Jeb Bush may have been a spectacular governor; I don’t really know. So far as I can tell, he’s trying to play the Jon Huntsman of the 2016 election, with an “I’m better than all of you because I can Speak Truth to Power,” even though, in this case, the Truth is “you’re all a bunch of idiots” and the “Power” is the grassroots conservative Republican. But that doesn’t really matter.
The very fact that Jeb Bush’s brother and father have been president disqualifies him.
Oh, sure, it’s not in the constiutition. But it might as well be. It’s a danger to our democracy. It puts us in the third world category of countries where power is passed on through political dynasties. For Bush to contemplate this further speaks to the power concentrated in a small, wealthy donor base, and speaks to his disregard for ordinary Americans and the long-term well-being of the country.
Is it unfair? It’s just as fair or unfair as the restriction that the president must be a natural-born citizen. Back when Schwarzenegger was governor of California and everyone was all exited about him, there was talk that maybe we should get rid of this prohibition. But even if Jeb Bush were beloved by everyone, to elevate one man, and say, “this man is the one man who we sorely need, who has the answers to everything, and no one else will do,” is just as mistaken on the Republican side as the Democrats were in elevating Obama to such near-Godlike status. And here the need to stay clear of political dynasties outweighs anything Jeb Bush might bring to the table.
Mr. Bush: use your talents elsewhere. Be an advisor, supporter, fundraiser, donor to the candidate of your choice. Rally your supporters around the causes you support. But President? No. Sorry. That’s closed to you. Have the good grace to accept it.
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