Comments on: On The Increasingly Looooong Length Of Presidential Campaigns http://themoderatevoice.com/10394/on-the-increasingly-looooong-length-of-presidential-campaigns/ An Internet hub for moderates, centrists, and independents, with domestic and international news, analysis, original reporting, and popular features from the left, center, and right Mon, 23 Nov 2009 08:34:53 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: Top Blogs » Presidential Campaigns Are Too Long http://themoderatevoice.com/10394/on-the-increasingly-looooong-length-of-presidential-campaigns/comment-page-1/#comment-49117 Top Blogs » Presidential Campaigns Are Too Long Sun, 04 Feb 2007 22:15:07 +0000 http://themoderatevoice.com/politics/on-the-increasingly-looooong-length-of-presidential-campaigns/#comment-49117 [...] [UPDATE: Over at The Moderate Voice, where Joe Gandelman has generously linked to this post, commenters are speculating about why Jeb Bush isn’t making a run for the presidency in 2008 or if he will in 2012. So far, they seem to feel that President Bush’s tenure has damaged the Bush brand name. That may be. But, I write there: I’m inclined to agree that Jeb Bush would have a difficult time overcoming apprehensions people might have about voting for another member of his family. At least, in 2008. [...] [...] [UPDATE: Over at The Moderate Voice, where Joe Gandelman has generously linked to this post, commenters are speculating about why Jeb Bush isn’t making a run for the presidency in 2008 or if he will in 2012. So far, they seem to feel that President Bush’s tenure has damaged the Bush brand name. That may be. But, I write there: I’m inclined to agree that Jeb Bush would have a difficult time overcoming apprehensions people might have about voting for another member of his family. At least, in 2008. [...]

]]> By: Kim Ritter http://themoderatevoice.com/10394/on-the-increasingly-looooong-length-of-presidential-campaigns/comment-page-1/#comment-45669 Kim Ritter Mon, 22 Jan 2007 18:23:15 +0000 http://themoderatevoice.com/politics/on-the-increasingly-looooong-length-of-presidential-campaigns/#comment-45669 <em>It’s worked before. Chances are, he could make a very viable run for the presidency.</em> Lets hope not. I think the American public has had it with political dynasties. Just because he has the fundraising prowess, doesn't make it a good idea. It’s worked before. Chances are, he could make a very viable run for the presidency.

Lets hope not. I think the American public has had it with political dynasties. Just because he has the fundraising prowess, doesn’t make it a good idea.

]]> By: Kim Ritter http://themoderatevoice.com/10394/on-the-increasingly-looooong-length-of-presidential-campaigns/comment-page-1/#comment-45617 Kim Ritter Mon, 22 Jan 2007 15:16:37 +0000 http://themoderatevoice.com/politics/on-the-increasingly-looooong-length-of-presidential-campaigns/#comment-45617 He'll have to sneak on the ticket as a VP candidate, though after our misadventures with the Cheney co-presidency, even that might be hazardous to the national health! In all fairness, Jeb has done well in Florida, but I couldn't stand the prospect of the same advisors from Bush I and II helping Bush III. I'm hesitant to vote for any governor who has no foreign policy experience, because that is how we got into the mess we're in. GW had very little foreign policy knowlege or experience, and so was vulnerable to disasterous advice. Many of those who gave it to him, now sport Medals of Freedom, as though they had contributed some great service to their country. He’ll have to sneak on the ticket as a VP candidate, though after our misadventures with the Cheney co-presidency, even that might be hazardous to the national health! In all fairness, Jeb has done well in Florida, but I couldn’t stand the prospect of the same advisors from Bush I and II helping Bush III. I’m hesitant to vote for any governor who has no foreign policy experience, because that is how we got into the mess we’re in. GW had very little foreign policy knowlege or experience, and so was vulnerable to disasterous advice. Many of those who gave it to him, now sport Medals of Freedom, as though they had contributed some great service to their country.

]]> By: Chuck Prez http://themoderatevoice.com/10394/on-the-increasingly-looooong-length-of-presidential-campaigns/comment-page-1/#comment-45598 Chuck Prez Mon, 22 Jan 2007 14:36:13 +0000 http://themoderatevoice.com/politics/on-the-increasingly-looooong-length-of-presidential-campaigns/#comment-45598 I'm actually forming an exploratory committee to look at my impending run for the White House in 2028...always good to have a head start!!! I’m actually forming an exploratory committee to look at my impending run for the White House in 2028…always good to have a head start!!!

