Jeb Bush Says He Will Decide On 2016 By The End Of The Year

[DonViejo]

Source: TPM

CAITLIN MACNEAL – APRIL 6, 2014, 3:50 PM EDT

Former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush (R) on Sunday said that he'll make a decision whether to run for president in 2016 by the end of this year, according to the Washington Post.

Bush said he would base his decision on whether a candidate can "run with a hopeful, optimistic message, hopefully with enough detail to give people a sense that it’s not just idle words and not get back into the vortex of the mud fight."

He also said he needed to consider how a bid for the White House would impact his family. "I just don’t want to go through that until the right time," he said. "And it turns out that not running has generated more interest than if I said I was running. It’s kind of weird. I’m not that smart, I promise you, it just kind of happened that way."

Bush also weighed in on issues like immigration. He said that the U.S. needs to address its immigration system, and that undocumented immigrants haven't necessarily committed a felony, but an "act of love."

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Read more: http://talkingpointsmemo.com/livewire/jeb-bush-2016-decision

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Jeb Bush: Illegal Immigration Not Always A 'Felony,' Sometimes An 'Act Of Love'

CAITLIN MACNEAL – APRIL 6, 2014, 3:20 PM EDT161

Former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush (R) on Sunday said that it shouldn't be considered a felony every time a person enters the country illegally, according to the Washington Post. He said that many come to the U.S. without documentation "because they couldn’t come legally, they come to our country because their families — the dad who loved their children — was worried that their children didn’t have food on the table."

"And they wanted to make sure their family was intact, and they crossed the border because they had no other means to work to be able to provide for their family," Bush continued. "Yes, they broke the law, but it’s not a felony. It’s an act of love. It’s an act of commitment to your family. I honestly think that that is a different kind of crime that there should be a price paid, but it shouldn’t rile people up that people are actually coming to this country to provide for their families."

Bush spoke at an event celebrating the 25th anniversary of the presidency of his father, former President George H.W. Bush. The interview was later broadcast on Fox News.

Jeb Bush also said that the U.S. needs a better way to address those who came to the country legally, but overstayed their visas. "A great country ought to know where those folks are and politely ask them to leave," he said, according to the Post.

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http://talkingpointsmemo.com/livewire/jeb-bush-immigration-felony

[SoapBox]

1. How many times do we have to say it...

No...More...Bush. Never. Ever. Period.

[billhicks76]

31. I warned everyone here

I warned everyone here that because Obama rolled over and not pursue Bush crimes to "move forward" like Clinton did in '92 after Bush Sr crimes that all he was doing was rehabilitating the Bush name and resurrecting the republican brand which had been all but destroyed. We reap what we sow. People argued with me because they would defend anything as long as it was Obama who did it much like those who defended Bush earlier. In my opinion Obama changed after flip flopping on telecom immunity before the 2008 election. I felt that they had gotten to him somehow. It didn't look good when Obama had a private meeting with Jeb and Daddy Bush in 2009 as reported by the Dallas newspapers but a guy like Jimmy Carter was allowed no where near the White House. It's Jeb vs Hillary in 2016...prescripted. I called it then while die hard defenders called me names. Not so absurd now is it.

[pragmatic_dem]

38. You are 100% correct. Obama rescued the Republican brand and in process enabled the extreme

right wing to gain credibility. Meanwhile, Democratic leadership wants liberals to shut the fuck up and stay in the closet for fear that we will embarrass them in front of their corporate friends.

You reap what you sow.

[billhicks76]

44. Clinton's Did The Same

And because we were supposed to "look forward not back" after IranContra and Iraqi banking crimes by the Bush cartel we got the entire team back in 2000 as if they had just agreed to share power. After the 2000 election they all took their masks off as indicated by Bill Clinton playing golf with the evil Bush Sr every other week and Bush Sr publicly referring to Bill as his 5th son. Too many liberals just weren't paying attention and stuck in their pre-prescribed belief systems which may yield yet ANOTHER Bush presidency with all their peers in positions of power. Wake the hell up...this is getting annoying.

