statements have power.
Jeb missed the boat and is now floundering in the water. The only question remains is: will he drown as a candidate and be known as the loser brother Bush? or survive as force in the Republican party as an advisor/puppet master in the establishment branch of Republicans? Either way, he's out.
In addition, Jeb talks garbage when the issues that Trump has brought up of exported jobs, bad trade deals, support of illegal immigration from both parties, and understanding that clear talk and lack of PC-approved statements have power.
Jeb missed the boat and is now floundering in the water. The only question remains is: will he drown as a candidate and be known as the loser brother Bush? or survive as force in the Republican party as an advisor/puppet master in the establishment branch of Republicans? Either way, he's out.
8
Wow. Are you going to register as a Democrat for 2016?
Hey, Mo, I represent that. "dragging his wilted exclamation point around"
And more important than Shrub Grosso's aversion to Dynasty, his strongest aversion is to "being in the loop." He keeps saying "I'm not in the loop," "I wasn't in the loop," "I'm pedaling my plausible deniability tricycle 's fast's I can."
Of course, the real "loop" he's worrying about is the one fashioned by the hangman, aka The Noose. Constantly amazes me that the public doesn't know that Shrub HW got into the loop when he was 19 or so, and got "early admission" to the Naval flight school, or whatever it was then. Then did aerial reconaissance, and stayed in "intel" throughout the rest of his life. While denying it all the way. Gotta give him credit for sticking with the script come hell or high water.
And more important than Shrub Grosso's aversion to Dynasty, his strongest aversion is to "being in the loop." He keeps saying "I'm not in the loop," "I wasn't in the loop," "I'm pedaling my plausible deniability tricycle 's fast's I can."
Of course, the real "loop" he's worrying about is the one fashioned by the hangman, aka The Noose. Constantly amazes me that the public doesn't know that Shrub HW got into the loop when he was 19 or so, and got "early admission" to the Naval flight school, or whatever it was then. Then did aerial reconaissance, and stayed in "intel" throughout the rest of his life. While denying it all the way. Gotta give him credit for sticking with the script come hell or high water.
4
Many pedantic comments over the use of the word Dynasty. Ms Dowd has it right, a succession to power within a family. Also some confusion over inheritance. Wives are first in line to inherit from husbands, and vice versa.
1
Trump probably does have lots of cool things he could be doing, maybe the only one in both parties.
6
Nice insider piece... interesting to think about, especially, in terms of the two mens chosen religions: Jeb! left mainstream Protestantism for the Catholic religion of his wife; George W. became a born again Evangelical when he got sober (or before, unsure of the inside details...) In this way, W. easily forgives himself because he believes in God's grace, and seemingly loses no sleep over the consequences of his leadership choices; and Jeb! believes still in ... "paying his dues", as Maureen concludes here, thinking more like a Catholic that "what you put in is what you get out", rather than just accepting he is a sinner and saved only (and easily! ?) by accepting God's sacrificial grace.
Maureen, I miss you on Wednesdays too, but on Sundays, often you make me think.
Maureen, I miss you on Wednesdays too, but on Sundays, often you make me think.
1
I can only conclude that the writer doesn't know what diffident means.
She saw him get take on and beat the Clintons, kill Bin Laden, get health care passed, gay marriage, etc. So she can't possibly mean that Obama is "lacking confidence."
The writer is lacking an editor with the confidence to say, "wrong word."
She saw him get take on and beat the Clintons, kill Bin Laden, get health care passed, gay marriage, etc. So she can't possibly mean that Obama is "lacking confidence."
The writer is lacking an editor with the confidence to say, "wrong word."
44
I can agree with her. Obama is as close to a non-person as we have ever had as president - at least in my lifetime. He is passive-aggressive. He is a product of a Wall Street cabal who knew they could bend and fold him. And that they have. He is still a mystery man, and a president of the U.S. should not be this.
Touché.
1
Jeb's candidacy reminds me of Rahul Gandhi's disastrous run here in India. Rahul was supposed to be the next in line for the Nehru/Gandhi dynasty, but was an inept, diffident campaigner and prone to hilarious malaprops. He seemed, like Jeb, to be going through the motions, running only because being prime minister is the family business.
3
Maureen Dowd has done two things with this column, No mention of Hillary, most baffling. Maureen has finally found one of the outstanding Zombies in the Republican candidate pool. The very thought of another Bush in the White House is anathema. This voracious family’s lust for political power shows if it were necessary that our political life is in crisis. He presents, as a shambling, babbling, half deranged version of Mitt Romney. Putting out the warmth of a box turtle in heat. Any other candidate in his position without the hunger for power gene would have left the scene. We, unfortunately will not be spared we will have to go a few more rounds, for it to sink into the Jeb brain stem that it is over. That family reminds one of Charles Dickens, Oliver Twist “Please sir, can I have more..?” More, I think not, we have had all the Bushwa we can stand. I think it best if brother George takes him under his wing into the sagebrush and like George be quarantined with his paint pots and brushes. Like Carbon the whole family should be sequestered in Texas for the safety of the Republic…
17
I agree with most of what you say. But "W" will never "take him aside...". Smart brothers don't do that. It may be over but he has to realize it, not be told, if there's to be future peace in the family.
The problem of this recitation of the multi-generational drama of the family Bush is that it leaves out at least one really big factor: Jeb Bush has no particular reason to be running. What's the purpose, other than to get to the White House?
Gazing through history, each era usually produces someone (men, to this point) who has some sort of visceral connection with his times, someone who channels the public mood, occasionally (Lincoln, Kennedy and others) who catches the wave and manages to reflect in persona and actions the gestalt of the times.
Jeb Bush seems to have no message, other than, like his brother, promising to look after the needs of the rich. He is hopelessly out of touch with the public mood, the tea party eruption, the general dissatisfaction with the economic recovery that left millions sitting on the sidelines and just about everything else. The only thing he seems to be up on is fantasy football, which probably will translate into five votes.
The rabble that has been aroused by the tea party and the rancid taste left in many mouths by the Great Recession doesn't want another son of third or fourth generation wealth, nor do they want "the next one in line". They want fresh and they will take nut case fresh over blue blood boring. Got it?
I am not among their number, but I do sometimes wonder how many dual "preppy boy" elections for president we can stand here in the land where class structure was supposed to be meaningless or minimal.
Gazing through history, each era usually produces someone (men, to this point) who has some sort of visceral connection with his times, someone who channels the public mood, occasionally (Lincoln, Kennedy and others) who catches the wave and manages to reflect in persona and actions the gestalt of the times.
Jeb Bush seems to have no message, other than, like his brother, promising to look after the needs of the rich. He is hopelessly out of touch with the public mood, the tea party eruption, the general dissatisfaction with the economic recovery that left millions sitting on the sidelines and just about everything else. The only thing he seems to be up on is fantasy football, which probably will translate into five votes.
The rabble that has been aroused by the tea party and the rancid taste left in many mouths by the Great Recession doesn't want another son of third or fourth generation wealth, nor do they want "the next one in line". They want fresh and they will take nut case fresh over blue blood boring. Got it?
I am not among their number, but I do sometimes wonder how many dual "preppy boy" elections for president we can stand here in the land where class structure was supposed to be meaningless or minimal.
42
Very true. Jeb's slogan seems to be, "I'm a tall white man whose father and brother were president, and now it's my turn, isn't it? Isn't it?"
5
I guess Bernie Sanders on the dem side is the antithesis of the "preppy boy" GOP candidates. But saviors as far back as John Anderson either don't get nominated or like Carter don't know how to play the game. In today's climate only a ground up change in congressional dynamics will give the country real change.
1
I hate to break it to Poppy Bush, who I always liked but didn't vote for, but the Bush family is NOT American royalty. Not even close. He's delusional to even think that. Poor Jeb! is a great big zero and acts like a spoiled kid who is not getting his way. I am enjoying the GOP clown show and to be quite honest Trump scares me less that some of the other nuts. The best thing is that all this craziness is going to ensure that we elect the first women President. I am happy about that.
49
Trump, for all his absurd ego, is probably the only Republican candidate who doesn't read from someone else's script.
3
Latino support? To be elected as a republican ? You have to be kidding me.
11
Wags have said Clinton was our first black president. Many who follow the issue of immigration think George W was our first Mexican president. Clearly, Jeb would be our second Mexican president if you don't count Obama.
It is going to be hard to find American citizens who would vote for a man who thinks illegal immigrants are committing an act of love, or who has a wife who has been in the country for 30 years and still has trouble speaking English.
Jeb thinks we can never have enough immigrants. Trump thinks, " We have a country."
Who should an American citizen vote for?
It is going to be hard to find American citizens who would vote for a man who thinks illegal immigrants are committing an act of love, or who has a wife who has been in the country for 30 years and still has trouble speaking English.
Jeb thinks we can never have enough immigrants. Trump thinks, " We have a country."
Who should an American citizen vote for?
5
Easy peasy. Vote for Hillary Clinton.
4
There's Rubio. I'd like to see his birth certificate.
1
Jeb Bush renamed himself Jeb!, but circumstances have transformed him into Jeb?!.
19
Jeb! helped in giving Florida to his brother, although Gore won the popular vote.
Never forget, never forgive, no more Sons of Bushes!
Never forget, never forgive, no more Sons of Bushes!
101
Jeb and George - if you can explain how they became multi-millionaires you will be demonstrating how the well-connected keep extending their winning streak generation after generation. Tired, so tired of that family and Maureen ran out of interesting words mid-column. Please, all you Bushes, just go quietly into the night.
43
Mo has been way too kind here to the Bush who set ablaze a good portion of a continent. That the brother doesn't understand that particular family legacy renders him unsuitable in any event. I was no Bob Dole fan but I would support him all day long in this crowd.
31
All these anecdotes are retreads. Plus I saw the Georgetown Ebay story two nights ago and Seth Meyers told the joke about running to Mom and Dad two nights ago. Old stuff all around. Here's something new. Jeb hangs in because Trump and Carson are crazy, Rubio is a shin-kicking punk and the Repubicans run back to JEB!
10
This is a brilliant Op-Ed column. I think Ms. Dowd captures the real problem with Jeb. HE does not know where he fits in the family anymore than he knows where he fits in the republican party. He is just not memorable and at times looks like the world has passed him by. He is mired in traditions and institutions that no longer exist. Same-sex marriage is legal, guns are dangerous, health care is a right not a privilege, the rich are too rich and not everyone is Christian.
The face of the voting public has drastically changed from Poppy's time and even W's. And THAT is a very good thing. I just cannot understand how the republican leadership and Jeb, who may just be the smartest Bush, cannot figure that out.
The face of the voting public has drastically changed from Poppy's time and even W's. And THAT is a very good thing. I just cannot understand how the republican leadership and Jeb, who may just be the smartest Bush, cannot figure that out.
23
Why can't he/they figure that out? Oh that one's easy. They live in a very insular bubble of privilege. The Bushes are, to a certain real extent, part of our American Aristocracy. It's the rarefied world of the elite, 20th Century, WASP. They don't realize that the face of the voting public is morphing because, quite simply, they can't see it for their insularity. The world has moved on and, as that 'ol song goes, the times they are a'changin'.....and they are being left behind.
So it goes.
John~
American Net'Zen
So it goes.
John~
American Net'Zen
I see no mention of W. getting out of going to Vietnam by being put in the "champain squadron', and at that, frequently being AWOL, as shown in the new film True.
11
Actually, it's more Jacob and Esau than Cain and Abel, but never mind.
34
I get you .... "The red there, give me some of the red ....". You re dead on.
Thank you. Someone noticed.
Enough about the Bush dynasty. As a callow youth, I once made the mistake of voting for the father. The elder son opened my eyes. Dubya was a tragedy that the nation refused to acknowledge for eight long years. The younger son's presidency would be a farce. I used to like Maureen Dowd's clear eyed assessments of Cheney and Rummy. Something has happened to Maureen's columns ever since Obama got elected.
67
To illustrate Jeb's problem, there was a picture of him, his father and George taken at a fundraiser for Jeb. His father was on the right, George was up front and smiling in the middle and Jeb was on the left. Jeb, the candidate for President was not the center of attention, even for his family.
28
"Jeb got confused. He thought he was still in an era when people had to pay their dues."
Watching the once "done-deal" for POTUS spoiled, whining, petulant Jeb! deflate suggests maybe justice is sometimes delayed, and, while long overdue, Jeb may be finally paying his dues.
Could the ghost of Terri Schiavo be lurking to seek her revenge for the ludicrous circus Gov. Bush created over her right to die with dignity in order for him to pander to conservative Christian voters ?
Is it time for Jeb to pay the piper for turning brother George's presidential defeat into an unconstitutional victory (of sorts) by messing up the Florida voting process and throwing the decision to the Supreme Court?
Should Jeb really be bragging about Florida being the first state while he was governor to implement stand your ground laws, and the first state to implement "for-profit" charter schools, which enriched his crony capitalist friends? Too bad many of these for-profit schools are not performing as promised--just take the money and run. Too bad kids, you're out of luck--again.
My mother's favorite expression was "What does around, comes around." Yep, Jeb may just be paying his dues with this embarrassing presidential run, as rightfully he should.
Watching the once "done-deal" for POTUS spoiled, whining, petulant Jeb! deflate suggests maybe justice is sometimes delayed, and, while long overdue, Jeb may be finally paying his dues.
Could the ghost of Terri Schiavo be lurking to seek her revenge for the ludicrous circus Gov. Bush created over her right to die with dignity in order for him to pander to conservative Christian voters ?
Is it time for Jeb to pay the piper for turning brother George's presidential defeat into an unconstitutional victory (of sorts) by messing up the Florida voting process and throwing the decision to the Supreme Court?
Should Jeb really be bragging about Florida being the first state while he was governor to implement stand your ground laws, and the first state to implement "for-profit" charter schools, which enriched his crony capitalist friends? Too bad many of these for-profit schools are not performing as promised--just take the money and run. Too bad kids, you're out of luck--again.
My mother's favorite expression was "What does around, comes around." Yep, Jeb may just be paying his dues with this embarrassing presidential run, as rightfully he should.
122
Thank you for remembering Terri Schiavo. That was a fiasco of unbelievable proportions, and a tragedy and insult that elected officials became involved in the personal decisions of husband and wife. I would not trust any Bush to run this country effectively. Their poor judgment in both domestic and international issues is astounding.
5
I live in FL, and had to endure 8 years of John Ellis tearing down the educational system in favor of "charter" schools, a meaningless phrase esp. when millions of dollars were paid to the owners of those schools even there were no campuses and no students, Could part of that cash have found its way into other pockets?
5
Articles about articles.
5
No, Jeb! is not coming across well. He's had a tentative and befuddled quality in the debates. The Rubio gambit backfired.
But Jeb! has raised $100 million and is the candidate of Wall Street, so it's premature to count him out. And while I'll vote for the Democratic nominee, I'd have to say that the Republicans could do far worse than Bush. A Bush-Kasich ticket would do very well with Independents and conservative/moderate Democrats and in Florida and Ohio.
But Jeb! has raised $100 million and is the candidate of Wall Street, so it's premature to count him out. And while I'll vote for the Democratic nominee, I'd have to say that the Republicans could do far worse than Bush. A Bush-Kasich ticket would do very well with Independents and conservative/moderate Democrats and in Florida and Ohio.
13
Here you are on Halloween night, Maureen, cackling like a witch over the misfortunes of a poor rich boy. Have you no sympathy, no shame, no more candy?
Jeb! just wanted to give the country one successful Bush presidency. Just one! Was that so wrong? But now the Bush name will fade, besmirched and belittled, away.
And Jeb!s front porch is bare of trick-or-treaters, his candy bowl still overflowing, and the 9:00 o'clock curfew is but a few ticks away.
Jeb! just wanted to give the country one successful Bush presidency. Just one! Was that so wrong? But now the Bush name will fade, besmirched and belittled, away.
And Jeb!s front porch is bare of trick-or-treaters, his candy bowl still overflowing, and the 9:00 o'clock curfew is but a few ticks away.
32
The Clinton's are the media's royal family while the Bushes are the choice of old corporate money and big oil & gas. Both Clinton and Bush are favorites of oil rich monarchs particularly those in the middle east and in the Clinton's case, the mineral rich dictatorships in Africa. Why can't both families, in the immortal words of Oliver Cromwell, just go away.
