When did Fred Barnes totally go off the deep end into North Korea style political reportage?
Headline of Fred’s new piece on Jeb Bush: “Jeb Bush’s remarkable eight years of achievement in Florida.”
Front page headline: “The Best Governor in America.”
I wanted to find a few illustrative excerpts. But I couldn’t find where to stop quoting. I’ll settle for the first few sentences …
IF ONLY HIS LAST NAME WERE SMITH. He’d not only attract national attention as the popular and successful governor of a difficult-to-govern state. He’d be viewed sympathetically as a leader who had dealt with family issues–his wife’s aversion to politics, his daughter’s bouts with drug addiction–without losing his grip on the governorship. And he’d be the prohibitive frontrunner for the Republican presidential nomination in 2008.
But his last name is Bush. So Jeb Bush, nearing the end of his eight years as governor of Florida, has to settle for being the best governor in America. Not proclaimed the best governor by the media and the political community. But recognized as the best by a smaller group: governors who served with him and experts and think-tank and conservative policy wonks who regard state government as something other than a machine for taxing and spending.
Why is Jeb Bush the best? It’s very simple. His record is the best. No other governor, Republican or Democrat, comes close.
Why is Jeb the best? Because he is the best! No one rocks as hard as Jeb, bitch!
