Newsmax: Jeb Sides With His Mom, But Praises Palin

Says Gov. Palin has "an incredible skill to connect with people"
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In an Newsmax TV interview, former Florida governor Jeb Bush sided with his mother Barbara in the war of words between his clan's matriarch and Sarah Palin. Dubya's younger brother, however, said his mom "from time to time says things that that give us all great joy and sometimes some consternation," and offered praise for the former governor of Alaska and GOP vice presidential candidate:

”She's got an incredible skill to connect with people. She has fantastic political instincts, I think... She seems to get energy from the left's opposition of her. It's interesting how she turns that energy into continued strength amongst people who view the elites with great concern. So she's managed to figure out how to deal with this almost irrational displeasure of (sic) her. She turns it into a huge political strength. That requires just great political instincts, and she certainly has it.”

- JP

What a coincidence! Morning shows hype Bar Bush's Palin blast

You DO believe in coincidence, don't you?
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In the same Monday morning time slot, all three major alphabet networks seized upon Barbara Bush's recent diss of Gov. Palin to push the "divisive" and "overexposed" memes. The former is an oldie but baddie, while the latter is the newest shared anti-Palin media narrative:

On Monday, all three network morning show's eagerly highlighted former First Lady Barbara Bush voicing opposition to a Sarah Palin presidential run while suggesting the former Alaska governor has spent too much time in the public eye. As Harry Smith proclaimed at the top of CBS's Early Show: "It's all Palin all the time. But could the most famous family from Alaska be on the verge of overexposure?"

Later on the Early Show, senior White House correspondent Bill Plante noted: "But there are critics. In an interview with Larry King, former First Lady Barbara Bush weighed in on the possibility of a President Palin." A clip was played of Bush: "I think she's very happy in Alaska and I hope she'll stay there." On NBC's Today, correspondent Norah O'Donnell declared: "Nothing like some controversy to help sell a book, right? Just as Palin gears up for her national book tour and a possible presidential run, Barbara Bush says she likes Palin, but hopes she stays home." Finally, on ABC's Good Morning America, correspondent John Berman announced: "Sarah Palin seems to be everywhere. But, not everyone approves. Why Barbara Bush and other Republicans are saying enough."

While the Early Show only mentioned Bush's criticism, both Today and Good Morning America sought to tout widespread GOP opposition to Palin. On NBC, O'Donnell exclaimed: "Even the conservative magazine, The Weekly Standard, is going negative on Palin. The article says Palin's show 'has secured her a spot in the reality TV Star pantheon. And good for Palin, though there's no compelling reason to suggest the rest of us should tag along behind.'" On ABC, Berman remarked: "Listen to conservative George Will on This Week with Palin's visit to Dancing with the Stars." A clip was played of Will: "It's stirring family values but it's not good training to be president."

[More]

Gee, what a coincidence. And if you really believe this was a coincidence, we would like to sell you a brand new Pontiac which just rolled off the assembly line yesterday.

- JP

We were wrong about Barbara Bush's motivation

Our "well, duh" moment
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We have to admit it: we were wrong. The other day, we opined that Bar Bush's blast aimed at Gov. Palin was likely made because she wanted to see Jeb in the White House as the Bush-in-chief. Well, that's likely still a pipe dream for Mama Frizzly, but it's not the reason why she gratuitously gonged the guv. Turns out her Sarah slap was not just Jeb jive; it's RINO rapture:

Former President George H.W. Bush and former first lady Barbara Bush named Mitt Romney as their favorite Republican for the 2012 presidential nomination.

"If you asked me, who was the nominee be, I couldn't tell you. We like Mitt Romney. We know him well and like him very much," Bush said in an interview with CNN's Larry King.

The former president then joked about his support, saying: "Don't want to kill him off."

"He's a reasonable guy. A conservative fellow, which is good. But, no, I think he'd be a good president, a very good president," Bush said of the former Massachusetts governor.

The former first lady echoed Bush's words when she was asked her favorite.

"I'll go with George. Mitt Romney. I like a lot of them. But I like people who feel that you can respect other people's ideas. I like that a lot," Barbara Bush said.

Mitt is a "conservative" fellow? Well, to a progressive like Poppa Bush, Romney must seem conservative. And the Bushies are all about respecting other people's ideas. After all, they've adopted Bill Clinton as a dishonorary son, and Bush41 glowingly introduced Obama last fall at a Points of Light function held at the GHWB library, just a couple of miles down the road from here on the Texas A&M campus. To return the favor, the current prez will award the former one the Medal of Freedom next year. Feel the love! Hey, it's easy to respect another person's ideas when you both hold them in common.

Let's face it, the elder Bushes don't like the Sarahcuda one bit because she wants to make Vichy Republicans like them a politically endangered species. More power to her.

- JP

Mama Frizzly wants Gov. Palin to stay out of the lower 48

It's Jeb's turn
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Bless her heart, we can't get fightin' mad at Mama Frizzly. She's probably just looking out for her young cub Jeb here:

"I sat next to her once. Thought she was beautiful," Barbara Bush said. "And she's very happy in Alaska, and I hope she'll stay there."

After all, Poppa and Dubya lived in the White House. Darn it, it's Jeb's turn, and the matriarch of Clan Bush doesn't want that woman getting in the race and spoiling her boy's chances.

- JP

Celebrate Reading with Sarah Palin in Houston April 22

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Sarah Palin will comment on her life and read from her memoir Going Rogue as part of the program for the 2010 Celebration of Reading event, sponsored by the Barbara Bush Foundation for Family Literacy, April 22 at Houston's Hobby Center for the Performing Arts.

The 2008 GOP vice presidential candidate will join authors A.J. Jacobs (The Year of Living Biblically), Mary Karr (The Liar's Club), Greg Kincaid (A Dog Named Christmas) and Kathryn Stockett (The Help). Celebration of Reading regularly packs the theaters and brings in about $2 million a year to former First Lady Barbara Bush's foundation.

Tickets start at $150 per person and range up to $5,000 to reserve a table for eight. Dial 713-942-1209 or email ceickenroht@empowerevents.com for ticket information. The Celebration of Reading webpage is here, and the foundation's home page is here. The PDF flyer for the event is here.

h/t: The Sarah Palin Blog

- JP