In a development that some Republican Establishment and MSM types view as tantamount to the presidential nomination if not the presidency itself, it seems the Bush family has given its long-awaited endorsement to a bid by John Ellis “Jeb” Bush. George P. says so. Jeb Jr. says so. Poppy’s on board. Barbara’s not really on board, but has agreed to go along. W.’s really, really on board. And most important, Columba Bush is on board, and she’s always been regarded as the big obstacle to Bush 45.
So assuming that’s out of the way, there’s this little matter of convincing Jeb’s own party to nominate him, at which point the neurotic doubts of the general electorate about a third Bush presidency will come into play.
On the former issue, Paul Waldman reminds us today that Jebbie’s really, really out of touch with the GOP “base” on multiple issues.
It’s an old family problem, of course, but while Poppy made himself over into Ronald Reagan’s acolyte and successor in 1988, and W. spent years making himself into a genu-wine movement conservative favorite in 2000, Jeb’s gone the other way. It’s just not real clear he can find his way back, or bend a right-bent party to his and his family’s will.
