Part of the fallout from the embarrassing resignation of Florida Education Commissioner Tony Bennett is raining down on Jeb Bush. The former Florida governor recruited Bennett, a testing- and school-grading true believer, and vigorously defended him after he resigned under duress. Now we hear how Jeb! might be losing more than that well-worn exclamation point. Jeb might be losing whatever viable shot he had as the compromise, Republican presidential candidate in 2016.
But even if Tony Bennett hadn’t left his credibility in Indiana, Jeb Bush was looking at a highly problematic presidential scenario. The grade-changer is not really a game changer.
Bush is synonymous with “FCAT” and the A-to-F school grading system. These, along with the Bush-supported parent “trigger bill,” are no longer political winners–even if its backers keep equating them with “accountability.” The public–not just teacher unions–increasingly realizes that teaching-to-the-test scenarios are counterproductive and that schools do, indeed, reflect real-world, socio-economic influences. Consequently, your basic business model doesn’t apply. Jeb, arguably, is no longer the oracle of educational reform.
But, lest we forget, Bush has other issues militating against the ultimate, political ambition–even before he started tinkering with his moderate position on immigration. For openers, he’s still lugging around that devalued surname–the one more associated with George Bush Junior than Senior. Something about a squandered surplus, a skewed tax, ill-timed deregulation, an unnecessary war and an unfunded prescription-drug benefit. Other GOPsters–think Chris Christie–can distance themselves from “W.” Jeb would risk ideological fratricide–neither politically or personally appealing.
More to the point, the prospect of a third Bush presidency in five administrations connotes entitlement. How un-Tea Party. Hell, how un-American.
Plus, the track record of the Sunshine State’s only two-term GOP governor would still be fair game for certain self-serving cherry-pickers. It ranges from leading the charge to repeal the high-speed rail amendment and being politically calculating on off-shore oil drilling to signing (the unconstitutional) “Terri’s Law” and presiding over 21 executions.
Jeb Bush will remain a player in the next cycle, but likely not a viable presidential candidate. Call it the continuing education of the American electorate.