This morning, Aaron comforted us all with the thought of Scott Walker 2016 (provided he wins re-election next week), but because I’m a horrible person who can’t let you all rest in peace on a Monday, I feel obligated to warn you that, according to the New York Times, the Bush family rallied recently to begin preparations for Jeb 2016. 

“No question,” Jeb Jr. said in an interview, “people are getting fired up about it — donors and people who have been around the political process for a while, people he’s known in Tallahassee when he was governor. The family, we’re geared up either way.” Most important, he added, his mother, Columba, the prospective candidate’s politics-averse wife, has given her assent.

Within the family, the top cheerleaders have been George H. W. Bush and George W. Bush, both of whom know something about running for president, and both of whom have an interest in perpetuating, if not redeeming, the family legacy.

Jeb’s other son, George P. Bush, is running for a Texas land commissioner slot, but even he took time out of his busy schedule of politicking to support his Dad’s ambitions to the Times. The rest of the Bush family is, apparently, anxiously awaiting the announcement so that they can get out onto the playing field and redeem the Bush legacy. Only Jeb’s mom, Barbara, is the lone voice of reason, who notes that it might be time the Bush family give up on creating a political legacy and retire to more productive pursuits, like basket-weaving, farming and anything that will keep them away from America’s hallowed halls of power. 

The most terrifying thing about Jeb Jr.’s statement is, of course, that Jeb Sr.’s most ardent supporters are people who have “been around the political process for a while,” which means that the push to pit yet another Bush against yet another Clinton is coming from people who were in power the first time that contest ended badly and people who have somehow forgotten how to smartly invest their massive wealth. Ask anyone outside the Beltway and I’m almost certain that the prospect of established Republican strategists and big-money donors picking yet another mediocre Presidential candidate is not at the top of their 2016 wish lists.