15
Truthfully, not only the Bush family a dynasty but also the Clintons. It would be preferable to have neither.
18
You do understand that a 'dynasty' is based on a hereditary blood line that continues through generations, don't you? The Bushes are indeed an example of that.
The Clintons are not a 'dynasty.' At best you can say, "I don't like Bill's wife running for president. I'm tired of hearing the name 'Clinton.'" That's about it.
The Clintons are not a 'dynasty.' At best you can say, "I don't like Bill's wife running for president. I'm tired of hearing the name 'Clinton.'" That's about it.
3
Sorry, MoDo: The House of Bush fell with GW Bush. The fact that JEB! was able to run an establishment campaign for POTUS so soon after the unmitigated catastrophe that was his brother's administration with barely a squeak from the mainstream media, the same one that Bush '43 played like a fiddle, still boggles the mind.
74
Back in 2008 could anyone have ever imagined a world where a Bush son losing an election isn't a good thing ? After Dumbya Bush's 8 year Debacle Whodathunkit ? Donald Trump known for stuffing his pockets with other people's money is the Party of Crazy's frontrunner, which does seem to be a bizarre kind of just desserts for them. Can anyone deny that Hillary isn't far and away the only truly qualified candidate on either side to become President ?
God Help Us !
God Help Us !
34
In certain respects, the Donald is similar to Ronnie -- and therefore his popularity is not all that surprising. Many celebrities simply get a free ticket when it comes to actual substance. Of course, Ronnie did have prior experience as governor of California. Maybe the Donald should run for governor or senator somewhere and then make his case for higher office in 2020.
6
California--land of celebs-- elected 2 actors as governor, Ronnie and Arnie. So I'm not surprised that Donnie is having the run that he has. Familiar names on the ballot seem to be the only qualification required. Amazing!
As I have been saying, it looks as if Jebbie is out there in 2015 playing tennis with a wooden racket. Maybe they still use them in Kenebunkport. He would be Bobby Riggs to Hillary's Billie Jean King. Marco, on the other hand, seems to me like an awkward schoolboy. I simply don't get what others see in him.
54
There was another commentator who I thought characterized Rubio aptly as a "shin-kicking punk." Perfectly put.
1
Personal aside to George Lucas and J.J. Abrams: Don't even THINK of coming up with a "Return of the Jebi!" We've suffered enough. And, frankly, so has he.
9
Jeb is so painfully inarticulate, as if possessed of a cluttered brain in which thoughts fight one another to be first out the mouth. And in the instant one finds voice, the others can't wait their turn. This isn't a trait particular to Jeb, but from all appearances across the decades seems a hereditary tick. As do the affinities for state sponsored violence (a crazed devotion to Cheneyism) and economic quackery (Reaganism). I'd prefer this sort of untidy mind take up a job not so hazardous to the planet's general health.
Is it just me, or are all Bushes alike? And alike in an unflattering unpresidential way? Poppy gets a pass in this peculiar debate only because the sons are somehow worse intellectual dullards. Our first clue to the Bush family's fateful incurious streak is a son of a former CIA director who never held a passport before becoming "leader of the free world."
But let me rephrase: Is it just me, or do all GOP presidential hopefuls look alike? Incoherent, uncomfortable with complexity, each assuming an entitlement, however unearned, to America's highest office. When I look at stills of a GOP debate stage in full clatter, I don't see potential statesmen; I see a Bushy hedge.
(Full disclosure: I don't and won't tune into a televised GOP debate. The feeling of deep embarrassment is more than I'm willing to accept in my middle age. I realize that should one of these people become president, none among 7 billion humans will know a stress-free life.)
Is it just me, or are all Bushes alike? And alike in an unflattering unpresidential way? Poppy gets a pass in this peculiar debate only because the sons are somehow worse intellectual dullards. Our first clue to the Bush family's fateful incurious streak is a son of a former CIA director who never held a passport before becoming "leader of the free world."
But let me rephrase: Is it just me, or do all GOP presidential hopefuls look alike? Incoherent, uncomfortable with complexity, each assuming an entitlement, however unearned, to America's highest office. When I look at stills of a GOP debate stage in full clatter, I don't see potential statesmen; I see a Bushy hedge.
(Full disclosure: I don't and won't tune into a televised GOP debate. The feeling of deep embarrassment is more than I'm willing to accept in my middle age. I realize that should one of these people become president, none among 7 billion humans will know a stress-free life.)
74
Whoever dreamed up John Elliot Bush's campaign moniker of JEB! should be tarred and feathered and run out of town on a rail. That exclamation point signaled the downfall of an entitled and clueless Jeb Bush. It was a Dukakis -in-a-helmet idea. Ms. Dowd, whether or not you like Jeb Bush, it is sad to see him floundering up there on the sardine-packed Tea Party GOP campaign stage with all the other losers strutting and fretting their hour on the stage. (h/t Macbeth). There will be no 'settling of Bush sibling scores" in this Presidential campaign. Jeb is lusterless and the strange zeitgeist of the odd brain surgeon Carson and the TV braggart and casino-owner Trump have zipped past him like hares ahead of the tortoise. Though Jeb Bush tossed his older brother the frisbee of the Presidency of the United States (thanks to Jim Baker, the State of Florida, The Supreme Court and Al Gore's acquiescence) in 2,000, he is not entitled to the Presidency because he paid his dues to Bar and Poppy and W. Alas, Jeb Bush is a nice guy among all the Dr. Fell Republican wannabe POTUSes this year. Sometimes - as Jeb Bush will hopefully figure out sooner rather than later - losing can be a blessing in disguise, and sometimes nice guys finish last.
13
I would call it the BILL MURRAY-IZATION of America, all this absurd nonsense which passes for campaigning for president today. And I like Murray.....in the movies. His ultra-snarky characters are a laugh and a welcome relief.
But it looks like Jeb didn't go to Murray's movies. Jeb seems like he was too terrified of his parents to ever smoke pot, or go to a rock'n roll show, or run after a wild girl. Gawd, he is 62, how can he lead a country when he never lived his own life? Everything he says sounds perfectly safe to say in front of his parents at the country club. He should have at least snuck out to see "Caddie Shack".
But it looks like Jeb didn't go to Murray's movies. Jeb seems like he was too terrified of his parents to ever smoke pot, or go to a rock'n roll show, or run after a wild girl. Gawd, he is 62, how can he lead a country when he never lived his own life? Everything he says sounds perfectly safe to say in front of his parents at the country club. He should have at least snuck out to see "Caddie Shack".
23
During the 2nd debate, Bush actually admitted to smoking pot 40 years earlier. He did remark that his mother would not like this revelation being made public on TV.
3
I dislike all Republicans, with an emphasis on the Bush family. Nonetheless, I want to point out that Jeb did not play it safe or Republican when he married a Mexican and converted to Catholicism. If only he had continued his journey and registered as a Democrat.
2
Wow! What an observation!
2
A lot of sharp perceptions are in this analysis, Maureen - but seeping through the whole thing is your grudging admiration for the Bush royal "Dynasty", which stands in sharp relief to your far more palpable hatred of all things Clinton or Obama.
62
Dowd's disdain for all things Clinton and Obama and romance with the Bush Dynasty is also oh so '90s. She aspires to be old-line Washington. They never forgave the Clintons for being from Arkansas, for not being patrician, which is what they have against the Obamas as well, not to mention the polite racism that is so obviously present.
Jeb Bush would be the President from the turn of the 20th century when those New England patricians were American royalty. Hillary would be the president from Citicorp. Either way, given Bill Clinton's transformation into a world philanthropist (still getting his money and hers from global corporate powers) it is the old guard very much in play - the people with money and power will continue to be in control. Let's hope the country decides it doesn't want either of them.
Wouldn't it be a welcome relief to have a president who responds to the real needs of the people who actually make this country and its businesses work - the people whose names Dowd doesn't know - the people who get up every morning, go to the offices or the factories or the farms and engage in the day-to-day grind of getting things done. I remain hopeful.
Jeb Bush would be the President from the turn of the 20th century when those New England patricians were American royalty. Hillary would be the president from Citicorp. Either way, given Bill Clinton's transformation into a world philanthropist (still getting his money and hers from global corporate powers) it is the old guard very much in play - the people with money and power will continue to be in control. Let's hope the country decides it doesn't want either of them.
Wouldn't it be a welcome relief to have a president who responds to the real needs of the people who actually make this country and its businesses work - the people whose names Dowd doesn't know - the people who get up every morning, go to the offices or the factories or the farms and engage in the day-to-day grind of getting things done. I remain hopeful.
3
I used to think that if it was Jeb! that was elected in 2000 rather than his brother we may have been better off, perhaps the Iraq war would have been avoided. Now I realize it would not have mattered in the least. If it were Jeb! that has won, George would be facing the same problems now.
In other words, a Jeb! Administration would be like his brother's. That thought should be enough to scare anyone from voting for this other would-be boy king.
In other words, a Jeb! Administration would be like his brother's. That thought should be enough to scare anyone from voting for this other would-be boy king.
35
What's really important here is not what # 41 thinks, but what the majority of Republican voters seem to think. As much as most Republicans respect the Bush family we have had it with the establishment. Now unlike the Democrat establishment pushing Hillary down the throats of the Democrat voters, I'm excited about the options I have as a Republican.
8
As a Republican you don't have any choices. Jeb! will be your party's nominee and you'll vote for him just as you told.
Why?
I've been following American elections since Dukakis tanked in '88 and this is the weakest slate either party has fielded in all that time.
Trump's a buffoon.
Carson doesn't know the difference between debt, deficit, budget or debt ceiling and has not even the vaguest idea of how taxation works. Imagine him on the opposite side of a table with Putin or Netanyahu!
Jeb! is toast.
Rubio is dragging his race, his boyish appearance and "flip-flop" on immigration along. With his hard line stance on social issues and "I'm not a scientist" cop-out on evolution and climate change he's not going to carry any slightly liberal county in a general election.
That leaves Cruz who's got two rabid supporters for every five people who hates him with fiery passion (and most of the rest are just creeped out by his smarmy. faux-earnest ambulance-chaser shtick).
The rest are also-rans.
Whoever falls victim to the nomination is going to run on the most radically right-wing platform advanced in a century against (in all likelihood) a candidate more ruthless and cynical than Carl Rove on his worst day.
My feeling is it's not just Jeb! who's toast.
I've been following American elections since Dukakis tanked in '88 and this is the weakest slate either party has fielded in all that time.
Trump's a buffoon.
Carson doesn't know the difference between debt, deficit, budget or debt ceiling and has not even the vaguest idea of how taxation works. Imagine him on the opposite side of a table with Putin or Netanyahu!
Jeb! is toast.
Rubio is dragging his race, his boyish appearance and "flip-flop" on immigration along. With his hard line stance on social issues and "I'm not a scientist" cop-out on evolution and climate change he's not going to carry any slightly liberal county in a general election.
That leaves Cruz who's got two rabid supporters for every five people who hates him with fiery passion (and most of the rest are just creeped out by his smarmy. faux-earnest ambulance-chaser shtick).
The rest are also-rans.
Whoever falls victim to the nomination is going to run on the most radically right-wing platform advanced in a century against (in all likelihood) a candidate more ruthless and cynical than Carl Rove on his worst day.
My feeling is it's not just Jeb! who's toast.
Dowd totally gets the Bushes...as she does the Clintons. We seem to be rid of the Bushes; Jeb! is doomed. If only we could get rid of the Clintons too. For all her hard work, Hillary woukld be a disaster because...the Clinotns just ARE a disaster.
Supoort Bernie!
Supoort Bernie!
25
Bernie is the thinking person's candidate......and the surest way to get one of the Clowns as president.......and then, truly, God help us all. No, TR, reality dictates that Hillary MUST become the next president, if only for preservation of the 21st Century version of "Truth, Freedom, and The American Way of Life"
I sincerely hope that if Hillary is the nominee that you will vote for her--instead of not voting.
1
"In the tie election, Jeb had to be prodded into helping his brother snatch Florida away from Al Gore."
Is there evidence of this or are you just saying it because it is the sort of thing you are "supposed" to say in the NY Times?
To be sure, if we had had direct elections, Gore who had 500,000 more votes would have become president and very likely we would have stayed out of Iraq.
But that is the fault of our crazy system and not the fault of Bush (either one).
Approval voting, proposed by Brams and Fishburn would do a lot of cure our problems but it seems not to meet with the approval of politicians who would have to be the ones to bring about change.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Approval_voting
Is there evidence of this or are you just saying it because it is the sort of thing you are "supposed" to say in the NY Times?
To be sure, if we had had direct elections, Gore who had 500,000 more votes would have become president and very likely we would have stayed out of Iraq.
But that is the fault of our crazy system and not the fault of Bush (either one).
Approval voting, proposed by Brams and Fishburn would do a lot of cure our problems but it seems not to meet with the approval of politicians who would have to be the ones to bring about change.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Approval_voting
4
Kathryn Harris and Deborah LaPore helped W win Florida. We should never have "Gotten Over It".
5
If by "crazy system," you mean the Electoral College, that wasn't the problem. In Florida, which Bush "won" by 537 votes, thousands of Democratic voters had been purged from the rolls in bad faith. Butterfly ballots confused elderly people into voting for Buchanan instead of Gore. Black precincts had been given fewer booths, hence longer lines. The recount was disrupted by organized, bused-in mobs. The Bush-friendly results were certified while a court case was pending. And then there was the court case...
3
"diffident Obama led to a new brand of furious, Tea Party-infused Republicans."
Maureen, it wasn't a diffident Obama that led to a fiery Tea Party - it is a "black" Obama who had the temerity to win the Presidency not just once but twice that has caused the fury.
Maureen, it wasn't a diffident Obama that led to a fiery Tea Party - it is a "black" Obama who had the temerity to win the Presidency not just once but twice that has caused the fury.
187
Exactly.
2
I believe the Tea Party nonsense actually kicked off before Obama took office. I believe your point is well taken.
2
But you conveniently forget, as do others, that Obama isn't Black, he's mixed race, and he's not diffident, he's ineffective and it is that ineffectiveness that causes the "fury." Now you want us to vote for Hillary because her main attribute is that she has a vagina? Please! No wonder the country is so screwed up! And no, I'm not a Trump supporter.
I am a democrat. Thus, I do have to vote for any of the current republican candidates. If I were forced to vote for one of them, I would pick Jeb Bush. He seems thoughtful, mature and decision oriented.
1
We are in an era where Republican voters prefer reality TV to reality. Prediction for the Republican ticket? Trump-Kardashian. Just wait. . ..
17
Actually this isn't a comic subject we are facing, but I can't help myself:
Trump/Duck Dynast
Trump/Ted Nugent
Trump/Duggar
Trump/Snookie
Trump/Bristol Palin (another Dynast)
etc.
Please add to this list. I need more laughs today.
Trump/Duck Dynast
Trump/Ted Nugent
Trump/Duggar
Trump/Snookie
Trump/Bristol Palin (another Dynast)
etc.
Please add to this list. I need more laughs today.
3
One of the annoying things about Maureen is that she sacrifices clear-sighted analysis at the altar of her many clever verbal constructs. So for example: 'W.’s tragic overinvolvement in the Middle East and tragic underinvolvement in Katrina did not make him a campaign asset.' While the terms over and underinvolvement stand in cute contrast, to portray GWB's disasters in Iraq and Afghanistan as a case of 'overinvolvement' is to trivialize the actions of a war criminal. It's not like GWB paid too much attention to the Middle East, and not enough to New Orleans. In the one case, he unleashed Shock and Awe. In the other, he was criminally negligent. In both cases, multitudes of lives were lost. Alaa, it was not only the Iraqis who were shocked and awed.
77
If what I hear is true, neither Bush nor Cheney will ever visit Europe again because they will, most certainly and justifiably, end up in The Hague.
5
Now this is going to spawn a little less push-back in the Times comments section than Hillary and Obama bashing. Deservedly so? I guess so. I also find some schadenfreude in me about that John Sununu, that race bating and 47%ing impossible person. I picture him sitting in the corner trying to figure out how to out-Trump Trump. Go Johnnie, Go!
