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| Jeb Bush berates 'hyper-partisan' Republican party - US politics live | Jeb Bush berates 'hyper-partisan' Republican party - US politics live |
| (40 minutes later) | |
| 2.56pm: The Obama campaign is increasingly calling on a major figure in politics to help advance their cause. The man's name: George W. Bush. | |
| Why Mitt Romney never speaks Bush's name is no mystery. A CNN poll last week found that Bush has an anemic 43 percent approval rating – the lowest among living ex-Presidents. Bush remains such a deeply unpopular political figure that Romney has not sought a public endorsement, much less joint campaign appearances after the manner of Obama-Clinton. Romney doesn't want video evidence to exist of any link between him and this man. | |
| (You will recall that Al Gore accepted Bill Clinton's endorsement but didn't invite the former president to campaign with him, and that that strategy is widely seen in retrospect as contributing to Gore's loss.) | |
| More puzzling is why the Obama camp has not brought up the name "Bush" more frequently, writes Michael Crowley in Time magazine. Now Crowley sees signs that the Obama camp is starting to bring Bush back: | |
| Recently, however, some key party figures have sought to resurrect Bush's controversial legacy. "How does Mitt Romney differ from George Bush?" Neera Tanden, an Obama ally and the president of the Center for American Progress, asked on NBC's Meet the Press earlier this month. Romney's policies "really do double down on the policies of the Bush Administration," Tanden argued, saying Romney proposes to slash taxes for the wealthy with no credible plan to reduce the deficit. | |
| Read the whole piece here. | |
| 1.59pm: True. | 1.59pm: True. |
| Huckabee says he's more likley to be picked as Madanna's bass player than Romney's veep... pwire.at/Lmjvwr | Huckabee says he's more likley to be picked as Madanna's bass player than Romney's veep... pwire.at/Lmjvwr |
| — Taegan Goddard (@politicalwire) June 11, 2012 | — Taegan Goddard (@politicalwire) June 11, 2012 |
| 1.35pm: As he repeatedly reminds his supporters in a new video, Rick Santorum won the Iowa Republican primary this year. He stayed in the race long enough to seriously annoy Mitt Romney. And then, when he dropped out, he failed to endorse Romney in subsequent public appearances, including one at the NRA convention. | 1.35pm: As he repeatedly reminds his supporters in a new video, Rick Santorum won the Iowa Republican primary this year. He stayed in the race long enough to seriously annoy Mitt Romney. And then, when he dropped out, he failed to endorse Romney in subsequent public appearances, including one at the NRA convention. |
| Santorum isn't very good at losing, and he isn't very good at taking one for the team. So when he was asked by Glenn Beck what he thought of potential vice presidential candidate Marco Rubio, his answer was very Santorum-y. | Santorum isn't very good at losing, and he isn't very good at taking one for the team. So when he was asked by Glenn Beck what he thought of potential vice presidential candidate Marco Rubio, his answer was very Santorum-y. |
| "He represents different constituencies in Florida than I do, and there's some issues we don't necessarily see eye-to-eye on," Santorum said, in remarks picked up by Yahoo's Chris Moody. "But look, my sense is that listening to him and hearing him talk and following him in his career, that he is understood like a lot of folks do that we've gone through these last four or five years, that we're reaching a point where things that he may have been able to go along with in the past just simply aren't viable." | "He represents different constituencies in Florida than I do, and there's some issues we don't necessarily see eye-to-eye on," Santorum said, in remarks picked up by Yahoo's Chris Moody. "But look, my sense is that listening to him and hearing him talk and following him in his career, that he is understood like a lot of folks do that we've gone through these last four or five years, that we're reaching a point where things that he may have been able to go along with in the past just simply aren't viable." |
| Santorum also said Rubio is an "articulate spokesman." | Santorum also said Rubio is an "articulate spokesman." |
| 12.55pm: Jeb Bush made news today for his harsh criticism of fellow Republicans, who in his opinion are rigid idealogues. | 12.55pm: Jeb Bush made news today for his harsh criticism of fellow Republicans, who in his opinion are rigid idealogues. |
| Now the former governor's son is trying to change the party from the ground up. George P. Bush – the initial is for "Prescott" – is trying to recruit young Americans to the Republican cause. | Now the former governor's son is trying to change the party from the ground up. George P. Bush – the initial is for "Prescott" – is trying to recruit young Americans to the Republican cause. |
