Jeb Bush Ponders Florida Senate Run

UPDATE 12/2:

Marc Ambinder is reporting that Jeb Bush is considering a run for the Senate to replace the retiring Mel Martinez:

Two sources close to Jeb Bush, including one who has spoken to the former Florida governor within the past few hours, say he is seriously considering a run for Senate now that incumbent Republican Mel Martinez has retired.

"He is receiving a lot of encouragement from both in and out of the state," an longtime Bush adviser said tonight. "He is going to take his time and approach this very methodically." Bush will weigh, according to this adviser, how a run would impact his family, his business, and whether the Senate would be the best platform for the causes he'd advocate -- education, immigration, GOP solutions to health care and energy.

Bush did not respond to an e-mail seeking comment.

If he decides to run, Republicans expect the field to clear for him. Maybe. Gov. Charlie Crist, with whom Bush has not had the warmest of relations, is said to be interested in moving to the Senate. Florida Attorney General Bill McCollum is weighing a bid, as is former state House Speaker Marco Rubio, Orange County executive Richard Crotty, and U.S. Rep. Connie Mack.

Via ThinkProgress, in an interview with NewsMax, President Bush's brother Jeb says the Republican party should not cave to a Democratic majority. Rather, they should set up a "shadow government" to provide a counter-agenda.

Former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush tells Newsmax that the GOP must broaden its appeal to avoid becoming "the old white-guy party," and recommends that Republicans create a "shadow government" to engage Democrats on important issues as the incoming Obama administration seeks to enact its agenda.

In a wide-ranging interview with Newsmax, the popular former governor and younger brother of President George W. Bush said the 2008 election was neither "transformational" nor a landslide. For example, he noted that Barack Obama's significant fundraising advantage over John McCain played a key role in Democratic success this year.

Bush urged Republicans not to abandon their core conservative principles in favor of a "Democratic-lite" agenda. Still, the GOP does need to do some real soul-searching, he said.

"If you take the [last] two election cycles, there's real cause for concern, no question about it," he said.

There is good news for Republicans, Bush said: The United States remains "basically a center-right country." He cited President-elect Barack Obama's stance on taxes as an example.

...

The party should establish a loyal opposition and "organize ourselves in the form of a shadow government" that would address key issues, providing the public with "a loftier debate about policy" rather than mere partisanship.

Watch:

Read more of the interview here.

Comments

[sumbodisgma]

03:57 PM on 12/19/2008

Isn't this guy an advisor for AIG ...http://www.atlargely.com/2008/09/what-is-jeb-bus.html & http://dealbook.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/11/10/aig-may-get-more-in-bailout/. After AIG misappropriatied bailout funds for bonus'...Now the senate!!! Go figure

[BillN]

04:18 PM on 12/05/2008

I wish this creep and the rest of his family would just go away.

[disgusted48]

03:53 PM on 12/05/2008

why do we keep having to be exposed to these bush people. enough already!

[calhar]

02:58 PM on 12/05/2008

Like the Kennedy clan,these people have a hell of a lot of GAUL,because they are rich.

[disgusted48]

03:55 PM on 12/05/2008

the difference is the kennedys have been good for America, but the bushs have been bad for America.

[trisha08]

11:52 AM on 12/05/2008

I do believe that he is getting ready to run for President in the near future.

I realize that the Bush family has a lot of political clout. But, aren't there people in the GOP who is more powerful than the Bush family who can say....enough. Or, is this what the GOP wants?

Three Bush Presidents in a short span of history is just wrong Is this what our system has become?
A dynasty? It's just wrong for more reasons than I can name.

[Rictracee]

03:27 PM on 12/05/2008

honey after this Bush, sorry there is no HOPE in h-ll that another Bush will ever be in the executive office.. you can take that to the bank

[oldParasiteSingle]

09:07 AM on 12/05/2008

Why not? He proved that he could help fix elections back in 2000.

[Changeizgood]

10:00 AM on 12/05/2008

Yeah, pal him around with Palin in 2012, and We the People will laugh another Bush, out of office. When will they learn they're name is mud now, after "W", at least until Jenna is in her late fifties.

They have to do some representation damage also.. Dubya, did a big doo doo on Americans, and it ain't likely to be forgotten, so soon Jeb, George, Barbara, Laura, George and family.

Not this time.

Ha! The only reason that Hillary was taken serious, is because her husband Bill was good with the numbers and we are in troubled times due to your families, meddling in our tax monies being spent and privatizing our safety nets for less service, more cost economics.

We are on to your Bush It, so give America a break and be patriotic.

Don't waste the donors money, it ain't gonna happen again.

Bush's shock and awe woke Americans up to the sound of treason. Just try running.

This is funny, or how would dubya put it phuney.

Ha!

[suzonne]

09:05 AM on 12/05/2008

Floridians like Jeb and will likely give him the Senate. The other 49 states will never give him the presidency.

[Changeizgood]

10:01 AM on 12/05/2008

He would be the Nixon victory in Reverse.

Ha ha!!

[ZTB]

11:57 AM on 12/05/2008

I am a Floridian.....and I do NOT like Jeb Bush. He did no favors for the Florida residents in the bigger scheme of things.
Honestly, I can't imagine any Bush in office in the near future.
The fact that he is "better" than his brother, is little consolation.
It is like picking the better of two evils.

[BillN]

04:20 PM on 12/05/2008

I'm not convinced he's better than his brother. This nut fell from the same tree as his brother(s).

[dadw5boys]

02:50 AM on 12/05/2008

Jen can always go back to running guns to South America for the CIA !!!!!

[marinade]

11:20 PM on 12/04/2008

Jeb defaulted on a $4.56 million loan during the S & L crisis in the 80's. He's just what we need............

[apoliticalchick]

11:16 PM on 12/04/2008

A springboard for the presidency? As if two Bushies in the White House wasn't enough!
http://democralypsenow.blogspot.com/

[Harry Scrote]

11:12 PM on 12/04/2008

NO MORE BU SHES PERIOD! Get a rope, because Harry's going to rassle up another steer!

[Oxonian2001]

08:09 PM on 12/04/2008

We don't need a continuation of the Evil Empire with Jebba the Hut!

[BN2112]

07:57 PM on 12/04/2008

Hopefully Dubya has crapped on the chances of any other member of his ethically bankrupt family from soiling the White House again even if Jebster could easily win a Senate seat from FL.

[Fernando]

07:50 PM on 12/04/2008

This is an attempt to clear the Bush name. Many people seem to regard him favorably, but as the man who basically sold our freedom for his brother to win in 2000, I can't understand how anyone could think he is any better.

I supported Hillary in the primaries, but just as her candidacy fizzled when it once seemed a sure thing, anything higher than a senate seat will be impossible for this knucklehead.

[missette]

06:50 PM on 12/04/2008

Please, Jeb, have mercy and just stay out of our lives. Surely your brother's done enough damage to this country that will take years to repair. Do not use attempt to restore your family's name on the back of a weary nation. Just go away!