The recent pickup in speaking engagements, and Chamber of Commerce schmoozing by Jeb has led many media outlets to speculate he is gearing up for a presidential run. This may be the case, but another explanation may be that he is using such venues simply to promote Common Core for personal and family business reasons. So far, Jeb's strategy, both with Common Core, and immigration, has brought him into direct conflict with the Republican Party's conservative base, not a good conventional wisdom strategy either to win the nomination, or encourage turnout in a general election. Sure, Jeb could bully his way to the nomination with big donor and establishment support, and without base support, but he would be in no position to win a general election in 2016.
Why would Jeb alienate the right wing base? One political explanation is that he is positioning the Bush family for future national political activity after the GOP has replaced the diminishing returns Southern Strategy with something else, and after his brother's legacy is perhaps less toxic. Jeb's recent activities may be the early stages of a Maoist "long march" back to political relevance for the Bushes, culminating in a presidential run in 2024 or 2028 by George P. Bush. Or it may be the beginnings of a 2016 big donor stimulated vanity run by Jeb. Time will tell.
Sarasota Herald-Tribune: Is Jeb Bush going to run in 2016?
Jeb Bush calls Common Core a ‘truth serum’; Michelle Malkin injects a dose of reality
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