THE ESTABLISHMENT RUNS HOME
Former Florida governor Jeb Bush is seeking to boost his flagging presidential prospects by bringing his brother – former U.S. president George W. Bush – on the campaign trail.
In fact the pair will be in Greenville, S.C. soon courting early-voters in the Palmetto State’s “First in the South” presidential primary.
Won’t that make for some awkward moments? Sure … but the younger Bush is desperate.
Like Rand Paul trotting out his father Ron Paul (after months of minimizing the familial relationship), Bush is trying to find a spark.
After peaking at 17 percent support back in mid-July, Bush has seen his frontrunner status completely evaporate – and is currently averaging around 8.3 percent support nationally, according to the latest aggregate polling data from Real Clear Politics.
He has to do something … and that “something” is to trot out his brother, who occupied the White House from 2001-2009.
Was George W. Bush a good president? Hell no. In fact we ranked him as the “Worst President Ever” three months before his term ended – although the current occupant of the Oval Office is obviously No. 1 with a bullet now.
And that brings us to the whole point of this exercise: “Dubya” – a.k.a. the “deciderer” who drowned this country in a wave of government debt, welfare statism, crony capitalism and global interventionism – has become a point of contrast to the current president, picking up reactionary popularity based on who he’s not.
In other words, he’s popular now because he’s not Barack Obama, who took all of Bush’s failed policies and put them on steroids (with a healthy dose of social liberalism to boot).
How popular? Back in June, a CNN/ ORC poll (.pdf here) found that 52 percent of Americans viewed “Dubya” favorably compared to 43 percent who viewed him unfavorably. By comparison, when he left office in 2009 less than one-third of Americans approved of Bush’s job performance.
That’s quite an impressive shift … in fact it’s even more impressive considering the 69-year-old ex-president has pretty much stayed out of the news for the past six-and-a-half years. The shift is likely even more pronounced in South Carolina. According to The New York Times, “multiple Republicans who have seen private survey data indicate that (the former president) is broadly popular among potential South Carolina primary voters.”
Let’s not forget something, though: George W. Bush’s failures in office led directly to the Obama presidency.
“Bush’s longest-lasting legacy could end up being the election of Barack Obama, who is currently poised to ride a wave of relentless anti-Bush sentiment all the way to the White House,” we wrote back in 2008.
How did Bush do that? By being “the chief betrayer of fiscal conservatism in the 21st Century, a ‘moderate’ Republican who refused to reign in the big government excesses of his own party. That failure ultimately cost the GOP both of its Congressional majorities as well as the faith of the American taxpayers.”
In other words Bush was just like Newt Gingrich before him … and just like John Boehner after him.
Still, how quickly the more impressionable among us forget. Especially South Carolina “Republicans” (who were dumb enough to chose Gingrich as their presidential nominee four years ago).
That’s where we come in: Reminding them.
Justifiable contempt for Obama should never manifest itself into support for George W. Bush – and by extension his pro-establishment brother – because without George W. Bush there would have been no Obama. And despite his protestations to the contrary, Jeb Bush will do nothing to fundamentally reverse the current trajectory of Washington, D.C.
62 comments
he could let his brother be the elephant in the room or shine the best light on it and move on, good move getting it out of the way early
Idon’t know why Jeb is even bothering with ad buys here. We are not sophisticated enough to despise him. We hate him. And his catamite, mass murdering brother.
Ummm…I don’t think you know what catamite means…..in proper context, it would be used in a sentence like ; “After three years in the White House serving as Obamas catamite, Reggie Love had returned to private employment.”
:
i don’t know, i think he has one
Was Duke U. grad putting a ‘dookie’ up Obama’s ass? :)
“I don’t think you know what catamite means”
No, no, no….here’s how you use it:
“If I wasn’t carrying that catamite have fucked him up the ass.”
WORK AT HOME::Get $97/HOUR…I just purchased themselves a McLaren F1 when I got my check for $19993 this past 4 weeks and just over 17 thousand lass month . this is really the nicest-work Ive had . I began this 10-months ago and straight away started making more than $97… p/h .learn the facts here now
nal……..
