Bush Name No Longer a Hinderance for Jeb?

[Grumpier Than Uncle Joe]

I would think again before being sure people will not hold his name against him. The whole dynasty effect would turn a lot of people off.

I completely agree......the name is toxic in my view, but if not, the dynasty issue will turn almost everyone off.

[Grumpier Than Uncle Joe]

Even if GWB would increase in popularity, I think Gramps is right.  We're not a monarchy.

Can you think of any other Republican who can win in 2012?  I know the old saying about presidential popularity being the ceiling for voting support, but how did that work out for Harry Reid?  Assuming any Republican wins because Obama will be unpopular doesn't hold water with me.

Mitt Romney - Can't connect with voters and failed in 2008
Tim Pawlenty - Possible, but a real snoozer
Sarah Palin  - Only if all Democrats and Independents die before 2012
Mike Huckabee - He's limited to the Bible belt
Rick Santorum - Is this guy that stupid?
John Bolten - Got milk?
Newt - Too divisive
Haley Barbour - Possible, but he's foghorn leghorn
John Thune - Possible, but tough to win the early primaries
Mitch Daniels - Needs a charisma injection, but possible
Bobby Jindal - Running in 2011 hurts any run in 2012
Chris Christie - Interesting, but has said it ain't happening in 2012
Jon Huntsman - Interesting, but too moderate for some

I know the knock against Jeb is his last name, but the others I mentioned have real problems.  Obama, from my perspective, looks to be in great shape because the field for Republicans is so awful.

Whacker, with all due, they're not going to put up Jeb simply because the rest are putzes.

[Grumpier Than Uncle Joe]

Reagan, Bush, and Dole were all well respected by Republican primary voters.  McCain, on the other hand, won by sucking the least.  Romney's problem is that a good section of the conservative base doesn't like him or believe him.  Otherwise, he would have been the nominee in 2008. 

Personally, I think Romney is the only guy in the projected field who can stop Palin.  That's due to his money, but he would need a large field to spread out the vote.  If Huckabee doesn't run, most of his support goes to Palin.  How in the world do Newt and Romney compete with her then?  Sarah has all of the grassroots energy.

Jeb Bush only runs as a "white knight" choice.  In other words, late next summer or early fall it becomes apparent that no one in the projected field can stop Palin and the party decides they must field someone who can compete with her.  That's where Jeb comes in to the fray.

I just can't see the tradionalist Republican party allowing Palin to march uncontested to the nomination without a real fight.  That's the main reason I keep coming back to this argument.  Some of the conservative commentators with whom I trade emails feel the same way.  Palin is the prohibative favorite.

Jeb basically said this morning on Morning Joe he's not running......