No Hillary, No Bush, No Problem

Michael Barone applies his vast historical and political knowledge to an interesting subject: political dynasties. Specifically, how many people would vote for Hillary Clinton (or John Ellis Bush) because they liked her husband (brother)? How many would vote against her (him)? And would anyone give half a damn about either of them if they were Hillary Smith or John E. Johnson?

(The "Jeb for president" idea has never made any sense to me. In trial heats, Jeb dramatically underperforms other Republicans with his same level of name recognition, like McCain and Giuliani. He reguarly underpolls Hillary by 10 points or so.)

Comments

[Clean Hands]

Based on their relative records, one would think that most people might run away screaming from either of those two losers.

However, to answer the question of whether or not dynasties appear in American politics, need we look any further than the Kennedy clan? Honestly. If it'd been Teddy Jones, he'd still be in jail for killing that girl.

[Pro Libertate]

Except for a couple of matters (Schiavo, for instance), I think Bush has been a very good governor. If I could switch him for George in the 2000 election, I surely would. HOWEVER, I think we can find someone with a name other than Bush or Clinton to run for office. We've got 300 million people in this country, surely the large percentage of them that are eligible to run could supply a candidate or two.

Now if a Washington, Jefferson, or Madison wants to run, that's a different matter 🙂

[George]

"someone with a name other than Bush or Clinton"

Funk you.

[Clean Hands]

I had thought that Jeb might not be a bad guy until the whole Schiavo episode. Never mind what his position in the matter might have been - I understand that it's a highly-charged topic, and he had to at least pander to his base.

However, when he (and the US Congress, and his bro) decided that the rule of law wasn't good enough to ensure the "right" outcome, and tried to do all sorts of end-runs around the legal process, I got pretty thoroughly disgusted with the lot of them. (Well, more so than before.) (Which, in the case of Congress, ain't saying much.)

[Pro Libertate]

Yeah, the Schiavo thing really disappointed me. Still, Jeb Bush has been a pretty decent small(er)-government governor, pushing for privatization of many services and fighting some stupid laws and "constitutional" amendments. Not to mention fighting the good fight on vouchers. I'd prefer someone with a perfect record, but compared to most politicians, I think he's fairly decent.

We'll miss him when we get Crist, Gallagher, or someone else who thinks he's entitled to the office, but who really isn't well suited for the role.

[joshua corning]

Honestly. If it'd been Teddy Jones, he'd still be in jail for killing that girl.

wait a minute. Does he still have the money but not the name? If so I am not so sure he would be in jail.

Call me paranoid but a multi-millionare democrat in masachusents going to jail just seems a little unlikly to me

[Paul]

Does President Bush have family members that have been in the news? Hmm.

[Ruthless KY Jally]

Hillary's bush is thinning?
What else is new?
Am I on topic here?

[The Real Bill]

Ruthless,

You write some of the oddest things. Your posts are much like my father's e-mails in tone and syntax--occasionally inscrutable. He's 63. Does that mean anything to you?

[Kahn]

I think Bush has been a very good governor. If I could switch him for George in the 2000 election, I surely would.

Yeah, but D.C. tends to warp the best intentions, far as I can tell. Who knows what kind of monster he'd become if he landed in the White House.

[aaron]

I don't know much about JEB, but I wouldn't mind seeing their cousin, John Ellis, run for an office.

[IAN]

FW: Ahmadinejad's Letter to Bush -- "Dialogue among theologies"

http://informationclearinghouse.info/article12984.htm

[IAN]

FW: Ahmadinejad's Letter to Bush -- "Dialogue among theologies"

http://informationclearinghouse.info/article12984.htm

[independent worm]

how many people would vote for Hillary Clinton (or John Ellis Bush) because they liked her husband (brother)

The answer is: the majority. Or at least, a plurality. Were that not true, these relatives would not be elected, since a marjority or plurality of votes is required to win election. The fact they won at all tells you at least that much about how many vote in this manner.

The lowest level to which this fact was manipulated was in 2000. The Republicans used the same fucking bumper stickers in 2000 that they did for daddy in 88 -- the navy blue with Bush tilted to the right. The whole campaign was basically: Elect George Bush -- Again!

[Jersey McJones]

Jeb's not gonna run, folks. Apparently he has some dirt under the rug.

JMJ

[Ruthless]

The Real Bill,
Are you Scots-Irish?

[Randolph Carter]

Pro Libertate,

How about Wheezy Jefferson? Movin' on up to the White House!

[The Real Bill]

Ruthless,

My dad has quite a bit of the ole Irish, but I only have half as much. Mom's Swede, German, and English.

[Pro Libertate]

Randolph Carter, sure, she'd be good. Or Washington from Welcome Back Kotter.

I don't think Jeb has any particular skeletons in his closet, beyond anything that's already known. There's no evidence that he was the party hound his brother was, for instance. Scandalous dirt doesn't stay under wraps when it involves a sitting governor. I think he's perfectly aware that even Bush loyalists would have a big problem voting for yet another Bush family member. Now I suppose he might try to run at some later date, but I, for one, am not voting for any dynasties. Unless they start with me, that is 🙂