Jeb’s national security and military readiness remarks at The Citadel

By Lynn R. Mitchell

Video of Jeb Bush’s Citadel speech.

Jeb Bush addressed the student body at South Carolina’s The Citadel on Wednesday and, as Jennifer Rubin noted in the Washington Post, there are “a few voices of sanity on national security:”

In a sea of self-delusion (from President Obama), fear-mongering (from anti-immigrant opportunists) and mind-numbing geopolitical stupidity (let’s allow Russia and Iran take over Syria!), there are some voices of reason out there.

Let’s start with Jeb Bush, who today at The Citadel rolls out a substantive, detailed defense proposal.

She then offered details of his national security policy. Read more here. He would:

• Grow the Army Active Component end-strength back to 490,000
• Build the Marines back up to 186,000
• Increasing Navy and Air Force firepower
• Modernizing the nuclear triad
• Study the feasibility of a high-altitude, medium-to-long endurance persistent ISR/strike system to complement the new long range bomber
• Increase the combat fleet by continuing with the F-35 program
• Explore other options for air supremacy
• Rebuild our intelligence capabilities
• Secure our basic infrastructure
• Address gaps in our border and visa security

Jennifer Rubin looks at GOP candidates: ‘They’re off! (for 2016)’

By Lynn R. Mitchell

Pragmatic conservative writer Jennifer Rubin took a look Monday in the Washington Post at the Republican candidates lining up for a run at the 2016 presidential race. In her Right Turn blog post titled ‘They’re off! (for 2016),’ Rubin comments on the GOP field.

In a nod to the strength of former Florida Governor Jeb Bush’s exploration and sure entry into the contest, Rubin notes, “The race has and will continue to be a contest between Bush and the most electable not-Bush candidate.”

Here are some of Rubin’s observations from her post:

Jennifer Rubin: WaPost’s breath of fresh air defends Israel’s Netanyahu – Updated

Benjamin Netanyahu political TV ad.

By Lynn R. Mitchell

When the Washington Post goes completely off the rails, as they have in the Benjamin Netanyahu issue, it is nice to read the rational righting-of-the-ship from “Right Turn” Post blogger Jennifer Rubin who presents a conservative perspective against a tide of liberal-think.

Amid the ongoing embarrassment of the Obama administration’s treatment of Israel in general and Netanyahu in particular for the past six years, and the unbelievable snub of not congratulating Netanyahu for his historic win on Tuesday, Rubin thumps the administration by pointing out some obvious observations (see Will Democrats follow Obema’s lead on Israel?).

It’s not the 1990s anymore … 24/7 news cycle, the internet, and not controlling the narrative

By Lynn R. Mitchell

Jennifer Rubin’s “Right Turn” at the Washington Post nails Hillary Clinton’s uphill battle in the new media world (see Hillary Clinton can’t control her awful narrative):

There is something ironic about Hillary Clinton, whose fetish for control and secrecy is well known, going to the trouble of setting up an alternate e-mail system so that no one would find something incriminating that would set off a media firestorm. Didn’t work out so well, huh? We go on irony overload when she gives a news conference meant to “control the narrative” that explodes in her face, sending a million particles — tweets, blog posts, columns, radio spots, TV segments — cascading through the media, 99 percent of which were negative.

The internet and 24/7 news cycles today are far different than the 1990s when the Clintons were in the White House, a time when it was easier to control the narrative:

WSJ … ‘Clint Bolick: Jeb Bush’s Conservative Immigration Agenda’

By Lynn R. Mitchell

Fact: Jeb Bush is the only Republican to serve two terms as governor in Florida. Fact: Jeb Bush pulled in 61 percent of the Hispanic vote. Fact: Jeb Bush is fluent in  Spanish. Fact: The Hispanic population is the fastest-growing segment in America.

Immigration is a controversial issue in America but those who seek solutions should not be labeled with false names especially from fellow conservatives who are right-of-center (see The propaganda war of words against Jeb Bush): “Whether he runs or not, it is duplicitous to rewrite Jeb Bush’s conservative history.”

Clint Bolick’s article in today’s Wall Street Journal is in response to a sea of misinformation by setting the record straight about Governor Jeb Bush’s immigration policies (see Jeb Bush’s Conservative Immigration Agenda). Bolick, vice president for litigation at the Goldwater Institute and a research fellow at Stanford University’s Hoover Institution, co-authored, with Jeb Bush, the book, “Immigration Wars: Forging an American Solution” in 2013. He wrote:

Ted Cruz alienates his colleagues with latest government shutdown effort

By Lynn R. Mitchell

Ted Cruz did it again. He tried to shut down the government just like the disastrous shutdown he orchestrated in October of 2013 (see Ted Cruz does it again by Manu Raju in Politico). Right here at Christmas! Think how well that would have gone over with the American people. Not only that, Cruz blindsided his colleagues while on his self-absorbed mission, demanding on Friday that senators stay in Washington over the weekend, just 10 days before Christmas, causing cancellations of family plans.

