The Bush library celebration has ushered in an unusual media event. George W. Bush is actually being painted in kinder, gentler tones by the very same liberal media which attacked or ridiculed his every breath while he was president. What's going on?
Well, it must have occurred to them that a public still sour on Bush would not be overly receptive for their chosen republican presidential candidate in 2016, none other than his brother Jeb. Every since little brother Georgie jumped the que and ran for president in 2000 instead of letting Jeb take "his" turn, poor Jeb has been sort of wandering in the wasteland, trying to stay relevant. For a while it appeared the catastrophe that was the George Bush administration had sunk Jeb. Poisoned chalice and all that, not to speak of daddy Bush's disastrous yet mercifully short-live time in office. Read my lips, etc.
Two things have merged to alter the landscape for Jeb and clear the way for him to claim his birthright. One, the republican establishment has convinced itself that they will never win another election unless they can suck up to hispanic voters. Jeb is clearly the man for that job. The Bushes have always pushed open borders and amnesty, and Jeb took it to the next logical step by marrying a mexican woman. He can even speak passable spanish, which puts him at least two languages ahead of George.
Two, the media can see that Jeb is by far the most moderate of the plausible candidates, at least now that Chris Christie has self-destructed. Ted Cruz, Rand Paul, Jon Hunstman, Bobby Jindahl, even Marco Rubio, are all far to the right of Jeb.
Plus, there is the irresistable media allure of another Clinton versus Bush matchup.
Republican primary voters ceded the selection of their candidate to the media the last two elections, and the media did its part by picking the consensus "most electable" candidate. We got two guys who were suitably deferential to the media and their opponent, and who gave every outward appearnace that they were not terribly interested in winning. They just wanted to make a good show of it and lose with dignity and class.
Shall we go for three in a row?
Well, it must have occurred to them that a public still sour on Bush would not be overly receptive for their chosen republican presidential candidate in 2016, none other than his brother Jeb. Every since little brother Georgie jumped the que and ran for president in 2000 instead of letting Jeb take "his" turn, poor Jeb has been sort of wandering in the wasteland, trying to stay relevant. For a while it appeared the catastrophe that was the George Bush administration had sunk Jeb. Poisoned chalice and all that, not to speak of daddy Bush's disastrous yet mercifully short-live time in office. Read my lips, etc.
Two things have merged to alter the landscape for Jeb and clear the way for him to claim his birthright. One, the republican establishment has convinced itself that they will never win another election unless they can suck up to hispanic voters. Jeb is clearly the man for that job. The Bushes have always pushed open borders and amnesty, and Jeb took it to the next logical step by marrying a mexican woman. He can even speak passable spanish, which puts him at least two languages ahead of George.
Two, the media can see that Jeb is by far the most moderate of the plausible candidates, at least now that Chris Christie has self-destructed. Ted Cruz, Rand Paul, Jon Hunstman, Bobby Jindahl, even Marco Rubio, are all far to the right of Jeb.
Plus, there is the irresistable media allure of another Clinton versus Bush matchup.
Republican primary voters ceded the selection of their candidate to the media the last two elections, and the media did its part by picking the consensus "most electable" candidate. We got two guys who were suitably deferential to the media and their opponent, and who gave every outward appearnace that they were not terribly interested in winning. They just wanted to make a good show of it and lose with dignity and class.
Shall we go for three in a row?
