http://www.c-span.org/video/?324419-1/former-governor-jeb-bush-rfl-address-chicago.

A lot of the press reports focused on the malapropisms, cringe-worthy phrasings and factual memory lapses, and my impression is that the speaker did comically relieve himself regularly during the 30 min before Q&A (which JEB handled much more comfortably).

Content wise, the speech was predictably pedestrian and easy to forget. I would summarize it as 1/3 condemnation of Obama (standard GOP Sky is Falling), 1/3 pep talk on American values (American Exceptionalism Lite), and 1/3 establishing his own foreign policy credibility (just plain light).

JEB was trying to channel Poppy (GHWB) but presented a lot like Sloppy (GWB). I guess it's best to get these warm ups over with early , one more check mark in the do list....and in the context of the long march to nomination, no big deal. He'll get better with coaching.

That said, the speech highlighted that exclusive of the family connections, JEB's own fluency in foreign policy is surprising weak for "the smart one." He offered no specifics about how he would fix all the problems he condemned.

The simple fact is, governorship doesn't exercise the foreign policy muscles much. Neither does establishing branch offices in foreign countries. Bush was trying to conflate foreign trade with foreign policy. Judging from the reception, it didn't work outside the party faithful, at least not that night.

What the speech did spotlight is that foreign policy fluency doesn't appear to be automatically passed down from father to sons. I guess things got discussed at the Bush dinner table.

Hillary does actually have a LOT of foreign policy leadership experience. Match up the strengths at weaknesses of the two front runners and you can suss the obligatory 2016 Swift-Boating is likely to be directed at Hillary's very real record against JEB's nearly complete lack of record. Due to stylistic difficulties, this speech was a ranging shot which fizzled.

To be fair, that was [to the tune of "Barbara Ann" by the Beach Boys]: "Bomb bomb bomb, bomb bomb Iran..."

Heh.

-CW

"This is the Foreign Policy threat that ANY person wanting to be POTUS needs to address...

Michale"

Bullshit. This ain't 1932. We made Iran an enemy and empowered Muslim extremists through our own actions against oil rich Muslim nations in the name of anticommunism and capitalist greed. We destabilized the middle east empowering Iran and ISIS thanks to misguided fear, vengeance, and greed.

In exactly the same way, and for the same reasons, the people of Germany embarked on WWII. Like us, their leaders had their own agenda, and like them we too willingly went along with it out of fear, vengeance, and greed.

People aren't mysterious. They're just people. They don't behave any differently than we do. And WE certainly don't behave any differently than they do!

Constantly trying to distinguish ourselves by virtue of our superiority, and exceptualism, is to guarantee we will not solve our problems. As thinking of ourselves as superior is a contributing factor in our problems. Just as trying to win a conflict by fighting the last one over again is a guaranteed strategy for failure.

This is the Foreign Policy threat that ANY person wanting to be POTUS needs to address...

Michale

For six years, while they've been universal in their condemnation of Obama foreign policy, they've yet to even offer a single cogent specific criticism of any of the foreign policies they condemn. Much less any reasonable alternative. With the possible exception of "Bomb Iran. Bomb bomb Iran!"

Their playbook only contains a handful of tactics. Reduce taxes. Deport immigrants. Eliminate regulation. Criminalize personal behavior. Kill any scary black or brown people. And tell each other how "exceptional" they are.

There is no why, when, or where to their thinking. Only how. Republicans don't do "policy." That would require both an interest in governing and contact with reality. Republicans have neither.

And in doing so, totally negated my argument!

There's a lesson in that to be learned by the rest of ya... :D

Michale

Abso-posit-loutly...

This isn't a partisan issue..

All of these questions need to be answered by potential Dem candidates as well as GOP candidates...

CW's fair hand strikes again! :D

And in doing so, totally negated my argument!

Michale