Jeb Bush to Lead U.S. Delegation to Rome

[Newsjock]

http://www.guardian.co.uk/worldlatest/story/0,1280,-4956826,00.html

WASHINGTON (AP) - President Bush's brother, Florida Gov. Jeb Bush, will lead the U.S. delegation to Sunday's inaugural Mass in Rome for Pope Benedict XVI.

Separately, 21 House members left Friday to attend the Mass, which marks the transition of leadership in the Roman Catholic Church. Rep. Peter King, R-N.Y., is heading that delegation.

... Such moves have spurred talk that Jeb Bush, despite denials, plans to run for president in 2008 and that his brother is helping him add to his credentials in international affairs.

more

[mitchum]

1. Why is the GOVERNOR of a state heading the US delegation?

That damn family is so naked in their greed and ambition. A pox on all of them.

[Bozita]

4. getting ready for '08

[NashVegas]

27. Frist Is Busy With the Fundies This Weekend

..

[alcuno]

33. I would have begged my brother to send me.

Jeb's a Catholic; he likely begged to go.

[Name removed]

2. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[rodeodance]

8. yes, I agree-the name Bush is becoming very tiring indeed!!

[LongTomH]

9. You've forgotten.....

....both the e-voting machines and the Right-Wing Noise Machine. With those still in place, the Repubs could nominate Beelzebub himself and win.

[Catt03]

12. Right

It's going to happen.

[ltfranklin]

16. Absolutely correct.

They'll save a lot of time and money if they run Jeb Bush...the voting machines are hardwired on the string "BUSH". Shame to have to go back and reprogram them all, when all they have to do is put in somebody with "bush" in their name.

Hey, can we convince whoever runs on our side to change their first name to Obushek, or something? I'd drive the software crazy!

[54anickel]

19. They did nominate Beelzebub!...n/t

[SlavesandBulldozers]

37. some think they already have

nt

[UCLA Dem]

28. another problem with a jeb candidacy is that and i hate to say this

but his wife is Mexican-American. All those southern bigots aren't going to go for someone who isn't white.

that doesn't mean that they'll change their vote, but they just might stay home.

[not fooled]

31. yeah, but wifey might appeal to Hispanic voters

jeblubber's wife might appeal to the ignorant & naive among potential 'puke hispanic voters.

[1monster]

35. True, Columba Bush is a Latina, however, has anyone seen her this term?

I don't think she showed her face even during Jeb's reelction campaign.

Maybe she's been kidnapped by outer space aliens. :shrug:

[soup]

43. I don't think she enjoys the political spotlight.

If memory serves, I read somewhere that there was some question about JEBush-Bush running for office because of Columba. Can't find a cite to back it up, though.

Did find this:
>"Today I'm not going to make a speech -- I'm just going to tell you the story of my life," Columba Bush began her address to the students. Bush recounted how she met Jeb Bush, Florida's future governor, when she was 16 and living in central Mexico. She talked about how they fell in love, married and how she moved to the United States and put aside her aspirations to be an artist in Mexico City.

When her father-in-law decided to run for president, Jeb Bush planned to help him campaign while Columba Bush took care of their children.

"I thought 'What do I do now?' My husband is gone and I would have to take care of my two babies, and be campaigning and do all these things that I had never imagined that I would do," she said.<
http://www.sptimes.com/2002/11/13/State/Columba_Bush_tells_of.shtml


*sigh. How much better off would we all be if JEBush-Bush had put aside HIS aspirations and moved to Mexico City so his wife could pursue HER dreams of being an artist?

[LatePeriduct]

47. Oh my gosh!!

Just think of how much better it would have been for the disenfranchised, all the thousands of voters Jeb Bush loves to disenfranchise in Florida who are cuban american and other.

Instead of leaving the country, the thug had to set up a Mafia operation in the United States to persecute his own wife's people and use it to make money. This neo-fascist freak has no morals at all!

http://www.yuricareport.com

[dmr]

38. He may be the smarter brother

for whatever that is worth in that family, but he does one more thing better than Georgie. Believe it or not, he is even more evil.

[grasswire]

3. Neil was busy, perhaps

The family ties of Bushes to Ratzinger grow.

