Blog Credo

The whole aim of practical politics is to keep the populace alarmed (and hence clamorous to be led to safety) by menacing it with an endless series of hobgoblins, all of them imaginary.

H.L. Mencken

Sunday, April 6, 2014

So Much For Jeb! 2016

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

James Carville once famously said that "Democrats have to fall in love, Republicans just fall in line."

The idea was that the GOP ultimately accepted the establishment candidate, even if that meant they weren't thrilled with the choice.

And certainly McCain and Romney were not beloved of the "base".

But Jeb Bush is the ultimately establishment candidate.  Socially moderate for the GOP and embracing immigration reform like his brother is fine with Wall Street.

But C+ Augustus couldn't get immigration reform through a Congress he controlled and the 2012 primary was basically a competition as to who could hate on immigrants more.  For Bush to come out now and call immigration an "act of love" will prove the ultimate test of whether the GOP establishment can force their candidate on the Tea Party base.

(The fact that Jeb is right, is of course irrelevant.)

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