Interview with Jeb Bush

[Toro]

I think George Bush was a disaster as President, certainly the worst of my lifetime. However, I think his brother, Jeb Bush, did a pretty good job as governor here in Florida. Had he not lost the 1994 gubernatorial election, he, not W, probably would have been the Republican nominee in 2000, and I believe the nation would be in better shape today had that occurred.

Here are exerts of an interview in this weekend's WSJ.

What comes through when Mr. Bush is asked about education is how radical his views are. He would toss out the traditional K-to-12 scheme in favor of a credit system, like colleges have.

"It's not based on seat time," he says. "It's whether you accomplished the task. Now we're like GM in its heyday of mass production. We don't have a flourishing education system that's customized. There's a whole world out there that didn't exist 10 years ago, which is online learning. We have the ability today to customize learning so we don't cast young people aside."

This is where Sweden comes in. "The idea that somehow Sweden would be the land of innovation, where private involvement in what was considered a government activity, is quite shocking to us Americans," Mr. Bush says. "But they're way ahead of us. They have a totally voucherized system. The kids come from Baghdad, Somalia -- this is in the tougher part of Stockholm -- and they're learning three languages by the time they finish. . . . there's no reason we can't have that except we're stuck in the old way."

So are Republicans, Mr. Bush believes. But with a few adjustments, the GOP can become a modern reform party. "I don't think there's anything that holds us back," he says. "I think we're actually well positioned to do exactly that." Mr. Bush would stand the party on its head by de-emphasizing Washington and mounting "a real effort to play offense outside of Washington in advancing a reform agenda. I think a respectful, policy-oriented opposition in Washington will be quite effective." But the states are where "being able to change things is easier to do."

This approach "worked in the early 90s," Mr. Bush says. "We had some fantastic governors who were my role models." He mentions his brother when he led Texas, John Engler of Michigan and Tommy Thompson of Wisconsin. "We had an all-star team." He likes the current crop of Republican governors, including Mark Sanford of South Carolina and Haley Barbour of Mississippi.

"Beyond the ideas and all of that," Mr. Bush says the GOP must be a national party. That means "we need to be competitive in California," where the "burden of big-government policies" has produced a $42 billion deficit. "I don't care how big the state is, that's mind-boggling. It's not a tax problem. Don't they have the 'excuse me for living' tax out there? The growth of government spending has been enormous. And a creative, reform-minded candidate on the Republican side" could be elected governor. ...

Mr. Bush commented last fall that "a big-government Republican" is a nonexistent species. What did he mean?

"I think the one common thread throughout all these strains of conservative thinking and Republicanism is limited government. If we don't have that in common, what else do we have? And the next question you'll ask is what do I think of my brother's record. I think circumstances come into play. When you're attacked as a nation it's legitimate to spend resources to deal with huge holes in national security. And so there are times in history when it's important to use the power of government."

Republicans must also clean up their act on immigration, Mr. Bush insists. Last year, he says they "set a tone" that pushed Hispanic voters away. "The tone of the debate reached a point that was very damning to the Republican Party, and the evidence is in. The chest pounders lost."

Mr. Bush supports immigration reform as championed by his brother and John McCain, which would allow illegals already in this country to stay. "Politics has to be about ideas and values and aspirations." he says. "It shouldn't be about anger and preying on people's emotions. You can't lead a mob."...

Mr. Bush has a personal motive for urging Republicans to "avoid personal, partisan attacks" on Mr. Obama, a strategy they've largely followed in Washington. "I would never want Obama to go through what my brother went through. It might be fair that every president gets the same amount of vitriol. But it's not right for our country, it's not going to help us, and it's not going to help Republicans."

Former Florida Governor Jeb Bush on Immigration, School Choice and the Republican Party's Limited-Government Foundation - WSJ.com

 

[WillowTree]

I agree. Jeb was a pretty darn good Govenor. Florida thrived.

 

[elvis]

I think George Bush was a disaster as President, certainly the worst of my lifetime. However, I think his brother, Jeb Bush, did a pretty good job as governor here in Florida. Had he not lost the 1994 gubernatorial election, he, not W, probably would have been the Republican nominee in 2000, and I believe the nation would be in better shape today had that occurred.

