NYT,pg1,Nagourney:In Polarizing Case, Jeb B. Cements His Pol. Stature(??)

In a Polarizing Case, Jeb Bush Cements His Political Stature
By ADAM NAGOURNEY
Published: March 25, 2005


WASHINGTON, March 24 - Gov. Jeb Bush's last-minute intervention in the case of Terri Schiavo, even after the president had ended his own effort to keep her alive, may have so far failed in a legal sense, but it has cemented the religious and social conservative credentials of a man whose political pedigree is huge and whose political future remains a subject of intense speculation.

On one level, the Florida governor's emergence as the most prominent politician still fighting, despite a string of court and legislative defeats, to have a feeding tube reinserted in Ms. Schiavo was very much in keeping with someone who has repeatedly declared a deep religious faith.

Several associates noted that he had been devoutly religious longer than President Bush, and even critics said his efforts - prodding the Florida Legislature and the courts and defying much of the electorate - were rooted in a deep-seated opposition to abortion and euthanasia rather than in political positioning.

Yet inevitably, the events of recent days have fed the mystique of Mr. Bush as a reluctant inheritor of perhaps America's most famous dynasty since the Adams family two centuries ago.

He has assumed a very high profile in this polarizing case just as Republicans are contemplating the void that will be left when President Bush begins his walk off the stage in two years or so. At a time when many of the most frequently mentioned possibilities to lead the party are moderates like John McCain and Rudolph W. Giuliani, the governor now certainly has a place, if he wants it, as a prime contender in what is shaping up as a fight to represent a conservative wing that has proved increasingly dominant....


http://www.nytimes.com/2005/03/25/politics/25jeb.html?oref=login

God, think of all the Kerry pieces he did over the past year... somehow his snippiness dissappears when covering Jeb fucking Bush.

Reluctant inheritor?

and so the stage is set for Jeb to "answer the call" in '08.

fucking Nagourney.

think he is full of it. This guy must write from fantasy.

It's hard to believe that they muzzled him or fired him. He's got about as much credibility in his editorilizing as Judith Miller.

Everyone else hopes he goes away.

Pretty opinion-heavy "news" here, but
oh well.

http://jameswolcott.com/archives/2005/03/puppy_licks_mas.php

Have an airsick bag handy should you embark upon Adam Nagourney's lipsmacking love letter to Jeb Bush on page one of today's NY Times. Nagourney, who once boasted on Charlie Rose that he had more charisma than poor John Kerry (a claim that one glimpse of Nagourney in action or repose would refute), has found a load of charisma he can look up to and fetch slippers for.

....Adam Nagourney really ought to be writing for Tiger Beat. Because only a groupie with a byline could write of Jeb Bush's posturing in the Schiavo story, " events of recent days have fed the mystique of Mr Bush as a reluctant inheritor of perhaps America's most famous dynasty since the Adams family two centuries ago."

So much for the Kennedys, but more to the point only the most starry-eyed hack could use the word "mystique" about an uninspired lump of political dough like Jeb Bush, and describe him as "a reluctant inheritor," as if Jeb would really rather be in Taos fulfilling his dream of becoming a watercolorist. You don't become governor of Florida and rig things to help your brother become president because your soul is Hamlet-torn.

His article was just the antidote I needed. Thanks for posting.

Thanks for the timely Wolcott posting! Ya saved my Friday! :toast:

I think Politics is Jeb's motivation, but I don't think he's cementing is standing with the real fundies. I heard too many of them saying he needs to do something that will save Terri. Some say he is Gov. and has the power to do something extraordinary, and some say they don't care, break the damn law if you have to!

Unless Terri lives, those folks won't support Jeb in the future.

He has said that he will not exceed his legal authority and seize custody of Terry Schiavo despite the courts' rulings which is what the fundies want him to do now, so he has let them down and has alienated most of the electorate by even intervening at all and pushing this case as far as he did.

How many Seniors have changed their retirement plans? Make out your Living Wills, people, BEFORE you pack.

Name sounds familiar.

Former CIA, FBI bay of pigger etc.

Jeb Bush White House? This is the sort of disgraceful shoddy shit the NYT is passing off as journalism these days--and is why their subscription rate is heading downhill. They're still hawking that 20% moral values crowd as increasingly dominant? What a piece of shit writing.

This was probably written two weeks ago, and scheduled to run right after Jeb and DeLay rescued Terri from the valley of the shadow of death.

For those who made it past the first paragraph, I salute you.

:puffpiece:
rocknation

What the hell is Nagourney talking about? They didn't even have TV two centuries ago. OTOH, Barbara Bush has always kind of reminded me of Uncle Fester.

http://jameswolcott.com/archives/2005/03/puppy_licks_mas.php

snip>
Adam Nagourney really ought to be writing for Tiger Beat. Because only a groupie with a byline could write of Jeb Bush's posturing in the Schiavo story, " events of recent days have fed the mystique of Mr Bush as a reluctant inheritor of perhaps America's most famous dynasty since the Adams family two centuries ago."

So much for the Kennedys, but more to the point only the most starry-eyed hack could use the word "mystique" about an uninspired lump of political dough like Jeb Bush, and describe him as "a reluctant inheritor," as if Jeb would really rather be in Taos fulfilling his dream of becoming a watercolorist. You don't become governor of Florida and rig things to help your brother become president because your soul is Hamlet-torn.

"Still, several Republcans said that while Mr. Bush might be ignoring any political calculations in a case that has etched grief on his face, it..."

Stop right there. Gander at the footage of Jeb Bush's recent press conferences and the more casual meeting with reporters over the Schiavo case, and I defy you to find ANYthing "etched" on his smooth, round face, much less grief. The most you can say is he looks a little tired, which is understandable given how long this circus has dragged out. But there are no Lincolnesque dry rivulets ravaging his countenance, contributing haunted shadows to his cement "stature."

This piece is one of the most nauseating ones I've ever read. I love James Wolcott's take on it.

Unless George screws up so completely that he totally destroys the family name. We've got three years to go.

:headbang:
rocknation

blatant as Jeff Gannon in his devotion to all things Bush and his delusional criticisms of the Democrats....ANY Democrat.

Any thinking person understands this is what this was about. Hell, even after the talking points by Republicans were found and outed in newspapers stating the Republicans could gain points in the hearts and mind of the religious right, Jeb keeps on plugging along, and those on the right are saying, "what a righteous person Gov. Bush is". Help me L-rd.... I never quite understand how those on the right always talk about going to heaven after death, but fight like hell to keep from dying.

... "everybody wants to go to heaven, nobody wants to die". :)

be without them.