Jeb Bush To GOP: Don't Attack Obama

In an interview with the LA Times, President Bush's brother Jeb explained why he isn't running for Senate and asked Republicans to go easy on the new president:

Still, the former governor said he would continue to advocate for conservative ideas, and he offered a bit of advice to fellow Republicans: Don't target the new president with the same kind of partisan attacks that he said Democrats had hurled unfairly at his brother -- attacks that he summed up as "Bush-hating."

"The opposition should be about ideas, and not what my brother suffered through in the last eight years," he said. "I don't wish that on President Obama."

Bush said he had been impressed so far with Obama's appointments and called the president-elect someone who is "smart, disciplined, not rash."

On Sunday, former President H. W. Bush said that he hoped Jeb would run for Senate in Florida and one day, for president. The younger Bush son announced on Tuesday that he would not run. He said his decision wasn't based on politics, but on his "personal journey."

Comments

[tcuoohjohn]

Wanna know why Jeb isn't running for the senate seat?...Go­ogle Jeb, Bush, Lehman Brothers and you got your answer.

[Pulitic-Gu2]

Unbelieveable: "The opposition should be about ideas, and not what my brother suffered through in the last eight years,"


What about the country has suffered through? Only a Bush would say it. A dumb and ignorant comment. For anyone who has paid attention these last 8 years, we all know who has been suffering. But I do commend Jeb for telling the Republicans not to attack Obama.

[zoozey]

I don't think that Jeb Bush was sincere in asking fellow Repubs to go easy on Obama--that was just his way to slip in the little pity party statement about his brother's "suffering" these last 8 years.

I didn't hear those bushes speak up once during the Clinton years, with all the trash the Repubs spewed out.

But you are so right--the most disgusting thing was Jeb saying that W "suffered.­" That just negated anything good he said, otherwise.

[demillicent]

The Republican party needs to distance themselves for idiots such as Sean Hannity and that pill popping Lush Limbaugh. For the Republican party to seem to be associated with this ilk does nothing to attract new more enlightened voters.

I think these two guys along with that Ann Coulter (Culture/specimen lol) have done more to make the Republican party seem like a bunch of intolerant racists than anything they have actually said themselves. They would be wise to not allow these dolts to be mouth pieces for them.

[AliMB]

i agree... and the democrats should distance themselves from the likes of Michael Moore and Bill Ayers (now a blogger at huffington post), because the ends of the political spectrum serve little purpose but to create gridlock and conflict..­.. not that i don't like to hear their ideas, because they are interesting.

[lisa12345]

I agree that we should not allow the far left to take over, but some ideas that are considered far-out are really just ideas that are waiting for their time. Universal health care is a center issue now, but once that was seen as far-left.

Also, Michael Moore, IMO, is not far-left. He is the "real" left. Some on the far-right try to dismiss Moore by packaging him as far-left. When people aren't used to hearing the voice of the true left--or even the center-left--they hear some "real" left ideas and can't place them. The far-right steps in and tells the masses--hey, that is the *far* left. Radicals, crazies, extremists, etc.

Moore is center-left to left but is "accused" of being far-left to discredit him. But yes, I do agree that it is important for both sides not to be taken over by far--or extreme--people. Yet on occasion, those "far", radical ideas that seem so absurd are eventually seen as common sense. So, I try not to dismiss even the ideas of the radicals--if we did that, universal health care would not be on the agenda now!

[garymc8]

Republicans should distance themselves from republicans. And this country could not be hurt worse than the far right wing has already done.

[beantowner]

"The opposition should be about ideas, and not what my brother suffered through in the last eight years," he said."

Umm, what your brother suffered through? How about what the rest of us have suffered through in the last eight years of his "leadership?" As IF George hasn't earned every bit of criticism that's coming his way...

Of the three Bush sons, I like and respect Jeb the most. But that sure doesn't translate into wanting another Bush in a position of political power. I think we've had more than enough of that already.

[Colmore]

There are FOUR sons. Georgie, Jeb, Neil and MARVIN.

[garymc8]

Did any of them live?

[WonderingImriel]

Ummm...Jeb­...the father of two drug addicts? I don't have much admiration for him. His involvement in the Schiavo tragedy bordered on psychotic obsession.

And his description of his brother as suffering reminds of Mama Bush's comments on how well Katrina refugees were living.

Pure Bush self centered nonsense.

[lotechgma]

Hey Jeb, w/ a 27 % approval rating, just who do you think DIDN"T criticize your brother? It wasn't just dems who disparaged the miserable job he did on every front. Everything he touched turned black and crumbled, leaving such a huge mess, it will take years to clean up. Anybody who has even a touch of reality knows this.

