Drawing Mixed Response, Jeb Bush Says He Will “Actively Explore” Running For President in 2016

After weeks of increasing speculation about his plans, former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush said Tuesday he will “actively explore” a possible bid for president in 2016.

Bush made the announcement on Twitter and Facebook. He wrote on Facebook about spending time with his wife, Columba, children and grandchildren at Thanksgiving.

“We also talked about the future of our nation,” Bush wrote. “As a result of these conversations and thoughtful consideration of the kind of strong leadership I think America needs, I have decided to actively explore the possibility of running for President of the United States.”

Bush, who was elected governor in 1998 and served two terms, also wrote that he will establish what is known as a “Leadership PAC” in January “that will help me facilitate conversations with citizens across America to discuss the most critical challenges facing our exceptional nation. The PAC’s purpose will be to support leaders, ideas and policies that will expand opportunity and prosperity for all Americans.”

Bush, 61, made the announcement a day after giving a commencement address at the University of South Carolina — a state that plays a major role in Republican primaries. If he ultimately decides to run, Bush would seek to follow his father and brother into the White House.

But Bush also would face fierce opposition from Democrats and likely from some Republicans who disagree with him on issues such as immigration reform and education policy. The Florida Democratic Party website Tuesday, for example, featured a prominent picture of Bush and touted what it said was his “awful week” that included “damning articles” in national media outlets.

Bush’s Facebook post did not say when he will make a final decision about entering the race.

“In the coming months, I hope to visit with many of you and have a conversation about restoring the promise of America,” he wrote.

–News Service of Floirida

Bush’s Facebook post had drawn some 700 responses by a little after noon Tuesday. A sampling:

Robin Guliuzza Parkins: “Merry Christmas, but please, for the sake of America, please DON’T run for president! You’re not a bad man, just not what the country needs right now. Republicans will stupidly stay home & not vote, causing the nightmare Obama has created to live on! Please, NO!”

Berry Jacob: “Let’s make it done what we started end make sure that Jeb bush is waking to the door of the oval office on jan/20/2017
Let’s elect a Jeb for are next president he knows what we the people needs.”

David Cunningham: “Please don’t the Republican party needs to start running candidates that can actually win and that actually represents the people that make up the Republican constituency. Get your hands out of the corporate kettle and get back to conservative values you guys always run on then quickly dismiss once you win the election.”

Heidi Christensen: “Hooray! I am so proud to hear you are running for President!!!”

Stefanie Dye Wilson: “No. Please no. OMG No. WTF NO! JUST NOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!”

Robert Geiger: “People are really excited for Jeb to run? Seriously? You all are the same people hoping Hilary Clinton runs, and is exactly wrong with this country.”

Diane Espejo Velasco: “Thank you, Mr. Bush. This is an immense sacrifice for all of you. May God’s protection and favor be upon you and your entire family, as well as upon your close circle of friends who are considered like family. My husband & I in Wheaton, Illinois will pray for you all even more now.”

Ann Wiese: “Please Mr. Bush do us a favor and do not run for President. We need someone more conservative and strong, who is not going to cave on education and immigration, much less anything else. You and your family are patriots but you are not the right candidate. Stay away!”

Stacey Bean Pedigo: “I am very opposed to common core as well as amnesty. I loved your dad and brother. However your politics are not for me. Romney for 2016!”

Ken Zwernemann: “Gonna be a great race, Looking forward to the chance to elect the best guy to fix everything O screwed up, and the next guy better have the team to do it.”

Jeb Bush’s full Dec. 16 post on Facebook:

Merry Christmas and Happy Hanukkah!

Like many of you, our family was blessed with the opportunity to gather together over the recent Thanksgiving holiday.

Columba and I are so proud of the wonderful adults our children have become, and we loved spending time with our three precious grandchildren.

We shared good food and watched a whole lot of football.

We also talked about the future of our nation. As a result of these conversations and thoughtful consideration of the kind of strong leadership I think America needs, I have decided to actively explore the possibility of running for President of the United States.

In January, I also plan to establish a Leadership PAC that will help me facilitate conversations with citizens across America to discuss the most critical challenges facing our exceptional nation. The PAC’s purpose will be to support leaders, ideas and policies that will expand opportunity and prosperity for all Americans.

In the coming months, I hope to visit with many of you and have a conversation about restoring the promise of America.

Best wishes to you and your families for a happy holiday season. I’ll be in touch soon.

Onward,
Jeb Bush