10:54AM
Clinton v Bush (again!)
Thursday, April 11, 2013 at 10:54AM 
Story in NYT explores the obvious dynamics of the Dem Party that I hear from everyone in that camp: it's Hillary and nobody else even close for 2016 election - at this time.
When I spoke at a GOP post-election gathering late last year, I heard the same about them: it's Jeb Bush and nobody else even close for the 2016 election - at this time.
That'll make it 9 elections out of 10 that we've had either a Bush or Clinton or both running - since 1980.
Remember that when America complains about other countries not being able to come up with anybody but legacy types.
The elections:
- 1980: George H.W. Bush runs for president and is on GOP national ticket as Veep.
- 1984: Bush repeats as Veep
- 1988: Bush wins as President
- 1992: Bush loses to Bill Clinton
- 1996: Clinton repeats as President
- 2000: George W. Bush wins as President (sort of)
- 2004: Bush repeats as President
- 2008: Hillary Clinton runs for President and almost wins Dem nomination
- 2012: the weird election of no Bushes and no Clintons (I believe there was massive solar eclipse)
- 2016: Jeb Bush runs for the GOP and Hillary runs for the Dems
An age of political dynasties.
Reader Comments (4)
2020: Hilary reelected
2024: Chelsea Clinton versus George P. Bush
2028: Rematch: Stevenvson versus Eisenhouer (I meant GPB versus CC)
When does Michelle Obama run?
It often seems that the early frontrunners fail to gain their party's nomination. Maybe some surprises will arise to at least offer choices. I know there are a couple of Wisconsin republicans who seem to be "sticking their toes in the water".
Looks like the political system in the USA becomes a semimonarchistic dynasty.Denverclan versus Dallas.The Kims in Northkorea may like this.
I don't see the Republican Party as it stands today lining up behind Jeb Bush, he's far too moderate, reasonable and sane, plus he has another quality they seemingly avoid like the plague these days, competency. Chris Christie seems more likely, but it seems doubtful that he could get the support of the hard-core Republican base necessary to make it through a GOP primary.
As a Democrat I was certainly not happy with his political positions at the time he was governor, but of the many criticisms I could lay on his gubernatorial terms and administration, he was at least a competent leader. Someone who could think on his feet and seemingly make decisions for himself, at the very least he kept the state running smoothly with reasonable efficiency. In these respects he was head and shoulders above his brother… though admittedly that's not saying much.
If the Republican Party had chosen Jeb to run in 2000, and he had become president, I believe global history over the last 13 years would've been vastly different. Perhaps 9/11 is prevented, probably no 10 year Afghan conflict and certainly no invasion of Iraq. Maybe we even avoid the global economic collapse, but that's doubtful since we started down that road with Nixon and Reagan, and Bill Clinton sealed the deal. Without Dubya it seems unlikely Barack Obama would sit in the White House today, perhaps the current resident would be a Republican.
Just speculation perhaps, but an indicator of how differently I gauge the competence level of the Bush brothers. George W. was an unmitigated disaster for the Republican Party, and it's been downhill ever since. One would've hardly thought that was possible.
I don't know Jeb personally, but I did grow up in Florida and spend most of my life there, including his terms as governor. When he was running for governor I did have occasion to get up close and personal with him and his family.
While working for a security company I had the misfortune of witnessing and being involved in an altercation with Jeb's wife, Colombia Bush, at the Jackie Gleason Theater on Miami Beach in the 90s when Jeb was running for governor for the first time. I witnessed all of this directly, and it was not pretty.
Most of the work I did in the security business had either an an implied understanding of client confidentiality or a contractual obligation of confidentiality, but on this particular occasion I wasn't employed in that capacity, so I feel free to describe the incident.
This occurred at a performance of the Ballet Folklórico de México. Failing to enter the theater before the performance started, though they'd been there for some time socializing with the crowd, Jeb Bush his family and friends were told by staff members at the theater doors to the stage's far left, that they would have to wait until the first act ended along with everyone else who wasn't seated before the performance started. This is standard etiquette for ballet performances.
Colombia Bush was not happy about being prevented from entering the theater, and insisted that the ushers open the doors for her and her family. The theater manager was contacted by radio and informed of the situation, he instructed the ushers to keep the doors closed until the first act was concluded. Mrs. Bush would not accept this and began to become irate and continued to insist, at one point she actually rushed the doors and attempted to bull her way past the ushers who had to physically hold the doors closed.
Mrs. Bush turning to her husband and friends continued to express her outrage at being denied entry. Jeb Bush approach the ushers and spoke with them, and was told that the doors were to remain closed by order of the theater manager, who was acting on instructions from the performers themselves. He seem to accept this, if reluctantly, and stood back from the doors with the rest of his party. Mrs. Bush did not accept this explanation and grew ever more angry and loud as the two ushers standing in front of the door handles refused to budge. Mrs. Bush repeatedly approach the two ushers and became increasingly confrontational and insulting. When that seem to get her nowhere she again tried to bull her way past the ushers coming into physical contact with them as she tried to force the doors open. Being again unsuccessful Mrs. Bush became infuriated and commenced to scream at the top of her lungs and began pounding violently on the doors. When the theater staff move to stop her, she tried to slip past them and force the doors open for a third time.
While this scene was playing itself out, the rest of the Bush party, including the Bush children, moved back and took no part. Jeb Bush stood with his head down turned away saying nothing. Mrs. Bush continued to scream and tried to pound on the double doors, while the staff interceded to prevent her from doing so and made attempts to calm her down. Security staff within the theater came to the doors wanting to know what was happening, and informed the ushers that the performance was being disturbed. At that point Jeb Bush left the scene, and returned not long after with the theater manager, who told the staff to open the doors and allow the Bush party to enter. Others who had been waiting to enter made no effort to do so.
It was a very ugly and embarrassing incident for all concerned, and I lost a lot of respect for Jeb Bush, who chose to do nothing to intercede in an escalating situation or even make an attempt to control his wife's behavior. In fact he seemed to be rendered impotent in the face of his wife's tirade. As for Columbia Bush, I certainly wouldn't want to see her, or anyone who displayed such intemperate uncontrolled behavior in public, become First Lady of the United States.
Over the years I heard a number of conflicting stories about Colombia Bush's background, the official biographies are pretty thin. I would be interested in seeing her undergo a serious and thorough vetting.
As to Hillary, I've never been particularly impressed with her as a politician. It seems very unlikely that she ever reaches the Senate without the Clinton name. Someone who runs for the office of the presidency should really have to make it on their own merits in my opinion. Perhaps there was a time when the only way a woman could get a shot at such opportunities was if she married the right guy. That was certainly one of the few paths for women throughout the 20th century, but we are now in the 21st, and I personally would like to see the first woman president get there on her own political chops.
I would support her in a presidential run, because she's certainly paid her dues, but I really don't know how effective a leader she would be, particularly in the current highly charged partisan political atmosphere in America. Maybe she has the political connections to make it work, but her public persona, needed qualities like charisma and likability which are all-important, perhaps too important today, have never been one of Mrs. Clinton's strong points.
While I might want to see her run to ensure a victory over any Republican challenger, ideally I would prefer someone with out the name Clinton, someone that doesn't have so much history and baggage trailing in their wake.