Jeb Bush: I Would Govern Like Lyndon Johnson as President

[mystery-ak]

Ok, let me be more specific.
All of the Bushes are good, honorable people and understand government, no issue.
NONE of the Bushes are good at a down in the gutter fight which is what Hellery and the left are going to bring to the table.
JB is going to get eaten alive....

You nailed it...

[bkepley]

Here's the problem as I see it:  I don't think Walker can beat Hillary.  I don't think Trump can beat Hillary.  I don't think Cruz can win the nomination.  I think Rubio might be able to win the nomination and defeat Hillary.  I think Bush can win the nomination and defeat Hillary.  I'm not afraid of Hillary's evil squadron.  I think the press is sick of her stuff, frankly.

But this is now...things can change...candidates improve or drop out.

[EdinVA]

Here's the problem as I see it:  I don't think Walker can beat Hillary.  I don't think Trump can beat Hillary.  I don't think Cruz can win the nomination.  I think Rubio might be able to win the nomination and defeat Hillary.  I think Bush can win the nomination and defeat Hillary.  I'm not afraid of Hillary's evil squadron.  I think the press is sick of her stuff, frankly.

But this is now...things can change...candidates improve or drop out.

But they key is WHY can't they beat hellary?
I see a steady barrage of "republicans want to control your lady parts"...
Republicans want to take away your free s**t....
Republicans hate blacks and hispanics....
Republicans want us to stay involved in a war 10,000 miles away from us....
I fully expect extensive voter fraud and voter intimidation using the black panthers at most if not all polling stations...
and on and on

Republicans will get their heads kicked in unless they are mentally equipped to fight that type of fight, with the exception of Trump, they are not.
Tump is not my "favorite" right now because I am crazy about the guy, he is just the only one that is willing to fight to win.

[olde north church]

They're looking for someone who can win.  Big money isn't often wasted on a loser (not that Bush would definitely win.)

Oh, like Ford, Dole, McCain, Romney?  Those winners?

[olde north church]

Here's the problem as I see it:  I don't think Walker can beat Hillary.  I don't think Trump can beat Hillary.  I don't think Cruz can win the nomination.  I think Rubio might be able to win the nomination and defeat Hillary.  I think Bush can win the nomination and defeat Hillary.  I'm not afraid of Hillary's evil squadron.  I think the press is sick of her stuff, frankly.

But this is now...things can change...candidates improve or drop out.

Bush defeat Hillary?  I don't think Bush could beat Sanders!  I'd ask for you to send me some of what you're smoking but I know it's probably it's probably against the law in my state!

[Lando Lincoln]

Here's the problem as I see it:  I don't think Walker can beat Hillary.  I don't think Trump can beat Hillary.  I don't think Cruz can win the nomination.  I think Rubio might be able to win the nomination and defeat Hillary.  I think Bush can win the nomination and defeat Hillary.  I'm not afraid of Hillary's evil squadron.  I think the press is sick of her stuff, frankly.

But this is now...things can change...candidates improve or drop out.

Good post!  Do I agree 100%?  No.  It is a very good and succinct post nonetheless.

My own "instinct" is that Hillary is very beatable.  She is a flawed candidate and a worse campaigner.  Walker's strength is he stays on message and is largely unflappable.  That said, he can make the inexperienced gaffe and he needs to guard against flip-flopping, even in appearance.  The media will look for any reason to topple this guy.   My view is he is best left in Wisconsin but he can beat Hillary if he gets that gust of wind.  Walker's staying in Wisconsin will continue to drive my relatives batty in any case.  I get immense satisfaction from that alone. 

If I were to put chips on squares of those I think have a shot at the R nomination?  No exploding heads, please!

Today? 

Bush, Rubio and my long shot is Perry.

But, as you say - that can change. 

Look! ---->**I support or endorse no one at this point**<---- Look!

[Lando Lincoln]

These words by Jeb, as they are described in the article, are innocuous and of no value in judging him as a candidate.  Believe him.  Don't believe him.  That's it, really.  Nowhere did he say he supported LBJ's policies.  And this is easily clarified should he feel a need to.  I don't see one.

[bkepley]

Oh, like Ford, Dole, McCain, Romney?  Those winners?