| P has announced plans to double the size of his political action committee, Maverick PAC, currently 5,000 members strong. He hopes to win enough members and raise enough money to spend $150,000 in Republican races this year, the Wall Street Journal reports. | P has announced plans to double the size of his political action committee, Maverick PAC, currently 5,000 members strong. He hopes to win enough members and raise enough money to spend $150,000 in Republican races this year, the Wall Street Journal reports. |
| "That's really the purpose of the organization, to bring in new blood," Bush told the Journal. | "That's really the purpose of the organization, to bring in new blood," Bush told the Journal. |
| Could another Bush become a political standard bearer for a new generation of conservatives? | Could another Bush become a political standard bearer for a new generation of conservatives? |
| 12.43pm: Eric Holder is in the hotseat. | 12.43pm: Eric Holder is in the hotseat. |
| Is the Obama administration serious about finding out who gave the New York Times the juicy details of two classified defense programs that the paper wrote up on the front page, making the president look tough on terrorism? | Is the Obama administration serious about finding out who gave the New York Times the juicy details of two classified defense programs that the paper wrote up on the front page, making the president look tough on terrorism? |
| Asked on Friday how details of his Predator drone and cyberwarfare programs got out, President Obama said he has "zero tolerance" for leaks. "We have mechanisms in place where if we can root out folks who have leaked, they will suffer consequences," he said. | Asked on Friday how details of his Predator drone and cyberwarfare programs got out, President Obama said he has "zero tolerance" for leaks. "We have mechanisms in place where if we can root out folks who have leaked, they will suffer consequences," he said. |
| Not long after the president made that statement, Attorney General Eric Holder announced the appointment of two prosecutors, Ronald Machen, the U.S. attorney for the District of Columbia, and Rod Rosenstein, the U.S. attorney for the District of Maryland, to investigate the potential leaks. | Not long after the president made that statement, Attorney General Eric Holder announced the appointment of two prosecutors, Ronald Machen, the U.S. attorney for the District of Columbia, and Rod Rosenstein, the U.S. attorney for the District of Maryland, to investigate the potential leaks. |
| In a separate case, the House is moving toward a vote on finding Holder in contempt of Congress for his office not submitting documents relating to the "Fast and Furious" guns trafficking scandal. Darrell Issa (R-Calif.), chairman of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, said the committee will begin work on bringing the contempt vote next week. | In a separate case, the House is moving toward a vote on finding Holder in contempt of Congress for his office not submitting documents relating to the "Fast and Furious" guns trafficking scandal. Darrell Issa (R-Calif.), chairman of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, said the committee will begin work on bringing the contempt vote next week. |
| 12.22pm: A former aide of Arizona Democrat Gabrielle Giffords has a big lead going into tomorrow's special election to replace her in the House, according to a new poll from Public Policy Polling. | 12.22pm: A former aide of Arizona Democrat Gabrielle Giffords has a big lead going into tomorrow's special election to replace her in the House, according to a new poll from Public Policy Polling. |
| The poll has Ron Barber, the former aide, ahead of Republican Jesse Kelly 53-41 percent. | The poll has Ron Barber, the former aide, ahead of Republican Jesse Kelly 53-41 percent. |
| A spot of bad news for President Obama in the poll: despite the Democratic candidate's big lead, Obama's approval rating in Giffords' district is only 44%, with 50% of voters disapproving of him. | A spot of bad news for President Obama in the poll: despite the Democratic candidate's big lead, Obama's approval rating in Giffords' district is only 44%, with 50% of voters disapproving of him. |
| (h/t: The Fix) | (h/t: The Fix) |
| 11.42am: Mitt Romney is getting back on the bus, literally, for a tour of battleground states to kick off Friday in New Hampshire. | 11.42am: Mitt Romney is getting back on the bus, literally, for a tour of battleground states to kick off Friday in New Hampshire. |
| The bus tour will last five days and carry the candidate westward through stops in Pennsylvania, Ohio, Wisconsin, Iowa, and Michigan, the Washington Post first reported. | The bus tour will last five days and carry the candidate westward through stops in Pennsylvania, Ohio, Wisconsin, Iowa, and Michigan, the Washington Post first reported. |
| The Romney camp is calling it the "Every Town Counts" bus tour. The candidate will argue that President Obama has not done enough to turn things around for middle America. | The Romney camp is calling it the "Every Town Counts" bus tour. The candidate will argue that President Obama has not done enough to turn things around for middle America. |
