Is Jeb Bush plotting a 2012 run?

The Mysterious Jeb Bush Poll

By David Weigel | Posted Thursday, Dec. 15, 2011, at 11:52 AM ET
It started when the mayor of Merrifield, New Hampshire, tweeted that he'd gotten a robo-poll asking about a possible Jeb Bush presidential campaign. It's continued, with random granite state citizens getting the same calls. One of them sent over the gist of questions received last night. (These aren't direct quotes, but paraphrases.

• Do you disapprove or approve of the job Barack Obama is doing as president?
• Favorable or unfavorable view of Romney?
• Favorable or unfavorable view of Gingrich?
• Favorable or unfavorable view of Jeb Bush?
• If the 2012 election were held today, and the candidates were Obama and Romney, who would you vote for?
• Same question, Obama vs. Gingrich
• Same question, Obama vs. Jeb Bush

Mystery solved: The Jeb Bush poll

Last night on the show, Rachel asked who might be behind the mysterious robopolling in New Hampshire, the one Dave Weigel reported asks about former Florida Governor Jeb Bush against President Obama in a hypothetical 2012 election. Since Jeb Bush has said he isn't running for anything, why is his name popping up in polls? Who would want to know the answer to that question?

Thanks to the sleuthing of James Carter, we can now tell you the answer: Purple Strategies, a political communications firm. Director Doug Usher tells us that yes, it's his firm. Purple Strategies looks at the 12 swing states that it believes holds the key to the 2012 election. In this month's PurplePoll (pdf), they threw in Jeb Bush.

Probably the first time (at least by their admission) a "paid to poll" company just tossed in a 'non-running candidate' to see how they fare against the established candidates. In spite of the denials (wink wink) could this be another Bush contemplating a run for the WH?

Holy s**t the bed fred! Wouldn't that be the pickle on this s**t sandwich of a political debacle we have going. The ship is sunk if that douche makes it into office. Am-Bush trifecta.

reply to post by Blackmarketeer


I think he's testing the water for 2016. If he was running he'd be in the pit already thrashing Romney around.

My reaction - Gawd, not another Bush! But who does the GOP have? They certainly are not going to let Ron Paul carry the banner, yet if his grassroots takes hold there may not be much choice. Bush is a tried and true Republican name though, and it might be the GOP answer to the Paul problem and actually give them somebody to go with.

"W" was supposed to give away the republic through incompetence then Obama come along and schmooze the people into tossing away the rest of it but his charm has worn off already. Jeb is looked at as being a better prize than his big brother but who would have thought any Bush would ever have a shot at the Oval Office so soon? It won't take much to outshine Barry-O at this point now but, again, what does the GOP have? John Edward Bush may be their answer. It really is disheartening to have it come to this.

If Paul doesn't go Independent there will be a huge write-in giveaway. That won't get him elected but it could spoil anyone's chance of taking away Obama's crown. Jeb may go in at the last minute and the dirty deeds team will be looking at other ways to solve the Paul problem. Barry couldn't save the sinking ship that has been taking on water since the last GOP administration, instead it looks like he's going to scuttle it in shallow water so that it is anybody's prize now. It was a good strategy to hand the marble washroom over to the Dems to let them take the heat for the economy but now it is time for that Grand Old Party of greedy old perverts to get it back by hook or crook. Jeb has proved himself up to the job for that. Good On Paul if this doesn't work for them.

reply to post by Erongaricuaro


I'd agree, and maybe Ron Paul should just forgo the GOP and create a new conservative party from it's ashes (*). The current GOP are not conservative at all, and only act as corporate shills and that includes those Tea Party Republicans. Maybe this poll is a measure of Jeb Bush's viability for a 2016 run, which raises the ugliest spectre of all - Jeb Bush versus Hillary Clinton. We just can't break out of this vicious cycle. For that reason alone, I would vote Ron Paul and encourage everyone else to do so - break the cycle of failure in Washington.

(*) Libertarian party notwithstanding, it's taken on too negative an image for most voters.

Does it really matter who the next preident will be?....or the one after that?

Presidential Puppets are a tool of banks and big business.