June 15, 2015

"He really cares about us... He doesn't do it for himself. He does it because he's a true servant."



The Jeb video, released yesterday. Today, Jeb gave his announcement speech. Here, watch it with me:

ADDED: Having watched the whole speech — transcript here — I'll just pick out the 4 lines that jumped out at me:

1. "It comes down to a choice between the Little Sisters and Big Brother, and I’m going with the Sisters."

2. "But we don’t need a glorified tourist to go to Havana in support of a failed Cuba. We need an American president to go to Havana in solidarity with a free Cuban people, and I am ready to be that president."

3. "Whatever else I might or might not have going for me, I’ve got the quiet joy of a man who can say that the most wonderful friend he has in the world is his own wife."

4. "And not a one of us deserves the job by right of resume, party, seniority, family, or family narrative. It’s nobody’s turn. It’s everybody’s test, and it’s wide open – exactly as a contest for president should be."

57 comments:

Skyler said...

There should be someone following him around everywhere carrying a crown with the family name on it.

tim maguire said...

Was he reading The Pet Goat?

MayBee said...

I really do like Jeb and think he would be a really good President. I'm not all excited about him, though

JackWayne said...

So, it's just like a convention with an hour's worth of lead-in testimonials. Followed by someone who uses a Baptist preacher's voice patterns. Ha! Vote for this guy at your peril.

Paddy O said...

"He does it because he's a true servant."

In that case, I'd like a bath drawn, and the evening paper placed by my chair for me to peruse afterwards, with a brandy served at 9pm. I may be a bit peckish later, so would also like a roast beef sandwich prepared, just in case. There's a good man.

clint said...

"MayBee said...
I really do like Jeb and think he would be a really good President. I'm not all excited about him, though"

This exactly.

He probably would have been a better President than his brother sixteen years ago. But he's been out of office for seven or eight years. I'd be significantly more excited about Jeb Bush if he'd run against Bill Nelson in 2012, and gotten the GOP one more seat in the Senate. Or in 2010.

Tank said...

I don't like him already.

mezzrow said...

clint nails it for this Florida Republican.

What he said. That said, Jeb was a very good governor.

Bay Area Guy said...

I am having real problems with his logo, "Jeb!"

I like Jeb, and respect his service as Governor, but I don't want Jeb!

One of the many talented, comically gifted commentators here, when discussing the Democratic front-runner, always writes "Hillary!" which I find amusing.

And, now, we have "Jeb!" and "Hillary!"

I object.

AlbertAnonymous said...

I heard multiple news reports this morning mention that his logo/brand "Jeb!" made no reference to his last name Bush (as if that was somehow deceitful or misleading). Definitely intended as negative commentary by the various reporters.

Hadn't heard a peep about Hillary's logo/brand making no reference to HER last name Clinton. In fact, hers is simply an initial "H" (as if she doesn't even want to call attention to her FIRST name either).

This is going to be a loooooong season of the media playing up its darling H and hating on its piƱata Jeb.

David Begley said...

How many non-Catholics understand the reference to the Little Sisters of the Poor?

He is running for Preident of the United States; not President of Florida.

Jeb needs new speech writers if those are the four best lines.

traditionalguy said...

JEB wants it to be equal for all candidates. So he is returning his Family's connections multi millions in donor money in the morning....what , you mean he doesn't mean what he said about his Money privilege at all???

Left Bank of the Charles said...

Jeb in shorts, from his campaign website.

MathMom said...

Hurricane Katrina was blamed on Jeb!'s brother, even though it was an act of God. Because it hit a Democrat-controlled state, and a "chocolate" city, the incompetence of both the governor and the mayor had to be hidden, so W was the scapegoat.

Jeb! ably handled hits by (if memory serves) 4 hurricanes in a single season, and received no credit whatsoever for his competence.

I thought then that Jeb! would be a good chief executive.

But then he gave Hillary! some sort of award, and he has that "everyone is an American, some of them just haven't made it here with their TB and polio yet" immigration viewpoint, and he supports Common Core.

So, until he has electroconvulsive therapy to disabuse him of those foibles, I cannot support him. If it comes down to Hillary! and Jeb!, I will vote for Jeb! With exclamation points.

paminwi said...

Mr. Begley: if you paid attention to all the issues surrounding Obamacare you have heard about the Little Sisters of the Poor. And oh yeah, I am Lutheran.

Sebastian said...

"Jeb was a very good governor."

Used to count for something. But some people prefer a candidate that gets them "excited."

"he has that "everyone is an American, some of them just haven't made it here with their TB and polio yet" immigration viewpoint, and he supports Common Core"

CC will be a non-issue and may attract some white soccer moms.

Immigration is his Achilles heel in the GOP. Big hurdle in the primary, in addition to the name of course. Amnesty aside, he actually has ideas for reform of a crazy immigration system. He co-wrote a book about it, trying to stake out the "middle ground." I think he does occupy that middle ground -- which is to the left of the GOP but would work well in the general. Regardless of content (I disagree with him on some basics), he seems way ahead of any other candidate in terms of thinking it through. (Does Walker actually know the main provisions of current immigration law?)

etbass said...