7
Pretty cool Maureen. A fun read. I don't come from their world though. Maybe that is why I don't like them.
15
Jeb is paying the price for George's legacy.
25
Apparently the "price" is not yet steep enough.
Exorbitant penalties for illegal/immoral behaviour are meant to dissuade these behaviours.
Today, W Administration illegal/immoral behaviours are talking points.
They should be criminal and moral indictments.
Exorbitant penalties for illegal/immoral behaviour are meant to dissuade these behaviours.
Today, W Administration illegal/immoral behaviours are talking points.
They should be criminal and moral indictments.
1
Jeb is paying the price for his own inadequacies as a candidate. I believe most Republican voters think George did a fine job as President.
1
Also, paying for his role in the selection of GWB over the election of Gore. Many have not forgotten the broken voting machines, inaccurate voter information, tricky ballots and long lines of mostly minority voters being turned away at the polls. The United States Commission on Civil Rights found that the disenfranchisement of Florida’s voters fell most harshly on the shoulders of black voters.” Erika Wood, NY Times April 5, 2012
Jeb! is also paying for his involvement in the Terry Shivo mess.
Laying all this at the feet of his brother would be denial of his own record of governing.
Jeb! is also paying for his involvement in the Terry Shivo mess.
Laying all this at the feet of his brother would be denial of his own record of governing.
1
Trump knocked Jeb! down in the first debate but that's expected of a meany, or so we thought. But it was not Trump, it was himself. Second debate, we thought he would lift himself to great heights since he seemed to be the only policy wonk with those intelligent rimless glasses. How wrong that was because no one had any policy on their minds except a hyaena fight. So there went another opportunity to show his smarts. Jeb! never really recovered or rather was out from the word go! His down slide kept gaining great momentu First came severe staff cutting, poll numbers tanking and today the news like almost a nail in the coffin, that the billionaire Singer is throwing his millions to Jeb!'s mentee, Rubio. All are jumping the Bush ship. Poppy Bush does not understand this but he is 91 yrs. old and cannot fathom how the Entitled House of Bush is falling apart. His elder son stole from the anointed one. Then the anointed one stole an election for the elder one from a brilliant, capable man, Al Gore. All this stealing! Well! Just desserts, Jeb!
67
It's so funny that you people say you live in a democracy.....stolen elections (twice) by the Bushes and all
63
Notice that none of the candidates bring up Bush 41 or 43. All they ever talk about is their patron St. Reagan. You know the one who single handedly took down the evil empire which never did anything directly to us. Ironically they seem very quiet about Reagan giving arms to another set of evil empires who directly affected us. But who's counting on facts? Facts are for losers! GOP voters want to distance themselves from the Bushes. You know what they say: A bird in hand is worth more than two (in the) Bushes!
28
Jeb! has been invoking his brother's name and reminding Americans (who have a short attention span) what a lousy president W. was.
Who would have thought that Jeb could make W look presidential by comparison.
15
The comparison is there, but it exists in a dark terrible parallel anti-universe.
1
Its a good thing that the country has apparently rejected the idea that JEB would make a good President. JEB's advisers are same neo-cons that, along with big brother George, nearly destroyed the economy and wrecked the Middle East. JEB's record in Florida, from this Democrat's perspective who lived through it, gives me no confidence that he would be any better that his brother as President.
The Bush Brothers have done enough damage already. Enough is enough.
The Bush Brothers have done enough damage already. Enough is enough.
99
Jeb's not the one. The GOP needs a candidate who appeals to EVERYONE; young, old, black, white, rich and poor. Even with Hillary's current legal problems, she still will beat any of the present GOP candidates with one hand behind her back. Unfortunately, the GOP never seems to bring any kind of hope to people; just headache.
41
Opinion only, but I think we can say GOODBYE 2 JEB!!! Does anyone really care about this guy? Money bags Singer just deserted him for the fluff boy Rubio. Carson, with his soft voice ramblings, is now considered a shaman, perfect for the snake charming GOP crowd. Trump is still hanging around. No room for JEB! Say goodbye and retire to Florida, or Texas or New Hampshire, oops I mean Maine or where ever you are from.
34
I love Maureen's intimation that Jeb! has paid his dues but Rubio hasn't. Jeb! stole the 2000 election for his idiot brother, and used the life support-sustained shell of Terry Schiavo's body to gain political points with a foolish electorate. These are the "dues" he has paid. The only thing his candidacy is establishing is that W really wasn't the dumbest Bush brother.
91
I always love it when Maureen skewers pompous, self-important political figures, like Jeb, HRC or Barack Obama. Their egos all need deflating!
9
It takes ego to run for President of the United States; it is not a job for ordinary people. If you want to run the most powerful country in the world, you had best have some ego. Churchill wasn't humble; FDR wasn't humble; Truman wasn't humble; Reagan wasn't humble; LBJ wasn't humble. Empathetic is good. Humility is good if you are a priest; it is not good if you want to lead the free world.
2
If the Bush Royalty Patriarch bestows on journalist Dowd a post card from the Family, she is hooked into finding them forever fascinating. But they are a really boring family. The only interesting thing was when their mama said the country has had enough Bushes in politics, or something. What did Dowd say to that?
‘Wilted exclamation point’ ! is good for a slight laugh. !
But all Americans should read this NYT article, which leads not to laughs but to dismay: “Paul Singer, Influential Billionaire, Throws Support to Marco Rubio for President.”
Super rich sponsors have scanned the field for likely candidates to push their interests, and then pick our nominee choices for us to vote for. They easily play off one against the other. They drive our policy, thus realistically, the fates of millions of us are in the hands of these American king makers. The article has 912 comments, many grasping the meaning of the undermining of our democracy.
Then read the Andy Borowitz New Yorker satire, “Billionaire Acquires Rubio Pending Physical”. Even funnier than a wilted exclamation point.
Much more interesting than the Bush personalities, these big donors like Singer are the power behind the American thrones, whoever may sit on them, and also the courtiers and congress. Now, will an op ed columnist on America’s premier paper tackle that topic? Or stick with individual personalities of candidates, for another fun column?
‘Wilted exclamation point’ ! is good for a slight laugh. !
But all Americans should read this NYT article, which leads not to laughs but to dismay: “Paul Singer, Influential Billionaire, Throws Support to Marco Rubio for President.”
Super rich sponsors have scanned the field for likely candidates to push their interests, and then pick our nominee choices for us to vote for. They easily play off one against the other. They drive our policy, thus realistically, the fates of millions of us are in the hands of these American king makers. The article has 912 comments, many grasping the meaning of the undermining of our democracy.
Then read the Andy Borowitz New Yorker satire, “Billionaire Acquires Rubio Pending Physical”. Even funnier than a wilted exclamation point.
Much more interesting than the Bush personalities, these big donors like Singer are the power behind the American thrones, whoever may sit on them, and also the courtiers and congress. Now, will an op ed columnist on America’s premier paper tackle that topic? Or stick with individual personalities of candidates, for another fun column?
62
But no one points out that Trump opposes these deep-pocketed, string-pulling mega donors. He may be bombastic, but he is the brightest and most astute of the Republican bunch.
Not bad for Ms. Dowd when she creates a Bush family psychodrama. But she has the Bushes marked for the wrong clothiers. Their suits and sport clothes are strictly from J. Press, not Brooks Brothers.
4
Bush 41 & 43, gave us the Supreme Court & the country we have today !
29
Hard to believe Team JEB! actually thought that using the exclamation point, which became an instant laughing point, in the logo; weakly attacking Rubio for poor attendance in the Senate; and creepily saying Supergirl "looks hot" in the new TV show could somehow invigorate his dull, staid persona.
14
Someone should take Poppy's shoes away from him before he sends shards of glass from the world's last remaining picture tube flying everywhere. Poor old dear.
7
Once upon a time there were three bears. Poppa Bear said the porridge was too hot, Georgie Bear said the porridge was too cold and Jebbie Bear said "What's porridge?"
28
Few people in the US want political dynasties. Jeb is simply uninspiring. Unfortunately, in this age of instant media, he is ...boring. Hillary is, too. We need a new generation of politicians, not the stale bunch the establishment wants. Of course, Obama mastered the media, he just was too inexperienced to capitalize.
9
It's Cowboy Capitalism. Heads I win; tails I win. They've got to go although they are sometimes fun to clown around with.
5
I got half way through this article and suddenly realized I don't care at all. Poppy was acceptable, a place-holder when term limits (among other things) took the sainted Ronnie from us. W will be remembered by history along with Buchanan and Harding. Jeb! is all done. Good bye, Bushies. And good riddance. You benefited from this country's wealth and left it worse off than you found it. You are failures and worse than failures.
45
This desultory cast of GOP characters serves to ratify the notion by some, e.g., Grover Norquist, that it really doesn't matter any more which Republican sits in the Oval Office. The Prez doesn't matter anyway. The real power is elsewhere behind the scenes--corporate corner offices, Wall St., the 'freedom' caucus, and piles of unaccountable money in secret places. If this is all the Republicans have to offer, they are truly bankrupt; however, that doesn't mean they won't win next November.
14
Don't the Bushes still have Luca Brasi on the payroll? Its time to give the man an assignment.
3
It's not just his name- It's Him! Jeb is about as interesting and inspiring as a 10 pound bag of flour.
17
"How can America be rewarding the wrong dynasty — Little Rock over Kennebunkport?"
Kennebunkport not Houston? Maureen hit the heart of the conundrum. The Bushes have been trying to sell themselves as big booted Texans for decades when in reality they're really tassel-loafered exiles from the Waspish New England yacht clubs of the 1940s and 50s. Your investment bank or mine?
Nancy Reagan nailed the Bushes for being "weak" in the 1980s and told George Will this over lunch in 1987-88. That led to Wills' famous column describing the elder Bush as a "lapdog."
The Bushes have never been true riders of the Reagan Range. A dynasty? More likely trespassers.
Kennebunkport not Houston? Maureen hit the heart of the conundrum. The Bushes have been trying to sell themselves as big booted Texans for decades when in reality they're really tassel-loafered exiles from the Waspish New England yacht clubs of the 1940s and 50s. Your investment bank or mine?
Nancy Reagan nailed the Bushes for being "weak" in the 1980s and told George Will this over lunch in 1987-88. That led to Wills' famous column describing the elder Bush as a "lapdog."
The Bushes have never been true riders of the Reagan Range. A dynasty? More likely trespassers.
16
Double down on dynasty seems pretty lame to me. Brothers as presidents for the first time in American history? Why? Name recognition and hubris only.
BTW, Hillary is not a dynasty anymore than LBJ was a dynasty product of Andrew. Marriage is hardly a genetic succession.
We have to break the bar against female presidents some time. Hillary is a solid progressive if not a strong one. We could do much worse.
BTW, Hillary is not a dynasty anymore than LBJ was a dynasty product of Andrew. Marriage is hardly a genetic succession.
We have to break the bar against female presidents some time. Hillary is a solid progressive if not a strong one. We could do much worse.
31
The Republicans running for president are in worse shape than Bashar al-Assad in Syria because at least he has the backing of Putin. Putin would face down these nitwits with in a heat beat.
11
Jeb's Presidential campaign of 2016 proves the Bush mafia is dead. Where is the arch villain, Karl Rove, while Washington burns? I don't think Jeb can swiftboat his way to the nomination and winning on election day.
George W. Bush's Presidency sealed the fate of Republican candidates for a long time, just like Herbert Hoover in 1928. It took war hero, Dwight Eisenhower, to restore Republicans to the highest office in the land 24 years later. No operative can help steal Florida this time.
George W. Bush's Presidency sealed the fate of Republican candidates for a long time, just like Herbert Hoover in 1928. It took war hero, Dwight Eisenhower, to restore Republicans to the highest office in the land 24 years later. No operative can help steal Florida this time.
24
The bush and Clinton family should both go to Mars! Leave us alone
When Jeb stated he'd like a 5 hour debate it was cringe worthy to hear and painful to watch. Jeb's biggest mistake, from my antidotal observations, was putting together the (almost exactly) same team W. had. For those paying close attention, this shows bad judgment on Jeb's part and cause for concern. Iraq was the worst mistake in US history and Jeb's embrace of the architects of this disaster underlined this point. Publically, Jeb has defended W.'s mistakes. In my belief, he needs to define himself as a 'different' from his brother, the Hillary has stated she's not Bill.
25
Jeb Bush, along with Cheney, Rumsfeld, et al, were Principals at the "Project for a New American Century" (PNAC) pushing for invasion of Iraq as early as 1998.
George Bush borrowed Jeb's neocons, not the other war round.
George Bush borrowed Jeb's neocons, not the other war round.
2
Amazing, how the media are ignoring Jeb's selecting as his key advisers the same crowd of Neocon nincompoops who brought us the Iraqi war debacle and the other disasters of GW's presidency. Their track record of being proven wrong is unparalled in the nation's history. Jeb's selection of them offered the first clear evidence that he is not presidential timber. True, he is out of step with the burnt-out-case of a Republican Party, but he had the opportunity to play intelligent statesman and genuine conservative among the wingnut yahoos, and he blew it, totally.
Those of you vague about the Neocons, Google Paul Wolfowitz and Scooter Libby. And wave goodbye to Jeb.
Those of you vague about the Neocons, Google Paul Wolfowitz and Scooter Libby. And wave goodbye to Jeb.
2
"His brother’s muscle-bound presidency led to Barack Obama and the diffident Obama led to a new brand of furious, Tea Party-infused Republicans."
I don't think it worked quite that way Maureen. JEB! is the product of the republican establishment as we all know. It is his job as the establishment man to reduce taxes on the wealthy and on corporations and reduce regulation of 'business' (see investment banks) and in the process produce some bread and circus stuff for the other elements of the republican constituency (faith based legislation, nativism and 'drown the government in a bathtub' i.e. cut out tax dollar transfers to the poor- especially the non-white poor).
The so called tea party was born very soon after Obama's election- whatever they may say I suppose we can all agree what that means as far as its initial motivation. That coalescence of republican populism with all of its organizational power meant the goal had changed for the base. Rather than taking what they were offered they were now demanding that whomever is given their support make those issues the priority issues. Enter those who understand the moment and speak the language of right wing populism- Trump, Carson, Cruz. That is JEB('s)! problem- he is 'old school'. Obama's election changed the political process in an unexpected way for the republican party and it is adapt or retire.
I don't think it worked quite that way Maureen. JEB! is the product of the republican establishment as we all know. It is his job as the establishment man to reduce taxes on the wealthy and on corporations and reduce regulation of 'business' (see investment banks) and in the process produce some bread and circus stuff for the other elements of the republican constituency (faith based legislation, nativism and 'drown the government in a bathtub' i.e. cut out tax dollar transfers to the poor- especially the non-white poor).
The so called tea party was born very soon after Obama's election- whatever they may say I suppose we can all agree what that means as far as its initial motivation. That coalescence of republican populism with all of its organizational power meant the goal had changed for the base. Rather than taking what they were offered they were now demanding that whomever is given their support make those issues the priority issues. Enter those who understand the moment and speak the language of right wing populism- Trump, Carson, Cruz. That is JEB('s)! problem- he is 'old school'. Obama's election changed the political process in an unexpected way for the republican party and it is adapt or retire.
13
Old George the"Texan" cheerleader cowboy left hid family name stock in the toilet much like the rest of everything he touched. Hopefully it will be generations, if ever, before we collectively fall for that name again. Please God help us.
18
The rise of the Bush Vulcans, whose mission would be to scupper the young Rubio, dismantle the Trump ego, and bring Carson out of the trance he always appears to be in, may yet occur. But, somehow, I think JEB! has been seriously misled to believe that GOP primary voters are making decisions based on who is actually fit and equipped to be President, or at least fit or equipped to listen while learning how to act as President.
It's being said that Rubio is now the boy wonder in much the same manner that JEB! was said to be 20 years ago. For the life of me, though, I cannot reckon how an entire political party and its adherents can complain at the top of their lungs about people not working but receiving government benefits, while Rubio himself gets a $175,000. salary and a muilti million dollar office allowance, but can't even generate enough enthusiasm to get to the Senate to vote. Has the Grand Old Party entered the new age bringing forth the slacker to represent it in the 2016 election. Now, that would be change.
