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.

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"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

[TJC]

Pretty sure he won't get elected after everthing gets exposed and reversed when Obama takes office. These is too too much incompetence connected to the Bush name for Jeb to win. Even though he does not deserve the baggage. Tell me who has more baggage, Bill Clinton or George W Bush?

[Boomerwoman]

When Bill lied, nobody died.

[4peace]

Don't be too sure, w didn't "win", didn't get elected, yet there he is, bigger'n life destroying everything he touches.

[helenwheels]

the shrub has about a trillion times more baggage than Clinton ever could.

[DWGRadio]

This lout does not know when to go away.

[Billpoch]

How will he fix the election results this time?

[gwhizz]

We have Charlie Crist now. Who ran as "THE Jeb Bush republican!"

[JSquercia]

Disenfranchment seems to be their favorite tool .

[riafern]

Slimebags do not ask for your vote ,they steal elections ..if we have any sense we will use Obama 's term in Office to have better voting machines ,better polling locations & lots of poll watchers & people interested in what is happening in their precinct prior to elections so we have fair elections in 2010 & 2012 ...if we do not pay attention ,then we are useless supporters of change ....

[riafern]

Dems will also have to put up good strong candidates to counter Jeb Bush ...although Jim Martin is an honourable man ...he lost b'coz he was not strong enough ,not vocal enough to face a saxby Chambliss ,we can blame the opposition all we want ...but if we cannot put up good candidates who appeal to the voters of that particular region & who can stand up & fight for themselves ...then we have ourselves to blame ...
we worked so hard here in ga ...a good decent candidate was no match to the hate mongers ...need someone with claws !!!!and a nice strong personality ...

[riafern]

Another Bush ...Psl dems start right now ,help build a good base ,get involved ...read up on voting process etc ...be educated ...I woudl suggest next elections we should have enough poll watchers & election staff so that what happened in 2000 never happens again ..we lost Ga due to mass fraud ...need to keep a watchful eye on southern states like Ga & Fl ....make it the next Ohio & campaign for us .....we need help ...it is in these pockets that the repubs launch their idiotic candidates ...do not underestimate the power of Bush fly ...when we think we have a good win ..that is when we loose ...do your selves a big favour & get involved at local level so we never have the 2000 fl stituation ever again ....we owe this to ourselves & our President elect ...we can help him win seats in 2010 which will be a pre view to 2012 ...
pls stay involved ....don't get burned ...but stay involved ...
I am starting a small grp of dem women in my small town ...may meet once in a while ..so when election time comes ...we will be no strangers & can call on each other & others when help is needed ...so we can start knocking on doors & speaking to people early ....pls consider building some sort of grp so we have a base for next elections ...remember the repubs will be hungry for power ...we have to be prepared ..

[Audrey85]

BUSHED!

[bbbbmer]

Oh Dear God in Heaven, I hope Jeb runs... Exposure of HIS backstory will shine a national spotlight on his closeted homosexuality, his role in suppressing the 2000 vote in favor of 'delivering Florida' for his brother, and finally we just may find out whatever happened with all that pesky Silverado Savings and Loan bailout money that brother Neil squandered.... Yep, Yep, this could be interesting...

[Dianekkdi]

Another shifty eyed SOB -- no thank you.

I'm in Florida. I'll vote against him. I'll probably campaign against him too.

Democrats & Independents please give me someone good. Even though I'm quite sure many of us now upchuck at the sight of the bushies, a good candidate would make life much easier.

[helenwheels]

I like the way you think!!

LOL @ the upchuck, I concur!

[stylenease]

And every citizen should do all in their power to make sure another Bush idiot is defeated. We certainly don't need anymore Bushes in Washington.

JEB?

[CongaChile]

Take a look at these at these two links and decide for yourselves if we need another Bush ever elected to anything. Why is this never talked about in the press? So much for the myth of the "liberal media". Please pass this on to anyone who even considers voting for Jeb.

http://coat.ncf.ca/our_magazine/links/53/53-index.html
http://www.oldamericancentury.org/bushco/bush_crime_family.htm

[helenwheels]

Thank you. I'm still in shock that more people didn't know about this family and that the shrub was able to be elected despite their horr!fying history.

[adamsmith3]

Sorry Jeb, your brother ruined all chances of you becoming president.

[Pip1860]

Ladies and Gentleman it's 2012.....Say hello To President Jeb Bush and his advisor Karl Rove.

[starfire426]

What makes YOU or anybody else think it's a foregone conclusion that another Bush would ever see the light of day inside the WH again??? If President Obama does HALF as good bringing us back from the brink of disaster Dubya left this country in ...we'll be well into the middle of this millineum before another Rethug darkens the WH door!!!

[Pip1860]

Starfire426,

From your post to God's ears.....but my opinion is that WE should be prepared to fend off the worst case scenario. I do not want to see another Republican set foot inside the Oval office.

[Pip1860]

I just made a comment the other day about how democrats need to built a political fortress for the future and should not buy into this nonsense that Republicans are now coming together with the Democrats...and all hell broke loose. I was ridiculed by my fellow democrats for being divisive on Huffpost. Well, I thought to myself you children just wait and see if Obama doesnt win 2012 and how Republicans take back the power and make you people second-class citizens once again. And, lo and behold Jeb Bush has designs for running for the Senate and then US presidency. I cannot wait to see the faces of these same naive democrats whenJeb BUsh is president, guantanomo is back, your cell phones are tapped, and we have a war with Iran. I am not being alarmist, just cautioning people that it is indeed good at the political level for Obama to be bipartisan, but his supporters need to understand you had no power whatsoever the last decade because the medi a and this country was bought by the parity garbage. THis should be about wisdom and political alertness not blind optimism and blind trust in REpublicans of all people.

[blastit]

I just have to say if the Democrates do not get some control over our voting system and get rid of the fraud machines and really change the way we vote to have some transparency then we could possibly be looking at another Bush in office and that just frightening just get a stake and drive it threw my heart now I cannot take it any good that will be done will be destroyed we will be starting from scratch all over the last thing this country ever needs is another Bush ..if the Dems don't do right with the voting there is no hope