I don't feel a lot of enthusiasm about Bush except that I think he can beat Clinton and I'm not sure anyone else can. He has equal name recognition and I think he is thought of as a good person. Many people do not think Clinton is a good person. He will have the appeal of a decent experienced person who has actually been in an executive government job. He will be seen as someone who can actually be a president and restore honor, decency and respect to America. Don't think Hil can fill those shoes.

rhhardin said...

Maybe campaigns would be better if women didn't vote.

Joe Biden, America's Putin said...

He's in it to win it for Hillary.

Joe said...

His mother was right; we don't need any more Bush's in office. No more Clinton's either. How about a constitutional amendment banning Spouses, Parents, Children, Siblings, Aunts, Uncles and Cousins from running for any specific office held by a person? (Yeah, I have no patience for Rand Paul either.)

lemondog said...

Effective crowd diversity. He may have been the exception white guy.

Toni Jennings resembles Barbara Bush

Will Cinco de Mayo become a national holiday?

Cruz and Rubio will need to brush up on their Spanish.

Florida Comes In 28th On State Education System Ranking

He might get elected just by dint of the massive number of Bush family votes.

Scott said...

Making a difference,
or faking a difference?

Bay Area Guy said...

I will vote for Jeb! if he wins the nomination, because it's more important to encourage a Hillary! loss, than to prevent a Jeb! win.

However, I am hoping that someone other than Jeb! wins the nomination. I do like the idea of a Walker/Rubio ticket or vice versa.

Titus said...

Other pubes just need to show the Bush compound in Maine-he will be toast.

And his family boats to Ogunquit for brunch-I mean how gay and Northeastern!

Joe Biden, America's Putin said...

Trump is Perot
Bush is Bush
Clinton is a corrupt pube.

MathMom said...

Carly Fiorina is showing backbone. She's going after Hillary! like Hillary! should be gone after. Not gonna count out Carly.

Kirby Olson said...

He's perfect. After the announcement on CNN all these Hispanics called in their support. I liked that he spoke Spanish for thirty seconds. He is a true multicultural, unlike all the monoglot fakes parading around over the last eight years.

Bob Ellison said...

The first was Lamar!

madAsHell said...

A lot of brown faces in the background.

Funny! Speaking Spanish will sink Hillary!!

Bay Area Guy said...

If he wanted to self-identify as Hispanic, he could be iJeb!

Phil 314 said...

He has a key qualification,

former governor

Hagar said...

He is supposed to have been a very good governor (and quite conservative) in Florida and maybe they should tell us more about that.

Right now I am wondering if he knows how to run for office.

dwick said...

How many non-Catholics understand the reference to the Little Sisters of the Poor?

Well, Ohio State football fans certainly understand...

“...I don’t know enough about the Xs and Os of college football,” said then-Ohio State president Gee in November of 2010, when asked about teams like Boise State and, yes, TCU being a player in the BCS racket. “I do know, having been both a Southeastern Conference president and a Big Ten president, that it’s like murderer’s row every week for these schools. We do not play the Little Sisters of the Poor. We play very fine schools on any given day. So I think until a university runs through that gauntlet that there’s some reason to believe that they not be the best teams to (be) in the big ballgame.”

http://collegefootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2014/10/31/gordon-gee-continues-to-atone-for-sisters-of-the-poor-blast-at-tcu/

Quaestor said...

"It comes down to a choice between the Little Sisters and Big Brother, and I’m going with the Sisters."

False dilemma, no one, not ever, had to make such a choice. Where is it written in stone that a welfare state cannot also be a totalitarian state? In fact these things, Little Sisters and Big Brother, almost always go hand in hand. Big Brother relies on the Little Sisters to keep the proles in check.

If Jeb Bush gets the nomination Quaestor will be among the unmotivated voters. I'll mark my ballot "Meh."

Shootist said...

Nixon in '16
Tan, fit and ready to run

dwick said...

"And not a one of us deserves the job by right of resume, party, seniority, family, or family narrative. It’s nobody’s turn. It’s everybody’s test, and it’s wide open – exactly as a contest for president should be."

eh... I guess the media hasn't forwarded the memo to Jeb yet-

Jim Gust said...

News flash. Jeb! is not going to win a single Republican primary. Money isn't everything. The base is not going to be tempted by another RINO.

The MSM is building up Jeb! because he'll be the easiest for Hillary! to beat.

traditionalguy said...

The man who gave it up for a Mexican Catholc wife and converted to The Church himself will be a fit with the good man government of the World his Pope is supporting that wants Bush and his Amrricans to give it up again for Mother Earth blessed by the government of the Bishop of Rome.

These are interesting times.

At least all Clintons want is American power to convert to Clinton loot. They are not pretending to be Good Saints loving nature that needs a World Dictatorship to protect it.

Skeptical Voter said...

You know I'm a lapsed Methodist--and I understand the Little Sisters of the Poor reference (think Obamacare). Jeb Bush, like his brother and his father, is a mixed bag. But unlike Shrillary,he's not simply an "old bag".

