Former president George W. Bush has unsurprisingly given his brother Jeb Bush his personal endorsement for a 2016 presidential bid. However, he hopes that voters will judge Jeb apart from his own controversial legacy if he chooses to run.
In an interview with Parade , Bush weighed in on his brother’s chances should he seek a 2016 presidential bid. The most important question is, of course, is the country ready for another Bush?
“That’s for Jeb to figure out, you know what I mean? I would hope that people would judge [him], if Jeb were to run, on his merits and his track record.…So I hope he will run,” George W. Bush said of his brother.
Though the former Florida governor hasn’t decided whether he’ll attempt a presidential run in 2016, he has, in recent interviews , expressed hope for a revitalized Republican Party in 2016.
He said that “the party ought to nominate somebody who can stand by principles and explain why conservative principles are better for the vast majority of the citizens,” dismissing notions that the GOP was “doomed forever.”
As for George W. Bush, though he has kept a very low profile since leaving office in 2009 , the former president has recently granted a few interviews to talk about his legacy and his life since then.
In an interview with the Dallas Morning News , Bush said that he was more or less “comfortable” with his legacy, despite controversy over the decisions that led the country into war with Iraq and Afghanistan.
“I’m confident the decisions were made the right way,” he said. “It’s easy to forget what life was like when the decision was made.”
He also said people were surprised to find out that he is an avid painter . “Of course, some people are surprised I can even read,” he joked.
Do you think Jeb Bush should run in 2016? Is the country ready for another Bush in the White House?