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Jeb Bush cares NOTHING about McCain's service. Jeb's mission is to force Trump out of the race.
And THAT is at the heart of Jeb Bush's agenda. Force Trump out. Because Donald Trump is the only viable threat to the Jeb Bush Establishment candidacy. Jeb's tactics are to splinter everyone else's support, divide and conquer, so that he can dance into the nomination with his measly 10-11 percent polling.
Here's where Trump can destroy Jeb's March of The Establishment. If Trump can pull off a coalescing of support around non-establishment candidates, and pit it against The Establishment Candidate, Jeb's presidential aspirations are gone with the wind.
And about that 'little letter' that Jeb wants everyone to forget about:
In case there is ANY doubt as to Jeb Bush's lack of authenticity in "defending" John McCain's military service against Trump's remarks, here, again, is the 2005 letter of appreciation that then-Governor Jeb Bush wrote to a member of the Swiftboat Veterans for Truth, after this group and other vicious right-wingers savaged John Kerry's decorated record of service in Viet Nam, in order to re-elect George W. Bush.
Jeb Bush’s Swift Boat defense comes up short, July 21, 2015
Here’s what Bush’s campaign spokesperson told CNN’s Jake Tappe yesterday:
“We reject the entire premise. A thank you letter to Col. Bud Day, Medal of Honor winner and Air Force Cross recipient, twice captured as a POW, is not in any way analogous to condemning Donald Trump’s slanderous attack on John McCain.”
There are a couple of problems with the response.
First, at the risk of sounding picky, American servicemen and women do not “win” Medals of Honor. We’re not talking about a contest – U.S. troops earn them and receive them. I never wore the uniform myself, but I’ve spoken to enough veterans to know that for those who served, this terminology matters. The Bush campaign ought to know better.
Second, Jeb Bush and his staffers can’t have it both ways. When it’s the Republican’s brother on the ballot, Bush thinks the smearing of a war hero is worthy of praise and gratitude. When it’s Donald Trump, leading Jeb Bush in the polls, doing the smearing, the Florida Republican is suddenly outraged.
For Team Bush, the two are not “in any way analogous.” Why not? Because the campaign says so.
The facts, however, appear to point in a very different direction.
“We reject the entire premise. A thank you letter to Col. Bud Day, Medal of Honor winner and Air Force Cross recipient, twice captured as a POW, is not in any way analogous to condemning Donald Trump’s slanderous attack on John McCain.”
There are a couple of problems with the response.
First, at the risk of sounding picky, American servicemen and women do not “win” Medals of Honor. We’re not talking about a contest – U.S. troops earn them and receive them. I never wore the uniform myself, but I’ve spoken to enough veterans to know that for those who served, this terminology matters. The Bush campaign ought to know better.
Second, Jeb Bush and his staffers can’t have it both ways. When it’s the Republican’s brother on the ballot, Bush thinks the smearing of a war hero is worthy of praise and gratitude. When it’s Donald Trump, leading Jeb Bush in the polls, doing the smearing, the Florida Republican is suddenly outraged.
For Team Bush, the two are not “in any way analogous.” Why not? Because the campaign says so.
The facts, however, appear to point in a very different direction.
You see, Jeb has absolutely NO concern about what Trump said about McCain. He is using the convenient controversy as a battering ram to knock down Trump's support. Just so there is no misunderstanding: there is precious little altruism in the Bush Family.
For the record, there are other instances of Jeb Bush "claiming credit" for actions that on their surface appeared noble, but upon examination, were merely self-serving.
Another was his very quiet removal of the Confederate battle flag from the Florida State House in Tallahassee in 2001, as he touted that act recently as 'how he removed the divisive symbol'; however, it had the appearance of merely a housekeeping task just after the contentious 2000 election, as it was removed along with several additional flags at the same time, and all were sent over to a museum.
Gov. Jeb Bush and Secretary of State Katherine Harris -- Republicans who angered thousands of black Floridians during the controversial presidential election -- simply decided it was time for the flag to go.