You misunderstand.  Those guys had a chance that none of the other GOP had by big money reasoning.  Big money is non-ideological.

[truth_seeker]

All I'm saying is that is what the big money does which is try to back the right horse.  I suspect Bush will survive this.  Reagan liked to quote Roosevelt all the time and Roosevelt was anathema also to the right maybe even more than LBJ and for most of the same reasons.

Contrary to what you'll hear from "conservatives" now, when Reagan ran, FDR was still widely revered by Americans, from both sides of the political spectrum, and it made complete sense for Reagan to give him his due.

I believe most Americans, when Reagan ran,  were more mentally & politically mature, reasonable, educated in history etc. They had family ties to the Depression and to WWII.

Having said that, I can't imagine what political benefit Jeb could expect from his remarks. LBJ is not FDR, or Reagan.

[bkepley]

Contrary to what you'll hear from "conservatives" now, when Reagan ran, FDR was still widely revered by Americans, from both sides of the political spectrum, and it made complete sense for Reagan to give him his due.

I believe most Americans, when Reagan ran,  were more mentally & politically mature, reasonable, educated in history etc. They had family ties to the Depression and to WWII.

Having said that, I can't imagine what political benefit Jeb could expect from his remarks. LBJ is not FDR, or Reagan.

How old are you and how long politically conservative?  Roosevelt was and still is a despised politician to the right.  There's no use going into all that though but you can look up the new deal, his communist colleagues, supreme court packing, etc.  Compared to FDR LBJ was a small government liberal.

[EdinVA]

How old are you and how long politically conservative?  Roosevelt was and still is a despised politician to the right.  There's no use going into all that though but you can look up the new deal, his communist colleagues, supreme court packing, etc.  Compared to FDR LBJ was a small government liberal.

Well, I never despised FDR...  if it were not for him, WWII would have had a totally different outcome.
He was masterful at keeping the allies together.

Never liked his domestic programs/policies but that is 20/20 hindsight. 
No one had ever had to tackle a depression that severe so there was no history to lean on.
If his programs had not been abused for the last 70+ years, maybe they would have been ok.

[bkepley]

Well, I never despised FDR...  if it were not for him, WWII would have had a totally different outcome.
He was masterful at keeping the allies together.

Never liked his domestic programs/policies but that is 20/20 hindsight. 
No one had ever had to tackle a depression that severe so there was no history to lean on.
If his programs had not been abused for the last 70+ years, maybe they would have been ok.

I like Roosevelt's war leadership too.  Not so crazy about his behavior once he saw we had clearly won.  Much to pro-uncle Joe and pretty much considered the British Empire as the greatest long range threat.

[MACVSOG68]

If the field of republican candidates cannot stand up to Trump without crying, how can you expect them to handle the liberal competition?

I think it was Trump worrying about the Party not being fair to him, causing him to threaten to take his ball and go home.

[libertybele]

I think there is way too much focus on the political race that's over a year away.  I'm more worried about all the other crap; Iran nuke deal, ISIS, attack on gun rights and religious freedom, etc.  Heck at this point, I'm just hoping we make it to the next election.

[truth_seeker]

How old are you and how long politically conservative?  Roosevelt was and still is a despised politician to the right.  There's no use going into all that though but you can look up the new deal, his communist colleagues, supreme court packing, etc.  Compared to FDR LBJ was a small government liberal.

How old are you?

[bkepley]

How old are you?

57 FWIW.

[MACVSOG68]

Good post!  Do I agree 100%?  No.  It is a very good and succinct post nonetheless.

My own "instinct" is that Hillary is very beatable.  She is a flawed candidate and a worse campaigner.  Walker's strength is he stays on message and is largely unflappable.  That said, he can make the inexperienced gaffe and he needs to guard against flip-flopping, even in appearance.  The media will look for any reason to topple this guy.   My view is he is best left in Wisconsin but he can beat Hillary if he gets that gust of wind.  Walker's staying in Wisconsin will continue to drive my relatives batty in any case.  I get immense satisfaction from that alone. 

If I were to put chips on squares of those I think have a shot at the R nomination?  No exploding heads, please!

Today? 

Bush, Rubio and my long shot is Perry.

But, as you say - that can change. 