]]> By: Mark Daniels http://themoderatevoice.com/10394/on-the-increasingly-looooong-length-of-presidential-campaigns/comment-page-1/#comment-45567 Mark Daniels Mon, 22 Jan 2007 13:17:58 +0000 http://themoderatevoice.com/politics/on-the-increasingly-looooong-length-of-presidential-campaigns/#comment-45567 I'm inclined to agree that Jeb Bush would have a difficult time overcoming apprehensions people might have about voting for another member of his family. At least, in 2008. Here in Ohio, through petty corruptions that caused him to be the first governor ever convicted of crimes while in office and what's perceived as general ineffectiveness, Bob Taft has, at least for the forseeable future, killed the Taft brand in this state. And that's saying something: His great-grandfather was President and US Supreme Court Chief Justice; his grandfather the Republican leader in the US Senate who vied for the 1952 GOP nod for President; his father was US Senator; and miscellaneous cousins and uncles have served in other political positions. The Taft name has been ballot box magic in this state for generations. Not at this time, though. So, brand names can be killed off. But a cautionary note or two... First: When George H.W. Bush left office in January, 1993, he was an unpopular man. The left derided him for insensitivity to the economic condition of America's middle class, as well as of the poor. The right saw him as a tax-raiser who welched on promises. Many commentators saw him as ineffectual. The Clinton years, in the eyes of many, made the elder Bush's presidency look better. George W. Bush was elected, in part, on a wave of nostalgia...for the days of a President who was voted out of office! People's opinions change. Second: Whether we like to admit it or not, we Americans love royalty. We're also lazy, tending to cast often misinformed votes for names we know. Names like Bush, Kennedy, Gore, Dailey (in Chicago), Brown (in California), Bayh (in Indiana), Romney, Adams, Harrison, Roosevelt, Taft, and others have appeared over and over again on national, statewide, and local ballots in our nation's history. (To which one can now add the name of Clinton.) People related to a successful politician has a leg up in gaining such success themselves. Many of the heirs of these names may have been well-qualified for the offices they sought and won. But often, they're able to tap into the contribution lists and contacts of their relatives to present themselves as solid, dependable choices for office. They're the comfort food of electoral politics. Jeb Bush may one day make a run for the presidency. He will argue, rightly, "I love my brother, but he and I are two different people." But, he'll also be able to tap into the financing of past Bush campaigns and into the gauzy memories of voters. It's worked before. Chances are, he could make a very viable run for the presidency. Mark Daniels http://markdaniels.blogspot.com I’m inclined to agree that Jeb Bush would have a difficult time overcoming apprehensions people might have about voting for another member of his family. At least, in 2008.

Here in Ohio, through petty corruptions that caused him to be the first governor ever convicted of crimes while in office and what’s perceived as general ineffectiveness, Bob Taft has, at least for the forseeable future, killed the Taft brand in this state. And that’s saying something: His great-grandfather was President and US Supreme Court Chief Justice; his grandfather the Republican leader in the US Senate who vied for the 1952 GOP nod for President; his father was US Senator; and miscellaneous cousins and uncles have served in other political positions. The Taft name has been ballot box magic in this state for generations. Not at this time, though. So, brand names can be killed off.

But a cautionary note or two…

First: When George H.W. Bush left office in January, 1993, he was an unpopular man. The left derided him for insensitivity to the economic condition of America’s middle class, as well as of the poor. The right saw him as a tax-raiser who welched on promises. Many commentators saw him as ineffectual.

The Clinton years, in the eyes of many, made the elder Bush’s presidency look better. George W. Bush was elected, in part, on a wave of nostalgia…for the days of a President who was voted out of office!

People’s opinions change.

Second: Whether we like to admit it or not, we Americans love royalty. We’re also lazy, tending to cast often misinformed votes for names we know. Names like Bush, Kennedy, Gore, Dailey (in Chicago), Brown (in California), Bayh (in Indiana), Romney, Adams, Harrison, Roosevelt, Taft, and others have appeared over and over again on national, statewide, and local ballots in our nation’s history. (To which one can now add the name of Clinton.) People related to a successful politician has a leg up in gaining such success themselves.