"Regardless of our views about the symbolism of the . . . flags -- and people of goodwill can disagree on the subject -- the governor believes that most Floridians would agree that the symbols of Florida's past should not be displayed in a manner that may divide Floridians today," Bush spokeswoman Katie Baur said in a written statement.
Flags commemorating the French, Spanish and British governments that once ruled the state and flew beside the Confederate flag also were removed. All four will be housed at the Florida Museum of History a few blocks from the Capitol.
"Regardless of our views about the symbolism of the . . . flags -- and people of goodwill can disagree on the subject -- the governor believes that most Floridians would agree that the symbols of Florida's past should not be displayed in a manner that may divide Floridians today," Bush spokeswoman Katie Baur said in a written statement.
Flags commemorating the French, Spanish and British governments that once ruled the state and flew beside the Confederate flag also were removed. All four will be housed at the Florida Museum of History a few blocks from the Capitol.
So, now, with the re-emergence of the letter he sent to the "Swifties", applauding them for sullying John Kerry's decorated service in Viet Nam, it must be an 'oh, $#*!' moment for Jeb, because he is now shouting all kinds of distractions from the rooftops to anyone who will listen:
Jeb Bush Slams Lobbyists Despite His Close Relationship With Them, July 20, 2015
***OOOPS****
Jeb Bush on Monday returned to the Florida capital to deliver a speech slamming lobbyists as a corrosive influence on public policy, and railing on the practice of public officials becoming professional influence peddlers. The jeremiad may have come as a shock to Tallahassee's government officials-turned-lobbyists whom Bush enlisted to help him sculpt his gubernatorial agenda, and who are now helping bankroll his Republican presidential campaign.
In his speech, the former Florida governor said that as president he would push to ban lawmakers from becoming lobbyists for six years after they leave government. He decried the fact that before he was governor, Tallahassee "lobbyists and legislators grew a little too comfortable in each other's company." He portrayed himself as an opponent of such a “culture,” asserting: "Even before I took office, I signaled a new way of doing business by forbidding lobbying by any member of my transition team."
But a previous International Business Times review of Bush's emails and Florida lobbying records shows that Bush regularly sought public policy counsel from the Southern Strategy Group. That lobbying firm -- which has employed former Florida officials and is among the top donors to Bush's presidential campaign -- was created by Paul Bradshaw, a former government official. Bradshaw's wife, Sally, led Bush’s transition team before becoming his first chief of staff in 1999. (She is now a senior adviser to his presidential campaign.) Another member of Bush's transition team, David Rancourt, served as Bush’s deputy chief of staff for less than a year before joining Southern Strategy Group. The firm would also hire former Florida House Speaker John Thrasher, a close Bush ally. Thrasher is now the president of Florida State University, where Bush delivered his anti-lobbyist speech.
While governor, Bush corresponded with Southern Strategy Group lobbyists over state government contracts, medical malpractice legislation, and state land acquisition deals. In emails, Thrasher and Bush specifically discuss organizing support for a Bush-backed bill benefiting the Southern Strategy Group's health industry clients. Bush separately approved a plan for corporate lobbyists to help his administration pass a bill exempting the state’s pension investments from Florida’s open records laws. Near the beginning of his second term, he also asked Rancourt for overall counsel on what his gubernatorial agenda should be, writing to the lobbyist: “If you were governor, what would you be focusing on for the next two or three years. What initiatives do you think we should pursue? How do you think we should do it?”
In his speech, the former Florida governor said that as president he would push to ban lawmakers from becoming lobbyists for six years after they leave government. He decried the fact that before he was governor, Tallahassee "lobbyists and legislators grew a little too comfortable in each other's company." He portrayed himself as an opponent of such a “culture,” asserting: "Even before I took office, I signaled a new way of doing business by forbidding lobbying by any member of my transition team."