The propaganda war of words against Jeb Bush – updated

Governor Jeb Bush

By Lynn R. Mitchell

It is all becoming clear: some right-of-center people who are determined to undermine Governor Jeb Bush as a serious contender for the GOP presidential nomination have taken to rewriting history and labeling a strong conservative leader as something he’s not. A tea party member said to me on Facebook that Jeb Bush is a “fascist and crony socialist.” That is so ridiculous as to be laughable.

Controversial Loudoun County Supervisor Eugene Delgaudio wrote in the same thread, “Give me a break. Jeb Bush makes vomit smell nice by comparison” (see screen shot below).

Jeb still leads

By Lynn R. Mitchell

In a Republican field without Mitt Romney, Jeb Bush still leads (see Where the 2016 contenders line up — for now by Jennifer Rubin, Washington Post). Quoting the latest Washington Post-ABC poll, she writes:

Warner-Puckett fallout: ‘Brainstorming? Is that what they’re calling it these days?’

By Lynn R. Mitchell

During Monday night’s Virginia U.S. Senate debate between Democratic U.S. Senator Mark Warner and Republican Ed Gillespie that took place in Richmond, Warner flitted around the issue of Puckettgate, the black cloud that is now hanging over Richmond concerning Democratic State Senator Phil Puckett’s resignation earlier this year. Puckett’s leaving handed control of the senate to Republicans and blocked Democratic Governor Terry McAuliffe’s hopes to expand Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act (see Warner, Gillespie spar over Puckett scandal, energy, Ebola).

The reasons for what played out are varied (see Richmond Times-Dispatch editorial Warner should come clean):

If Jeb ran for President, would the purists accept a common-sense conservative

By Lynn R. Mitchell

Jennifer Rubin has the opportunity to talk with former Florida Governor Jeb Bush recently (see My interview with Jeb Bush in the Washington Post). Willing to work with those across the political aisle, would the purists within his own party be willing to work with him? I have my suspicions about the my-way-or-the-highway wing of the Republican Party but there may be enough independents who are ready for some common sense in Washington.

Jeb and 2016

By Lynn R. Mitchell

Jennifer Rubin has a good piece today about former Florida Governor Jeb Bush’s chances to be the Republican nominee for the 2016 presidential campaign. Once thought to be disqualified by his last name, Rubin calls his chances good and offers some ideas of what he could do to better define his record and stand on issues. It’s a good read for those who are looking for more temperate leadership as opposed to the flame throwers or those who break dishes (see Challenges for 2016 hopefuls: Gov. Jeb Bush).

Jennifer Rubin: ‘Obama is no George W. Bush’

By Lynn R. Mitchell

I so enjoy Jennifer Rubin’s column in the Washington Post and her insightful, pragmatic observations in political matters that find me often on the same page politically with her.

Sunday in her “Distinguished pol of the week” column (see Distinguished pol of the week), she chose George W. Bush for his work in Africa, his genuine sincerity about the people of those countries and what the diseases they face, his humor, and his willingness to make himself the butt of a joke.

Classic George W. Bush.

Typically observant Jennifer Rubin.

Mississippi … sounds like what Brat did in Virginia

By Lynn R. Mitchell

Thad Cochran’s win in Mississippi Tuesday sounds like Dave Brat’s win in Virginia … courting Democrats and others:

There is no Republican primary in Mississippi.

That’s because state law allows any Democrat who didn’t vote in the Democratic primary (which means most Democrats) to vote in the Republican primary…and they did. In fact, Sen. Thad Cochran vigorously pursued Democrat votes, and if anecdotal turnout figures are correct, he got them in numbers adequate to squelch the insurgent campaign of state Sen. McDaniel.

A big difference in the reactions of the two who lost, however. While Majority Leader Eric Cantor was gracious in losing and threw his support behind Brat, Chris McDaniel is refusing to concede and has threatened a recount. Politico wrote (see Defiant Chris McDaniel declines to concede in speech to reporters):

Jennifer Rubin asks, ‘Why is Jeb Bush gaining momentum?’

People are noticing a difference in Jeb Bush lately, even in the way he has stopped hedging quite as much about his chances of running for president to the point that he has admitted “thinking about it.” Add to that the family’s public support and this week Condoleezza Rice joined in with her support.

Cantor, Ryan, and friends – ‘Leading Globally: Why America Cannot Keep the Peace Alone’

By Lynn R. Mitchell

In today’s CNN Opinion, U.S. House Majority Leader Eric Cantor (R-VA) is joined by Congressman Paul Ryan (R-WI), Pat Meehan (R-PA), Mac Thornberry (R-TX), Kay Granger (R-TX), Kristi Noem (R-SD), Aaron Schock (R-IL), and Paul Cook (R-CA) — the contingency that recently traveled to Asia — urge America’s continued presence as a Pacific power.

Jennifer Rubin at the Washington Post broke it down into several noteworthy sections — be sure to read her post “U.S. economic and political stature in Asia don’t come cheap.” Good read.