[Skittles]

45. HOPE AND CHANGE!

[billhicks76]

46. Lord Help Us

How many Bushes do we need in the White House? They are the root of evil beneath the fake veneer we call democracy. Prescott Bush was a Hitler sympathizer, Bush Sr a CIA contract agent during the Bay of Pigs and JFK assassination and ultimately CIA director when they had to clean up the MK Ultra and assassinations mess and then VP when Reagan was threatened and I'd bet he was banking on Reagan not pulling through after Hinkley shot him. Ironic that the entire Bush and Hinkley families were friends both politically and personally. Then we get Bush Sr's administration back with GW and now we have to prepare for Jeb and ultimately Prescott Jr as they trick the Hispanic block to vote for them? All the while the other repub candidates are courting Rumsfeld? A bonafide war criminal? This is what happens when fluffed on our side act like weaklings and don't put the final nail in the coffin. We lose a lot of votes too because it's simply human nature not to respect the spineless no matter how right or ethical they are. Our party has been infiltrated at the leadership level with corporatists and turncoats to ensure the trend of conservative dominance. Even Obama likens himself to a 1980s moderate republican. How many people here would've voted for a moderate republican in the 1980s? Hell no. Bush Sr was labeled a moderate republican then but anyone with even a walnut sized brain knew that was just opinion management and hoodwinked preprogrammed media blitz brainwashing. We need to always be fighting, challenging and questioning authority on both sides because when we get comfortable we lose...and we are much too comfortable right now. The Bushes should have been tarred and feathered and run out of town but instead they are honored with pomp and circumstance by Bill and even Obama...and no Obama didn't have to do that to be presidential. Some people will excuse anything.

[Skittles]

64. as someone who lives in Texas (we put up with SIX EXTRA YEARS OF DUBYA)

the idea of yet another Bush makes me utterly f***ing SICK

[pragmatic_dem]

71. yep - history repeats itself, Obama was consulting Bush, Condi et all for Afghanistan surge

which turned into a violent loss of life and a financial disaster.

And of course, every Democratic president has to earn his conservative chops by wholesaling millions of jobs to other countries - Clinton has NAFTA, Obama is rushing in to get TPP passed.

Goddam it, you can't make this shit up. We will never learn.

[wildbilln864]

43. absolutely correct billhicks76! Thank you!

[yellowcanine]

48. Tad early to be saying "I told you so." don't you think?

Why don't we all settle down and let the whole process play out? The reason Jeb Bush is getting talked about at all is the slow moving meltdown of Chris Christie. "I'm not Chris Christie" is hardly the basis for a winning campaign and is likely to work about as well for Jeb as "I'm not Mitt Romney" did for the Clown Brigade did in 2012.

[billhicks76]

82. I've Heard Jebs Name Since 2008

Yes Christie would've been more popular and a better front man for the cartel but he botched it. Who knows...maybe the Bushes are making sure he doesn't get a lifeline. I put nothing past that family of snakes.

[IkeRepublican]

83. I can see what you mean, BH, but...

Comparing Papa Bush versus Sonny in the public eye is apples and oranges. Jeb's not going to be president and his chances at being the Repukelickan nominee are slight at best. Who will they run? Another Romney type and he will lose. The Bush Brand has wrecked their own name with Sonny and the teatards might do well in their already-Republican districts, but outside of that they're toast.

[billhicks76]

86. I wish

But I believe they have been running the show since Nixon.

[Submariner]

2. A corrupt smuggler FLOTUS with her drug addled kids

would be quite the change from the dignified first family we have today. No more pond scum Bush family in the White House.

[LuvLoogie]

34. Petty crap

[brucefan]

3. "An act of love"

He's toast.

[Jesus Malverde]

4. Like a bad dream...nt

[Dawson Leery]

5. No more Bushes! No more Bushes! No more Bushes!

[Solly Mack]

6. Snort

[louis-t]

7. He's right. He's not that smart.

[Warpy]

8. Yeah, because this country is desperate for another Bush

I think we need to make it illegal for anyone from that family to run for the next 500 years. With any luck the DNA will be so diluted by then that the evil and rapacity will not breed as true.

