Jeb Bush: 2012 GOP Field "Appealing to People's Fears"

Jeb Bush: 2012 GOP Field "Appealing to People's Fears" (foxnews.com)

Love the opening statement: "I used to be a conservative..."

So what does he call himself now?

"I used to be a conservative and I watch these debates and I'm wondering, I don't think I've changed, but it's a little troubling sometimes when people are appealing to people's fears and emotion rather than trying to get them to look over the horizon for a broader perspective and that's kind of where we are."

- Jeb Bush, quoted by Fox News, on the rhetoric of the Republican presidential candidates.

Surprisingly enough, this comes from FOX "news". Maybe Jeb didn't get the briefing memo on the party line from Roger Ailes.

Nicely said by Jeb.

The Republican party is a joke, and while the far left is not as progressive as they'd lead you to believe, there are more Democrats closer to the center than Republicans. Americans that are far left or far right are getting fewer and more far between. If we had more candidates with common sense, you'd find more people willing to support said candidates.

Oh, and before anyone mentions Ron Paul, he's not the answer either.

Originally posted by DaTroof
Nicely said by Jeb.

The Republican party is a joke, and while the far left is not as progressive as they'd lead you to believe, there are more Democrats closer to the center than Republicans. Americans that are far left or far right are getting fewer and more far between. If we had more candidates with common sense, you'd find more people willing to support said candidates.

Oh, and before anyone mentions Ron Paul, he's not the answer either.

You do a mighty good job pointing out all the faults yourself. Where are YOUR solutions?

Why is Ron Paul not the answer? You care to elaborate?

reply to post by freakjive


Sure. Ron Paul's wacky notion of ending the Federal Reserve is childish. The dollar is only being devalued because of fractional reserve banking, which can be addressed without threatening the entire country's currency.

I can dissect every single one of his campaign promises if you'd like, but that's not the point of this thread.

Back on topic, Jeb is absolutely right that Romney, Santorum, Gingrich and Paul are all preying on ignorance and paranoia, symptoms of the modern Republican.

I thought Jeb's comment was a little strange when I heard it the other day. Strange because the GOP has since the late 1970s precisely built it's base by playing on fears and emotions. The Moral Majority was fearful and emotional over the cultural/religious changes taking place around them and helped elect Ronald Reagan. After that, fear and emotion drove elections year after year.

(And it was not just emotional/fearful wedge issues. I remember a stalwart Republican voter fearing that Communists would be marching right up through Central America and Mexico.)

All this decades long deliberate use of fear and emotion to fertilize the GOP has allowed the noxious weeds to take over the garden, choking out the healthy vegetation that was once there. The reactionary, nutty, extreme right noxious weeds (once able to be kept under control) are now fed to Americans, making even a moderate candidate taste like a weed and forcing a gag reflex as Jeb's reaction.

And Jeb wonders what happened?? In the business world, this would be an example of fiduciary mismanagement at best or a criminal act at worst.

Originally posted by Blackmarketeer
So what does he call himself now?

Really. In a world where the current POTUS is really a Republican moderate from 20 years ago but is labeled an extreme Left Commie Marxist today, there seems to be a problem with identity. Jeb, you have my sympathy over your identity crisis, but it really is one of your party's making.

reply to post by DaTroof


Sounds like Da Troof is on-board with Jeb. I have a feeling Jeb is the best of the Bush and the name wouldn't leave such a bitter aftertaste if we hadn't already experienced the elder of the clan for how many generations. Problem is, as much as I would like to think Jeb might be the improved version we have not yet come through a Bush administration just barely able to wipe our own backsides in the aftermath. I have not seen a Bush yet that was not into economic rape, pillage, and plunder. It would frighten me to have Jeb there when the Federal Reserve is up for review or renewal to continue the streak. Ron Paul is calling for regular audits of the Fed and that scares the bejeezus out of anybody associated with their scams and dealings.

reply to post by Blackmarketeer


Maybe that is why jeb bush is just jeb bush and not george.

Maybe his family knew he was the " good " bush and so they stuck him in florida.

Jeb must be looking to run in 2016

This is step 1 towards a new and improved Bush candidate.

same ol crap

Where was Jeb when his brother all but invented the fear model
the candidates seem to be practicing still go this day?

I mean, everything Bush did was prefaced with fear and if
the public seemed reluctant, he would turn the fear quotient
up until it "made sense". But maybe the fear factor is actually
indicative of the voter base? That is the one constant in the
equation and there is still GOP even after the last decade.

Maybe conservatives are swayed by fear more than non
conservatives? That would explain why fear is being used
and why fear was used so much in the W administration.
Evil doers, WMD, terror, terrorists, mushroom clouds,
now its communists, muslims, secret muslims with
300 birth certificates planning a socialist revolution...

Makes sense to me

Originally posted by Erongaricuaro
reply to post by DaTroof

 

Sounds like Da Troof is on-board with Jeb. I have a feeling Jeb is the best of the Bush and the name wouldn't leave such a bitter aftertaste if we hadn't already experienced the elder of the clan for how many generations. Problem is, as much as I would like to think Jeb might be the improved version we have not yet come through a Bush administration just barely able to wipe our own backsides in the aftermath. I have not seen a Bush yet that was not into economic rape, pillage, and plunder. It would frighten me to have Jeb there when the Federal Reserve is up for review and renewal to continue the streak. Ron Paul is calling for regular audits of the Fed and that scares the bejeezus out of anybody associated with their scams and dealings.

edit on 26-2-2012 by Erongaricuaro because: (no reason given)

Well if you want to invite calamity, third times a charm

reply to post by mastahunta

Where was Jeb when his brother all but invented the fear model the candidates seem to be practicing still go this day?

No kidding, nothing like waking up to see what the Bush admin's daily 'terror alert' levels were. Those were the perfect example of 'rule by fear'.

reply to post by Blackmarketeer


What the heck!!! Another Bush to put up with!

Why are we just recycling through the same families, Bush, Clintons.

In a country of over 350 million people, we cant dig up a candidate with a brain to lead.