[Lemon722]

Somewhere a professional hypnotist is happy that the victim mantra the Bush family adopted is still firmly in place. I recall all too well the aftermath of 9-11 and how many newspapers, TV reporters and politicians were denounced by Bush/Cheney and Rethuglicans as unpatriotic, helping terrorists, anti-American, any time any questions were raised about "uh are we sure there are WMD?" or "are you sure no-bid contracts are legal?". Rather than admit any failure or mistakes they are too elite, too perfect, too stupid, immoral and anti-American -- yeah in my book these guys did more to help bin Laden than any Dan Rather report or war-protestor. Now the American public has to grind it in their faces -- is it Christian, is it going to change things? No and no but perhaps the next time some total fool begins to act this way so many people will not be fooled and realize they cannot "trust" but must speak out loud and clear. Read bin Laden's plans -- shock attack to kill many then lure US into a war and bankrupt them...tha­nks W - plus think of all the money the Rethuglicans made on people dying.

[one4obama]

In what respect, Jeb?

As an ardent Obama support, I will not only have his back, but I will also watch to see that he does not stray from his original campaign promises.

And if he should I will be the first front and center to yell loud for him to get back on track.

However, Jeb, if you are talking about the conservatives who will be nitpicking this man to death (started on Nov. 5!), I agree. They just need to back off and let this man do his job. Then if he falters on his promises, they can certainly begin the attack.

But for them to attack simply to make his term in office impossible.

[rasit]

Though I don't agree with Jeb Bush's assessment that GWB was not treated well by Dems. his advice to Republicans is a wise one, as we have already heard from a few of them even before PE Obama is sworn in...

[ObjectiveRealist]

quote:
Still, the former governor said he would continue to advocate for conservative ideas ...
/quote

The word "conservative" means they should be generally opposed to changes, especially to major changes to both law and custom, and not drastically change policies rapidly, even the previous Presidents' policies even when they disagree with their principles. To be "conservative" would require that even changes toward your way of doing things, must be implemented gradually. A *practical* conservative would accept the necessity of some changes but still tend to be skeptical of any drastic changes.

A true conservative prefers to uphold the centuries-old custom that sovereign nations are not to be invaded, and has an extremely high standard of proof before supporting any change to that custom. An honest conservative is loath to support such changes as lowering the standards for warrantless wiretapping, torture, rendition, made-up categorization of soldiers as "enemy combatants" based on the fatuous reasoning that they lack uniforms, privatization of New Orleans public schools under the radar after Katrina, and outsourcing military work to Blackwater mercenaries. The haste to do all those un-Constitutional things is not based on reluctance to change in general and thus are not conservative. They are all policies of cowardice.

[Kiba]

Jeb must be savvy enough to recognize that it's politically damaging to keep attacking an incoming President with very, very high approval ratings, and one that most Americans want to see succeed in dealing with all the disasters created by the previous administration.

Dubya earned all the outrage and derision pointed in his direction.

[BrettnCalgary]

If the repugs had the courage of their convictions and believed Obama and the democrats were incompetent and foolish, and that their policies would be as unproductive as they say they will be, they would shut up and give him the rope to hang himself. Lack of opposition and criticism definitely gave Bush the rope he needed to hang his regime.

[Dunworkin]

Jeb maybe realizes the closer you are to the skunk the greater the stink.

[alabaman]

Jeb, along with his father, never really had the meaness and partisanship of George W.

[Emlyn]

No, George takes after his momma!

[FaaLaveLave]

Get real. Lil jebbie is nothing but a self-centered crook exactly like the other two. Momma did not oberate in a vacuum.

[zendem1]

Jebbie is actually meaner than all of them. He hides it well, but he's ruthless like Seahag. His kids are all dirtbags too.

[tedmore123]

The Bush's all live in a very insolated, isolated world apparently. Free from worry, doubt or guilt.

[rejoiceinit]

Solet's be clear Jeb, is that whole setting up a "shadow government" thing still a go?

[GregorZap]

It is breathtaking to realize that Jeb still cannot grasp how destructive his brother's action and inaction were for this country. I am amazed.

[athenalong]

SUFFERED? IS HE -SERIOUS-?!?!?!

"The opposition should be about ideas, and not what my brother suffered through in the last eight years," he said. "I don't wish that on President Obama."

He is presenting this like his arse hole brother was afflicted with some debilitating ailment that has no cure and was thrust upon him with no warning.

To say that he has been 'suffering' is totally and wholly laughable.

[lotechgma]

GWB is "suffering" from inaccountability!