[3catwoman3]

9. Listen to your mama, Jeb.

No more rich,
Entitled Bushes.
Try to run,
We'll kick your tushes.

[DeSwiss]

10. ....

[Paper Roses]

11. Good Grief, I need Maalox. n/t

[flamingdem]

12. This sounds like a big fat no

He lacks the "fire in the belly". He just has Bushfat in the belly.

[QuestForSense]

22. Also in the head, if he thinks he can win.

[Tom Ripley]

13. The GOP has no other "establishment republican" to foist on the knuckle-draggers...

whether the knuckle-draggers want the candidate or not.
As always their servile numbers will relent, eat shit, and say it tastes great...until they once again lose the election and start up their "never again" litany all over again. Republican voters are a special kind of stupid.

[Nay]

29. They don't. They have no one who's not a complete crook or godbag. I swear,

I'm right when I say there's an 80% chance our choices in 2016 will be Clinton and Bush. And yes, that means this country has jumped the shark.

[AAO]

74. We've already jumped. Clinton/Bush will just confirm it.

[anobserver2]

14. Some conservatives, like Michelle Malkin, can't stand Jeb Bush

Some conservatives, including Michelle Malkin, really can't stand Jeb Bush:

http://michellemalkin.com/2013/08/02/rotten-to-the-core-jeb-bushs-crony-republicans-against-higher-standards/

Rotten to the Core: Jeb Bush’s Crony Republicans Against Higher Standards

...Bush’s foundation has now joined with the Common Core-peddling Fordham Institute under a new phony-baloney umbrella group: “Conservatives for Higher Standards.” While its list of supporters includes federal bureaucrats, politicians and business interests, there are no grassroots conservative parents or teacher groups. So beware of this “conservative” front. ...

[Enthusiast]

33. It serves a purpose. It actually helps Jeb's image.

It helps him appear to be more of a moderate than he is. You know, considering Michelle Malkin is one of the more repulsive far right wing loons.

He'll have us in a new and improved war within his first term. If we are unlucky enough that he is elected.

[magical thyme]

88. even if he's not elected, he'll just be sElected.

here we effing go again.

[Enthusiast]

92. Whatever Democratic candidate Jeb faces

the winning strategy is to play up the bloodthirsty Bush war angle. His brother also wanted to privatize Social Security. Both issues are losing issues for Jeb Bush. I wish we could separate our party on education but that ship has sailed.

[magical thyme]

94. unfortunately Hillary is a war hawk. Not only yes on Iraq, but she pushed the disastrous

surge in Afghanistan. And I seem to remember she made war noises in other, more recent situations too...

[JDPriestly]

15. 3 Bushes? Why don't they just call themselves "the royal family."

And a Bush against a Clinton? Isn't that what you call deja vu. Remember 1992?

To me, the thought of both a Clinton and a Bush considering, just considering, a run for the presidency confirms my belief that the US is running out of creativity and new ideas.

What a terrible end for democracy.

I don't care whether Jeb and Hillary are the greatest or worst people in the world. They are more of the same old corruption -- both of them.

So for 2016 we are to get yet again a choice between evil corruption and even more evil corruption. Horrors! Surely we can do better.

[LuvLoogie]

36. Equating the Clintons with the Bushes is a crock of shit.

[Beacool]

49. Yeah, because they are both the same.

[JDPriestly]

53. Both represent family dynasties.

We are establishing a terrible trend when we elect two or more presidents from one family.

But frankly, I think that while now these old shoe candidates look acceptable and even very popular, all of them, like Christie, have taken ethical shortcuts that will eliminate them from the field.

In particular, the Republicans with all their Koch money will devastate Hillary Clinton's reputation. Fair or not, I predict it will happen. And voters will be confused as to whether they can trust her or not. It does not take much to cause voters to latch on to some scandal real or bogus that destroys a candidates campaign.

I think this is a good year for a dark horse candidate with a populist message and a pretty impeccable ethical record. That's my judgment.