| 11.20am: Tom McCarthy here, collaborating this morning with Richard. Former Republican presidential candidate Rick Santorum has started a new political organization for supporters to busy themselves with until he runs for president again. (Note: that is not the stated goal of the organization.) | 11.20am: Tom McCarthy here, collaborating this morning with Richard. Former Republican presidential candidate Rick Santorum has started a new political organization for supporters to busy themselves with until he runs for president again. (Note: that is not the stated goal of the organization.) |
| The group is called Patriot Voices. | The group is called Patriot Voices. |
| As Santorum's presidential campaign began to fall apart, he drew increasingly overblown comparisons between the campaign and historical episodes such as the American Revolution. | As Santorum's presidential campaign began to fall apart, he drew increasingly overblown comparisons between the campaign and historical episodes such as the American Revolution. |
| The video, which surges along over waves of stringed instruments and kettle drums, doubles down on those comparisons. "You and I weren't there to fight in the American Revolution," Santorum explains. But you can join Patriot Voices. | The video, which surges along over waves of stringed instruments and kettle drums, doubles down on those comparisons. "You and I weren't there to fight in the American Revolution," Santorum explains. But you can join Patriot Voices. |
| 10.40am: If the excitement over Jeb Bush's remarks today mean anything – and close examination shows that the former Florida Republican was careful to hedge his positions – it's to highlight the importance that immigration and – to a lesser extent – tax policy plays in defining the modern Republican platform. | 10.40am: If the excitement over Jeb Bush's remarks today mean anything – and close examination shows that the former Florida Republican was careful to hedge his positions – it's to highlight the importance that immigration and – to a lesser extent – tax policy plays in defining the modern Republican platform. |
| Now that gun control and abortion are largely settled policy within the Republican camp – with the former supported unquestioningly and the later opposed – immigration remains as the most potent and divisive issue on the table. | Now that gun control and abortion are largely settled policy within the Republican camp – with the former supported unquestioningly and the later opposed – immigration remains as the most potent and divisive issue on the table. |
| Jeb Bush's remarks on immigration today tacitly acknowledge that he can't be a contender for a position of leadership within the current Republican party: | Jeb Bush's remarks on immigration today tacitly acknowledge that he can't be a contender for a position of leadership within the current Republican party: |
| Don't just talk about Hispanics and say immediately we must have controlled borders. It's kind of insulting when you think about it. Change the tone would be the first thing. Second, on immigration, I think we need to have a broader approach. | Don't just talk about Hispanics and say immediately we must have controlled borders. It's kind of insulting when you think about it. Change the tone would be the first thing. Second, on immigration, I think we need to have a broader approach. |
| On the other hand, maybe Jeb Bush really doesn't want to be Mitt Romney's vice president. Because he has now ensured that's never going to happen. | On the other hand, maybe Jeb Bush really doesn't want to be Mitt Romney's vice president. Because he has now ensured that's never going to happen. |
| 10.28am: In a quick test of support for Mitt Romney's vice presidential options, Florida senator Marco Rubio was the clear first choice of conservative activists, beating out his nearest rival by a two-to-one margin according to a poll taken at the Conservative Political Action Committee gathering in Chicago. | 10.28am: In a quick test of support for Mitt Romney's vice presidential options, Florida senator Marco Rubio was the clear first choice of conservative activists, beating out his nearest rival by a two-to-one margin according to a poll taken at the Conservative Political Action Committee gathering in Chicago. |
| Rubio received 30% of the first-place votes from CPAC delegates, more than twice the number for New Jersey Governor Chris Christie, named by 14% of respondents. In third place out of the 23 possible candidates mentioned in the poll was House Budget Committee chairman Paul Ryan. | Rubio received 30% of the first-place votes from CPAC delegates, more than twice the number for New Jersey Governor Chris Christie, named by 14% of respondents. In third place out of the 23 possible candidates mentioned in the poll was House Budget Committee chairman Paul Ryan. |
