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First Read is an analysis of the day's political news, from the NBC News political unit. First Read is updated throughout the day, so check back often.

Chuck Todd, NBC Political Director

Mark Murray, NBC Deputy Political Director

Domenico Montanaro, NBC Political Researcher



2009/2010: Jeb's second thoughts?

Posted: Tuesday, January 06, 2009 9:13 AM by Domenico Montanaro
Filed Under: ,

CALIFORNIA: Meg Whitman, ex-EBAY CEO, is officially exploring a bid for California governor, setting up a high priced GOP primary between two moderates, as Insurance Commissioner Steve Poizner has been running for months.

COLORADO: The AP profiles Colorado's new senator, former Denver schools chief Michael Bennet, who fully intends to run for the seat in 2010, as he setting up a campaign Web site and will file papers in a few days. "A Yale-educated lawyer who made millions working as a corporate restructuring specialist before entering government work, Bennet was an aide to Denver Mayor John Hickenlooper before taking over Denver's schools in 2005. A reform plan Bennet brought to the school district earned him national accolades in education circles. Bennet was among those who advised Obama on education during the presidential campaign...."

(CQ's Jonathan Allen counts the appointees who successfully ran for reelection, and the odds aren't all that good. "Since the 17th Amendment established procedures for filling vacancies in 1913, only 60 of the 180 men and women appointed to the Senate -- an even one-third ratio --have won the next election in their own right, according to records kept by the Senate.")

FLORIDA: One of the most plugged-in Florida political reporters, Adam Smith of the St. Pete Times, has an intriguing story quoting many Jeb Bush friends as saying the ex-Republican governor may be having second thoughts about a return to politics.

ILLINOIS: Good news, bad news for the Illinois GOP: A potential electable moderate may decide to run for the Senate seat in 2010, but if Mark Kirk runs, he leaves a House district that will be very difficult for the GOP to hold as an open seat.

VIRGINIA: Today, the day before Terry McAuliffe officially launches his gubernatorial bid, Democratic rival Brian Moran appears in “Arlington County, where he began his political career as a prosecutor two decades ago,” the Richmond Times-Dispatch writes. “Moran expects to pick up the support of the majority of the county's elective officials. Though Moran is backed by big-name Democrats across the state, he is emphasizing his Northern Virginia roots ahead of McAuliffe's kickoff Wednesday. McAuliffe, too, is based in Northern Virginia.”

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Meg Whitman?  Really?

I guess Californians DID vote in Ahhhnold...

http://thepajamapundit.com/
We don't need Meg Twitwoman messing up our state anymore than that Tinseltown Flake has already screwed it up.  We need a real good Democrat heading our state out of the mess that the repugnant ones have dumped it in.

Jeb would be the smartest bushbaby if he decides to stay out of public office.  We don't need another bushwhacker in the White House ruining our country.  Our country has been trashed enough by the rich white trash from texas.

Jeb may be getting the message that the country is sick and tired of Bushs.  Bush 43 has pretty much ruined Jeb's chances for at least 8 years.  Jeb might be better off as Chairman of the RNC.
No more Shrubs!!!!  His father has such delusions of grandeur. The whole lot of them need to go away!!  Now Laura's going to write a book.  Won't be a tell all thats for sure. Just my opinion.  
nahh!i hope that Jeb running for office is a joke because that is all we need in office is another Bush serial killer.what this family has done in the name of "American security" is a real apocolytic joke ,it is sooo,Orwellian i cannot even get a thot around it.why in Gods name would we even entertain the notion of a guy who helped mastermind a stolen election,WTC bombings,brother to Marvin,son to GHW,and granson to Nazi banker Prescott help continuiing this outrite negative legacy.
Jeb in 2012 !!!!

Vote common sense.
I hope Jeb Bush is not thinking of running for any position. I would be very happy if G.W. Bush took his wife and all of his relatives to live in Paraguay and the media would never print the name BUSH again.
Jeb may have been a good president, but his brother George got in the way. Jeb was a good govenor in Florida, but George got out of Austin before anyone knew how he was.
While it appears that Jeb Bush is much smarter than his brother, why take the risk on him? George W has so seriously damaged our country that it may take years for us to recover. In the early 1990's, a friend predicted that the 21st century would be the century of China (following France, England and America as the leaders for the previous three centuries). I personally believed that America could continue well into the 21st Century and perhaps beyond, but George W has made that significantly more difficult than it would have been without him.
Meg Whitman would ensure a Democrat would be governor of California if she was the GOP pick. Ahnuld hasn't been too bad. He's been the best of the last 4 governors California has had.
I certainly hope with all my heart that Jeb decides to run for the White House. Between him and Palin this assures a Democrat in office for many years to come. The country doesn't need ANOTHER Bush in the White House..........ever. And Lord knows, Palin isn't capable of running a PTA meeting, let alone a country. That's the ticket, Bush/Palin. Instant Democratic success.
Jeb in 2012 !!!!

Vote common sense.
Charro
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Please explain your definition of common sense regarding John Bush for President. He probably should have been elected instead of his big brother but big (screw up) brother ruined it for him and that may be a good thing. Anyone who researches the Bush family will find their are some hair raising things they have done and things they have been involved in.

Did you know that future CIA director George H W. Bush was near the Texas Schoolbook Depository on November 22, 1963? Coincidence? Maybe and maybe not.  Did you know that that very same GHW's father sold military and other things to NAZI Germany until the US Government threatened to toss him into a jail for the duration of the war?
Despite what the media may say Jeb is not liked here in Florida. He has destroyed this state and would have a hard time winning anything.
The Bush name is mud for most of the country, but these southern republicans will vote for their party regardless of who is running. They showed this with their questionable support of give me a break, Palin.
And some of the party first politicians they have voted into office. Maybe one day they will realize the pubs care less about middle class America and the survivial of our country.


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