Time will tell.

[Beacool]

57. First, the Clintons are not a dynasty unless Chelsea runs for office too.

They are a married couple, she's not his progeny.

Second, the Koch brothers will try to destroy the Democratic nominee, regardless of who that person turns out to be. Hillary is a well known commodity, there's not much more than they can attack her that they haven't attacked her on already. I don't think they are going to be able to "devastate" her reputation. People already know whether they like her or not. So far, the majority seems to like her just fine. She has the highest polls of any non-incumbent in the history of the Democratic party. That's good enough for me. She's the only candidate who consistently outpolls any of their candidates. The rest are barely in the double or single digits.

[JDPriestly]

68. Sorry, Beacool.

There's lots more that they can attack Hillary on. And the problem is that when attacked, Hillary gets peeved and shows it. In contrast, Obama just brushes it off.

And what is even more, when Hillary is attacked, Bill rushes to defend her. That he should not do. If she runs, he should stay very quietly to the side like wives used to do when their husbands ran. That is going to be very tough for him.

I just do not think that a Hillary candidacy is smart. I don't think it is viable.

Of course, whether she could win depends on how bad the Republican candidate is. But although she appears to be quite popular now among hard-core, reliable Democrats and even some others, I just don't think she is a good choice for 2016.

Like I said, 2016 will be the year for a credible populist who has a track record of reliability and impeccable ethics.

America is ready for someone who cannot be bought.

Democrats are running in part on the anti-Koch-corruption platform. If we run someone who has close ties to Wall Street and Walmart (like Hillary), our anti-Koch, anti-corruption campaign will at best be unconvincing and fall on deaf ears, and at worst, look two-faced and hypocritical.

We need a candidate whose past is as free as possible from any inkling of corruption and overly political deal-making especially if we are going to run against the corruption and machine-politics of the Republicans.

We need consistency between pointing to the Republicans' selling their votes to corporations and our own independence from corporations.

We cannot afford to be doing the same kinds of corrupt deals that we accuse the Republicans of doing.

You don't get Walmart's and Wall Street's support unless you give them back something in return. So what would Hillary be giving them?

[Beacool]

97. I'm tired of the constant arguing.

I don't care who here does not like the Clintons.

This is not going to be like 2008, barring an unforeseen eventuality, if Hillary runs she wins the nomination.

Having said that, everyone is entitled to vote for whichever candidate they prefer in the primaries.

[Todays_Illusion]

95. Mark this liberal Democratic voter who will vote 3rd party

if Hillary is the candidate for many reasons.

Hillary is too friendly with the corporate conservatives, they lover her, and her capitulating husband.

The Republicans plan to replay the entire Bill Clinton sex files.
You will have the pleasure of a blow job campaign.

[Beacool]

96. Then you better not utter a peep if a Republican wins in 2016.

There were people who didn't care for Obama in 2008 and we still voted for him because the alternative was far worse.

Frankly, I'm fed up with the Left and their constant harping over the Clintons. In the primaries vote for anyone you like, that's your prerogative, but there are far more important issues than purity tests in 2016. We may lose the Senate this year. In 2017 a new president may have to work with a Republican majority in both chambers. That would be great for a Republican president. Is that what you would prefer?

[chuckstevens]

16. In the Words of Willy Wonka.....

Monotone and Sarcastic: "No, Please, Stop, Don't."

[Mr.Bill]

17. Brilliant announcement

since anyone running for President will pretty much need to decide by then.

Until then he can make millions on speaking engagements and have someone write a book with his name on the cover like Sarah Palin does.

[aint_no_life_nowhere]

18. Are we supposed to hold our breaths until then?

I think to me there's more suspense in knowing which room of the house my pet tortoise will decide to hibernate in this winter.

[Journeyman]

19. I love it: "Just enough detail to give a sense it's not just bullshit, not enough to spur debate"...

[AndyTiedye]

20. NO

[font size=9 color=red]NO MORE BUSHES NO NO NO NO[/font]

[AndyTiedye]

21. He'd "Win". The Machinez are Still Programmed

[beac]

23. "I’m not that smart"

Yes, we believe you Jeb. Runs in your family.

