The American Spectator

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Streetcar Line

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Still, you might argue, what about the inevitable backlash against political dynasticism? How could Americans possibly be expected to choose a Bush for the third time in four presidencies?

In actuality, though, 2008 may be the best year possible to overcome the argument against dynasties. After all, if Hillary Clinton is the Democratic nominee, the anti-dynasticism argument will cut both ways. What better time for Jeb Bush to argue that a political inheritance should not be a disqualifier than when his opponent's entire career as an elected official is seen as a political inheritance?

All of which explains why the frontloaded system plays right into Jeb Bush's hands.

This isn't a prediction that Bush will be the Republican nominee, by the way, but only an explanation why he could be. And it's not a case of my own wishes being father to the thought: My choice for president is SEC Chairman Chris Cox -- but he's not running. Neither, unfortunately, is the most eloquent conservative speaker on today's scene, White House press secretary Tony Snow. Oh, well....

The point is not that conservatives should wait around for Jeb Bush to come to the rescue, nor that we should begin secretly plotting the Floridian's ascendance. It is to say, though, that just as campaign finance reforms always have unintended consequences, so too might a frontloaded primary calendar. Conservatives should right now be "gaming out" the various possibilities, so they can be a decisive influence in the final choice of a nominee.

topics:
John McCain, Nancy Pelosi, Bill Clinton, Hillary Clinton, Iraq