CNN: A hopeful Ruben Navarrette wants to apply the soothing balm of Jeb Bush to the 2012 election

[Amerigo Vespucci]

Paging Jeb Bush -- for 2012
By Ruben Navarrette Jr., CNN Contributor
November 11, 2010 8:40 a.m. EST



http://www.cnn.com/2010/OPINION/11/11/navarrette.george.jeb.bush/index.html?hpt=Sbin

While Jeb has his share of detractors, he also seems to have the same knack for bringing people together that his big brother had for driving them apart. And, with the Tea Party ready to go to war with the GOP establishment in the political equivalent of a cage match for control of the Republican Party, that skill set could come in handy.

***

George W. Bush has said he doesn't think his brother will run for president in 2012, and he might be right. But that could change, and W is right to say he hopes it does. After all, with Latinos on their way to becoming 20 percent of the U.S. population, one of W's most significant political legacies is that he showed that Republicans could get a fair hearing from Latinos -- if they gave those voters the respect denied them by Democrats who take their support for granted.

In some parts of the country, as tempers flare over the immigration issue, that legacy is now being threatened. George W. Bush built all these bridges to the Latino community, and they're being blown up one by one by idiotic and shortsighted opportunists in his own party who aren't thinking long-term.

Someone needs to get in there and repair the breach. Someone needs to convince Hispanics that Republicans aren't their enemies and point out that Democrats haven't always been very good friends. Paging baby brother.

[TwilightGardener]

1. Latinos were denied respect from Democrats?

Republicans aren't their enemies? After Arizona...REALLY? Gets so hard to read this bullshit sometimes. The lies pile up so fast, there's barely time to call it a lie.

[muntrv]

2. Yes, Ruben! Let's also add endless wars to the list!

[muntrv]

3. 2 words, Ruben: JAN BREWER. Another 2 words: RUSSEL PEARCE.

[CTPatriot]

6. Oh But Don't You Know...

Jeb is married to a hispanic woman. So that fixes everything. Quick, look over there! Something shiny!

[ixion]

4. Jeb is an ass clown, just like his 'big bro'

and he doesn't "bring people together."

And as far as I'm concerned, the whole BFEE should be exiled to Saudi Arabia.

[Angry Dragon]

5. I believe their roots are in Germany