Many of the heirs of these names may have been well-qualified for the offices they sought and won. But often, they’re able to tap into the contribution lists and contacts of their relatives to present themselves as solid, dependable choices for office. They’re the comfort food of electoral politics.

Jeb Bush may one day make a run for the presidency. He will argue, rightly, “I love my brother, but he and I are two different people.” But, he’ll also be able to tap into the financing of past Bush campaigns and into the gauzy memories of voters.

It’s worked before. Chances are, he could make a very viable run for the presidency.

Mark Daniels
http://markdaniels.blogspot.com

]]> By: Gray http://themoderatevoice.com/10394/on-the-increasingly-looooong-length-of-presidential-campaigns/comment-page-1/#comment-45566 Gray Mon, 22 Jan 2007 13:06:52 +0000 http://themoderatevoice.com/politics/on-the-increasingly-looooong-length-of-presidential-campaigns/#comment-45566 Don't want to say that Jeb wouldn't have been the better president. It's probable he would have been (even though George's conduct as governor didn't necessarily lead to the impression he would be such a mess in the WH, either). But, of course, those 'what would have happened, if' games are quite useless... Don’t want to say that Jeb wouldn’t have been the better president. It’s probable he would have been (even though George’s conduct as governor didn’t necessarily lead to the impression he would be such a mess in the WH, either). But, of course, those ‘what would have happened, if’ games are quite useless…

]]> By: Michael van der Galien http://themoderatevoice.com/10394/on-the-increasingly-looooong-length-of-presidential-campaigns/comment-page-1/#comment-45562 Michael van der Galien Mon, 22 Jan 2007 12:34:44 +0000 http://themoderatevoice.com/politics/on-the-increasingly-looooong-length-of-presidential-campaigns/#comment-45562 Good question Gray, I agree with you on this one. Jeb cannot possibly overcome the unpopularity of George. He knows that, he'll never run. Good question Gray, I agree with you on this one. Jeb cannot possibly overcome the unpopularity of George. He knows that, he’ll never run.

]]> By: Gray http://themoderatevoice.com/10394/on-the-increasingly-looooong-length-of-presidential-campaigns/comment-page-1/#comment-45518 Gray Mon, 22 Jan 2007 09:00:07 +0000 http://themoderatevoice.com/politics/on-the-increasingly-looooong-length-of-presidential-campaigns/#comment-45518 "I`m actually shocked that Jeb won`t even try this time around." Hehehe! Are you living on the dark side of the moon or did you write this 'tongue in cheek'? :D “I`m actually shocked that Jeb won`t even try this time around.”

Hehehe! Are you living on the dark side of the moon or did you write this ‘tongue in cheek’?
:D

]]> By: Gray http://themoderatevoice.com/10394/on-the-increasingly-looooong-length-of-presidential-campaigns/comment-page-1/#comment-45517 Gray Mon, 22 Jan 2007 08:58:57 +0000 http://themoderatevoice.com/politics/on-the-increasingly-looooong-length-of-presidential-campaigns/#comment-45517 "Does Jeb Bush have everything in place yet?" Does he believe he can overcome the damage his brother has done to the Bush brand? I don't think so. “Does Jeb Bush have everything in place yet?”

Does he believe he can overcome the damage his brother has done to the Bush brand? I don’t think so.

]]> By: profbacon http://themoderatevoice.com/10394/on-the-increasingly-looooong-length-of-presidential-campaigns/comment-page-1/#comment-45516 profbacon Mon, 22 Jan 2007 08:30:58 +0000 http://themoderatevoice.com/politics/on-the-increasingly-looooong-length-of-presidential-campaigns/#comment-45516 I`m actually shocked that Jeb won`t even try this time around. This will be the first time since 1976 there won`t be a Bush or a Dole on the national ticket. Still the reality of a Bush, Clinton, Bush, Clinton (Probable), Bush (Probable) pattern probably has some Biblical significance. I`m actually shocked that Jeb won`t even try this time around. This will be the first time since 1976 there won`t be a Bush or a Dole on the national ticket. Still the reality of a Bush, Clinton, Bush, Clinton (Probable), Bush (Probable) pattern probably has some Biblical significance.

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