Jeb Bush’s debate performance strong on issues, critical of Obama and Hillary

Photo by Lynn R. Mitchell

By Lynn R. Mitchell

The positive reviews continue to come in about Governor Jeb Bush’s debate performance Tuesday night. Ed O’Keefe in the Washington Post agreed with other pundits that Jeb had a good night (see Jeb Bush had a good night. But he still needs better ones):

Jeb Bush did something Tuesday night that he’s not done before on a presidential debate stage: He butted in.

“It’s my turn,” he told Ohio Gov. John Kasich as moderators attempted to ask him a question.

“I got about four minutes in the last debate,” he added. “I’m going to get my question right now.”

The former Florida governor — previously averse to the advice of media trainers and the need to speak in soundbites — delivered a stronger performance in the fourth Republican presidential debate. He fought more aggressively for air time. He used more personal anecdotes. He lightly mocked front-runner Donald Trump. And he relentlessly criticized President Obama and Democratic front-runner Hillary Rodham Clinton — something few other candidates bothered to do. [emphasis added]

Jeb Bush clear, concise, forceful in 4th presidential debate – Updated

Photo by Lynn R. Mitchell

By Lynn R. Mitchell

.@BretBaier on Jeb: “It was his best debate so far.” @oreillyfactor #GOPDebate

— Ken McIntyre (@KenMac55) November 11, 2015

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Jeb is back. Strong performance. He was real. He talked about the issues. Didn’t back down. Held his own. #AllInForJeb #GOPDebate — Mark Langdon (@langdon_mark) November 11, 2015

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Good night for @JebBush. Clear, concise, + forceful on #economy + #foreignpolicy. #JebCanFixIt + has skills 2 do so. #AllInForJeb #GOPDebate

— Keith Fernandez (@keifer24) November 11, 2015

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As seen in the tweets above, Jeb Bush brought it to the debate stage Tuesday night with his sizable arsenal of knowledge and experience on issues concerning the economy, energy, the Veterans Administration, and other concerns of Americans. From his very first response, it was obvious he was on, and ready to face not only his opponents but to hit the trail for the weeks that lay ahead leading to the 2016 presidential primaries.

The New York Times was very impressed with his performance, noting (see A nimbler Jeb Bush turns feisty. But is it enough?):

This was a hungrier Jeb Bush.

Donald J. Trump had just finished a breezy, boastful and hard-to-follow explanation of how he would take on the Islamic State, tossing in a curiously admiring aside about Vladimir V. Putin’s performance on television.

Suddenly a voice rose from his right.

“Donald is wrong,” said Mr. Bush, uncharacteristically interjecting before the debate moderators could move on.

Mr. Bush said it again, more emphatically. “He is absolutely wrong on this.”

Mr. Trump had blithely suggested that he would happily stand aside and let others, such as Mr. Putin, Russia’s president, sort out the messy Middle East.

Mr. Bush looked into the camera and did what he has long resisted: He ridiculed Mr. Trump as naïve and unsophisticated.

I like the humorous Jeb

By Lynn R. Mitchell

When asked why he wants to be president of the United States, former Florida Governor Jeb Bush responds, “Because I think we’re on the verge of the greatest time to be alive.”

It is a continuation of the positive message he has shared since entering the race. Jeb was on “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert” Tuesday, the premiere night of the show and Jeb as one of the first guests (see Ed O’Keefe’s Washington Post piece Stephen Colbert tries, but fails to knock Jeb Bush off script).

There more in the Washington Post article as well as the above video. I like the humorous Jeb.

Jeb’s Telemundo Spanish-speaking interview

By Lynn R. Mitchell

It’s compelling to hear former Florida Governor Jeb Bush communicate to the large Spanish-speaking community in their language, something he did in Florida on Monday as he opened up about a variety of subjects and issues (see Jeb Bush to seek Latino support in Central Florida by Ed O’Keefe in the Washington Post). At a time when he is leading his fellow Floridian Senator Marco Rubio by 28-16 percent, Jeb is shoring up support in areas that supported him as governor:

In a first as a presidential candidate, the Republican plans to sit for a Spanish-language interview with a Telemundo news anchor. He will meet with dozens of mostly Hispanic evangelical pastors at a mega-church, visit a small business owned by a Mexican immigrant and try to introduce himself to the hundreds of thousands of people who have moved to this transient region in the eight years since he left the governor’s mansion.

Interviewer José Díaz-Balart had positive remarks Tuesday morning on his MSNBC show, The Rundown with José Díaz-Balart. Díaz-Balart, a respected journalist with 30 years of experience, also anchors two programs on Telemundo, Enfoque con José Díaz-Balart and Noticiero Telemundo.