He seemingly deviates from GOP orthodoxy on a number of issues. But I think he's an honest straight up guy who says what he means, and means what he says. And he's been governor of a big state and handled some big problems. See also Governors (or ex Governors) John Kasich, Bobby Jindal, Scott Walker, Rick Perry, and Chris Christie (although I'll personally hold my nose on that last name).

Contrast those choices with Shrillary, Bernie Sanders, Lincoln Chafee (who'll give the world a "metricated USA") and Fauxcahontas from Massachusetts.

I don't know how it will all shake out for the general election in November 2016, but I'm willing to bet that the Republicans will have sorted through more meaningful choices than the Democrats.

Jason said...

I'd happily pull a lever for Jeb. To hell with the haters.

He's a damn good man, and was an excellent, capable administrator as Governor. You notice Florida's not a basket case after hurricanes like other states. Jeb could make sound and timely decisions.

There's no bigger RINO than a Republican who stays home rather than vote for the GOP nominee.

I'll never forgive those 3 million fucks who stayed home rather than turn out for Romney.

Alex said...

What a phony. Bring on Scotty!

Alex said...

Walker/Martinez 2016 in a landslide...

chickelit said...

Jeb Bush's problem is his GOP faction's contempt for the Tea Party--full stop. Jeb Bush may as well be Rachel Dolezal for all I know about him. That goes for his brother George* too.

_______________
*OK, that just gave me the idea to voice Jeb Bush as Liberace with special emphasis on his "brother George." Stay tuned!

Oso Negro said...

Cannot....vote....for another....Establishment Squish. Just can't do it. Wouldn't be prudent.

averagejoe said...

The GOP would be suicidal to nominate this jagoff. He was a governor- so what. Romney was a governor, of ever-liberal Massachusetts no less. Didn't make a damn difference- in fact, I would gather that most voters had no idea that Romney was governor, just that he was instrumental in passing Obamacare in Massachusetts before Obama was around. The democrat party media has not been subjugated or restrained at all. You think George W Bush's approval rating has improved since he left office 7 years ago? Just wait until Jeb Bush runs for president. We'll hear all over again about Blood-for-Oil, about 100 million innocent Iraqis killed in an illegal war, about the second Great Depression caused by Bush's policies, about the Great Recession of the early '90's caused by G.H.W.Bush which was only ended when Clinton became president! C'mon, people. Jeb might be a nice guy, he might have been a good governor, but he's dead-man-walking in any national election. Just look at how the media is covering and covering for Hillary now- after Benghazi and deleted email scandal, and selling Russia American uranium as Secretary of State, and the Corrupt Bill and Hill Foundation and the 100's of millions of dollars and the foreign "donations" and charging schools a quarter of a million dollars for a speech- Yet these fifth column fourth-estaters still sell Hillary as The People's candidate, and the people swallow it. I believe that the people don't like Hillary, and they don't want Hillary, but the only way they'll accept Hillary is if the other option is another ChimpyMcHitlerBoooooosh! And that's how it will play out when the LIV electorate goes to the polls in 2016 and looks at the candidates and sees CLINTON or BUSH- They'll say: Clinton, meh. Bush-O NOOOO! I'd guess that the only way Hillary can win is if the republicans nominate Jeb, or Donald Trump. Sheeeit, I'd endorse Romney again before I put this guy as the standard bearer...

averagejoe said...

Oso Negro said...
...Wouldn't be prudent.

6/16/15, 1:10 AM

LOL! Read my lips- No new Bushes!

Anonymous said...

"And not a one of us deserves the job by right of resume, party, seniority, family, or family narrative"

He didn't mention vagina.

Anonymous said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Paco WovƩ said...

I wonder how many speeches Columba will give in support of her husband's campaign.

ndspinelli said...

Jeb has lost a lotta weight for the campaign. All candidates are trim or have lost weight except for the fat lesbian. She's still strapping on the feed bag.

ndspinelli said...

She must weigh more than Bubba now.

Rick said...

"It comes down to a choice between the Little Sisters and Big Brother, and I’m going with the Sisters."

I don't like Jeb much but I like this line. It makes the obvious point tying HC to big government, but it also slights her appeal to women by showing he's more aligned with a traditionally female approach than she is.

Known Unknown said...

Walker/Martinez 2016 in a landslide...

I think Martinez might be the most obvious VP choice available ...

Known Unknown said...

Carly Fiorina is showing backbone. She's going after Hillary! like Hillary! should be gone after. Not gonna count out Carly.

Carly doesn't have a chance in California.


Oops. Hell. I meant Hell.

Known Unknown said...

And his family boats to Ogunquit for brunch-I mean how gay and Northeastern!

Maybe he can be our first gay President. I mean, besides Lincoln.

Peter said...

Jeb Bush: "I'm absolutely the humblest public servant ever!"

Brando said...

I like his strategy--keep his aim directed at Hillary, demonstrate you are well suited to winning the general. I think a lot of GOP voters would prefer almost any of their candidates over Hillary.

Also, if he can replicate his brother's 2004 numbers with Hispanics, the election is won.

I still find a lot to like about Rubio, Kasich and some of the others, but I'd have no problem voting for Bush. I think he'd make a better president than his brother.