[lark]

24. Don't take him lightly

He IS the smarter Bush. He runs as a moderate but governs hard core right. Everything he runs against, he's totally for. He even went so far in FL to propose bills, see them passed then find a sneaky way to ensure that change never happens. I'm sure the folks in DU who live in FL remember the big Everglades clean up lie. Yeah Jeb wants immigration changed, but you can bet your bottom dollar voting rights won't be included. Now that Christie has imploded, he's the one Repug that really scares me for 2016.

[RBInMaine]

30. Your problem is being "scared." Progressives need to harden their spines. Enough jellyism.

Clinton will kick his ass if he runs. This country won't tolerate a third Bush.

[yurbud]

51. Clinton might kick his ass, but Hillary is not progressive on economic issues, foreign policies

and a bunch of other ways that matter most.

Gay and abortion rights won't do you much good if Wall Street is still calling the shots and you live in a cardboard box under a bridge (until they decide they can make money selling your organs).

[lark]

56. Being scared doesn't mean being immobile or helpless.

If you are scared of an opponent, you attack back more ferociously and don't just assume the win. Assuming Clinton will wipe the ground with him is a perscription for losing. Even with a candidate as weak and ineffectual as Mittens, he got close to 50% of the vote. Jeb would probably do better than that. I doubt Hillary is taking him for granted, she's too smart.

[jtuck004]

25. He could be the next President. n/t

[Manuel Beingman]

76. Can he defeat Hillary?

Because right now it looks like the race will be Hillary v. Jeb.

[jtuck004]

77. Yes n/t

[Stargazer09]

26. We have a large population here in America

Can't we find someone new to run for President?

Certainly not another Bush.

[magical thyme]

89. yes, but what makes you think it's our choice?

We've been given our choice. Hillary or Jeb. Like it or lump it.

[Stargazer09]

91. True, true

But I have to have some hope left.

[magical thyme]

93. you and me both...

[blkmusclmachine]

27. "The Family," the shadowy rightwing religious Cult that runs the Prayer Breakfast said "Expect great

things from George W. Bush." So, what does "The Family" think of ol' Jeb???


"THE FAMILY: The Secret Fundamentalism at the Heart of American Power," Jeff Sharlet, 2008 HarperCollins

[Hoppy]

28. Jeb, let me help you with your decision......

stay, the fuck, home !

[Enthusiast]

32. Oh, he's running alright. It's enough to turn the stomach.

And the entire media will be cheering him on while they try to absolve Dubya of his guilt.

[RandySF]

35. The nomination is his for the asking.

[pragmatic_dem]

37. I see. Bush vs. Clinton, a clean slate, fresh leadership, a bold new direction...

And to really mix things up, Bush should pick Liz Cheney as VP. How's that for fresh?

Meanwhile, the spiritual wars will continue while the rich continue to tear away the flesh from the middle class, just like the jackals they are.

[yurbud]

54. would you like your corporate rule with a side of gay bashing or gay hugging?

abortion or anti-abortion?

guns or guns lite?

We get to pick soup or salad, but the entrees stay the same.

[pragmatic_dem]

70. well said. nt

[gate of the sun]

39. I don't believe in dynasty political figures this includes Hilary

But I think having another bush term is beyond even thinking of, or contemplating....it's plain gross and I don't think bush jr is painting those pictures it's some college student. Enough of the bushes!!

[aurelio17]

40. He has already decided.

He would not take a position on a national issue like this one if he hadn't already made up his mind to run.

Just imagine. Three Bushes? Will the nightmare never end?

[yurbud]

41. that's going to lose him more jethroes than gain him Latinos

[TwilightGardener]

42. The Bushes manage to leave the country progressively weaker and worse off

with each term they serve. One more for the final smoking ruins!

[olddad56]

65. and their personnel fortunes larger.