It's being said that Rubio is now the boy wonder in much the same manner that JEB! was said to be 20 years ago. For the life of me, though, I cannot reckon how an entire political party and its adherents can complain at the top of their lungs about people not working but receiving government benefits, while Rubio himself gets a $175,000. salary and a muilti million dollar office allowance, but can't even generate enough enthusiasm to get to the Senate to vote. Has the Grand Old Party entered the new age bringing forth the slacker to represent it in the 2016 election. Now, that would be change.
32
By NOT voting, he doesn't have a record, a trail, to be held accountable for, to need to defend. It is brilliant, really.
1
Jeb! needs to face facts. It's over.
Jeb's poll numbers have gone from double digits to single (below Rubio and Cruz, for Christ's sake), with the real possibility that he'll fall off into the Graham-Jindal-Santorum-Pataki territory. I feel bad for Poppy Bush, but it's so over for Jeb, the Good Son!
Jeb's poll numbers have gone from double digits to single (below Rubio and Cruz, for Christ's sake), with the real possibility that he'll fall off into the Graham-Jindal-Santorum-Pataki territory. I feel bad for Poppy Bush, but it's so over for Jeb, the Good Son!
7
Its just not his time. also, more than Trump, Jeb! needs to worry about Marco who behaves like an ungrateful child after an older brother/mentor has given him so much. The brat Rubio growls, "get out of my way, you old bore. Ha, I have Paul Singer....very soon I will have Adelson and Netanyahu....go away old Jeb!".
15
And this is the best this continental nation of 330 million can do? Sickening.
35
I suppose the political powers that be must have a sense of humor. "I know, we could have Bush versus Clinton". What would it say if out of a nation of 318 million people the best candidates for president would be members of families who had held the office before? Well, it isn't humor and it isn't statistically possible, so there must be another explanation and it is that a very few people want to control the levers of power and they believe they can best accomplish that through these two families. Half the nation would be outraged by a Bush presidency and the other half by a Clinton presidency. The important test of the candidates in 2016 will be that the winner be able to speak sincerely to the supporters of the losing candidate. That won't happen with Bush or Clinton.
3
Pretty good assessment. And refreshing not to have a column knocking Clinton or the President.
I like the analogy to royalty and serfdom, although in today's world, that would not be the Bushes, but the donors and the salivating candidates. The eagerness with which puppy dog Rubio fawns over not just Adelson, but now Paul Singer, is unseemly. He's wagging his tail a just a little too fast--a Bush, to the manor born, would never let them see him sweat (or gulp water).
I personally have found the Jeb! story (changed now to "Jeb Can Fix It) to be as boring as the man, and as obnoxious as one of Bar's famous verbal darts. It was particularly unsettling to see him brazenly rounding up the campaign pledges to elbow out everyone else long before he even declared. He displayed more energy on his great cash grab than he has since, ambling form one campaign event to the next poorly attended event, where even the audiences looked bored. And old.
I rarely agree with Trump on anything, but he sure nailed Jeb's slow-mo persona. I'm not sure if someone yelled 'Fire!', he would actually run out of the room. Saunter, maybe. And if running "joyfully" (who on earth says that?) means looking annoyed, I'd hate to see what running angry looks like. Actually, annoyance sort of sums it up--it does take energy to get into a fit.
I won't be sad to see Jeb go, but then, I wouldn't be sad to see ANY of them go at this point. I suspect I'm not alone.
I like the analogy to royalty and serfdom, although in today's world, that would not be the Bushes, but the donors and the salivating candidates. The eagerness with which puppy dog Rubio fawns over not just Adelson, but now Paul Singer, is unseemly. He's wagging his tail a just a little too fast--a Bush, to the manor born, would never let them see him sweat (or gulp water).
I personally have found the Jeb! story (changed now to "Jeb Can Fix It) to be as boring as the man, and as obnoxious as one of Bar's famous verbal darts. It was particularly unsettling to see him brazenly rounding up the campaign pledges to elbow out everyone else long before he even declared. He displayed more energy on his great cash grab than he has since, ambling form one campaign event to the next poorly attended event, where even the audiences looked bored. And old.
I rarely agree with Trump on anything, but he sure nailed Jeb's slow-mo persona. I'm not sure if someone yelled 'Fire!', he would actually run out of the room. Saunter, maybe. And if running "joyfully" (who on earth says that?) means looking annoyed, I'd hate to see what running angry looks like. Actually, annoyance sort of sums it up--it does take energy to get into a fit.
I won't be sad to see Jeb go, but then, I wouldn't be sad to see ANY of them go at this point. I suspect I'm not alone.
26
JEB CAN FIX IT.
Fix what?
The country is actually doing pretty well under President Obama. People don't want to admit it but wait until 2017-18 and the mess we will be in with a Republican President (or even with Hillary) and we will long for the days of the mid-2010s.
Obama needs a 3rd term.
Fix what?
The country is actually doing pretty well under President Obama. People don't want to admit it but wait until 2017-18 and the mess we will be in with a Republican President (or even with Hillary) and we will long for the days of the mid-2010s.
Obama needs a 3rd term.
8
Jeb Bush was a toad and a load when governor of Florida. It was always interesting to watch his presser before or after a hurricane. The same blue shirt button-down shirt, sleeves turned up to just below the elbow and the look of bored/exasperation on his face that said "this again, woe is me" as though he was personally going be affected by a torn off roof, flooding, lack of utilities, inability to buy homeowner's insurance going forward etc. He never inspired anyone to think -- "oh, yeah, this guy is going to help us deal with this" or "he gets how much we've been affected by this" -- instead we got what people are finally seeing nationally. I lived in FL during his dreadful governorship and watched him strip the public schools of funding and waste millions of those tax dollars on "for profit" charters and worse yet, vouchers to nowhere or "cyber schools" operated by Republican pigs like Bill Bennett who at that moment was losing millions in casinos in Las Vegas -- most likely some of the millions he got for a fraud "cyber school." Jeb Bush is getting what he deserves -- a one way ticket to oblivion.
2
In this very well written hit job about the Bush! royal family, Maureen couldn't help her scorpion's instinct and handed one of her sting to President Obama, "the diffident Obama led to a new brand of furious Tea Party infused republicans". A new milestone for Maureen, blame Obama for what happen to GOP, that is like some crazy conservative blaming Obama for hurricane Sandy.
38
Jeb Bush’s entire demeanor suggests that by running for President, he’s doing something that he believes he’s expected to do, not something that he wants to do. JEB shows no inclination of wanting to work for the nomination. It seems that the only way Mr. Bush could comfort himself with the idea of running for President was to have the field of other possible candidates “bow” to his position as a Bush and his overwhelming campaign “war chest.” That scenario hasn’t materialized.
The path to the nomination that JEB could have tolerated hasn’t work out for him. And now JEB has to muster the energy and resolve to really care about getting the nomination. The problem is … deep down he really doesn’t care and it shows.
The path to the nomination that JEB could have tolerated hasn’t work out for him. And now JEB has to muster the energy and resolve to really care about getting the nomination. The problem is … deep down he really doesn’t care and it shows.
13
I'm no fan of Jeb and certainly do not think that W was a good President. But what's the point of this column Ms Dowd? It's not even all that funny, since it just restates stuff that we already know. There's no real analysis. Certainly not of the issues, but not even of the nominating horse race. Why do you think the Bush's are so interesting? This belongs in People magazine, not the NY Times OP Ed page.
8
Please let this weird obsession over "political dynasties" come to an end once Jeb Bush leaves the building for good.
3
Maureen, I loved this column...It laid it all out for even the dimmest of dimwits to see..How could Daddy Bush think America could forget what his son cost us! And now we're supposed to put yet another Bush into the White House. I'm with Barbara when she said....We've had enough Bushes(?) in the White House. Mama Bush, you aint never lied!
7
Jeb should get the nomination -- and then he should win. Because I'm looking forward to the compendium of malaprops that some aspiring author is going to put together when his term of office is over. Well... assuming that we still have a country that is.
Why does Jeb's supporters keep saying "Trump would be a disaster for the Country - or Carson is an off the wall physician?" We elected an inexperienced one term senator who had nothing more on his resume than "community organizer". Jeb Bush waited in the wings too long - the 12 or more years he has sat out - has caused the world to pass him by. Someone 7 or 8 years old at the time he was governor of a state - are not going to remember or identify with him. Even John Kasich is having a hard time mustering anyone remembering good work he did on budgets while in the House. Dowd - whom I don't care for - does have it right. The stodgy elitists, including George Will and Karl Rove have it so wrong. Trump, Carson, Rubio, Cruz or others will pull it off and Jeb will still be wondering what happened to his entitlement - it worked for Hillary.
2
Jeb thought he could win by sucking up to Big Business and becoming The Un-regulator. Problem is that's what all the Republican candidates are doing -- and there's only so much super PAC money to go around. Republicans are all about un-governing, un-taxing, unleashing the presumed potential of Free Enterprise to fix the US economy in a way that "lifts all boats." A lot of voters seem to be sucking that up, but Marco says it and sells it a lot better than Jeb. Republicans want a candidate who looks "minority" and sort of "poor" but will cater to the 1%.
12
Yes, but what you forgot to mention is that TRUMP is the new W.-- W was entertaining. That's why he won. Thank God that Obama was, and is, entertaining. Still, It does not have to be a zero sum deal. Obama shows that you can be well-informed and smart as WELL as entertaining. However we ill not see the likes of Obama again, not for a long, long time.
30
I never felt entertained by W....in fact whenever he'd talk about terrorism, he'd have a creepy smile on his face.
Ugh. The Bushes are scary. Jeb Bush in that chair the other day yelling "Elect Trump." Well, Bush may get his wish.
We really DO need a 3rd Obama term.
Ugh. The Bushes are scary. Jeb Bush in that chair the other day yelling "Elect Trump." Well, Bush may get his wish.
We really DO need a 3rd Obama term.
3
Let's all hope you are correct.
1
Carol...God willing. 2017 cannot come fast enough!
1
Jeb Bush clearly has many flaws. The fact that he is a Bush, however, seems to accentuate these flaws. Mrs. Barbara Bush's earlier spontaneous response several months ago, that other families should get involved in the political arena, seems to continue to be of concern to many voters. Jeb Bush might have been wiser therefore had he heeded his mother's advice. He would have probably saved himself and his family the embarrassment of what appears to be an imminent, ignominious withdrawal and defeat.
The issue of dynasty should not therefore be entirely disregarded, as it may continue to be of concern to many voters, especially if it is triggered by a flaw or a misstep of a candidate.
This vulnerability may continue to apply with full force and effect to the candidacy of Mrs. Clinton, her current high polling rates notwithstanding.
Mrs. Clinton's own flaws, her tarnished political and voting history as a senator, her current troubles emanating from her e-mail practices while secretary of state may all be accentuated and come back to haunt her as the rigors of the campaign advance, triggering the plaguing issue of dynasty and threatening her candidacy.
The democratic voters and the democratic party will be wise to keep this in mind during this volatile primary season.
The issue of dynasty should not therefore be entirely disregarded, as it may continue to be of concern to many voters, especially if it is triggered by a flaw or a misstep of a candidate.
This vulnerability may continue to apply with full force and effect to the candidacy of Mrs. Clinton, her current high polling rates notwithstanding.
Mrs. Clinton's own flaws, her tarnished political and voting history as a senator, her current troubles emanating from her e-mail practices while secretary of state may all be accentuated and come back to haunt her as the rigors of the campaign advance, triggering the plaguing issue of dynasty and threatening her candidacy.
The democratic voters and the democratic party will be wise to keep this in mind during this volatile primary season.
4
Colin Powell also had a personal e-mail account; as did Rumsfeld. So, what is your point? You might be wise to keep in mind the popularity of the Clintons, as opposed to the Bush family.
1
All this editorial did was re-enforce and highlight the need that the country needs a new generation of leadership separate from the elite families that have so mismanaged this country's legacy over the past 20 years.
How many more years of sub-par growth, corrupt elections and corporate behavior, rising healthcare costs and repeated boom/crash cycles do we have to suffer?
How many more years of sub-par growth, corrupt elections and corporate behavior, rising healthcare costs and repeated boom/crash cycles do we have to suffer?
9
Maureen,
If the House of Bush has indeed finally crumbled in flame and disgrace, when are we going to see the end of the charlatan Clintons? Just like the Bushs, the two hustlers from ARK had forced themselves on us for 25 years and counting.
If the House of Bush has indeed finally crumbled in flame and disgrace, when are we going to see the end of the charlatan Clintons? Just like the Bushs, the two hustlers from ARK had forced themselves on us for 25 years and counting.
7
Now that the dirges have begun to play, this might be as good a time as any to remind Jeb!, the Forgetful Elf of presidential wannabes, that his last name is, in fact, Bush. Fortunately for him, it still should be able to open a whole lot of doors. But even more fortunately for us, not the one to the Oval Office.
11
If you observe the way the earth is eating itself up alive, from global extinctions to global climate change, to explosive human population growth, that can only lead to further wars down the line, and a new moral compass that defines right as that which satisfies ones every personal desire no matter the costs and if you feel you have the where with all and a real desire to do something about it then all the humiliation, the defeats and the work should be nothing to stop you from marching on.
Thus the comments from Jeb and other candidates about how they could be doing better things does make you wonder what they are in this race for.
Thus the comments from Jeb and other candidates about how they could be doing better things does make you wonder what they are in this race for.
12
As is the case with the House of Lords, with a majority appointed by the British anointed, we're running out of brothers to appoint, as Jeb did for W. in Florida in 2000, leaving the "House of Bush" in panic mode.
The Grand Old Party know this, sees blood in the water, with Trump the Shark circling, and has come to the realization that moderate candidates like H.W., W., McCain and Romney won't get them to victory. They reject these leaders of pragmatism in favor of the prospects of a storm the Bastille uprising of the disaffected against the permanent ruling class of government.
Having lost the popular vote in five of the last six presidential elections, "the drivers in his [Jeb] party are talking about tearing it down" and given the oncoming demographics of a shrinking white majority, you can't fault their thinking.
Their doubling down rationale concludes Romney didn't go far enough in his self deportation plan for undocumented immigrants. Now it's rounding up and forcing inhabitants out. It wouldn't look right with Jeb at the helm with his Mexican born wife, Columbia, as first lady.
Say what you want, the Bushes' are good, decent people and I can't help but wonder what Barbara, a woman of grace and intelligence, must be preparing to say to console her defeated son. I suspect it'll be something like, "I told you, "we've had enough Bushes" and besides I'm a feminist true blue and I'm voting for Hillary."
The Grand Old Party know this, sees blood in the water, with Trump the Shark circling, and has come to the realization that moderate candidates like H.W., W., McCain and Romney won't get them to victory. They reject these leaders of pragmatism in favor of the prospects of a storm the Bastille uprising of the disaffected against the permanent ruling class of government.
Having lost the popular vote in five of the last six presidential elections, "the drivers in his [Jeb] party are talking about tearing it down" and given the oncoming demographics of a shrinking white majority, you can't fault their thinking.
Their doubling down rationale concludes Romney didn't go far enough in his self deportation plan for undocumented immigrants. Now it's rounding up and forcing inhabitants out. It wouldn't look right with Jeb at the helm with his Mexican born wife, Columbia, as first lady.
Say what you want, the Bushes' are good, decent people and I can't help but wonder what Barbara, a woman of grace and intelligence, must be preparing to say to console her defeated son. I suspect it'll be something like, "I told you, "we've had enough Bushes" and besides I'm a feminist true blue and I'm voting for Hillary."
1
The Bushes are good, decent people? Gimme a break, bud. Probably to their inner circle, but that's not saying much.
18
I'm not willing to denigrate a group of individuals I disagree with politically and disavow the good works they've accomplished. I'm not going to discount H.W.'s Thousand Points of Life, or W.'s efforts in AIDS ravaged Africa, or Laura's work with Afghanistan women. I'm not cynical enough to put human beings in simplistic two dimensional packages. What altruistic efforts have we given, "Bud", to be so dismissing and judgmental?
1
Listening to her accent I thought that Hillary was from the low lands of South Carolina. As a long time Florida resident, most of us rate Jeb as a first class Governor. Jeb may not be the world's greatest at running his mouth, but he ran the fourth (now the third) largest state very well. In all fairness, this is a mean, snarky column about some very decent people. It is embarrassing to read. Me thinks it was written at CNBC central.