???? http://GoogleSuperTechJobsHomeEmploymentMega/get/top… ??????????????????????????????????????????
Classic! So, everything Obama does is Bush’s fault.
Where ya been the last 10 years ?
Please don’t compare Haley and W. Bush.He honored his wedding vows before God.
I didn’t know there was anything before God. Thanks
Say what you want about W. Bush.He was a Christian man that loved this country-unlike the current office holder that is a ‘closet’ Muslim,supports the cause of Radical Islam,seeks the destruction of the public and private institutions that made this country great and most disappointing has a very real disdain for the 50% of this country that didn’t support this evil man.
Worst president in history !
Hands down.
No, Obama wins that title….in spades. Pun intended.
He was a Christian? Did he die?
One thing – $4 gas baby. George gave us $4 gas.
And double digit unemployment, and a$6000 DOW.
YOU BETCHA!!!!!!!!
Figures don’t lie, but liars figure. Check the facts, not the spin:
The Dow first went from 14,000 to 7,000 because of recession. The Fed drove interest rates to near 0% and started printing money in order to prop up the stock market. If you had recovery, you could raise the interest rates or stop printing money without fear. But, the Fed is afraid to do that. Meanwhile, companies and businesses have adjusted to the over-regulation and taxation by reducing the work force.
Unemployment is the % of unemployed in the work force. But, the work force has been steadily shrinking since Obama took office because people gave up looking for work. The actual unemployment is well over 12% and as high as 20%
Private sector GDP is down and that is the real economy — where goods and services are traded.
Consumer confidence shifts like the win. Even in a losing economy, there are sales due to pent up demand.
94 million adults NOT working and 45 million on Food stamps.Gas prices are low because as Obama told Romney we have a ‘weak’ economy.
The Obama economy.
Gas prices are low because the fracking has over supplied the market, and the Saudi’s will not cut production, in an attempt to drive the “frackers’ out.
So KISS MY ASS YOU CLICK COUNT TROLL !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
They’re low because Saudi refuses to reduce production because low prices sabotage Iran’s economy. Nothing to do with frackers and everything to do with balance of power in the mid-East
You’re a lying idiot !
Gas was $1.87 avg. when Obama is declared dictator in Jan of 2009.
Idiot lies.
“… a ‘moderate’ Republican who refused to reign in the big government excesses of his own party. ”
You’re kidding, right? It’s a LONG way from “refused to reign in” to 2 unfunded wars, an unfunded Medicare Part D that gave the farm away to big Pharma, and Bush tax cuts.And these are the same people who whine and snivel about “heaping debt on the back of our grandchildren” You can see the need for all the distractions for the rubes that vote R. If they had to explain shit like that, might be a little tough. Wait, more tax cuts will take care of it. I’m sure of it.
oh come now! we know that was all Clinton’s fault
Bush won the war in Iraq.Muslim Obama had to turn it over to Al Queda and ISIS.Just like he did Yemen,Libya and tried to do in Egypt.
Medicare Part D has been cited a number of times as a plan that “saves money and lives.” One of the secrets to its success is how drug companies, plan sponsors, and pharmacies all negotiate drug prices that eventually find the lowest costs for consumers. This model has been so successful that ten years after its passing, costs were under half of the original estimates. Those enrolled give the program a 92 percent satisfaction rating. Again, this is a government program that actually comes in under budget.
You liberals sure like to lie.
Source of you info? Yes, I’m sure it saves money and lives, well, at least the lives. It saves money over buying the drugs out of pocket at retail prices, of course. But who is paying for that? You and I. So, for the consumer, of course they are satisfied, given the alternatives.
So Flip, if Bush won the war – then why did it fall apart when we left. That’s like saying your mechanic fixed your car, and then when you drive away the wheels fall off. Failure – a GOP trait.
Yeah, but the FAMILY made some HUGE bucks after he let Bin Laden get away, so he could invade Iraq!
That was Clinton at the ‘asprin’ factory.Had him and figured he would be a big donor to the Clinton Mafia Foundation so he let him get away.
lol…what Obama did to appease the terrorists, was take the wheels off before it left the lot.