| 10am: Good morning: Jeb Bush has upbraided his political allies by claiming that both his father George HW Bush and Republican icon Ronald Reagan would struggle to be accepted by their hyper-partisan political ancestors in the GOP. | 10am: Good morning: Jeb Bush has upbraided his political allies by claiming that both his father George HW Bush and Republican icon Ronald Reagan would struggle to be accepted by their hyper-partisan political ancestors in the GOP. |
| Bush – talked of as a possible future presidential or vice presidential nominee by many Republicans – branded the Republican party as too dismissive of compromise, particularly on immigration and taxes, subjects that have become litmus tests for the party faithful in recent years. | Bush – talked of as a possible future presidential or vice presidential nominee by many Republicans – branded the Republican party as too dismissive of compromise, particularly on immigration and taxes, subjects that have become litmus tests for the party faithful in recent years. |
| The comments by Bush came from a breakfast meeting hosted by Bloomberg and first reported by BuzzFeed Politics: | The comments by Bush came from a breakfast meeting hosted by Bloomberg and first reported by BuzzFeed Politics: |
| Former Florida Governor Jeb Bush said today that both Ronald Reagan and his father George HW Bush would have had a difficult time getting nominated by today's ultra-conservative Republican Party. | Former Florida Governor Jeb Bush said today that both Ronald Reagan and his father George HW Bush would have had a difficult time getting nominated by today's ultra-conservative Republican Party. |
| "Ronald Reagan would have, based on his record of finding accommodation, finding some degree of common ground, as would my dad — they would have a hard time if you define the Republican party — and I don't — as having an orthodoxy that doesn't allow for disagreement, doesn't allow for finding some common ground," Bush said, adding that he views the hyper-partisan moment as "temporary." | "Ronald Reagan would have, based on his record of finding accommodation, finding some degree of common ground, as would my dad — they would have a hard time if you define the Republican party — and I don't — as having an orthodoxy that doesn't allow for disagreement, doesn't allow for finding some common ground," Bush said, adding that he views the hyper-partisan moment as "temporary." |
| Here's a summary of other recent developments via Ryan Devereaux: | Here's a summary of other recent developments via Ryan Devereaux: |
| • The Obama and Romney campaigns have both kicked off the week with new ads. In both cases the campaign seeks to capitalize on comments made at the end of last week, with the Romney camp going after Obama for saying the "private sector is doing fine" and Obama targeting Romney for opposing new funds for police, fire fighters and teachers. | • The Obama and Romney campaigns have both kicked off the week with new ads. In both cases the campaign seeks to capitalize on comments made at the end of last week, with the Romney camp going after Obama for saying the "private sector is doing fine" and Obama targeting Romney for opposing new funds for police, fire fighters and teachers. |
| • One of America's largest unions has teamed up with a Democratic super pac backing the president to produce a series of ads intended to sway Latino voters. The joint $4m project is sponsored by the Service Employees International Union and Priorities USA Action, and makes the case that Romney's policies would result in greater wealth for the nation's elite as a result of exploiting Hispanics and working families. The ads will run through the summer in the battleground states of Colorado, Nevada and Florida, which each boast significant Hispanic populations. | • One of America's largest unions has teamed up with a Democratic super pac backing the president to produce a series of ads intended to sway Latino voters. The joint $4m project is sponsored by the Service Employees International Union and Priorities USA Action, and makes the case that Romney's policies would result in greater wealth for the nation's elite as a result of exploiting Hispanics and working families. The ads will run through the summer in the battleground states of Colorado, Nevada and Florida, which each boast significant Hispanic populations. |
| • The secretary of commerce, John Bryson, was hospitalised after being involved in two car accidents over the weekend, apparently after suffering from a seizure while driving. The Los Angeles Times reported that Bryson was found unconscious in his car after the accidents. Bryson is believed to to have struck the same car two times. Bryson was appointed to Obama's cabinet in 2011. | • The secretary of commerce, John Bryson, was hospitalised after being involved in two car accidents over the weekend, apparently after suffering from a seizure while driving. The Los Angeles Times reported that Bryson was found unconscious in his car after the accidents. Bryson is believed to to have struck the same car two times. Bryson was appointed to Obama's cabinet in 2011. |