[davidinalameda]

7. someone send another hooker to his hotel w/o his knowledge

:shrug:

[DemBeans]

5. disgusting

Another international embarrassment to send this knuckle-dragger. Surely a prominent Catholic within the administration (if one exists) would be more appropriate.

[Mandate My Ass]

11. IIRC, Jebbie is a Catholic

and he converted to marry Paloma. Of course he's still a crook and a sleaze but at least he's a Catholic crook and sleaze.

[scarletlib]

22. no, he didn't convert to marry her.

he only officially converted to catholocism when he decided to run for governor of florida. was a somewhat political move to ensure he got the cuban votes.

[soup]

41. "after a priest talked politics from the pulpit"

>snip<
Bush was in an expansive mood Friday and spoke at length about why he decided to become a Catholic in 1995. His conversion came shortly after he lost his first campaign for governor in 1994, when his brother George was elected governor of Texas.

"I'd just gotten whupped in the governor's race in '94. It gave me a chance to kind of call time out, and think about important things," Bush said.
>snip<

But he also described breaking with the Episcopal church after a priest talked politics from the pulpit while his father, former President George Bush, was in the audience.

"He started talking about political issues, which I thought was completely inappropriate," Bush recalled. "My dad happened to be there and I didn't think he needed to get lectured by an Episcopal priest. I said, "I've had it."'
http://www.sptimes.com/2005/04/23/Worldandnation/Jeb_Bush_sent_to_Mass.shtml


I wonder what the sermon topic was that caused JEBush-Bush to be so upset?

[scarletlib]

48. thanks for the details

i was pretty sure he did this before his second run for governor but not 100%. I think his story about why he converted is pure hokum. He did it to further court cuban and hispanic voters in florida.

He is a hypocrite just like his big brother.

[soup]

49. You're welcome. I didn't know either, until I saw the article.

And I agree with your assessment. I truly believe they don't do ANYTHING without considering political gain.

Didn't he run as a radical right winger in 94? - After the loss, he changed tactics and switched to a less strident 'compassionate conservative' (only the name was changed) in 98.

If asked, I'd say that he's the bigger p.o.s. if only because he simply weighs more than his brother. He's also a bigger danger - if that's possible. I can't even entertain the thought of a run in 2008. It literally makes me ill.

[tanyev]

51. The offensive Episcopal priest probably

pointed out how Jesus said that the rich needed to take care of the poor.

[Frederik]

6. Why not Neil

who is already buddy with the new pope?

[0007]

42. Neil was used to suck him in and now Jeb will do the rest

[Dover]

10. It's time to put an end to the Bush dynasty

this is getting ridiculous...

Who do they think they ARE going around 'representing' this country?!

They have NOTHING in common with this country except the loot they've stolen and lives they've ruined.

[rkc3]

17. Looking at the current crop of bush kids, it would appear that

Jeb is their last best chance ruining America once and for all.

Barbara and Jenna are worthless and Jebbie's daughter is a prescription-drug skank who probably doesn't stand a chance in politics.

Not sure if Neil has any kids, but given his predilection to alcohol, drugs, and teen-aged Asian prostitutes, one can only imagine the offspring he'd provide us.

[shanti]

26. oh no, you forgot

the last george, jeb's son. HE is their future.

[soup]

50. Was George P. the stalker?

or the one caught with his pants down in a parking lot? They're all such 'lovely people' - I get them confused.

[Pacifist Patriot]

13. WTF?

This is beyond ridiculous.

[Dover]

14. ....probably just a cover for a secret meeting in Rome.

...

[CBHagman]

15. Boy, it's open pandering season for the Catholic vote.

I half expect Frist to start saying Mass on the floor of the Senate, or for Scott McClellan to declare that Laura Bush gave birth to Jenna and Barbara without loss of her virginity. :eyes:

[rkc3]

18. I thought they already said that.

Or maybe george just can't remember that blissful night when the bush twins were conceived (either too drunk/stoned or not involved at all).

[la la]

36. hmmm- I thought

they were test-tube babies.

When heredity AND environment are screwed up - not much chance of 'okay' kids!

:nopity:

[bookman]

20. Let me get this straight...

..we're paying for these guys to attend mass?