Iraq didn’t fall apart till Obummer pulled all our troops out. Bush had said they needed to stay there. How long did it take for the USA to come from formation to maturity ? Democracy doesn’t happen over night.
Thanks…
You are welcome.
Excellent comment. He Damn near destroyed the US.
In GOP World, tax cuts for the rich are the “only” policy. Unemployment too high — tax breaks for the rich, trade deficit — tax breaks for the rich, currency overvalued — tax breaks for the rich, revenue shortfalls — tax breaks for the rich. It’s unending.
Clown.Democrat voters don’t pay ANY taxes.You occupy the welfare rolls or you are one of the 94 million adults not working .We give you free food,insurance and housing.Why the fuck would we give you a tax break when you don’t contribute a damn thing???!!!
Your presumption about Democrats (and me) is as perspicacious as your comment is pithy. You expose yourself.
Says a idiot !
I don’t know why are you getting welfare and Medicaid, Big T.
You are an ignorant piece of shit, dwelling in the mythology the Democrat Party uses to control its DUMBASSES…
Idiot
THANK YOU !!! I couldn’t have said it better myself.
You are wrong. They also like budget cuts to any program that doesn’t exclusively benefit the rich.
I’d walk over hot coals to bring W’s leadership back. You may be the BIGGEST Fucking Idiot in history to bash W, after you voted for that Abysmal, American-Hating, Racist Piece of Shit named Obama…
I’d slap the FUCK out of you (figuratively of course) if you ever voiced anything to the contrary, around me…so it may be a good idea to keep your Obama-NAZI sympathies to yourself… and keep your FUCKING America-Hating Mouth SHUT…
Start walking idiot
I’m going to Troll City, Troll City here I come. They got a lot of crazy women there and I……
New contest for all. What % of FITS posts are from troll fucks and Wil operatives (or Wil) who are at best best boring because comments are so predictable?
Hey trolls. I think we’ll just call you all Pee Wee from now on. Your comments are like Pee Wee’s retort, “I know you are but what am I?” THere’s that and well, “why do they call him Pee Wee when he’s 6’0″?”
Jeb! must be desperate. I don’t think the path to the White House is made easier by bringing along George W. Does it work to your advantage to remind voters of your relationship to the worst president since James Buchanan?
I NEVER voted for either Bush.
However, Barbara and Laura are two of the “classiest” women to have ever lived in the White House.
You didn’t vote for Bush. thanks for admitting what an U-American Dumbass you are…
Why would he? Only idiots voted for Bush. And he almost destroyed America, before we could get rid of him.
You’re right, if you define “class” as having a corncob stuck up your ass for the duration and functioning as mommy for the boys
Bashing W is FITSNews at its most ignorant.,
FITS is still Pissed, because W ripped out John McCain’s heart in 2000, when the Liberal-Tarins thought they’d rule, if not for a more-Conservative – and winning – message from W. McCain would have just elected the laughable AlGore…
Bottom line: ‘W’ was a VERY good president. True 4.5% un (full) employment, securing peace and Western dominance in Iraq and the Mid-East, over terror, tax rebates, lower taxes, pride in America, gag-order on Military abortions, defense of Clinton’s DOMA law and racial harmony though prosperity…Opportunity abounded for us…
Only a True Fucking Leftwing Idiot would attack W, especially when you’ve had your mouth around the Obama-inchworm for 7 years, now…you FUCKING Dumbass…did I say that already…
U R A STUPID IDIOT !
I don’t know who you are but you saved me a lot of typing. Thanks.
If you have not figured out who he is by now, that explains a lot.
And: If you have not figured out he is 100 percent RIGHT by now, you are a hopeless fucking idiot…who needs to GTFO of my country, before you finish destroying it, with the Democrat Party.
Says the welfare and medicaid recipient who sits on his ass all day talking to himself and referring to himself in the third person. Big T is a certifiable nut.
I agree with you.
I’ll never vote for Bush3, or another Clinton.
Who is supposedly saying the headline? Seems it works both ways.