Jeb Bush reticent on his future as term ends
Jeb Bush reticent on his future as term ends
By Andrew Ward
Published: January 1 2007 17:46 Last updated: January 1 2007 17:46
When Jeb Bush was asked recently how he planned to spend his first day after stepping down as governor of Florida, he reeled off a checklist of things he wanted to do: “I hope to wake up. Work out. Maybe read the local paper. Sports page probably. Hang out with my wife.”
About his longer-term plans, Mr Bush was more reticent. “I’m going to try to take some time off to reflect on what I should be doing and not rush into the next thing,” he said.
But Mr Bush’s efforts to duck questions about his future seem unlikely to quash feverish speculation about what that “next thing” might be.
The 53-year-old brother of President George W. Bush finishes his second and final term as governor of the Sunshine State on Tuesday when Charlie Crist, his Republican successor, is inaugurated in Tallahassee.
While his brother limps towards the end of his troubled presidency, the younger Mr Bush is leaving office on a high. A recent poll showed his approval rating at 63 per cent.
Praised for his hands-on leadership style, steady economic stewardship and deft handling of several hurricanes, Mr Bush is described by David Colburn, professor of history at the University of Florida, as “perhaps the most influential governor in state history”.
Mr Bush has already rejected opportunities to jump straight into another big job, including Republican pressure for him to run for the Senate and an offer to become commissioner of the National Football League.
Friends say his first priority is to make money, having seen his wealth shrink from $2.4m to $1.4m during his eight years on the governor’s $130,000-a-year salary, according to public disclosures.
Few people, however, believe Mr Bush has permanently finished with politics. Although he has ruled out running for president in 2008, some analysts believe he could yet be persuaded to join the Republican ticket as nominee for vice-president.
Peter Schweizer, co-author of The Bushes: Portrait of a Dynasty, says Mr Bush has three main attractions as a vice-presidential candidate.
First, he would improve the Republicans’ chances of winning Florida, likely once again to be a crucial battleground state.
Second, he would bring the formidable fundraising power and political machinery of the Bush family.
Third, his solid record of social and fiscal conservatism would reassure grass roots Republicans if a more moderate candidate, such as John McCain, heads the ticket.
Mr Bush has cut taxes, vetoed spending bills and led the ill-fated fight to save Terri Schiavo, the brain-damaged woman whose case became a cause célèbre for the Christian right before her death in 2005.
“If you asked most Americans they would have the opposite impression, but Jeb is more conservative than his brother,” says Mr Schweizer.
But great as his appeal may be to many Republicans, most analysts believe 2008 is too soon to ask the broader US electorate to vote for another Bush, even as vice-president. “America has had its fill of Bushes,” says Larry Sabato, professor of politics at the University of Virginia. “I don’t think [the vice-presidential nomination] will be offered to Jeb and if it were I don’t think he would accept. Unlike Hillary [Clinton], he’s smart enough to understand that American voters don’t like dynasties.”
Polls show that the rest of the country does not share Florida’s enthusiasm for Mr Bush, with only 28 per cent of US voters expressing a favourable opinion of him and 45 per cent voicing an unfavourable opinion in a recent survey.
Mr Bush started his working life with Texas Commerce Bank, now part of JPMorgan Chase, for whom he spent two years setting up its operation in Venezuela. His family eventually settled in Florida, where Mr Bush became a partner in a real estate development firm and dabbled in entrepreneurial ventures, ranging from part ownership of a football team to exporting water pumps to Nigeria, with mixed success.
History could have turned out differently had Mr Bush not lost his first run for the Florida governorship in 1994, the same year his brother was elected governor of Texas. “The overwhelming consensus was that Jeb was going to win and George W. was going to lose,” recalls Mr Schweizer. “Had that happened, it’s safe to assume Jeb would have ended up running for president rather than his brother.”
Asked by Spanish-language reporters last month about his political future, Mr Bush replied: “No tengo futuro” – “I have no future.” But in an earlier interview he indicated his ambitions were not yet fulfilled. “I hope there’s more to remember than the first 53 years of my life,” he said. “There’s stuff to do. I don’t know what it’ll be but I hope to be remembered by a larger body of experiences than what I’ve had so far.”
http://www.ft.com/cms/s/235c3e48-99bf-11db-8b6d-0000779e2340.html
By Andrew Ward
Published: January 1 2007 17:46 Last updated: January 1 2007 17:46
When Jeb Bush was asked recently how he planned to spend his first day after stepping down as governor of Florida, he reeled off a checklist of things he wanted to do: “I hope to wake up. Work out. Maybe read the local paper. Sports page probably. Hang out with my wife.”