2
Irving Schwartz, JEB! Bush rode the crest of the housing wave and left before the crash. That was pretty good -- for him. Not so sure about Florida. He also collaborated to suborn the electoral process by purging legitimate voters by the tens of thousands. Not only for his brother but in general to keep the state under the thumb of Republicans. I wonder how you can speak for "most of us" residents.
18
Maureen this is absolutely vintage stuff. I think Jeb's "wilted exclamation point" will far outlast his memory.
7
At this distant remove from the first primary and caucus, one should be analyzing a Bush and not burying it. Enough time remains for Jeb! to remake himself as a candidate … by just enough. And I suggest that Poppy is living to spite Thanatos and not merely to see yet another son crowned king.
The America we would have with Hillary would be a tolerable one but a stunted one nonetheless due to limitations inherent in the compromises she’d need to accept given who so clearly will keep control of Congress. Jeb!, on the other hand, would give us a far more willing legislative partner to inspired governance, in immigration, in education, in balanced regulation, in defense. With such a team, the prospect of replacing our unsustainable hodgepodge of healthcare entitlements with one program that would work for us all is far more reasonable. With Hillary, all we’ll get is perpetual defense of an ACA that does nothing to address the fundamental inadequacies of the body on which it serves merely as a dependent carbuncle; and that will continue to divide us rancorously.
Yet, if anyone but Jeb! faces Hillary, Hillary will win. Period.
So, his tactical charge is to surpass his shortcomings as a candidate just enough to be the last man standing, after Kasich, after Rubio, to have a chance at shining as a president. At this remove from real decisions, it’s absurd to be burying this Bush who believes that people should pay their dues. He’s right about that, and about a lot of other things.
The America we would have with Hillary would be a tolerable one but a stunted one nonetheless due to limitations inherent in the compromises she’d need to accept given who so clearly will keep control of Congress. Jeb!, on the other hand, would give us a far more willing legislative partner to inspired governance, in immigration, in education, in balanced regulation, in defense. With such a team, the prospect of replacing our unsustainable hodgepodge of healthcare entitlements with one program that would work for us all is far more reasonable. With Hillary, all we’ll get is perpetual defense of an ACA that does nothing to address the fundamental inadequacies of the body on which it serves merely as a dependent carbuncle; and that will continue to divide us rancorously.
Yet, if anyone but Jeb! faces Hillary, Hillary will win. Period.
So, his tactical charge is to surpass his shortcomings as a candidate just enough to be the last man standing, after Kasich, after Rubio, to have a chance at shining as a president. At this remove from real decisions, it’s absurd to be burying this Bush who believes that people should pay their dues. He’s right about that, and about a lot of other things.
JEB! will be the last man standing if he's tied to a post like Odysseus, preferably with a gag for self-protection.
5
""""" In the tie election, Jeb had to be prodded into helping his brother snatch Florida away from Al Gore."""""
It was wrong for George W. to have been given the presidency. And then more bad than good came of it.
I am glad Jeb is not cut out to be president. It doesn't matter who ends up being the Republican nominee. Hillary Clinton will be the next president.
It was wrong for George W. to have been given the presidency. And then more bad than good came of it.
I am glad Jeb is not cut out to be president. It doesn't matter who ends up being the Republican nominee. Hillary Clinton will be the next president.
19
JEB should just pack up his tent and go home. The Bush name is no longer a plus in nationwide politics, rather it is a millstone around his neck.
Even without that, he is a bland, colorless, bleah candidate. We have several far better ones (yes, including Trump) to choose from.
We need someone with fire to fight the Democrats, no matter who they select, the tired old white lady, the tired old white guy or the other tired, not-quite-as-old white guy...
Even without that, he is a bland, colorless, bleah candidate. We have several far better ones (yes, including Trump) to choose from.
We need someone with fire to fight the Democrats, no matter who they select, the tired old white lady, the tired old white guy or the other tired, not-quite-as-old white guy...
1
I suspect it's LukeJohn who's tired (with good reason if he's a Republican). Hillary and Bernie are obviously not.
9
Can we let this piece be the final nail in the Jeb coffin? He never wanted to be on this race anyway. No heart. No charisma. No brain. And if the dems can coronate Her Hillaryness, why can't we do the same with The Donald and get on with this!?
4
I won't vote for John Bush because he's weak on immigration. He seems to be more interested in pretending to be lah-teen-o and courting their votes than he is in actually doing anything about the millions of undocumented economic migrants who remain in America in violation of our laws.
In the end, I'd rather be stabbed in the heart by another Clinton than be stabbed in the back by another Bush.
In the end, I'd rather be stabbed in the heart by another Clinton than be stabbed in the back by another Bush.
2
Being a big believer in karma, I have to think that it's being served up by the truckload to poor Jeb. That he helped deliver Florida's electoral votes to get W elected instead of Al Gore is widely known and now the universe demands payback. Jeb will never be President and so the dynasty ends - I hope.
BTW....Ms. Dowd's dislike for President Obama and the Clintons is continuing to impact her writing...and not for the better I'm afraid. Remember that karma thing.
BTW....Ms. Dowd's dislike for President Obama and the Clintons is continuing to impact her writing...and not for the better I'm afraid. Remember that karma thing.
27
OK, I take back my recent snark remark that Ms. Dowd is this era's Louella Parsons. This bit was funny and enlightening. Well done! But don't count out the Bush boy just yet..
2
Just remember folks, anyone of them will get at least 40% of the vote, just because they have a R in front of their name.
The Rove, Murdoch propaganda machine has seen to that. Even Fiorina would get those votes as did Palin. There is a core of true believers that are convinced the Democrats are destroying the country and only the GOP can save it. Even during the FDR years it was so.Just listen to their rhetoric and they are telling you how bad Obama has been, they are professionals at fabricating such, as Fiorina did about women's job losses, a plain bald faced lie. But there are enough people that believe her despite such prevarications.
Most of you are too young to remember these tactics. You need to read Mein Kampf, along with other historical accounts of the Third Reich. You can see just how easily a particular segment of the public can be led to self destruction by appealing to their prejudices.
If you are a failure in life, you need someone to blame it on, and Obama fits the bill for them. They will vote GOP while they are being led to the slaughter and blame it on the Dems. They always have, and they always will.
The Rove, Murdoch propaganda machine has seen to that. Even Fiorina would get those votes as did Palin. There is a core of true believers that are convinced the Democrats are destroying the country and only the GOP can save it. Even during the FDR years it was so.Just listen to their rhetoric and they are telling you how bad Obama has been, they are professionals at fabricating such, as Fiorina did about women's job losses, a plain bald faced lie. But there are enough people that believe her despite such prevarications.
Most of you are too young to remember these tactics. You need to read Mein Kampf, along with other historical accounts of the Third Reich. You can see just how easily a particular segment of the public can be led to self destruction by appealing to their prejudices.
If you are a failure in life, you need someone to blame it on, and Obama fits the bill for them. They will vote GOP while they are being led to the slaughter and blame it on the Dems. They always have, and they always will.
139
sort of similar to the 47% who will always vote for the Democrat candidate, no matter how dishonest such person is ..
And another 40% will automatically give their vote to anyone with a "D" in front of their name.
Your point is?
Your point is?
I agree with your premise, but I think you under-estimate our Coke v. Pepsi political culture. It's either either/or all the way. Maybe 10% of the electorate is in play, assuming all likely voters turn-out.
And how many states are competitive? What would it take for Kansas to vote Democratic? New York to go Republican?
We need a third, or fourth, viable party just to make elections competitive and truly democratic. Maybe then there would be an impetus to get of the Electoral College. I'd to think the Tea Party will split from the Reps but more like it will consume the party, while the Dems seem to be drifting Bernie's way though they will probably still nominate Hillary. Maybe such a re-alignment would open the center for a new party of Eisenhower Reps and JFK Dems.
And how many states are competitive? What would it take for Kansas to vote Democratic? New York to go Republican?
We need a third, or fourth, viable party just to make elections competitive and truly democratic. Maybe then there would be an impetus to get of the Electoral College. I'd to think the Tea Party will split from the Reps but more like it will consume the party, while the Dems seem to be drifting Bernie's way though they will probably still nominate Hillary. Maybe such a re-alignment would open the center for a new party of Eisenhower Reps and JFK Dems.
We cannot accept the assumption that Bush I can even be discussed as some kind of pharaoh who tragically spawned lesser progeny to manage his dynasty. The entire Bush family rose through oil companies, the CIA, and crooked backroom deals, starting with Prescott's embrace of the Nazis.
We should be grateful that "Poppy" only produced incoherent mediocrities. At least his legacy was not a collection of clever monsters, who could have run with family connections at Exxon and Saudi Arabia and done much more serious damage. And Jeb's, ineptness looks like gravitas on the stage compared to the competition.
We should be grateful that "Poppy" only produced incoherent mediocrities. At least his legacy was not a collection of clever monsters, who could have run with family connections at Exxon and Saudi Arabia and done much more serious damage. And Jeb's, ineptness looks like gravitas on the stage compared to the competition.
57
I fail to be grateful for either of the Bush brothers. Mo uses the superlative when she talks about them, are there 3? I hope not.
Mike, are you aware that Prescott's business partner was Averill Harriman, later to become a NY Democrat Icon? Bush41 was no prize, so why expect his progeny to be Einsteins?
The label of "Clinton dynasty" has always struck me as unfair. Neither of the Clintons grew up in a homes of great privilege with a feeling of entitlement, nor did they grow up in homes where politics was a way of life. They were both smart, ambitious and self made and met at a time when both their career trajectories looked bright. If Hillary had been a longtime political confidante of Bills, would it still be viewed as a dynasty?
We have had several political dynasties in this country - Adams, Roosevelt, Kennedy, Bush. Ms. Dowd's fondness for the patrician elder Bush has led her to ignore the extreme conservative viewpoint espoused by his son Jeb. Just a few weeks ago she admitted that her sharp psychological observations gave her no special insight into how well people would function as President. Her fondness for analyzing the Bush family dynamics is leading her to write about someone that the American people don't even care about. Who's been out of politics for 8 years.
We have had several political dynasties in this country - Adams, Roosevelt, Kennedy, Bush. Ms. Dowd's fondness for the patrician elder Bush has led her to ignore the extreme conservative viewpoint espoused by his son Jeb. Just a few weeks ago she admitted that her sharp psychological observations gave her no special insight into how well people would function as President. Her fondness for analyzing the Bush family dynamics is leading her to write about someone that the American people don't even care about. Who's been out of politics for 8 years.
166
I am glad to see someone point this out. The Bushes are a dynasty who feel they are entitled, aristocracy and come from riches. The Clinton are hardscrabble folk who just happen to be married. Doesn't matter what anyone may think of either the Bushes or the Clintons, but putting them in the same basket is a poor definition of "dynasty."
6
If HRC hadn't been First Lady, would we even know her name?
Dynasty, "a succession of people from the same family who play a prominent role in business, politics, or another field." The word has nothing to do with great privilege.
Based on the current Republican field, I will vote for HRC if she is the Dem candidate BUT Bernie is my candidate of choice in the primary.
Dynasty, "a succession of people from the same family who play a prominent role in business, politics, or another field." The word has nothing to do with great privilege.
Based on the current Republican field, I will vote for HRC if she is the Dem candidate BUT Bernie is my candidate of choice in the primary.
Oddly, the republicans eschew the self-made American stories that describe democrats like Bill and Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama. They disingenuously sniff about "dynasty" with the Clintons (first generation, hello!) and they sniff about "elitism" with Obama, and it is all pathetic and childish.
5
"Once he was cast as the wonky one"
Can we drop the nonsense that Jeb Bush is in any way wonky (I despise that word, by the way) or (to put it another way) enthralled by the details and minutiae of domestic policy? All such talk is hot air, as it is when applied to Paul Ryan--a guy who probably hasn't read a full book since finishing Atlas Shrugged in high school. Ryan is so utterly without a clue that he got the rug pulled out from under him by John Boehner--who in his last days as Speaker redeemed himself somewhat by shoving aside the wishes of the House "Freedom" Caucus and negotiating with the White House about the budget. Ryan ended up having to hold his nose and (as the new Speaker of the House) vote in favor of the final budget bill that two-thirds of House Republicans rejected.
Jeb Bush, meanwhile, has only one thing to ever say about domestic policy matters--cut the size of government. This from a guy who comes from an entire family of perennial government employees. Why does anybody take such a one-dimensional person seriously?
Can we drop the nonsense that Jeb Bush is in any way wonky (I despise that word, by the way) or (to put it another way) enthralled by the details and minutiae of domestic policy? All such talk is hot air, as it is when applied to Paul Ryan--a guy who probably hasn't read a full book since finishing Atlas Shrugged in high school. Ryan is so utterly without a clue that he got the rug pulled out from under him by John Boehner--who in his last days as Speaker redeemed himself somewhat by shoving aside the wishes of the House "Freedom" Caucus and negotiating with the White House about the budget. Ryan ended up having to hold his nose and (as the new Speaker of the House) vote in favor of the final budget bill that two-thirds of House Republicans rejected.
Jeb Bush, meanwhile, has only one thing to ever say about domestic policy matters--cut the size of government. This from a guy who comes from an entire family of perennial government employees. Why does anybody take such a one-dimensional person seriously?
428
You've been reading Paul Krugman, I see.
Jeb's free fall is largely spun by an eager press hoping and praying that he goes away. The real players--Jeb, Cruz, and Rubio--are relatively tied in the polls. Once Trump and Carson tap out, the nomination is up for grabs. There are holes in Rubio's boyish game and Cruz is a weirdo. Bush could easily rise from the these drummed-up ashes. Just because some billionaire gets behind Rubio does not mean the game is over. Just because Cruz makes some jab at MSNBC does not make him the post-Trump front-runner. Long way to go here. Still, as those three tussle and jab, Hillary coasts uncontested, ready to pounce on one of the beaten down three amigos.
10
Ah, no.
Even the GOP Establishment is [reluctantly] contemplating the possibility that Trump may win the nomination. And that if he does drop out, he will put his support (and any delegates) behind Cruz.
There's no way on God's green earth that Jeb Bush will win the nomination: too many Republican primary voters despise him.
Even the GOP Establishment is [reluctantly] contemplating the possibility that Trump may win the nomination. And that if he does drop out, he will put his support (and any delegates) behind Cruz.
There's no way on God's green earth that Jeb Bush will win the nomination: too many Republican primary voters despise him.
3
"Poppy and Bush retainers like John Sununu are bewildered by a conservative electorate that rejects Republican primogeniture, prefers snark to substance and embraces an extremely weird brain surgeon and an extravagantly wild reality show star."
You don't have to be a Bush to think the same thing.
Maureen seems quite gleeful in seeing the demise of the House of Bush. Bush 41 is by all accounts a decent person and gentleman and in the minds of many a good President. Instead of reveling in 41s sorrow in his twilight years, perhaps Ms. Dowd should be more kind hearted. But then again it is Halloween and she appears to be getting into the spirit of the holiday.
You don't have to be a Bush to think the same thing.
Maureen seems quite gleeful in seeing the demise of the House of Bush. Bush 41 is by all accounts a decent person and gentleman and in the minds of many a good President. Instead of reveling in 41s sorrow in his twilight years, perhaps Ms. Dowd should be more kind hearted. But then again it is Halloween and she appears to be getting into the spirit of the holiday.
8
So 41 deserves "kindness" in his old age? Does the entitlement never cease under any circumstance? No one asked them to hijack the presidency - they chose to - this is what it costs. They know about horse-trading and can get out any time and live happily ever after. Maureen won't care and neither will the most of us.
5
Isn't Jeb simply the victim of W's disastrous eight years? Even Republicans can't bring themselves to vote for another Bush. If you must put it in terms of sibling rivalry, then George really gets the last laugh: he made sure little brother could never get his dynastic due.
31
@Bob Graham: No, the Republican Base is in revolt against the Establishment insiders, and you don't get more "Establishment insider" than Jeb Bush.
