Carville: Jeb Bush will be GOP nominee
Will Jeb Bush be the 2008 Republican nominee? CNN analyst James Carville said yes, in a panel discussion Tuesday.
NEW YORK (CNN) - Democratic strategist and CNN analyst James Carville tossed out a provocative idea during a panel discussion on politics Tuesday.
At CNN's America Votes 2008 Breakfast, the chief architect of Bill Clinton's successful 1992 presidential run predicted that former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush will be the Republican nominee in 2008. Jeb is a younger brother of President Bush.
Carville bolstered his prediction, highlighting Jeb Bush's career: He was a successful governor of a large state, he enjoys the support of social conservatives, he speaks Spanish, and "he's somebody the party could rally around," Carville said.
"There is nobody in this field who can rally the Republican Party; he's the only person in America that can do it," he added.
But fellow CNN analyst and former Oklahoma GOP Congressman J.C. Watts disagreed with Carville, saying, "The conventional wisdom caucus, the establishment of the Party, pardon my English, but they ain't going to allow that to happen."
There has been high speculation that Jeb Bush might make a run at the White House in 2008, but then, late last year, he said he would not run.
Former President George H.W. Bush suggested to CNN's Larry King last April that "Bush Fatigue" may be one of the reasons the former Florida governor is sitting out the 2008 race.
But the former president predicted his youngest son may enter politics again in the future.
"I hope that Jeb, who left office looking good, is not through with politics," the elder Bush said. " I think he's a good man, most other people think that, a man of principle. And I think he's got a future."
In addition to Carville and Watts, the panel included CNN analysts and contributors Paul Begala, Donna Brazile, Gloria Borger, Bill Bennett, and Amy Holmes.
- CNN's John Helton and Alexander Mooney
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What many people don't understand is that President Bush's vision and policies are not that hated. What's resented is that perceivable he hasn't been able to push for and successfully implement his vision enough (mainly b/c he's lost political capital...). There's a 50+1% in this country who want someone with the President's vision and policies who can actually articulate and successfully implement those policies. Jeb Bush would be the perfect candidate. His only Achilles heel is that a few extremists in his party are going to resisit his friendly immigration policies towards Cuban refugees as well illegal immigrants for whom he'll also favor a guest-worker program.
But again, if it's against Hillary, I think the conservative base will let that go and rally behind him.
Everyone know Jeb's hands are dirty from Jack Abramoff affair. He can't stop it from coming out with committee investigations.
"Bush Fatigue"?????
We had that in 2000.
What Mr. Carville means is, "Please don't nominate Dr. Paul for president!" Bush fatigue doesn't begin to describe the feeling ...
that would be hilarious if the two nominees were a Clinton and a Bush again... surreal
Please Jeb...don't get any bright ideas here...Florida had enough of you...why would the rest of our great country want to suffer as well?
He would have the full support of the war profiteers.
There a lots of soverign nations we haven't invaded yet.
I was predicting Jeb last year, but there's no way now, I suppose. Maybe Carville is just stickin' it to the Republicans. Jeb was polling under 1% before he took himself out of the race.
As for Romney's remark that "if his last name wasn't Bush, he'd be the one to beat", well, if his last name wasn't Bush, he'd be lucky to be managing a 7/11 in East Texas.
Is this supposed to be some kind of joke? It's NOT funny.
"George H. W. Bush was one of the most qualified President's in our history. He was a two term Congressman, Ambassador to the UN, Chairman of the RNC, Ambassador to China, Director of the CIA, and two term Vice President. To describe him as incompetent is clearly wrong as well."
Posted By Jared, Nashville, TN : October 16, 2007 4:16 pm
It isn't the qualifications, it's how the qualifications are utilized. The Bush's rank among the most ornery lot amongst people in power across history.
Most people are too fatigued from the collective misery of enduring all the Bush's, to find Carville's joke funny, as he indeed MUST BE JOKING.
Just reading the list of panelists is enougn to carry us back to another century but another Bush?
No, No, No, we deserve better than that! Even the cosmetic clips promise more than a fate worse than death.
Not a big fan of the past presidents BUSH/CLINTON/BUSH/BUSH OR CLINTON
There's 300 million people in this country, let's get some new blood in the W. H.
Google Ron Paul
That is just simply not going to happen. If the complains concerning this administration from various people that I know mean anything no one who's last name is Bush is every going to be President again. I'm supporting Ron Paul the anti-bush candidate.
Run another Bush, go for it. I doubt if he could win if he were proclaimed JC himself at the present time in our nations history. Jeb's the smart one, he will sit this one out.
We Americans would be just dumb enough to do it.
The only way Jeb would have a chance of winning, is if he specifically said he disagrees with continuing the war in Iraq, as well as some other policies set by his brother.
A broken insurance system.
A broken property tax system.
A broken education system.
Terri Schiavo
Isn't that enough?
Obviously Carvilles' never been to Florida.
I surely hope not, we don't need any more Bushes for any reason.