FL-Senate: Jeb Bush Will Not Run

**Terri** · #1 01-06-2009, 05:22 PM

Washington Post

UPDATED, 3:48 p.m. ET: Former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush will not run for the open Senate seat of Sen. Mel Martinez, he announced in a statement released moments ago.

"After thoughtful consideration, I have decided not to run for the United States Senate in 2010," said Bush. "While the opportunity to serve my state and country during these turbulent and dynamic times is compelling, now is not the right time to return to elected office."

Bush's decision robs Republicans of a top-tier recruit who would have immediately been favored to hold Martinez's seat. Without Bush in the race, Republicans are almost certain to play host to a crowded and competitive primary.

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de Seis · #2 01-06-2009, 06:12 PM

That's going to be one highly-contested Senate race then. I'm glad to see Mel go, but a Senator Diaz would be much, much worse.

There's going to be no Bush as POTUS, governor or Senate for the first time in decades.

KatyJ · #3 01-06-2009, 06:55 PM

CFO Alex Sink scares the living daylights out of me. She is an extreme liberal.

Hopefully, our party will come out with a conservative candidate. This state does not need another Senator Bill Nelson.

utexas · #4 01-07-2009, 08:48 PM

I guess all you Jeb-bashers can relax now, at least for another couple of years. Maybe he is resting up and filling up his war chest to run for the Big One in 2012. Wouldn’t that be something?

By the way, be aware of the old saying, ‘Be careful what you wish for because you just might get it.’ You wish Jeb wouldn’t run for the Senate because you think he is too moderate, but what you get to take his place might be even more liberal and more moderate than what you think he is. Then you are worse off than if he did run and win, even though you adamantly wished he didn’t.

Like I told you before, the choices here aren’t very appealing for a conservative and Jeb might’ve been the best we could’ve gotten. Heaven forbid we get another McCain running and a Dimocrap winds up with the seat. Jeb might’ve been not only our best bet but our only bet. Only time will tell now.

**Terri** · #5 01-07-2009, 10:14 PM

If telling the truth about Jeb's support of the amnesty bill is Bush bashing then I'm happy to be honest enough to bash him.

No doubt you can find another Florida Republican who will also support it.

Mary-Lou · #6 01-07-2009, 11:24 PM

Florida has a perfectly WONDERFUL, Courageous, Conservative, Pro-Life, decent Republican in the person of ret. Col Allen West. In his initial run for Congress in the 22nd District (Boca raton) he got NO support from the Republican Party Of Florida, and STILL managed to get 47% of the vote away from perennial incumbant democrat Ron Klein. Col. West is against amnesty, is not afraid to call the ENEMY what it is, is pro Israel, and just Happens to be African-American. He has sound economic ideas and might be the next best hope for Florida.

Oh...the liberals HATE him because he had the temerity to wave his gun at a fallujah Terrorist while questioning him. Although this action probably saved countless American lives, he was crucified by the press for doing this. You might remember the incident.

Anyway, I would LOVE to see HIM as our next Senator rather than some amnesty-loving RINO. Just my humble opinion.

utexas · #7 01-08-2009, 01:55 AM

I forgot about West but I don't think he is in the running is he? If he was I would vote for him in a hearbeat.

And Terri, the two we already have in the Senate were big time backers of amnesty, in fact I think Martinez was one of the ringleaders, so even if Jeb had one flaw he would still be a far cry better than what we have now, or anybody else running for that matter.

Unless West throws his hat in the ring, and I wish he would. There is definitely a man I would vote for.

**Terri** · #8 01-08-2009, 08:16 AM

Whose buddy was Martinez? Who wanted him in that seat? Ah yes, it was George and Jeb.

The Bushes are moderates. They are not conservatives.

Would a conservative cut taxes and increase spending?

Would a conservative take billions of taxpayer dollars and bailout private industry thereby changing our country from a free market system to a socialist system?

West sounds like a great idea. Too bad most Republicans in Florida would rather have Bush.

Mary-Lou · #9 01-08-2009, 08:50 AM

Col. Allen West WILL be running again, not for Senate, but for CONGRESS. Which is also good. WHY oh WHY won't the party get behind him though? If he could get 47% of the vote with his own grassroots effort, imagine how well he would do with the full weight of the Repulican Party of Florida behind him!

**Terri** · #10 01-08-2009, 09:34 AM

"The Party"

Who is the party?

It's Florida citizens who declare themselves Republican, join the party, and work from within it to get Republicans elected.

If most of them are liberal/moderates then they will work to elect other liberal/moderates like themselves.

The solution?

More conservatives joining and working within the party.

Numbers count. When conservatives fail to work from within they let moderates run things.

Complaining from without is not nearly as effective as actually working from within.