[olddad56]

47. I think that his handlers have already decided, they are just waiting for the right time.

[Beacool]

50. Jeb should run, the last two Bushes were so great for the country.

Particularly the last one.

[BeyondGeography]

52. Be shocked if he didn't run

He was always supposed to be Prezzy one day. The big shock was his maladjusted brother got the chance first. In a saner world, his performance would have ended Jeb's hopes, but not in this country.

Of course, his candidacy would totally defuse the "not another Clinton," angle. He can try to position himself as center-right, but not after primary season and the inevitable rhetorical compromises it will take for him to get through. Still, the Republicans will unite whomever they run and it will be a tough race, like the last one, which is now becoming blowout in too many minds here, even though Obama had to run the table in close battleground fights (11 for 12) to get those 332 EV. And that only happened because he had built the best analytical data base in campaign history.

[NorthCarolina]

55. Fox ran their "A Bush Family Albumn" almost on an endless loop over the weekend.

The Bush Name rehabilitation program is obviously in full swing...he's running.

[Demeter]

58. I'll decide for you, Jebbie---that would be a NO

[JCMach1]

59. Biggest clown in the clown car, but he is the only clown that could unite all elements in the Repig

party...

With Christy finished..., JEBtm may be the goto guy...

[yellowcanine]

60. Jeb Bush has a few political skeletons banging around in his closet.

Florida 2000 and Katherine Harris for example. Many unanswered questions there waiting for the right investigative reporter to start digging around. Some lips may be loosened now that the statue of limitations on election law violations is long past.

[frylock]

61. the suspense is killing me!

[olddad56]

66. the only real question is, will his running mate be Palin or Putin?

[jmm123]

62. Depressed

Bush-Clinton. How depressing.

[KamaAina]

63. Read my lips.

No. New. Bushes!

[Tom Ripley]

67. The keyboard warrior wing of the GOP is absolutely terrified that Bush is going to be the nominee...

I've been lurking (and maybe disrupting) some of their sites and their roar of NO MORE RINOS! is deafening.

[lanlady]

69. The United States needs another Bush...

...like Ukraine needs another Yanukovych or Romania needs another Ceacescu. Ugh. UGH.

[AAO]

72. No Jeb, we'll tell you. Just stay close to your phone.

[aurelio17]

73. Jeb was supposed to be Prez, not Dubya, in Bush senior's plans.

He actually cried when he was asked about Jeb's missed opportunity, which was siezed by GWB.

Check it out here: http://www.foxnews.com/story/2006/12/05/former-president-bush-breaks-down-in-tears-talking-about-jeb-bush/

Maybe Poppy will get his dream. (Shudder.)

[Manuel Beingman]

75. Yes, Jeb was the Anointed Son.

Didn't work out that way--yet.

[elaristotle]

78. A Republican who is sane on Immigration will never be president

Once Loony Rick Perry said "Have a Heart" about immigration he was toast. Apparently Jeb Bush didn't watch the results of the 2012 primaries.

[Blue Owl]

79. Decider II: Electric Bungleoo

n/t

[calguy]

80. The Bushitter.3 has decided long ago

He's running. He's just trying to make it look like he's making a personal sacrifice to get on that white horse and ride into the race. When his mommy said she hoped he wouldn't run, why do you think she also he was " by far the best qualified". (barf) everything the bushitters do or say is a calculated move to gain more power.

[rpannier]

81. Did HRC give a date for her announcement?

I'm guessing if she has, his will come one day after hers

[agent46]

84. I'm betting he'll run

Just as soon as they make sure Christie is out of the running once and for all.

[silvershadow]

85. Translation: The PNAC'ers are in it to win it

(wink, wink). And by win, they mean by whatever means necessary. That is why they computerized and centralized voting during the last administration.

[Liberalman777]

87. I ever there was a chance for a repeat of 2000 election here it Is!

They would rig the election for another Bush!

[12kbush]

90. Lonely Little Lad

He Is Out In The Media To Get Back At Daddy Bush For Taking Away His GI Joe toys.

[Orsino]

98. In other words, a Republican Congress would make the job easy...

...and he's not interested in work.