The name of former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush is still prominently out there for 2016. A recent poll has him trailing Hillary Clinton by 7 percentage points in Iowa. And Jeb!, of course, has only fanned the flames of speculation with a book and political endorsements.
For perspective, however, it would be wise to keep certain context in mind, even for a wonky-smart, bi-lingual, moderate, adult Republican who made history by becoming the only two-term GOP governor of America’s pre-eminent swing state. Arguably, Jeb! has enough potential baggage to at least eliminate the exclamation point in the primaries or beyond.
* There’s that devalued Bush name. And even if his brother had been a success, his mom has awkwardly spoken for many by candidly noting that another Bush candidacy smacks of entitlement–a 4-letter GOPster word, if there ever was one.
* Jeb signed “Terri’s Law”–later declared unconstitutional–that would have given government the right to the ultimate intervention.
* He also signed legislation allowing utility companies to charge customers for power plants that were never built.
* Jeb presided over 21 executions, not considered a moderate number, and zero commutations.
* While educational accountability is Jeb’s mantra, many perceive the curriculum-skewing, teacher-enraging FCAT as a dubious legacy.
* Jeb’s Foundation for Excellence in Education is hardly all upside. Charges are still out there that FEE, for example, used donations from for-profit companies to lobby for state education laws that could benefit those companies.
* And Jeb’s wife Columba is not thought to be all in on any presidential scenario. As we know, she took one for the team in Tallahassee–which is hardly comparable to the media glare of the White House.
But, still, only 7 points behind Hillary Clinton.