Jeb Bush may not be ready for prime time


The principal rationale of Jeb Bush's presidential candidacy is that he is best in class, a polished politician with both experience and savvy who is a grade above the rest. He may be genetically tied to an unpopular former president, but he is the closest thing the Republicans have to a complete package.
That's the theory, anyway. But the ongoing controversy over his position on the Iraq War shows that Bush does not seem to have done even basic homework on his most obvious weakness. First, in an interview earlier this week, he said he would have invaded Iraq, even with the knowledge of how the war turned out. Then he backtracked somewhat on Tuesday evening, telling Sean Hannity that he misunderstood the question. Then, when given the chance to clarify his position, he dissolved into inscrutability, saying the question was a "hypothetical."
Perhaps most painfully, he even repeated one of his brother's most infamous lines: "Mistakes were made."
The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Political observers are surprised, to say the least, that Bush has not figured out a way to address this issue. As Dan Pfeiffer, a former aide to President Obama, put it, "I would have loved to have been in the meeting when the Bush campaign decided not to prepare for the Iraq question." His competitors are bound to suggest that Jeb Bush is not as ready for prime time as he thinks he is.
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Ryu Spaeth is deputy editor at TheWeek.com. Follow him on Twitter.
-
Pentagon reporters turn in badges after refusing rules
Speed Read They refused to sign a restrictive new press policy imposed by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth
-
Supreme Court points to gutting Voting Rights Act
speed read States would no longer be required to consider race when drawing congressional maps
-
Trump says he authorized covert CIA ops in Venezuela
Speed Read He is also considering military strikes inside the country
-
‘Vile, racist’ leaked chats roil Young Republicans
Speed Read Leaders of Young Republican groups made racist, antisemitic and violent comments in private chats
-
Trump ties $20B Argentina bailout to Milei votes
speed read Trump will boost Argentina’s economy — if the country’s right-wing president wins upcoming elections
-
News organizations reject Pentagon restrictions
Speed Read The proposed policy is Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s latest move to limit press access at the Pentagon
-
Trump declares end to Gaza war, ‘dawn’ of new Mideast
Speed Read Hamas freed the final 20 living Israeli hostages and Israel released thousands of Palestinian detainees
-
Trump DOJ indicts New York AG Letitia James
Speed Read New York Attorney General Letitia James was indicted as Trump’s Justice Department pursues charges against his political opponents