FIRST Unfortunately, we start this week’s blog with the incident that occurred near Roanoke, Virginia on Wednesday when two journalists with full lives ahead of them were senselessly murdered on live television by a former deranged colleague. Another victim of this tragic shooting who was being interviewed at the time of the murders was shot in the back and expected to recover. Our thoughts and prayers go out to the victims’ family members, friends, their colleagues at WDBJ7, and to the community of Roanoke itself.
Is Jeb Bush’s presidential candidacy in trouble?
If recent poll numbers are to be believed, then we would say yes. And we aren’t alone.
A story Friday at thehill.com pointed out that the former Florida governor’s presidential campaign could be facing another threat, this time from Ohio Governor John Kasich and his sudden rise in New Hampshire polling. Instead of attacking Donald Trump, Mr. Bush may want to begin doing opposition research on the Ohio governor.
We suggested on our Facebook page after his very sub-par debate performance in Cleveland earlier this month that the establishment may turn to John Kasich as the one to pick up the moderate/establishment baton should Jeb Bush drop it. With low poll numbers, low energy (does he even want this job?), and his inability to take on Donald Trump who has Mr. Bush constantly in his political crosshairs, the big money donors who helped raised over $100 million combined between his campaign and Super-PAC are apparently getting nervous.
Case in point, on Friday, it was revealed that three top donors to the Bush campaign abruptly severed ties amid concerns over his flailing poll numbers and internal presidential team conflicts. Are the wheels about to fall of the wagon for the “anoited one”?
We shall soon find out.
If Bush’s campaign continues to implode, the establishment will have no choice but to get behind the last moderate in the race who can possibly prevent a conservative from getting the nomination, John Kasich.
Four years ago, their candidate (Mitt Romney) had tons of money and lead the polls from start to finish. This time, however, they are in a position that is unfamiliar to them: propping up the guy who is falling in the polls and is as exciting as watching paint dry.
The implosion of Jeb Bush and the political ruling class thinking of option number two is great news. Conservatives should rejoice at the prospect of a conservative nominee. It’s been long overdue.
No FIRST & Final blog would be complete if we didn’t write yet another story about the establishment trashing a conservative.
It happened again this week.
At a fundraiser in Colorado on Wednesday, Speaker of the House John Boehner called Ted Cruz a “jackass” when commenting how the Texas senator’s presidential campaign keeps him out of Washington D.C.
Don’t call us surprised. This is just par for the course from the incompetent leader of the U.S. House.
As Donald Trump, Ben Carson, and Ted Cruz have shown in the early stages of the 2016 presidential race, the American people are sick and tired of the status quo and insider politicking that is on display every day in and around Washington D.C. Thus, those three men in particular are at or near the top of several prominent polls. Combined, these outsiders gather around 45% of the primary vote. Out of a field of 17 contenders, that’s quite significant.
Every single day the D.C. establishment trashes the conservative base and candidates/politicians we like such as Senator Cruz. And yet they seem baffled as to how men like Trump, Carson, and Cruz lead in the polls.
And what these poll numbers show is that primary voters want a leader who will tackle the tough issues, say what needs to be said, and kick rude reporters out of press conferences.
As for the Speaker of the House, his unprofessionalism is a disgrace.
Hey, Mr Speaker, why don’t you call the head of Planned Parenthood, or Hillary Clinton, or the President of the United States, or the Ayatollah of Iran a jackass? At least for once we conservatives would have to admit you were right for a change.
Final We want to end this week with a salute to Ben Shapiro, Senior Editor-At-Large of Breitbart News, whose columns we have enjoyed reading for the past couple of years. His writing style is insightful, provocative to the left, and conservative to the core.
Mr. Shapiro is one of several young fearless conservative leaders in journalism who is taking on the left and the establishment right.
You can read his columns at townhall.com or at brietbart.com.