Gee, I wonder how much humvee protection that would buy for our troops?

[MindPilot]

21. "transition of leadership in the Roman Catholic Church"

to what, the United States? It sounds like we are going to be ruled from the Vatican.

[wakeme2008]

23. the fundies would not like that

remember Ireland...

[MADem]

45. Ha, shades of the KENNEDY complaint!

The way we now get around this, as we could not in Kennedy's day, is because the Vatican is a sovereign state, and we now (since Reagan, actually) have diplomatic relations with them, we share an ambassadorial relationship with them. This is equivalent to an inauguration. It's the sovereign nation aspect, not the religious, that rules the day in this instance.

[wicket]

24. Doesn't Bush know any different people??

He uses the same small group for EVERYTHING. This is in extremely poor taste!!!

[Geo55]

25. LOL.....naked indeed....

Get used to it WORLD....the b* name is THE current BRAND !!!!
"

[flaminbats]

29. if Dole had been Catholic..Clinton would of sent him

nothing about this administration is Christian. They have no interest in healing political divisions from the last election, and only seek to slap all Catholics in the face by picking a Protestant to head the delegation. Picking John Kerry is just too logical.

[HockeyMom]

30. No Santorum?

The quintessential Catholic - his 7 kids and all? Taking a dead fetus to show his kids, one sick puppy.

Don't bash me for that statement. I am a non practicing Catholic.

[not fooled]

32. jeblubber strengthening his phony religious credentials...

...to get in w/the fundies and hispanic Catholics. '08 here we come!!!
:puke: :puke: :puke:

Whaddya wanna bet his first official act (after they steal yet another election, w/help from the fundie crackpot vote) is to seal his brother's records. :eyes:

[Joey Liberal]

34. Please, no more Bush

Sadly, this country is dumb enough to elect Jethro Jeb in 2008.

[Erika]

39. Pope doesn't agree with the Iraq war or U.S. death penalty

They could have found someone alot more suitable to the Roman Catholic beliefs.

[PartyPooper]

40. Is his wife going, too? If so, I wonder if she's going "shopping" again.

Somebody better keep an eye on Colomba lest she cause another stir with U.S. customs upon her return after a "buying spree" in Rome.

Just a suggestion, of course.

:evilgrin:

[MADem]

44. A lot of interesting (and some valid) points in this thread!

I think the reason that he sent his bro is because he wanted someone who wouldn't speak out of turn, and who could actually follow the Mass (as he had a great deal of trouble). Also, it is CHEAPER to send your brother, as the level of force protection isn't quite the same. If Jeb thinks that going to Mass at the Vatican somehow increases his credentials, well, that shows us how dumb they think America as a group is...and who knows, they could be right, or it doesn't matter because all the voting machines are fixed.

I do feel sorry for the poor bastards at our Embassy in Rome, as well as the military personnel stationed both north and south of Rome....they are gonna get "additional duties" up the ying yang in support of this adventure (every congressman a king!). And I also feel sorry for the poor bastard stuck with herding Columba--those fancy shops don't open up special for the lousy wife of a lousy governor...they will do it in an eyeblink for a Mrs. Blair or Mrs. Putin, but there will be some schmoozing required by some poor embassy staffer to open the door to some governor's wife off-hours.

[soup]

46. re: increase his credentials

Worked so well when he was sent as a rep. for the tsunami disaster last December. Remember this one? It still makes me laugh. "Oh, Good for you." hahahaha


>The comedy was provided by the visiting governor of Florida, Jeb Bush, who might reasonably have expected at least a celebrity's welcome, if not a hero's. But even though he is the brother of the most powerful man of earth and came bearing news of a $350m (£186m) US contribution to the $2.5bn international relief effort, nobody seemed to know who he was.

"Who are you?" asked one slightly bemused Australian consular official as the large-girthed US stranger pumped his hand.

"I'm Jeb Bush."

"Oh, are you a relative of the president?" said the interlocuter, jokingly.

"Yes I am. I am his little brother."

"Oh," came the reply. "Good for you."
http://www.guardian.co.uk/tsunami/story/0,15671,1383549,00.html

[Massachusetts]

52. Save us Jeb