About his longer-term plans, Mr Bush was more reticent. “I’m going to try to take some time off to reflect on what I should be doing and not rush into the next thing,” he said.
But Mr Bush’s efforts to duck questions about his future seem unlikely to quash feverish speculation about what that “next thing” might be.
The 53-year-old brother of President George W. Bush finishes his second and final term as governor of the Sunshine State on Tuesday when Charlie Crist, his Republican successor, is inaugurated in Tallahassee.
While his brother limps towards the end of his troubled presidency, the younger Mr Bush is leaving office on a high. A recent poll showed his approval rating at 63 per cent.
Praised for his hands-on leadership style, steady economic stewardship and deft handling of several hurricanes, Mr Bush is described by David Colburn, professor of history at the University of Florida, as “perhaps the most influential governor in state history”.
Mr Bush has already rejected opportunities to jump straight into another big job, including Republican pressure for him to run for the Senate and an offer to become commissioner of the National Football League.
Friends say his first priority is to make money, having seen his wealth shrink from $2.4m to $1.4m during his eight years on the governor’s $130,000-a-year salary, according to public disclosures.
Few people, however, believe Mr Bush has permanently finished with politics. Although he has ruled out running for president in 2008, some analysts believe he could yet be persuaded to join the Republican ticket as nominee for vice-president.
Peter Schweizer, co-author of The Bushes: Portrait of a Dynasty, says Mr Bush has three main attractions as a vice-presidential candidate.
First, he would improve the Republicans’ chances of winning Florida, likely once again to be a crucial battleground state.
Second, he would bring the formidable fundraising power and political machinery of the Bush family.
Third, his solid record of social and fiscal conservatism would reassure grass roots Republicans if a more moderate candidate, such as John McCain, heads the ticket.
Mr Bush has cut taxes, vetoed spending bills and led the ill-fated fight to save Terri Schiavo, the brain-damaged woman whose case became a cause célèbre for the Christian right before her death in 2005.
“If you asked most Americans they would have the opposite impression, but Jeb is more conservative than his brother,” says Mr Schweizer.
But great as his appeal may be to many Republicans, most analysts believe 2008 is too soon to ask the broader US electorate to vote for another Bush, even as vice-president. “America has had its fill of Bushes,” says Larry Sabato, professor of politics at the University of Virginia. “I don’t think [the vice-presidential nomination] will be offered to Jeb and if it were I don’t think he would accept. Unlike Hillary [Clinton], he’s smart enough to understand that American voters don’t like dynasties.”
Polls show that the rest of the country does not share Florida’s enthusiasm for Mr Bush, with only 28 per cent of US voters expressing a favourable opinion of him and 45 per cent voicing an unfavourable opinion in a recent survey.
Mr Bush started his working life with Texas Commerce Bank, now part of JPMorgan Chase, for whom he spent two years setting up its operation in Venezuela. His family eventually settled in Florida, where Mr Bush became a partner in a real estate development firm and dabbled in entrepreneurial ventures, ranging from part ownership of a football team to exporting water pumps to Nigeria, with mixed success.
History could have turned out differently had Mr Bush not lost his first run for the Florida governorship in 1994, the same year his brother was elected governor of Texas. “The overwhelming consensus was that Jeb was going to win and George W. was going to lose,” recalls Mr Schweizer. “Had that happened, it’s safe to assume Jeb would have ended up running for president rather than his brother.”
Asked by Spanish-language reporters last month about his political future, Mr Bush replied: “No tengo futuro” – “I have no future.” But in an earlier interview he indicated his ambitions were not yet fulfilled. “I hope there’s more to remember than the first 53 years of my life,” he said. “There’s stuff to do. I don’t know what it’ll be but I hope to be remembered by a larger body of experiences than what I’ve had so far.”
http://www.ft.com/cms/s/235c3e48-99bf-11db-8b6d-0000779e2340.html
posted by presgore19 at 11:14 AM
<< Home