George W. Bush: ‘You have to earn your way into politics,’ nothing ‘is ever given to you’ Former president George W. Bush said this week that he and other famous Bushes had to “earn” their way into politics, and that the family’s political dynasty was not helpful in launching careers. In a CBS News interview that aired on Sunday, Bush told host Bob Schieffer that his mother was wrong to think that there had been enough presidents in their family. “Sometimes her prognostications haven’t been very accurate,” the 43rd president of the United States argued. “No, I think you have to earn your way into politics. I don’t think that anything is ever given to you.” ---------------- I'm not sure whether to or to .
Our system has become inbred and broken as we're just passing the key offices around between a few ultra wealthy and politically connected families.
I wondered the same thing, but how many political dynasties have lasted more than two generations? Teddy Kennedy was the last of 'em in office, and neither Chelsea nor the Bush twins seem inclined to run for public office.
Actually, he is correct. The sons and daughters of many famous politicians failed at politics, and many more didn't even go there. Joe Kennedy had no pull with FDR, and the furthest that any of FDR's kids got was head of a state Democratic party (I think my mom's cousin was married that one). Almost nobody voted for JFK because they respected his bootlegging, Nazi-loving ancestry, they voted for him because he was a good politician. Even when you cross-breed Presidential offspring, you don't necessarily get a politician. You'll probably get an actress, like Jennie Eisenhower (who is also a Nixon).
People like to talk about how Nixon's looks were a problem and would make him unelectable today, but what would really doom him were he to time travel from 1960 to today is his paranoid delusional lunacy. People take Chris Christie seriously for some reason, but Nixon was every bit as crazy as Michelle Bachmann on a bad acid trip. He wouldn't survive two minutes with modern press scrutiny.
Well, in theory neither would JFK, who'd have gone into near oblivion like Gary Hart, John Edwards, or Anthony Weiner.
Sam Giancana helped a little bit too. Nixon's biography takes the form of a classical tragedy, in the dramatic sense. The very same qualities that hoisted him to the pinnacle of success also led to his downfall.
Indeed. He'd restore our relations with China, stand up to Putin and tank the ruble, all while bombing ISIS till the rubble bounced. Then he'd get to the bottom of Fast & Furious, Benghazi, and the IRS scandals to ferret out all the communist plotters and saboteurs who have wormed their way inside the top ranks of the US government.
Well yeah. By modern standards Nixon was a RINO, massively increasing the size and power of government. I'm sure Bob Woodward could address that point, but he's too busy relating that Democrat Senators hate Obama just as much as the Republican Senators do.
JFK Jr. died at 39. His sister Caroline is currently ambassador to Japan. Chelsea Clinton is only 34. If she did run, it probably wouldn't be until after her mother was out of the picture. There's a third generation Bush spawn that's running for some small office in Texas that's seen as a stepping stone to bigger things. Dayton tends to provide updates on his progress, presumably typed with one hand.
He also took the U.S off the gold standard,signed the endangered species act, supported affirmative action and also supported health insurance reform.
Honestly, I don't lose sleep at the thought of another Bush in the White House. Dubya's infamy killed Jeb's chance at that a long time ago.
GWB lost his bid to get into Congress. The Bush name and influence--while undoubtedly significant advantages--don't automatically confer success in politics. It certainly didn't when GHWB sought re-election in '92. NO ONE--and this includes Kennedys, Clintons, Roosevelts, and Adamses--is handed the Presidency. Like it or not, those who are elected to that post have "earned" it.
A Roosevelt nephew ran for governor here back in '98. He was trounced. But in '12, a Kennedy was elected to Congress to succeed the retiring Barney Frank.
The Republicans don't have as deep a pool to draw from. There aren't that many minorities. That said choose a "young white guy." Guarantee they have a shitload of those, so I'm at a loss as to trotting out the oldsters. Not saying they aren't qualified, bot Obama proved experience isn't neccessary.
They could start with candidates that aren't moonbats that don't say thinks like rape babies are automatically miscarried or shrug off pollution just because we've got another hundred years before it's gonna be a death sentence for planet Earth and he ain't gonna be around for it any. That'd be a start.
While patrimony does not confer political success automatically, it certainly confers opportunity that is denied to the vast majority of those who would seek it. This ought to be seen as completely unacceptable in a modern liberal democracy.
