First and foremost, I want it to be clear: when this election began many many moons ago, I was fully prepared to go to battle with Jeb Bush - or at least his supporters. I didn't want him for the nominee of the GOP. For one, I was far from confident he could beat Hillary Clinton. Secondly, I find that he turns to big government solutions more often than he should and can tend to be a spender (much like his brother). Then, entered Donald Trump. In an election that has shown us what a real asshole running for President looks like, Jeb highlighted what a really decent and thoughtful human being looks like running for President. And, really, it is no wonder he got eaten alive in the polls and in perception.
Starting out, Jeb didn't have enough fight. I think he thought his record would speak for itself. Trump was flash. Rubio and Cruz were new exciting, but he was a Governor - a well liked Governor - from a swing state with a decent (not perfect) record. Conventional wisdom dictated that, implications of his name aside, he would be a clear favorite for the nomination.
However, it quickly became clear that record meant nothing. Donald Trump had pointed out that GOP voters could be just as susceptible to following a 'Cult of Personality' and emotional crazes as Democrats had proven they were in 2008. But this was much much worse. For all his faults, Obama at least always took the office of the Presidency seriously. And, despite his petty partisan nonsense, he's almost always attempted to be civil and adult. Trump, however, lowered the discourse to that of a 10-year-old school yard bully and, frankly, Jeb Bush was not prepared for that. None of them were.
I think, perhaps, Jeb Bush was at a particular disadvantage because his personality is one that doesn't like to interact the way Trump is prone to. He wants to talk about issues, and decency, and what is right, and how to make things better for more people. He doesn't want to talk about arcane Senate motions, or Twitter, or who said what about whom, or empty platitudes. It frustrated him. And for a while, it took him time to figure out how to navigate this new world order of Primary Politics.
But, in my opinion, he did finally get his footing. Starting with the Iowa Debate, Bush began hitting back and hitting back well. He went toe-to-toe with Trump, Cruz, and even Rubio with accuracy and impact. But it was too little too late, and at that point, there was nothing much that could save his campaign.He and his campaign had suffered ridicule before that point, but nothing would lead to a nationwide simultaneous cringe like his 'Please Clap' moment where, at a speech in New Hampshire he had to ask his own supporters to clap for him. I can barely watch that moment. Once was enough. It was painful, sad, and, for those of us with a heart, it was the moment that you began to really feel sympathy for this man - a man who had tried, in vain, to keep dignity and civility in the discourse of this election.
There were other moments, like the time Jeb ran to hug a single voter who told him he earned her vote, or the countless twitter posts where he reminded us all he could be our awkward dad, or his painfully awkward answers to questions like 'what is your favorite superhero' or 'would you kill baby Hitler'. To be fair, those questions are moronic to begin with, but Bush never had it in him to be smooth in handling them.
It was endearing, in my opinion. These moments made me root for him - a guy I had, only months ago, vowed would be my Primary enemy. By the time he gave his speech Saturday night, I felt an uncomfortable pang in my chest at realizing that this very good, very decent, very honest and thoughtful man was dropping out of the race, most likely confused and embarrassed. And what is annoying is, he didn't really do anything wrong. Sure, he's wrong on some policies. None of the candidates are perfect and besides, he and I just have ideological divides that will likely never be overcome. But as for who he is, what he stands for, and how much respect he'd give the office - he showed himself to be Presidential. He just happens to be unlucky enough to have an unpopular last name and be running in an election year where being as unpresidential as possible is considered a selling point.
I stand in exactly the same place I always did on his policies. He's too willing to take a federal dollar and he's too willing to believe we need government to fix problems. He wouldn't be my first choice for President. But, I will say this: I'd be proud to be a citizen of a country that had a leader as decent, honest, and thoughtful as Jeb Bush. Until our electorate takes its job more seriously in the voting booth, I doubt we will, though. For now, I just think I want to give Jeb a hug and tell him that he's okay.
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