2
If Jeb were really a brilliant policy wonk and an honest politician, with values and views different from W;s, he could have probably overcome the taint of W. But that isn't the case--Jeb is utterly mediocre in intellect and skills, and despicable for the role he played in the Schiavo case and--most of all--in wrongfully purging thousands of voters from the registration rolls.
1
Couldn't happen to a more deserving bunch.
51
"Jeb was the image of his mother, especially when he smiled, but his pragmatic political temperament was more like his father’s, even though he never had his dad’s manic “ants on a hot pan” energy. W. looked like his father but got his acerbic streak from his mother."
The reverse is true - Jeb looks like his father while W looks like his mother. Isn't this obvious? Ms. Dowd has become cross-eyed staring too long at the Bushes.
The reverse is true - Jeb looks like his father while W looks like his mother. Isn't this obvious? Ms. Dowd has become cross-eyed staring too long at the Bushes.
25
Great column. Had me laughing at several spots. I think many of us can agree, no more Bushes in the White House.
20
I was intrigued to read Ms. Dowd to see if, even when pointing out the Bush family's fall from grace, she would slip in a swipe at Hillary Cinton or President Obama. And of course she didn't fail. Sometimes I think Ms. Dowd simply writes to please her right-wing brother Kevin.
127
Poor Jebbie. He is, quite simply, a nebbish. He and his advisors are shades of 43. We cannot go through that again...
46
Jebbie the Nebbie! I love it! I want a T-shirt.
Maureen,
Your disdain for "Dubya" is very well known and at some point it will be time to retire that line of attack. You can only go thee so long before it becomes redundant
Having said that it's really hard to argue with your asessment of Jeb. For all the hoopla about when he would join the his ineptitude has to be one of thebiggest political meltdown's in modern poltics. Trump is so fat me inside his head he'll never get him out. You know I am a big W fan but Jeb is making a fool out of himself. Every gaffe ensures his political obituary
Having said that I think all those that and boast about Hillary should remember the FBI investigation is not the Benghazi one. Lying about sending/receiving confidential emails, lying about her server, the number of devices. And let's not forget the 20 FOI lawsuits that forced the release of emails--I'd like to hear any liberal loud mouth talk about this. This will take let down and it should. She's a lying hack
Your disdain for "Dubya" is very well known and at some point it will be time to retire that line of attack. You can only go thee so long before it becomes redundant
Having said that it's really hard to argue with your asessment of Jeb. For all the hoopla about when he would join the his ineptitude has to be one of thebiggest political meltdown's in modern poltics. Trump is so fat me inside his head he'll never get him out. You know I am a big W fan but Jeb is making a fool out of himself. Every gaffe ensures his political obituary
Having said that I think all those that and boast about Hillary should remember the FBI investigation is not the Benghazi one. Lying about sending/receiving confidential emails, lying about her server, the number of devices. And let's not forget the 20 FOI lawsuits that forced the release of emails--I'd like to hear any liberal loud mouth talk about this. This will take let down and it should. She's a lying hack
9
OK I'll talk.
Let's see Dubya's emails.
Oh right.
They no longer exist.
Along with tens of thousands of people who were killed in his useless wars and trillions of dollars.
You got anything else?
PS. Anybody can file a FOI lawsuit, not just right wing special interest groups with an ax to grind. And so far youse have found nada, except that Hillary isn't too good at tech.
So what.
Let's see Dubya's emails.
Oh right.
They no longer exist.
Along with tens of thousands of people who were killed in his useless wars and trillions of dollars.
You got anything else?
PS. Anybody can file a FOI lawsuit, not just right wing special interest groups with an ax to grind. And so far youse have found nada, except that Hillary isn't too good at tech.
So what.
8
Who whether you like it or not will be the next president of the United State--W. a great president? Interesting.
2
Except that after reviewing tens of thousands of emails, nobody can find any crimes she committed, any mishandling of documents stamped classified, or any support for the crackpot conspiracy theories that some people embrace. For a lying hack, check out the whoppers told on tv a few nights ago by Donald Trump, Ben Carson and Carly Fiorina! Those have quickly been proved lies.
5
I had long heard that Barbara is the smartest Bush, and the slow-motion train-wreck that is Jeb!'s campaign confirms her intuitive response of "enough Bushes!" She foresaw what we're all stuck watching now: her son is a petulant, limp campaigner who looks more despondent daily; her elderly husband is constantly agitated by their party's banality; her son assumed a punctuation mark as a surname; her daughter-in-law, Columba, is stuck in a national campaign she didn't want; and the resentment of Jeb! to his brother grows as his own polling numbers continue tanking. Barbara devotedly displays Jeb! stickers, but must be thinking, "I told you so..."
49
The good news - Jeb is done. From day one, my mantra has been no more Bushes and no more Clintons. The bad news is Hillary Clinton is still with us. When oh when will Bill Clinton be caught with his pants down - AGAIN!
14
I have a sticker on my auto - no more Bush's, no more Clintons. And, I must say most particularly, no more Bush's. Stumbles bumbs all !!
Ah, the terrible Bill Clinton! Who led a mostly peaceful and incredibly prosperous Administration.
5
As a previous commenter noted, there is nothing dynastic about the Clintons. I would add that the USA has long accepted exceptional spouses as successors to their mates -- just not at the highest level because there hasn't been a former First Lady who went on to serve as Senator from a state other than her husband's, and then Secretary of State. Lindy Boggs is probably the most outstanding example of a political wife who herself held a Senate seat for a long time, and retired as an Ambassador. This is not dynastic in the sense that the four generations of male Bush politicians is. It is a reflection of the fact that some partnerships involve two extremely able adults who learn from each other and develop skill sets that merit election to office by both.
2
"....Republican primogeniture, prefers snark to substance and embraces ... an extravagantly wild reality show star."
Snark? Substance?
The supremely entitled Bushes are the snarkers. "Trump is a reality TV star!"
What does Trump say? "Make American Great Again! Build a Wall! Deport Now!"
That's substance.
Snark? Substance?
The supremely entitled Bushes are the snarkers. "Trump is a reality TV star!"
What does Trump say? "Make American Great Again! Build a Wall! Deport Now!"
That's substance.
8
Do you really think it's substantive when a politician says they're going to make America great again? Really? I can say that. Will you support me for President? Build a wall? Deport now? Neither of those show substance until he explains exactly what kind of wall he intends to build and how he would pay for it. Ditto for his plan to deport 12 million illegal immigrants. How could you accomplish that, who's going to pay for it, and who will replace all the missing cheap labor?
3
It was assumed that Jeb's reluctance to criticize W's invasion of Iraq or 9/11 was due to brotherly loyalty. But who is advising Jeb? The same cadre of neo-cons whose incompetence gave us 9/11 and then plotted with Bush and Cheney to use it as an excuse to invade Iraq. His reaction is less brotherly love and more a reflection of the opinions of himself and his chosen foreign policy advisers.
Yes, Jeb is boring and a clumsy, reluctant campaigner. But his troubles go deeper than these surface issues. Jeb and the hawks still haven't figured out that their middle eastern grand plan was a disaster and blame Obama for their mess and the proliferation of terrorism.
Jeb might be the heir to the Bush family dynasty but it may be his choice of Bush family advisers which the American people are soundly rejecting.
Yes, Jeb is boring and a clumsy, reluctant campaigner. But his troubles go deeper than these surface issues. Jeb and the hawks still haven't figured out that their middle eastern grand plan was a disaster and blame Obama for their mess and the proliferation of terrorism.
Jeb might be the heir to the Bush family dynasty but it may be his choice of Bush family advisers which the American people are soundly rejecting.
146
Psu Wolfowitz et al can never, never admit that the war in Iraq was an unmitigated disaster. Their only option, other than admitting they are murderous thugs, is to keep doubling down.
And Jebbie just goes along to go along. Who else does he have? Most sane, educated people, knowledgeable about the ME wouldn't touch him with a barge pole.
And Jebbie just goes along to go along. Who else does he have? Most sane, educated people, knowledgeable about the ME wouldn't touch him with a barge pole.
5
"The same cadre of neo-cons whose incompetence gave us 9/11 and then plotted with Bush and Cheney to use it as an excuse to invade Iraq." Amazing to me how these figments and fragments get stuck in otherwise observant people's heads, "plotters" - Americans, while all the while I thought it was Islamic Arab fanatics plotters who brought 9-11 on us and those who sought to democratize Iraq, "neo-cons" since The Iraq Liberation Act of 1998 by finally removing one of the most barbarous and warmongering dictators on Earth since Der Furer simply saw 9-11 and a response to it as a natural, risks acknowledged, driver of that aim.
"Neocons" gave us 911? Clinton was President 8 years before W got elected.
I don't mind seeing jeb out of this election but clinton should have fallen first. She is the epitome of corrupion. I'm sure jeb will support Trump/Carson 2016!!!!
14
joseph mei-- Whether Hillary is corrupt or not, I wouldn't hold my breath on Trump/Carson 2016. I'd still bet on the pragmatic... Rubio/Kasich. Big donors, and how many electoral votes do Florida and Ohio have? Trump and Ben bring exactly zero with them.
1
I was talking to a friend recently about the primaries. She said she couldn't stand Hillary because she lied & couldn't be trusted. I laughed & pointed out that there isn't a candidate running who doesn't lie and can be trusted. (Bernie Sanders may be an exception, but unfortunately he can't win.)
I suggested that she accept the fact that they all lie & are influenced by special interest money, & focus on their positions on the issues & their experience. When you do that, & it's the most logical approach, then Hillary looks pretty good.
In other words, our system is corrupt. To get anywhere in our government you have to be corruptible. With that in mind, Hillary Clinton is arguably the most qualified candidate running and has mostly reasonably good policies that she's running on.
This will continue to be the political landscape Americans have to deal with until we decide we're angry enough to get off our indifferent hineys and demand better. The truth is, Hillary would probably make a good President, but she won't be a great President. Greatness requires bold measures & our system doesn't allow bold measures.
I might add that GOP Presidents have stacked the Supreme Court with justices who believe that money is equal to free speech & that we the people, through our Congress, do not have the right to limit the wealthy from buying our elections and our government officials. We need to keep Dems in the WH at least until we no longer have a conservative majority on the SC.
I suggested that she accept the fact that they all lie & are influenced by special interest money, & focus on their positions on the issues & their experience. When you do that, & it's the most logical approach, then Hillary looks pretty good.
In other words, our system is corrupt. To get anywhere in our government you have to be corruptible. With that in mind, Hillary Clinton is arguably the most qualified candidate running and has mostly reasonably good policies that she's running on.
This will continue to be the political landscape Americans have to deal with until we decide we're angry enough to get off our indifferent hineys and demand better. The truth is, Hillary would probably make a good President, but she won't be a great President. Greatness requires bold measures & our system doesn't allow bold measures.
I might add that GOP Presidents have stacked the Supreme Court with justices who believe that money is equal to free speech & that we the people, through our Congress, do not have the right to limit the wealthy from buying our elections and our government officials. We need to keep Dems in the WH at least until we no longer have a conservative majority on the SC.
4
diffident
ˈdifəd(ə)nt/
adjective
modest or shy because of a lack of self-confidence.
When is Maureen Dowd going to end her ridiculous vendetta against Obama? Her characterizations of him are unerringly inaccurate and tediously disrespectful. "The diffident Obama" somehow found it in his diffident soul to run for President of the United States twice and win both times. What have you accomplished lately, Ms. Dowd?
ˈdifəd(ə)nt/
adjective
modest or shy because of a lack of self-confidence.
When is Maureen Dowd going to end her ridiculous vendetta against Obama? Her characterizations of him are unerringly inaccurate and tediously disrespectful. "The diffident Obama" somehow found it in his diffident soul to run for President of the United States twice and win both times. What have you accomplished lately, Ms. Dowd?
920
She pointed an accurate pen at both Obama and Bush and committed the words to paper so that (the rest of us) would understand why they failed.
I had a similar reaction to the word. I don't believe it was Barack Obama's "diffidence" that led to a new brand of furious, Tea Party-infused Republicans. It was his color.
8
Thank you for this. My impression of what Ms. Dowd has done lately is take something Gail Collins could have composed brilliantly, add a bunch of carriage returns, weigh most of the humor down with cynical righteousness, drop a few names, say something snarky about President Obama, and make sure we all know how much she is loved by people in high places.
3
Paradoxically, ¡Jeb! doesn't realize that the Bush name is no different than the Kardashians, equally talentless and utterly baffling is their "success" being labeled success. More of a testimony to poor options or mindless voters and viewers.
269
It eould help if he actually had some, you know, policies?
The Obama clan is much closer to the Kardashians. The Bush family has actually accomplished things. The Obamas have accomplished nothing.
And how! Well said!
The Bush family did not make good presidents nor did Jeb as governor of Florida. For Bush 41, it was enough to be a war hero as he justly deserved America's attention and that of the war movie hero, Ronald Reagan.
The sons were living off the family name and while George HW and Barbara thought of themselves as royalty, the reality was his term as mediocre and George W a disaster.
They seem to be a nice family but their time has passed.
The sons were living off the family name and while George HW and Barbara thought of themselves as royalty, the reality was his term as mediocre and George W a disaster.
They seem to be a nice family but their time has passed.
58
@JT FL - I assumed that the war hero bit about Bush 41 was irony until I saw the word "deserved". He was as much a hero as the arsonist that turns up fight the fire he started..
15
Mancuroc, I am an ancient retired colonel, fascinated by WW2. It really was the greatest generation. My war was the Vietnam fiasco, and for my son, the Iraq fiasco.
Flying off and onto a carrier is hazardous even in peacetime. I salute George H. W. Bush as a hero. Same for John McCain, even though I am a very liberal Democrat.
Flying off and onto a carrier is hazardous even in peacetime. I salute George H. W. Bush as a hero. Same for John McCain, even though I am a very liberal Democrat.
3
mancuroc remember 41 was shot down by the Japanese in the Pacific. I think you mixed up your Bushes.
Dowd treats Jeb and the Bush family with with gentility she does not show towards Bill and Hillary Clinton.
95
...or Barak and Michelle Obama
3
Trump has his finger on the pulse of how vulgar and ignorant the Republican base has become; that was why he could do a one-two of saying he would deport 11 million illegal immigrants and that McCain is a loser, and take the top of the polls instead of instantly self-immolating. Trump gets where the base is at.
Carson gets it, and represents it. He spouts nonsense and says that boogieman "political correctness" is going to "destroy the nation," and he soars too.
Ms. Down is correct. Jeb has clearly not sullied his beautiful mind with monitoring what has happened to the Republican base in the age of Obama, and he is as a result totally clueless to what is going on around him, and in his party.
I get the impression if one were to ask Jeb is he was a birther, he would respond, "What's a birther?"
Carson gets it, and represents it. He spouts nonsense and says that boogieman "political correctness" is going to "destroy the nation," and he soars too.
Ms. Down is correct. Jeb has clearly not sullied his beautiful mind with monitoring what has happened to the Republican base in the age of Obama, and he is as a result totally clueless to what is going on around him, and in his party.
I get the impression if one were to ask Jeb is he was a birther, he would respond, "What's a birther?"
18
Speaking of stolen lines, I noticed that Jeb! closed his debate time by calling himself "unifying-" echoes of "uniter, not a divider." Coincidence?
14
Let Mr. Bush go quietly into the night. Does the American electorate have any idea of his record in Florida? He had no concern for the poor, unemployed, under employed. He loved charter schools, cutting taxes for the rich and gave all kinds of breaks to corporations. Outsourced as much as he could to private enterprise. Killed rail service on the west coast. He would be a disastrous president - time to stop writing about him.
And indeed without him messing with the Florida vote count GW Bush never would have been president. Imagine if we were spared the two trillion dollar war debt that we will be living with for decades due to GW. Who ever heard of starting wars by enacting massive tax cuts. I can't imagine that Ronald Reagan would ever have attempted such a reckless move. Jeb (why can't be be called by his given name - John Ellis) has done enough damage to the presidency already.
And indeed without him messing with the Florida vote count GW Bush never would have been president. Imagine if we were spared the two trillion dollar war debt that we will be living with for decades due to GW. Who ever heard of starting wars by enacting massive tax cuts. I can't imagine that Ronald Reagan would ever have attempted such a reckless move. Jeb (why can't be be called by his given name - John Ellis) has done enough damage to the presidency already.