Look! ---->**I support or endorse no one at this point**<---- Look!

So...who do you endorse at this point...?

Actually at this stage I think your three are probably reasonable, though a lot of odds sites don't have Perry favorably in it yet.  They are mostly followed up by Walker and then Paul.  Interestingly in January 2014, Christie was the oddsmakers' favorite.  But I'd have to say Trump is certainly a wild card regardless of what many think about his...LBJ style.   

[bkepley]

Trump was very reasonable tonight...I think he's in it now to win it.

[truth_seeker]

57 FWIW.

My father and my father-in-law were WWII combat purple heart vets. Republicans later, but they didn't slam their CINC.

My mother's family traces their Republican roots to the abolition days, and they were strongly Republicans during WWII, but nonetheless they respected FDR.

Oh, and I was 16 years old when Goldwater ran, my family supported him. My mother went to the same high school and college as Richard Nixon. I had to wait until age 24 to vote since voting at 18 had not yet passed. I was for Nixon in 1968.

Governor Reagan was a favorite here in California, which didn't take 2nd place to anywhere, as far as "conservatism" in the 60s, 70s, 80s.
Those of us on the political right knew the philosophy well. We witnessed Reagan "sell" his political ideas. We were thrilled when he won, thrilled when his stuff mostly worked well.

You were 6 years old when Goldwater ran, by the way.

[Lando Lincoln]

So...who do you endorse at this point...?

I was hoping someone would ask, MAC!

Why, the Republican of course!   

[Bigun]

My father and my father-in-law were WWII combat purple heart vets. Republicans later, but they didn't slam their CINC.

My mother's family traces their Republican roots to the abolition days, and they were strongly Republicans during WWII, but nonetheless they respected FDR.

Oh, and I was 16 years old when Goldwater ran, my family supported him. My mother went to the same high school and college as Richard Nixon. I had to wait until age 24 to vote since voting at 18 had not yet passed. I was for Nixon in 1968.

Governor Reagan was a favorite here in California, which didn't take 2nd place to anywhere, as far as "conservatism" in the 60s, 70s, 80s.
Those of us on the political right knew the philosophy well. We witnessed Reagan "sell" his political ideas. We were thrilled when he won, thrilled when his stuff mostly worked well.

You were 6 years old when Goldwater ran, by the way.

My mother and father were life long democrats until I ran for office in 1994 as a Republican.

My mother almost had a breakdown in 1960 because the choice was between Kennedy (a Catholic) and Nixon (a republican).

I cried my eyes out when Barry Goldwater lost to LBJ in 64. Don't know why as I was completely politically uninformed at the time but my instincts were fully intact i guess. Three years later I was in Vietnam under LBJ and often wondered (still do) what the outcome of that would have been had the president been Barry Goldwater.

[olde north church]

You misunderstand.  Those guys had a chance that none of the other GOP had by big money reasoning.  Big money is non-ideological.

Check 

[bkepley]

My father and my father-in-law were WWII combat purple heart vets. Republicans later, but they didn't slam their CINC.

My mother's family traces their Republican roots to the abolition days, and they were strongly Republicans during WWII, but nonetheless they respected FDR.

Oh, and I was 16 years old when Goldwater ran, my family supported him. My mother went to the same high school and college as Richard Nixon. I had to wait until age 24 to vote since voting at 18 had not yet passed. I was for Nixon in 1968.

Governor Reagan was a favorite here in California, which didn't take 2nd place to anywhere, as far as "conservatism" in the 60s, 70s, 80s.
Those of us on the political right knew the philosophy well. We witnessed Reagan "sell" his political ideas. We were thrilled when he won, thrilled when his stuff mostly worked well.

You were 6 years old when Goldwater ran, by the way.

And you don't recall that FDR was the most hated of the all by the right wing of the GOP?  I'm sorry but either you are a liar or you need an alzenheimers test.

[DCPatriot]

And you don't recall that FDR was the most hated of the all by the right wing of the GOP?  I'm sorry but either you are a liar or you need an alzenheimers test.

Come on...was THAT necessary?

Or are you upset because you thought you were 16 and not 6?   

[MACVSOG68]

I was hoping someone would ask, MAC!

Why, the Republican of course!   

But of course!