But a previous International Business Times review of Bush's emails and Florida lobbying records shows that Bush regularly sought public policy counsel from the Southern Strategy Group. That lobbying firm -- which has employed former Florida officials and is among the top donors to Bush's presidential campaign -- was created by Paul Bradshaw, a former government official. Bradshaw's wife, Sally, led Bush’s transition team before becoming his first chief of staff in 1999. (She is now a senior adviser to his presidential campaign.) Another member of Bush's transition team, David Rancourt, served as Bush’s deputy chief of staff for less than a year before joining Southern Strategy Group. The firm would also hire former Florida House Speaker John Thrasher, a close Bush ally. Thrasher is now the president of Florida State University, where Bush delivered his anti-lobbyist speech.
While governor, Bush corresponded with Southern Strategy Group lobbyists over state government contracts, medical malpractice legislation, and state land acquisition deals. In emails, Thrasher and Bush specifically discuss organizing support for a Bush-backed bill benefiting the Southern Strategy Group's health industry clients. Bush separately approved a plan for corporate lobbyists to help his administration pass a bill exempting the state’s pension investments from Florida’s open records laws. Near the beginning of his second term, he also asked Rancourt for overall counsel on what his gubernatorial agenda should be, writing to the lobbyist: “If you were governor, what would you be focusing on for the next two or three years. What initiatives do you think we should pursue? How do you think we should do it?”
One more time: ***OOOPS****
Jeb Bush: Federal Employees Are Paid Far Better Than Their Private Sector Counterparts, July 20, 2015
In a speech today in Tallahassee to promote his presidential campaign, Republican presidential candidate Jeb Bush called for making substantial cuts to the size of the federal government, namely by targeting the federal workforce.
Bush said the civil service system “runs on automatic” which he says has led to federal employees being “hired, promoted, and given pay increases often without regard to performance.” He added that some select reforms would go a long way towards changing the federal workforce for the better.
First, Bush said he would freeze federal hiring to cut the size of the overall federal workforce via attrition. “We will go by a simple three-out, one-in rule across the federal workforce, with exceptions for critical positions related to our security and safety. Only one new hire for every three who leave,” said Bush.
He added that he expected this reform alone to cut the size of the federal workforce by 10% within five years in an effort to cut costs. “Combined with other reforms, reducing the size of the bureaucracy by 10 percent within 4 years is a realistic goal, saving tens of billions of dollars, and without adding to unemployment,” added Bush.
Bush said the civil service system “runs on automatic” which he says has led to federal employees being “hired, promoted, and given pay increases often without regard to performance.” He added that some select reforms would go a long way towards changing the federal workforce for the better.
First, Bush said he would freeze federal hiring to cut the size of the overall federal workforce via attrition. “We will go by a simple three-out, one-in rule across the federal workforce, with exceptions for critical positions related to our security and safety. Only one new hire for every three who leave,” said Bush.
He added that he expected this reform alone to cut the size of the federal workforce by 10% within five years in an effort to cut costs. “Combined with other reforms, reducing the size of the bureaucracy by 10 percent within 4 years is a realistic goal, saving tens of billions of dollars, and without adding to unemployment,” added Bush.
We Floridians have heard this one before. This is what Jeb Bush proclaimed in his second inauguration speech in 2003:
"There will be no greater tribute to our maturity as a society than if we can make these buildings around us empty of workers; as silent monuments to the time when government played a larger role than it deserved or could adequately fill."
Before he left office, he had reduced the number of Florida's state workforce employees by about 7%.
Don't think this will go over well today, Jeb.
'Pay no attention to that letter!!', the 'partisan patriot' shouts.
Jeb Bush unveils his plan for 'disrupting' America's government, July 20, 2015 (Look out, he's talking 'disruption' again...)
Jeb! shouts, 'I want, I want, I want:'
A Balanced Budget Amendment!
Line-item veto!
Federal employee hiring freeze!
Merit pay for federal employees!!! (Because punishing school teachers with it just isn't enough....)
Dock congressional pay!
Budget procurement reform!
Get rid of "baseline budgeting."!
'Have they forgotten about my letter yet, W.? It did get you into the White House again, so ya owe me one! But, whatever you do, don't come outta hidin' yet.'
What about YOUR apology to Secretary of State John Kerry, Mr. Bush??
The wheels are coming off the Machine.
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