237
Actually, Bush used the fear of terrorism, the possibility of war, a constant drumbeat, to win the house in 2002 and thus the ability to push through his tax cuts. I sometimes think the war was just a ruse by the country club set to get their tax cuts. Unfortunately, once the mental mobilization had begun, and then the military mobilization in the spring of 2003, it was impossible to turn off the tap.
Dowd notes, Jeb’s loyalists "think Jeb has to . . . stress his Latino support." And this strategy will get him votes from who, exactly? It appears Jeb's strategists are as clever as Dole's, McCain's and Romney's.
24
Jeb! should have listened to his Mother. She's the savviest politician in the whole family.
23
Without Barbara, George W Bush would have just followed his father to Brown Brothers and none of his sons would have entered politics.
She can't be THAT savvy -- she told W not to run for Texas governor.
Your long national Bush Family nightmare is almost over, America.
First it was Prescott Bush and his financing of Nazi-Era German industrial magnates via the Union Banking Corporation
Then it was Poppy Bush's unaccounted for 1960's decade working covertly for the CIA while working ostensibly for 'Zapata' Oil and his strange Nov. 22 1963 memos and his unusual route to the Vice Presidency and Presidency when he helped elect Ronald Reagan by helping arrange the October Surprise that delayed the Iranian hostage release precisely until Jan 20, 1981, Reagan's inauguration day.
Then it was federal bailout queen and son Neil Bush who helped bankrupt the Silverado Savings and Loan; the federal government bailed him out with tax dollars.
Then it was Jeb Bush corrupting and suppressing the 2000 minority vote to give us the worst President in modern history featuring more Bush Supreme Court Justice sociopaths, the Iraq catastrophe on a credit card, tax cuts for billionaires and the worst Depression in 80 years...the idiot Boy George and his strangely self-appointed Vice President Dick 'Oil-Energy-Haliburton' Cheney.
The Bush Family has quite an American body of work in, most of it hidden in the shadows of orchestrated deception and right-wing destruction.
America would have been a vastly more enlightened, civilized and less violent country if it weren't for the Bush family's 1000 points of carefully hidden deception the last 75 years.
America has suffered a terrible Bushwhacking.
First it was Prescott Bush and his financing of Nazi-Era German industrial magnates via the Union Banking Corporation
Then it was Poppy Bush's unaccounted for 1960's decade working covertly for the CIA while working ostensibly for 'Zapata' Oil and his strange Nov. 22 1963 memos and his unusual route to the Vice Presidency and Presidency when he helped elect Ronald Reagan by helping arrange the October Surprise that delayed the Iranian hostage release precisely until Jan 20, 1981, Reagan's inauguration day.
Then it was federal bailout queen and son Neil Bush who helped bankrupt the Silverado Savings and Loan; the federal government bailed him out with tax dollars.
Then it was Jeb Bush corrupting and suppressing the 2000 minority vote to give us the worst President in modern history featuring more Bush Supreme Court Justice sociopaths, the Iraq catastrophe on a credit card, tax cuts for billionaires and the worst Depression in 80 years...the idiot Boy George and his strangely self-appointed Vice President Dick 'Oil-Energy-Haliburton' Cheney.
The Bush Family has quite an American body of work in, most of it hidden in the shadows of orchestrated deception and right-wing destruction.
America would have been a vastly more enlightened, civilized and less violent country if it weren't for the Bush family's 1000 points of carefully hidden deception the last 75 years.
America has suffered a terrible Bushwhacking.
1240
You forgot April Glaspie and the we have no opinion on the invasion of Kuwait scam H.W. pulled on Hussein.
The C.I.A. infused, Yale to the manor born, Bush crime family has a long and sordid history destroying our nation, with the tragedy of a supine and blissfully ignorant American electorate to blame for allowing these insufferably arrogant grifters to rape the body politic for decades.
The Bush's are like vampires, and, although Halloween has come and gone, don't count them out just yet.
The C.I.A. infused, Yale to the manor born, Bush crime family has a long and sordid history destroying our nation, with the tragedy of a supine and blissfully ignorant American electorate to blame for allowing these insufferably arrogant grifters to rape the body politic for decades.
The Bush's are like vampires, and, although Halloween has come and gone, don't count them out just yet.
13
Not to mention the $1.4 BILLION the House of Saud has gifted the House of Bush.
Or, that when Boy George sold his failure of an oil company, Arbusto, to Harken Energy for the big bucks, that the largest shareholder in Harken was the Saudi Bin Laden Group.
Or, that the first plane to depart US airspace, post 9/11, was chock-a-block with Saudi royals and bin Laden family members.
Or, that longtime family business associate Osama bin laden was allowed to mosey, unmolested, out of Tora Bora, to lead al Qaida for another decade.
Or, that when Boy George sold his failure of an oil company, Arbusto, to Harken Energy for the big bucks, that the largest shareholder in Harken was the Saudi Bin Laden Group.
Or, that the first plane to depart US airspace, post 9/11, was chock-a-block with Saudi royals and bin Laden family members.
Or, that longtime family business associate Osama bin laden was allowed to mosey, unmolested, out of Tora Bora, to lead al Qaida for another decade.
14
Socrates, enjoy your sharing (and your analysis). But I do not entirely agree with the line, "America would have been a vastly more enlightened, civilized and less violent country if it weren't for the Bush family's 1000 points of carefully hidden deception the last 75 years."
Bushes might be terrible for the country, and they have been so, as leaders and as a well connected family, in the past. But there are others too. And the list is long...with many corporations ; other wealthy families ; ruling dynasties and well connected cronies who have shaped and moulded world politics and even culture according to their self interests, profits and racist sexist xenophobic and ethnocentric agendas for several hundred years.
The list of the shadow people and dark forces is long....
Jarod Kintz wrote, “Voting for the lesser of two evils is still voting for evil. Next time, go all out and write in Lucifer on the ballot.”
From "99 Cents For Some Nonsense"
So much to think about, so much to think about....
Bushes might be terrible for the country, and they have been so, as leaders and as a well connected family, in the past. But there are others too. And the list is long...with many corporations ; other wealthy families ; ruling dynasties and well connected cronies who have shaped and moulded world politics and even culture according to their self interests, profits and racist sexist xenophobic and ethnocentric agendas for several hundred years.
The list of the shadow people and dark forces is long....
Jarod Kintz wrote, “Voting for the lesser of two evils is still voting for evil. Next time, go all out and write in Lucifer on the ballot.”
From "99 Cents For Some Nonsense"
So much to think about, so much to think about....
2
Have no fear, or more like - fear the worst is yet to come. The Bush machine is not down yet, they will gather their millionaires, Karl Rove-likes, Willie Horton-likes, insert like-minded evil-doers, to get little Jebbie back in the race. These people will not be stopped by incompetence in their son who obviously does not have the fire in his belly like his older brother to convince people he deserves to be president because he'd be fun to have a beer with, reasons which so many gave as good enough to vote for W. Who's disastrous 8 years I'm certain drove many to drink. The Bushes are entitled, they're just bewildered as to why we peasants don't understand it. GO HILLERY!!!
40
What we need is a constitutional amendment forbidding any spouse, sibling, or offspring of a current or past president from occupying the office of either President or Vice President. Too much political influence and too many offices are held within too few families, and the the Presidency to be held by the same family for more than one administration is the most egregious case of too much power and influence within one family. I am opposed to Hillary as much as I am opposed to Jeb for that same reason. Both the Bushes as well as the Clintons (and for that matter, the Kennedys) have and continue to pave the way to power and influence for successive generations. Rest assured, we will be hearing from George P and Chelsea. it is part and parcel of the continuing diminution of freedom and democracy. in America. These are indeed very dark times for the republic.
19
About a 100 extended families have been active in state and national politics since 1700 or so. For example, Rodney Frelinghuysen from New Jersey is in the House. His great-great-great-great-grandfather Frederick Frelinghuysen was one of the framers of the first Constitution of New Jersey, a U.S. Senator for New Jersey, and a soldier in the American Revolutionary War.
"Furious Tea Party Republicans." Agree that this is the "angry America" we keep hearing about, on talk radio and from much of the Republican ranks in both houses of Congress. What they are furious and angry about is that they lost the last two presidential elections (as they previously lost twice to Bill Clinton and just barely managed to win twice with W.). They aren't upset with Barack Obama because he is "diffident," no, it is because he won twice in effective landslides against "establishment Republicans." Jeb Bush would just be a repeat of John McCain and Mitt Romney in their view. But if history is a guide (let's certainly hope so), putting up a "non-establishment" ticket against Hillary Clinton is likely to go down in even greater flames. The rest of the country, the majority, is actually not "angry" (except with the Tea Party) and is likely to come out in droves to defeat any Republican ticket that looks too far right wing.
31
Barack Obama did NOT win anything remotely like "two landslides" and it is arrogant partisan blindness to claim he did -- heck, he didn't even increase his lead in 2012, which most 2-term Presidents manage to do.
If you think the public is not angry, you don't get out much. Also in uber-liberal Massachusetts, you may be simply talking to people "just like you" and not hearing the voices of real Americans.
If you think the public is not angry, you don't get out much. Also in uber-liberal Massachusetts, you may be simply talking to people "just like you" and not hearing the voices of real Americans.
Jeb Bush's private parts are caught in a lady vise. In 2013, his mother, Barbara, said "We've had enough Bushes". This June, she told him he was NOT her favorite son, publicly, during his campaign kick-off. She has since changed her tune about him running, but the damage has been done.
He is known to be devoted to his Mexican immigrant wife, Columba. And Columba was not interested in him becoming President either. She doesn't like politics at all. Not only is she dead weight for him, she is his emotional anchor, and she is dragging him down. Due to these female influences, I don't think Jeb himself wants to be President. This is a big problem. You REALLY have to want to be President in order to put up with years of campaigning, fund-raising, and engaging with the press and public repeatedly.
This unconscious drag on him explains his listlessness, and error-prone campaign so far. He may stay in the game, and may still get the nomination over Marco Rubio, but only if he snaps out of his stupor, and tells his wife, in no uncertain terms, that they are heading for the goal posts at the other end of the field. She needs to act interested and engaged while they are out in public. But this will be a tough sell. First he will have to convince himself he wants the job, then convince her it is worth her efforts. And, after all of this, if he succeeds in reviving his dying bid for his party's nomination, a woman, Hillary Clinton, will still beat him in November of 2016.
358
You know what, I have zero regard for Jeb! but referring to his wife as dead weight is really pretty disgusting.
And your entire comment is beyond sexist.
NYT, why the heck did you pick this?
Oy.
And your entire comment is beyond sexist.
NYT, why the heck did you pick this?
Oy.
7
Why is this sexist tripe an NTY pick?
After endless media speculation as to why Jeb! is an lackluster candidate, the real reason for his inefficacy is laid bare: It's the women! Isn't it always?
Who even knew this gossip about his mother and wife? Oh well--any excuse to blame a man's failures on the women in his life. Thanks a lot, NYT.
After endless media speculation as to why Jeb! is an lackluster candidate, the real reason for his inefficacy is laid bare: It's the women! Isn't it always?
Who even knew this gossip about his mother and wife? Oh well--any excuse to blame a man's failures on the women in his life. Thanks a lot, NYT.
3
You make one point that is absolutely correct or maybe two.
You need to be absolutely certain that you want to be President. You also need to have a clear sight into the needs of others unclouded by the people around you. GW wanted to be President to the point he would steal the election. As to the second point neither brother had a clue as to the needs of our country or any vision at all.
You need to be absolutely certain that you want to be President. You also need to have a clear sight into the needs of others unclouded by the people around you. GW wanted to be President to the point he would steal the election. As to the second point neither brother had a clue as to the needs of our country or any vision at all.
1
Miss Dowd is much too facile to write, "His brother’s muscle-bound presidency led to Barack Obama and the diffident Obama..." As the First Black Presidential Candidate, any prior presidency's successes and failures were of no consequence before the chance to Make History. The proof is that Obama's presidency -- strewn with foreign policy disasters -- is having no effect on the candidacy of the First White Woman President. Again, success or failure pales before the chance to Make History, again. But this time the results will be far more consequential.
3
Yeah, I know, Obama pushed us into two wars, of which was a major disaster on the level of Vietnam. Annndddd....at least we can be relatively assured that Hillary won't give another tax cut to the rich.
Jeb, the house in Amityville has spoken. "geeeetttt ooouuuuut."
9
Jeb! was supposed to be ringmaster, but now everyone's transfixed by the new Tea Party clown show. Now when Joe the Plumber considers the possibility of another Bush presidency, the reaction is "Jeb??!". If PT Barnum was right, then there's a real chance the clown show could be coming to 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue. Frightening.
9
>>snatch Florida away from Al Gore.<<
Ms. Dowd and others are getting a little tiresome with the constant carping about Florida in 2000.
Let the record show that when the polls closed, "W" was ahead. Not one single recount changed this outcome. Not one. All that was heard from you folks was "oh if we do this, or if we count that, or if we use some imagination for intent the outcome will change". But it never did. Get over it. Your guy lost. Move on.
JimF from Sewell
Ms. Dowd and others are getting a little tiresome with the constant carping about Florida in 2000.
Let the record show that when the polls closed, "W" was ahead. Not one single recount changed this outcome. Not one. All that was heard from you folks was "oh if we do this, or if we count that, or if we use some imagination for intent the outcome will change". But it never did. Get over it. Your guy lost. Move on.
JimF from Sewell
7
Do you know that a consortium of the top newspapers in the country went over every single ballot and concluded that Al Gore had actually won Florida, don't you? Maybe you missed the news---report came out on September 12, 2001. Guess what had happened the day before? Talk about bad timing. . . But it doesn't change the fact that Gore had indeed won Florida, and therefore the election.
6
Everyone knows that the phrase, "Move on!" is the last refuge of the guilty. And so it was with Dubya. Yeah, he did use Jeb! to snatch Florida, and very few Americans have forgotten it. And we're all still paying for his dissolute presidency.
6
You have to be from Florida to know really won: the purged voter lists, the Buchanan snafu in Palm Beach, the chads in Broward, the problem in Jacksonville, and lest we not forget, the final vote due to the Supreme Court which never took place. Yeah, Bush really won.
4
Jeb looks uncomfortable in every photo I see of him on the campaign trial. Does he have a chance to win if he always looks like he'd rather be anywhere but there?
61
As Jeb! has told us all, he has a "million really cool things" he'd rather be doing than running for the presidency. Let him go do those and leave the presidency to someone who gives a damn about the country. Let him go do those "really cool things." We've had enough Bushes to last America a lifetime, and then some. The scabs are still healing, but the scars remain.
1
Jebenezer may not be a Scrooge
But he is a one tenth percent stooge,
Charisma devoid
And by Donald annoyed,
Elect him? Expect a deluge!
But he is a one tenth percent stooge,
Charisma devoid
And by Donald annoyed,
Elect him? Expect a deluge!
76
"DIFFIDENT" Obama.
Diffident?
No one but Obama would have opened up Cuba.
"MUSCLE-BOUND" W PRESIDENCY?
Huh?
W's highest point was his "bullhorn moment" 3 days after 9/11. I rallied around my President when America was attacked. But I wouldn't call Bush's presidency "muscle-bound." Was it muscle-bound after Katrina or when the economy collapsed? Is war the only way one can be muscle-bound? What about when it's against the wrong target?
Thank God for our military but I wouldn't call W's reign "muscle bound."
Looks like Dowd still has a crush on W and will keep damning O with every stroke of the pen.
Oh - this was supposed to be about Jeb. Thank God for TRUMP, that's all I'll say about the possibility of a Jeb Presidency.
Diffident?
No one but Obama would have opened up Cuba.
"MUSCLE-BOUND" W PRESIDENCY?
Huh?
W's highest point was his "bullhorn moment" 3 days after 9/11. I rallied around my President when America was attacked. But I wouldn't call Bush's presidency "muscle-bound." Was it muscle-bound after Katrina or when the economy collapsed? Is war the only way one can be muscle-bound? What about when it's against the wrong target?
Thank God for our military but I wouldn't call W's reign "muscle bound."
Looks like Dowd still has a crush on W and will keep damning O with every stroke of the pen.
