early and awkward

Barbara Bush on Son Jeb’s Potential Presidential Run: ‘We’ve Had Enough Bushes’

Republican Florida Governor Jeb Bush (R) and his parents, former President George and Barbara Bush, await election returns November 5, 2002 in their Miami, Florida hotel room. Bush is facing Democratic challenger Bill McBride, a Tampa lawyer. Victory for Bush would make him the first Republican governor re-elected in state history. In the background is Bush campaign communications director Todd Harris. (Photo by Joe Burbank/Pool/Getty Images)
Barbara and Jeb in happier times. Photo: Joe Burbank/Pool/Getty Images

When asked by Nightline whether his brother Jeb should run for president in 2016, George W. Bush (whom you’re suddenly seeing a lot of because his presidential library debuts today) emphatically endorsed the idea“He doesn’t need my counsel because he knows what it is: run!”

Laura Bush was similarly enthusiastic on the Today show this morning. “Sure, he’d be terrific!” she told Matt Lauer. 

Then Lauer posed the question to the Bush family’s 87-year-old matriarch, the no-nonsense Barbara Bush. And she poured enough cold water on her son’s potential candidacy to give it hypothermia. 

He’s by far the best qualified man,” she began, “but, no, I really don’t [think he should run].” 

Bush’s explanation sounded like something you’d see on an anti-Jeb bumper sticker. 

I think it’s a great country, there are a lot of great families, and, it’s not just four families or whatever,” she said, possibly alluding to the Clintons as well. “There are other people that are very qualified, and we’ve had enough Bushes.”

Sorry, Jeb. You’ve been grounded. 

Barbara Bush Doesn’t Want Jeb to Run