Here are exerts of an interview in this weekend's WSJ.

What comes through when Mr. Bush is asked about education is how radical his views are. He would toss out the traditional K-to-12 scheme in favor of a credit system, like colleges have.

"It's not based on seat time," he says. "It's whether you accomplished the task. Now we're like GM in its heyday of mass production. We don't have a flourishing education system that's customized. There's a whole world out there that didn't exist 10 years ago, which is online learning. We have the ability today to customize learning so we don't cast young people aside."

This is where Sweden comes in. "The idea that somehow Sweden would be the land of innovation, where private involvement in what was considered a government activity, is quite shocking to us Americans," Mr. Bush says. "But they're way ahead of us. They have a totally voucherized system. The kids come from Baghdad, Somalia -- this is in the tougher part of Stockholm -- and they're learning three languages by the time they finish. . . . there's no reason we can't have that except we're stuck in the old way."

So are Republicans, Mr. Bush believes. But with a few adjustments, the GOP can become a modern reform party. "I don't think there's anything that holds us back," he says. "I think we're actually well positioned to do exactly that." Mr. Bush would stand the party on its head by de-emphasizing Washington and mounting "a real effort to play offense outside of Washington in advancing a reform agenda. I think a respectful, policy-oriented opposition in Washington will be quite effective." But the states are where "being able to change things is easier to do."

This approach "worked in the early 90s," Mr. Bush says. "We had some fantastic governors who were my role models." He mentions his brother when he led Texas, John Engler of Michigan and Tommy Thompson of Wisconsin. "We had an all-star team." He likes the current crop of Republican governors, including Mark Sanford of South Carolina and Haley Barbour of Mississippi.

"Beyond the ideas and all of that," Mr. Bush says the GOP must be a national party. That means "we need to be competitive in California," where the "burden of big-government policies" has produced a $42 billion deficit. "I don't care how big the state is, that's mind-boggling. It's not a tax problem. Don't they have the 'excuse me for living' tax out there? The growth of government spending has been enormous. And a creative, reform-minded candidate on the Republican side" could be elected governor. ...

Mr. Bush commented last fall that "a big-government Republican" is a nonexistent species. What did he mean?

"I think the one common thread throughout all these strains of conservative thinking and Republicanism is limited government. If we don't have that in common, what else do we have? And the next question you'll ask is what do I think of my brother's record. I think circumstances come into play. When you're attacked as a nation it's legitimate to spend resources to deal with huge holes in national security. And so there are times in history when it's important to use the power of government."

Republicans must also clean up their act on immigration, Mr. Bush insists. Last year, he says they "set a tone" that pushed Hispanic voters away. "The tone of the debate reached a point that was very damning to the Republican Party, and the evidence is in. The chest pounders lost."

Mr. Bush supports immigration reform as championed by his brother and John McCain, which would allow illegals already in this country to stay. "Politics has to be about ideas and values and aspirations." he says. "It shouldn't be about anger and preying on people's emotions. You can't lead a mob."...

Mr. Bush has a personal motive for urging Republicans to "avoid personal, partisan attacks" on Mr. Obama, a strategy they've largely followed in Washington. "I would never want Obama to go through what my brother went through. It might be fair that every president gets the same amount of vitriol. But it's not right for our country, it's not going to help us, and it's not going to help Republicans."

Former Florida Governor Jeb Bush on Immigration, School Choice and the Republican Party's Limited-Government Foundation - WSJ.com

I forgot about Jeb. He's probably going to run in 2012, which means eight years of Obama.

 

[WillowTree]

That means "we need to be competitive in California," where the "burden of big-government policies" has produced a $42 billion deficit. "I don't care how big the state is, that's mind-boggling. It's not a tax problem. Don't they have the 'excuse me for living' tax out there? The growth of government spending has been enormous. And a creative, reform-minded candidate on the Republican side" could be elected governor. ...

roflmao!

 

[editec]

My god!

Obama hasn't even figured out where all the bathrooms are in the White House and already the Republicans are beating the Bushes for another president.

