What if Jeb Bush took the opportunity to step in and spearhead a negotiation summit between Boehner and McConnell?
In the MSNBC Townhall forum with JDB earlier this evening, Obama took a question (in Spanish) from someone asking him if he had any hope that Jeb Bush might be more amenable to the Latino community, given a somewhat moderate record of immigration reform at the state level when he was Florida governor. Obama shot back, "I appreciate Mr. Bush being concerned about immigration reform. I would suggest what he do is talk to the Speaker of the House and the members of his party." Rachel Maddow's instant analysis was, as always spot on, and she pulled this quote for her show right after the event ended, and pointed to it as an example of the newly pugilistic and confrontational POTUS we've all been enjoying lately.
But what if Jebby had taken him up on that, or better, thought of it on his own a week or so ago, and decided to intervene between the two most powerful Republicans in the country, to reach a solution to the DHS funding crisis? What if he had managed to craft some sort of compromise that would ensure the sekuritat would continue to function, but that also included some sufficiently face-saving gesture against Obama that would allow the Speaker to claim a victory?
At this moment, he could be standing at a podium, flanked by the two rivals, solemnly praising their courage in standing for their principles, yet also admiring their mature willingness to put aside their differences, and blah, blah blah, the speech writes itself.
Can you imagine the adulation Bush would be basking in right now? Not from teabag Repubs, of course, but even they would have to recognize that he would now be seen as the most mature and electable. No other candidate has the chops to pull it off, and he had managed it--or even just attempted it--he would now be seen as the prohibitive 2016 front-runner, hands down.
No one else in the pack would be remotely capable of taking on the challenge. Cruz, Paul and Rubio, as senators, would be disqualified as peace-brokers between the two chambers. As a former governor, Bush would be a neutral outsider, but with his family connections and history, he also has the stature to be taken seriously by both sides. Can you imagine Chris Christie stepping in as a peacemaker? Bobby Jindal? Conflict-allergic Scott Walker? I can see Palin trying, and failing hilariously, of course, but no one else in the field so far has the skill, the gravitas or the inclination to give it a go.
Instead, we have the same craven, risk-averse schlub he's always been. He has missed a chance to really step up and give the country a reason to vote for him.