Jeb Bush and America's addiction to dynasties

[Amerigo Vespucci]

Tuesday, Feb 1, 2011 13:43 ET
War Room
Jeb Bush and America's addiction to dynasties
By Steve Kornacki



http://www.salon.com/news/jeb_bush/index.html?story=/politics/war_room/2011/02/01/jeb_bush_president

When it comes to politics, Americans sure seem to like familiar faces and names. There have been 15 presidential elections since 1952, and in all but two -- 1964 and 2008 -- the Republican ticket has included someone named "Nixon," "Dole," or "Bush." And while there's been a little more variety on the Democratic side, it may be mainly the result of tragedy: How many more national tickets would have featured a Kennedy if not for two assassinations and Chappaquiddick?

For a brief moment in the 2008 campaign, it seemed we might be on the verge of something of a post-dynastic era, with Democrats spurning Hillary Clinton in favor of a first-term senator who had been in the Illinois state Legislature just four years earlier, and with the Bush family name in disrepute thanks to George W.'s misadventures. But that was probably an illusion, something we were reminded of earlier this week, when Jeb Bush dropped yet another hint that he sees a White House run in his future.

"If I ran for office, I would be a proud younger brother of George W. Bush and a proud son of George H.W. Bush," the former Florida governor said in Nevada on Monday. As he has done before, Bush ruled out running for president next year, but left the door wide open for 2016.

He probably can afford to wait. As I've written before, despite the sour economy, the 2012 GOP nomination may not look that appealing to ambitious Republicans, especially with the example of Bill Clinton's post-1994 comeback still relatively fresh in their minds. So from Bush's standpoint, why not take a chance that the nomination will be open in '16, when he'll be 63 -- and when the taint from his brother will be less pronounced (if there's even any taint left)?

[rfranklin]

1. I'll bet he can lick that taint!

Freakin' assholes!