Surely there's got to be another Republican family of enormous previlege who deserves the opportunity to screw up this nation.

Not that I in any way doubt Jeb's abilites to screw it up at least as badly as his brother did, of course.

 

[elvis]

My god!

Obama hasn't even figured out where all the bathrooms are in the White House and already the Republicans are beating the Bushes for another president.

Surely there's got to be another Republican family of enormous previlege who deserves the opportunity to screw up this nation.

Not that I in any way doubt Jeb's abilites to screw it up at least as badly as his brother did, of course.

But you do doubt Obama's ability to screw it up, don't you?

 

[wimpy77]

My god!

Obama hasn't even figured out where all the bathrooms are in the White House and already the Republicans are beating the Bushes for another president.

Surely there's got to be another Republican family of enormous previlege who deserves the opportunity to screw up this nation.

Not that I in any way doubt Jeb's abilites to screw it up at least as badly as his brother did, of course.

But you do doubt Obama's ability to screw it up, don't you?

i don't know what he will do or want do and neither do you or anyone else.

i like some of the things jeb said in the interview like with education. our system is outdated and isn't working anymore. jeb is probably is what i consider a moderate.

 

[WillowTree]

My god!

Obama hasn't even figured out where all the bathrooms are in the White House and already the Republicans are beating the Bushes for another president.

Surely there's got to be another Republican family of enormous previlege who deserves the opportunity to screw up this nation.

Not that I in any way doubt Jeb's abilites to screw it up at least as badly as his brother did, of course.

But you do doubt Obama's ability to screw it up, don't you?

i don't know what he will do or want do and neither do you or anyone else.

i like some of the things jeb said in the interview like with education. our system is outdated and isn't working anymore. jeb is probably is what i consider a moderate.

So, either you didn't listen to him when he told you what he was gonna do or you think he was lying. Which?

 

[elvis]

My god!

Obama hasn't even figured out where all the bathrooms are in the White House and already the Republicans are beating the Bushes for another president.

Surely there's got to be another Republican family of enormous previlege who deserves the opportunity to screw up this nation.

Not that I in any way doubt Jeb's abilites to screw it up at least as badly as his brother did, of course.

But you do doubt Obama's ability to screw it up, don't you?

i don't know what he will do or want do and neither do you or anyone else.

i like some of the things jeb said in the interview like with education. our system is outdated and isn't working anymore. jeb is probably is what i consider a moderate.

His brother was a moderate when he started out.

 

[Toro]

Word has it here that Jeb is not going to run for President. A lot can change in four years, though.

 

[DiveCon]

Word has it here that Jeb is not going to run for President. A lot can change in four years, though.

i always though Jeb would have been the better POTUS

but now i doubt he could ever get elected

 

[Toro]

Yeah, I think America has had enough of the Bush family.

He'd be elected as a Senator in Florida no problem though.

 

[DiveCon]

Yeah, I think America has had enough of the Bush family.

He'd be elected as a Senator in Florida no problem though.

yup, thats about as far as i expect he will go


unless Obama screws up so massively it makes people wish for Bush again
and i don't think the media will ever allow that sentiment to flourish

 

[wimpy77]

But you do doubt Obama's ability to screw it up, don't you?

i don't know what he will do or want do and neither do you or anyone else.

i like some of the things jeb said in the interview like with education. our system is outdated and isn't working anymore. jeb is probably is what i consider a moderate.

So, either you didn't listen to him when he told you what he was gonna do or you think he was lying. Which?

your above comment is rather stupid and not worth the time anawering

 

[auditor0007]

I agree. Jeb was a pretty darn good Govenor. Florida thrived.

George W was actually a very good governor also.

 

[auditor0007]

I think George Bush was a disaster as President, certainly the worst of my lifetime. However, I think his brother, Jeb Bush, did a pretty good job as governor here in Florida. Had he not lost the 1994 gubernatorial election, he, not W, probably would have been the Republican nominee in 2000, and I believe the nation would be in better shape today had that occurred.

Here are exerts of an interview in this weekend's WSJ.

