TX: George P. Bush leaning towards Land Commish

[RogueBeaver]

Among other things. I'm guessing he sticks with Land Commish because Abbott probably loses his primary to Perry.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/01/12/george-prescott-bush_n_2462552.html

[Zioneer]

Isn't Land Commissioner a powerful job in Texas? What kind of duties/responsibilities and power does it hold? Obviously an executive position (which the Bushes seem to like), but what exactly does it do?

[RogueBeaver]

Yep. State lands, energy, veterans affairs and parts of education are all under its jurisdiction.

http://www.glo.texas.gov/what-we-do/index.html

[You kip if you want to...]

Gearing up for the Governor's mansion at some point?

[○∙◄☻¥tπ[╪AV┼cVê└]

Because clearly his relatives with the same name didn't quite destroy America.

[Maxwell]

I'm waiting for all the hack CNN types to go WHAT ABOUT GEORGE P. BUSH 2024?? So tired of the Bushes.

[Indy Texas]

He's naive if he thinks he's going to be handed whichever statewide office he wants on a silver platter. The Bushes are a non-factor in state Republican politics. Uncle George might be good for raising money, but ultimately there are plenty of pols who will be offended that he isn't "paying his dues" and will call him a carpetbagger, plenty of TPers who will think he's an insufficiently conservative milquetoast, and a lot of deep-pocketed businessmen who may prefer someone like Rick Perry who can be easily plied with money and goodies in ways old-money WASP types generally can't be.

[RogueBeaver]

According to the article Perry's fine with the idea, plus it's an open seat to begin with.

[Zioneer]

According to the article Perry's fine with the idea, plus it's an open seat to begin with.

Really? I thought Perry had a vehement hatred for all the Bushes. Maybe he's fine with Jeb and his kids, just not Dubya?

[Simfan34]

Why are old school WASP types immune to being plied with money?

[Brittain33]

He's naive if he thinks he's going to be handed whichever statewide office he wants on a silver platter. The Bushes are a non-factor in state Republican politics. Uncle George might be good for raising money, but ultimately there are plenty of pols who will be offended that he isn't "paying his dues" and will call him a carpetbagger, plenty of TPers who will think he's an insufficiently conservative milquetoast, and a lot of deep-pocketed businessmen who may prefer someone like Rick Perry who can be easily plied with money and goodies in ways old-money WASP types generally can't be.

How about the fact that he is Latino but has a surname that won't make him struggle in a party primary?

[minionofmidas]

He's naive if he thinks he's going to be handed whichever statewide office he wants on a silver platter. The Bushes are a non-factor in state Republican politics. Uncle George might be good for raising money, but ultimately there are plenty of pols who will be offended that he isn't "paying his dues" and will call him a carpetbagger, plenty of TPers who will think he's an insufficiently conservative milquetoast, and a lot of deep-pocketed businessmen who may prefer someone like Rick Perry who can be easily plied with money and goodies in ways old-money WASP types generally can't be.

How about the fact that he is Latino but has a surname that won't make him struggle in a party primary?

Being not really Latino but having a Spanish surname is a net advantage in Texas politics, and the Spanish surname is what does it. He doesn't have the Spanish surname.

[Brittain33]

He's naive if he thinks he's going to be handed whichever statewide office he wants on a silver platter. The Bushes are a non-factor in state Republican politics. Uncle George might be good for raising money, but ultimately there are plenty of pols who will be offended that he isn't "paying his dues" and will call him a carpetbagger, plenty of TPers who will think he's an insufficiently conservative milquetoast, and a lot of deep-pocketed businessmen who may prefer someone like Rick Perry who can be easily plied with money and goodies in ways old-money WASP types generally can't be.

How about the fact that he is Latino but has a surname that won't make him struggle in a party primary?

Being not really Latino but having a Spanish surname is a net advantage in Texas politics, and the Spanish surname is what does it. He doesn't have the Spanish surname.

But conversely, having a Spanish name can make it very difficult to get past a Republican primary featuring low-information voters. I don't mean that pejoratively--Ted Cruz could win because he was high profile and had strong backing, but for down ballot elections, people are going on little information.

Once he clears a Republican primary, because he's a Bush, the fact that he is Hispanic will be well communicated.

[minionofmidas]

But conversely, having a Spanish name can make it very difficult to get past a Republican primary featuring low-information voters.

I am not sure why exactly (though the existence of a relatively large Hispanic Republican vote must have something to do with it) but in Texas, unlike other states, the positive effect in the GE appears to be greater as a rule than the negative effect in primaries. And it holds for Democrats in the GE as well (of course, that is comparing the White losers the Dems put up the Hispanic losers the Dems put up. I suppose the theoretic chances for an upset win if Republicans really foul up somehow would be higher with a White guy still.)

[RogueBeaver]

We don't even know if the primary will be contested- maybe resident Texans can chime in on that. As for Cruz, he wasn't high profile until fairly late. Started at 2-3% in the polls.

[Brittain33]

But conversely, having a Spanish name can make it very difficult to get past a Republican primary featuring low-information voters.

I am not sure why exactly (though the existence of a relatively large Hispanic Republican vote must have something to do with it) but in Texas, unlike other states, the positive effect in the GE appears to be greater as a rule than the negative effect in primaries. And it holds for Democrats in the GE as well (of course, that is comparing the White losers the Dems put up the Hispanic losers the Dems put up. I suppose the theoretic chances for an upset win if Republicans really foul up somehow would be higher with a White guy still.)

No doubt. But the primary is a bigger factor. TX Republicans don't need any help winning statewide races. It does help their image to get diversity in their ranks, but that is for other races, not the one Bush would run and win in. The biggest challenge so far has been getting Hispanic candidates through Republican primaries which are largely Anglo.

[CountryRoads]

George P. Bush 2024!

[Maxwell]

George P. Bush 2024!

-.-

[Oldiesfreak1854]

No, please!  Bush is literally a four-letter word as far as I'm concerned.

[Talleyrand]

No, please!  Bush is literally a four-letter word as far as I'm concerned.

Well, if he runs, this will be his- and easily too, so prep for that eventuality.