Oh - this was supposed to be about Jeb. Thank God for TRUMP, that's all I'll say about the possibility of a Jeb Presidency.
374
maureen hates Hill and Barack
Will cut neither one any slack.
Unusually brisk
With polemical pisk
And deft with a dig in the back.
Will cut neither one any slack.
Unusually brisk
With polemical pisk
And deft with a dig in the back.
19
Trump calling Jeb a "low energy" candudate was the end of Jeb!
1
What better time to share some amusing quotes from the former Bush than on this festive eve.
"And there is distrust in Washington. I am surprised, frankly, at the amount of distrust that exists in this town. And I'm sorry it's the case, and I'll work hard to try to elevate it."—speaking on National Public Radio, Jan. 29, 2007
"It's important for us to explain to our nation that life is important. It's not only life of babies, but it's life of children living in, you know, the dark dungeons of the Internet."—Arlington Heights, Ill., Oct. 24, 2000
"I'll be long gone before some smart person ever figures out what happened inside this Oval Office."—Washington, D.C., May 12, 2008
All courtesy of that inspiration of a leader, George W. Bush
"And there is distrust in Washington. I am surprised, frankly, at the amount of distrust that exists in this town. And I'm sorry it's the case, and I'll work hard to try to elevate it."—speaking on National Public Radio, Jan. 29, 2007
"It's important for us to explain to our nation that life is important. It's not only life of babies, but it's life of children living in, you know, the dark dungeons of the Internet."—Arlington Heights, Ill., Oct. 24, 2000
"I'll be long gone before some smart person ever figures out what happened inside this Oval Office."—Washington, D.C., May 12, 2008
All courtesy of that inspiration of a leader, George W. Bush
131
That smart person will not be "W."
2
It's one of Dan Quayle's priceless aphorisms that comes to mind when reading about the Bushes:
"People that are really very weird can get into sensitive positions and have a tremendous impact on history."
"People that are really very weird can get into sensitive positions and have a tremendous impact on history."
3
I suspect that Jeb Bush is not as intelligent as advertised. In fact, George W Bush may actually be smarter. The simple-minded responses that Jeb gives to predictable questions is not encouraging. A skilled debater like Ted Cruz would take Jeb apart on the issues, but Cruz doesn't think he needs to bother.
50
1 person in 10 million can remember names and faces as well as George W Bush. No politician or head of state in world history has had as good a memory like that. NONE.
Note that nearly ALL of George W Bush's malapropisms were planned in advance to appeal to his voting base.
Note that nearly ALL of George W Bush's malapropisms were planned in advance to appeal to his voting base.
"At 47, with his drinking days behind him"
They were only 7 years behind him, and by many reports not just drinking.
What does that teach us?
Was 7 years clean and sober enough?
Should we be more forgiving of alcoholics and druggies?
If they keep it up until they are 40, is that good enough to be President by 50?
There's lessons here for drug laws, and for demonizing users. Or maybe the lesson is about a dynasty overcoming even that.
And THAT is what overtook Jeb last time. Doesn't sound like he's smarter or the better candidate than much of anyone.
They were only 7 years behind him, and by many reports not just drinking.
What does that teach us?
Was 7 years clean and sober enough?
Should we be more forgiving of alcoholics and druggies?
If they keep it up until they are 40, is that good enough to be President by 50?
There's lessons here for drug laws, and for demonizing users. Or maybe the lesson is about a dynasty overcoming even that.
And THAT is what overtook Jeb last time. Doesn't sound like he's smarter or the better candidate than much of anyone.
69
We've had active drunks in office. Churchill might have been a drunk. Please go bully some other ailment.
I'm a long time resident of Houston...and a lifelong Republican who voted for both Bush 41 and Bush 43....but what Juanito is apparently too thickheaded to comprehend is that he is singlehandedly destroying every bit of good will and respect I and many other Republicans have ever felt
for the Bush family....what jaw dropping hubris for him to decide that the Bush family is entitled to 3 Presidents in the space of one generation...in many ways they are just like the Kennedys....they just don't know when to quit
for the Bush family....what jaw dropping hubris for him to decide that the Bush family is entitled to 3 Presidents in the space of one generation...in many ways they are just like the Kennedys....they just don't know when to quit
63
@Robbins Mitchell: At least all three Kennedys who even thought of running for president were very smart.
7
But the Kennedys were good at the political jobs they took. JFK was a decent president, hard to assess with him being cut down in the middle of his first term, RFK was one of the greatest Attorney Generals we ever had and Ted Kennedy amassed a fine record of leadership in the Senate over many years. Can you say as much about the Bushes? Bush 41 continued the "voodoo economic policies" even after they were proven wrong, W. caused the mess in the middle east with his war on Iraq, and we can look forward to 50-100 years of the same. Bush vs. Kennedy, no reasonable comparison
10
Except there was only 1 Kennedy president, and he didn't acts that would be considered war crimes.
2
It is very hard to imagine Jeb! as president of our complex country. "Sparky"did such a horrible job. Thanks for the background info on "Sparky" stealing Jeb"s good talking points. I believe Jeb!'s son is at least the 4th generation in politics in a direct blood line of men. Whew, that stinks. Jeb! obviously felt entitled to the position.
Hillary is trading on her husband's name and experience but she did live through those years in the White House and would have contributed more if America hadn't been so regressive about women.
Hillary is trading on her husband's name and experience but she did live through those years in the White House and would have contributed more if America hadn't been so regressive about women.
115
Hillary was more successful when she graduated college, before she met Bill, than most people are in their entire lives.
She was Wellesley's 1969 commencement speaker and was featured in a photo layout in Life magazine.
She was Wellesley's 1969 commencement speaker and was featured in a photo layout in Life magazine.
4
Hillary also was an excellent Senator from New York State and Secretary of State for four years. Also a lawyer who worked for the Children's Defense Fund and Legal Aid. I'm sure 8 years as First Lady also gave her plenty of insights but that doesn't mean she's "trading on her husband's name and experience." And, by the way, she supported her husband's career and raised a fine daughter, became a grandmother. Is something missing from this resume? Or is there always something missing from woman's resume no matter what she does?
5
The Republican Party of Poppy has passed by, and been overtaken by the Visigoths, who don't trust the "establishment", and seek to tear it down and remake it in their Darwinian vision. They have no tolerance for debate, or compromise, and Jeb is simply an extra appendage, like a marsupial tail. The conservatives won't embrace him, and the moderates don't believe him. He's a dead candidate walking.
707
I notice you use the phrase "Darwinian vision". Most Republicans appear to be creationists and when one of them uses the phrase "survival of the fittest" you can bet your bottom dollar the he, or occasionally she, does not believe in the theory of evolution.
(No criticism intended on the gist of your message Kingfish52...)
(No criticism intended on the gist of your message Kingfish52...)
5
Thank you, Kingfish52. This is the most succinct description of the situation as I have seen anywhere. Nice brain.
2
"He's a dead candidate walking."
Don't know if you meant it or not, but it's just perfect for Halloween!
Don't know if you meant it or not, but it's just perfect for Halloween!
2
Everyone would be depressed if, like Jeb, we were forced to run for an office we don't want just because our Poppy and his elderly neocon buddies forced us into it. Be a man Jeb "JUST SAY NO!!!!"
114
his mother had it right the first time. but who wants to be cast as the guy who loses to the first woman President anyway?
53
Yep I reckon it would be a real loser man who manages to lose to a woman...
1
And let's hope that's Elizabeth Warren.
His Mom, Barbara Bush, had it right? Mom thought that Jeb would become President before his Bro "Dubya".
A perceptive view of Trump as a clown does not correctly indicate that yet another slacker son can or should be President.
"Born on third base and thinks he hit a triple" ..,. indeed.
JEB!'s campaign reminds me of Rick Lazio's -- any of you folks out there remember him? You should -- he's why Hillary is where she is right now. Rick was the patsy, self-indulgent, feckless Republican who inherited the nomination to oppose Hillary for senator, when Giuliani withdrew (due to prostate problems and another woman in his life, how about that for a combo).
The Democrats are itching to run against any of the bozos -- only Kasich gives them any pause, and he has no chance of getting the nomination. But JEB has always been the worst choice for Republicans -- he brings no advantage over other candidates and he squanders the one obvious issue Hillary carries.
Bright mainstream Republicans would rally around Kasich -- but "bright Republican" is an oxymoron in the "party of stupid."
"Born on third base and thinks he hit a triple" ..,. indeed.
JEB!'s campaign reminds me of Rick Lazio's -- any of you folks out there remember him? You should -- he's why Hillary is where she is right now. Rick was the patsy, self-indulgent, feckless Republican who inherited the nomination to oppose Hillary for senator, when Giuliani withdrew (due to prostate problems and another woman in his life, how about that for a combo).
The Democrats are itching to run against any of the bozos -- only Kasich gives them any pause, and he has no chance of getting the nomination. But JEB has always been the worst choice for Republicans -- he brings no advantage over other candidates and he squanders the one obvious issue Hillary carries.
Bright mainstream Republicans would rally around Kasich -- but "bright Republican" is an oxymoron in the "party of stupid."
291
I think you make a mistake. The democrats are most worried about Rubio. Yes Kasich would be a worrisome opponent, but it "ain't gonna happen."
1
With all due respect, I think Kasich has about as much Charisma as drying paint. (If I were paint, I'd be insulted.)
I think that Donald Trump is the only Republican who could defeat Hillary and become President. I would never vote for Trump, since he was wrong about the Chinese Yuan. (Still up about 30% against the Dollar since 2005, no matter how much The Donald screams about "Devaluation"! )
In addition, I do not see how Trump can cut taxes for most people (except Hedge Fund Managers), cut the Deficit and increase Military Spending. I have not seen him use his Wharton Economics Degree to give us any numbers to explain all that.
But I think that Trump could win the White House since he is willing to say anything, no matter how outrageous. Look at the way Trump criticized Fox news' Megyn Kelly during and after the First GOP Debate. If Trump can attack a fellow Republican like that, then multiply that by a factor of 3 or4 against Hillary.
http://www.linkedin.com/in/rdelrosso2001
I think that Donald Trump is the only Republican who could defeat Hillary and become President. I would never vote for Trump, since he was wrong about the Chinese Yuan. (Still up about 30% against the Dollar since 2005, no matter how much The Donald screams about "Devaluation"! )
In addition, I do not see how Trump can cut taxes for most people (except Hedge Fund Managers), cut the Deficit and increase Military Spending. I have not seen him use his Wharton Economics Degree to give us any numbers to explain all that.
But I think that Trump could win the White House since he is willing to say anything, no matter how outrageous. Look at the way Trump criticized Fox news' Megyn Kelly during and after the First GOP Debate. If Trump can attack a fellow Republican like that, then multiply that by a factor of 3 or4 against Hillary.
http://www.linkedin.com/in/rdelrosso2001
In the absence of Jeb!, a Rubio/Kasich ticket is really about the only hope the Republicans have to get to their 30% of Latinos and win Ohio - Kasich has to be on the ticket or they'll lose Cuyahoga county and every Ohio and Florida suburb against the good 90ies (Clinton). Evangelicals (Cruz, Carson, Santorum ...) have nowhere else to go since they just vote against Democrats. It's going to be fun to see Kasich squirm when he figures out he'll only be running for VP - oh the indignity!
Jeb was not done any favors by those who told him to run. They were all looking out for their own return to DC visions. No one had the common sense to tell Jeb that the game has changed so much that you have no chance running the way you know how to campaign. In fact, the whole Bush machine is a throwback to a different era. Hey gang, the 90's are calling you on your Motorola brick phone.
69
Snatch Florida away from Al Gore? Despite losing Florida, Gore would have become POTUS if he could only secure his home state of Tennessee. Which speaks volumes about how pathetic Al Gore was as the Democratic nominee? Enough with the nonsense that Bush stole the election from Gore. Gore didn't even need Florida to win.
20
Not so pathetic. Al Gore outgrew Tennessee just as Bill Clinton outgrew Arkansas.
101
Yes, he would have won had he carried his home state. But he definitely would have won if Jebby hadn't helped purloin Florida. Hanging chads, stopping the recount, and a massive purging of the voter rolls of black and latino voters, many illegally purged. Just because Gore couldn't carry Tennessee doesn't mean that Jebby wasn't an accessory to a crime. He was. Speaking of crimes, how about an extraordinary rendition of W, Cheney, Rummy, Condi, John Yoo, Jay Bybee and their friends for a nice visit to the Slobodan Milosevic suite at the Hague? That's where they BELONG.
13
The fact is that Florida was stolen for W.
12
I feel like I'm reading Page Six, during a commercial break while watching TMZ. Ms. Dowd takes her Krauthammer-like dissection of others' psyches to new heights with her breathless chronicling of All Things Bush, and dime store psychologizing.
96
Agreed. And she calls Barack Obama “diffident”? Look that up, Maureen.
You are way off base.
You are way off base.
8
This is simple. Trump represents the revenge of the BBQs against the WASP New England aristocracy.....I'm not sure if I like or don't like that this is happening...
109
They created the Frankenstein monster that is Trump and now we can all watch gleefully while he destroys them.
3
Bronx, Brooklyn and Queens??
Third! Bush will always have an iconic place in US history.
He pulled off the largest vote fraud in US history, disenfranchising 93,000 legitimate Florida voters, tossed 180,000 ballots, used the Florida Highway Patrol to intimidate African American voters and interfered with the counting of ballots.
Which paved the way for Bush family retainers on the Supremes to appoint his brother, the supremely unqualified, Andover Prep guy cheerleader, who cowardly dodged Viet Nam as the most disastrous Commander in Chief in US history.
If you know words like quadruple amputee, Abu Ghraib, enhanced interrogation (torture) extraordinary rendition (kidnapping followed by torture)
you have only Third! Bush to thank.
Maureen, Hillary is many things, Bill's daughter she is not. Dynasty refers to line of descent.
He pulled off the largest vote fraud in US history, disenfranchising 93,000 legitimate Florida voters, tossed 180,000 ballots, used the Florida Highway Patrol to intimidate African American voters and interfered with the counting of ballots.
Which paved the way for Bush family retainers on the Supremes to appoint his brother, the supremely unqualified, Andover Prep guy cheerleader, who cowardly dodged Viet Nam as the most disastrous Commander in Chief in US history.
If you know words like quadruple amputee, Abu Ghraib, enhanced interrogation (torture) extraordinary rendition (kidnapping followed by torture)
you have only Third! Bush to thank.
Maureen, Hillary is many things, Bill's daughter she is not. Dynasty refers to line of descent.
1493
Your definition of dynasty is a little too disingenuos....most Americans think the Clintons and Bushs have had enough time in the limelight.
Uh oh, Gen. Rambo is still trying to figure out why his band of draftee brothers got their butts kicked by the pajama boys.
Dynasty refers to line of descent. - that's her point! not in America, and especially not in 2015!
Alas Jeb! is not rude, crass, or pugnacious enough to compete with the other GOP contenders.
26
Seems rather a thoughtless piece for a fairly observant woman.
I'm only speaking for myself. We are not looking for another capable administrator. Nor one that can give democrats what they want half as fast as Obama. We want a leader. Fix illegal immigration, legal immigration, wage suppression, unemployment. Fix illegal immigrants. Fix trade deal wage suppression, unemployment. Stop IRS and EPA politicizing. Prosecute the corrupt. Stop cheering looters and thugs. So we dont want this leader to sand the rough edges. The leader needs to produce solutions.
I'm only speaking for myself. We are not looking for another capable administrator. Nor one that can give democrats what they want half as fast as Obama. We want a leader. Fix illegal immigration, legal immigration, wage suppression, unemployment. Fix illegal immigrants. Fix trade deal wage suppression, unemployment. Stop IRS and EPA politicizing. Prosecute the corrupt. Stop cheering looters and thugs. So we dont want this leader to sand the rough edges. The leader needs to produce solutions.
19
Preferably with the cooperation of congress something that rarely happened with President Obama. It's truly amazing that he accomplished as much as he has given the abject hatred from republicans. None of them one iota of shame. Pity.
7
That is not what politics is about.
1
Yup, Jeb! is toast. Time for Trump to leave him alone and go chainsaw Rubio.
259
I will get out the popcorn to watch that one!
43 was terrible.
Why risk 45?