What comes through when Mr. Bush is asked about education is how radical his views are. He would toss out the traditional K-to-12 scheme in favor of a credit system, like colleges have.

"It's not based on seat time," he says. "It's whether you accomplished the task. Now we're like GM in its heyday of mass production. We don't have a flourishing education system that's customized. There's a whole world out there that didn't exist 10 years ago, which is online learning. We have the ability today to customize learning so we don't cast young people aside."

This is where Sweden comes in. "The idea that somehow Sweden would be the land of innovation, where private involvement in what was considered a government activity, is quite shocking to us Americans," Mr. Bush says. "But they're way ahead of us. They have a totally voucherized system. The kids come from Baghdad, Somalia -- this is in the tougher part of Stockholm -- and they're learning three languages by the time they finish. . . . there's no reason we can't have that except we're stuck in the old way."

So are Republicans, Mr. Bush believes. But with a few adjustments, the GOP can become a modern reform party. "I don't think there's anything that holds us back," he says. "I think we're actually well positioned to do exactly that." Mr. Bush would stand the party on its head by de-emphasizing Washington and mounting "a real effort to play offense outside of Washington in advancing a reform agenda. I think a respectful, policy-oriented opposition in Washington will be quite effective." But the states are where "being able to change things is easier to do."

This approach "worked in the early 90s," Mr. Bush says. "We had some fantastic governors who were my role models." He mentions his brother when he led Texas, John Engler of Michigan and Tommy Thompson of Wisconsin. "We had an all-star team." He likes the current crop of Republican governors, including Mark Sanford of South Carolina and Haley Barbour of Mississippi.

"Beyond the ideas and all of that," Mr. Bush says the GOP must be a national party. That means "we need to be competitive in California," where the "burden of big-government policies" has produced a $42 billion deficit. "I don't care how big the state is, that's mind-boggling. It's not a tax problem. Don't they have the 'excuse me for living' tax out there? The growth of government spending has been enormous. And a creative, reform-minded candidate on the Republican side" could be elected governor. ...

Mr. Bush commented last fall that "a big-government Republican" is a nonexistent species. What did he mean?

"I think the one common thread throughout all these strains of conservative thinking and Republicanism is limited government. If we don't have that in common, what else do we have? And the next question you'll ask is what do I think of my brother's record. I think circumstances come into play. When you're attacked as a nation it's legitimate to spend resources to deal with huge holes in national security. And so there are times in history when it's important to use the power of government."

Republicans must also clean up their act on immigration, Mr. Bush insists. Last year, he says they "set a tone" that pushed Hispanic voters away. "The tone of the debate reached a point that was very damning to the Republican Party, and the evidence is in. The chest pounders lost."

Mr. Bush supports immigration reform as championed by his brother and John McCain, which would allow illegals already in this country to stay. "Politics has to be about ideas and values and aspirations." he says. "It shouldn't be about anger and preying on people's emotions. You can't lead a mob."...

Mr. Bush has a personal motive for urging Republicans to "avoid personal, partisan attacks" on Mr. Obama, a strategy they've largely followed in Washington. "I would never want Obama to go through what my brother went through. It might be fair that every president gets the same amount of vitriol. But it's not right for our country, it's not going to help us, and it's not going to help Republicans."

Former Florida Governor Jeb Bush on Immigration, School Choice and the Republican Party's Limited-Government Foundation - WSJ.com

I forgot about Jeb. He's probably going to run in 2012, which means eight years of Obama.

It really depends on how Obama fares over the next three years. If he falls on his face, all bets are off. Despite the negative feelings for GW, most Americans know of Jeb's record in Florida, and most like him much better than GW. If he ran a campaign that actually revolved around some new ideas, he might be able to pull it off. But again, that is more dependent on how well or poorly Obama perfoms.

 

[auditor0007]

Word has it here that Jeb is not going to run for President. A lot can change in four years, though.

I doubt he would consider running if Obama's popularity remains high. However, if Americans find out they made a terrible choice with Obama, that could all change. I still think it woud take a ground roots effort to push Jeb into running. A lot of people would have to push him first.