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Jeb Sees GOP as Reform Party

By Harry Kimball, Newser Staff

Posted Feb 14, 2009 3:23 PM CST

(Newser) – Jeb Bush cringes at the idea of running for office again, but that doesn’t mean he lacks bold vision for the Republican Party, writes Fred Barnes in the Wall Street Journal. Bush thinks the GOP should morph into a reform party, starting with the states. “A real effort to play offense outside of Washington in advancing a reform agenda” is necessary and possible, the former Florida governor said, where change “is easier to do.”

He's keen on reform of education (via Sweden's model) and immigration, and he advocates a GOP "shadow Cabinet" to publicize ideas. All of it, of course, focuses on "limited government," he says. “The next question you'll ask is what do I think of my brother's record. I think circumstances come into play. When you're attacked as a nation it's legitimate to spend resources to deal with huge holes in national security. And so there are times in history when it's important to use the power of government."

[Images (2)]

[Quotes (2)]

Former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush. (AP Photo)

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I would never want Obama to go through what my brother went through. It might be fair that every president gets the same amount of vitriol. But it's not going to help us, and it's not going to help Republicans. - Jeb Bush

You have to have an aspirational goal, and you have to communicate it over and over and over. You have to have the humility to recognize that people aren't watching your every word.
- Jeb Bush, on reforming the GOP

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COMMENTS

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Showing 3 of 12 comments

oldgoat

Feb 16, 2009 2:31 AM CST

The GOP is setting itself up for defeat again by continuing on with their filibuster tactics. Kind of hard to show reform when you are only trying to play politics with the running of the country.

Doctor-Zaius

Feb 15, 2009 8:22 PM CST

What's funny about the BDS myth is that it predicates itself upon the fact that Bush didn't earn the enmity he receives. The guy had a 91% approval rating at one time. You have to work awfully hard to screw that up.

riffran

Feb 15, 2009 5:34 AM CST

good ...bad....don't matter...with bush deraingement syndrom in full effect the Bush name is political cyanide....just don't see it happening

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education • Florida • GOP • reform • Republican Party • Jeb Bush • governor • George W. Bush

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