Jeb Sees GOP as Reform Party

By Harry Kimball,  Newser Staff
Posted Feb 14, 2009 3:23 PM CST
Jeb Sees GOP as Reform Party
Former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush.   (AP Photo)

Jeb Bush cringes at the idea of running for office again, but that doesn’t mean he lacks bold vision for the Republican Party, writes Fred Barnes in the Wall Street Journal. Bush thinks the GOP should morph into a reform party, starting with the states. “A real effort to play offense outside of Washington in advancing a reform agenda” is necessary and possible, the former Florida governor said, where change “is easier to do.”

He's keen on reform of education (via Sweden's model) and immigration, and he advocates a GOP "shadow Cabinet" to publicize ideas. All of it, of course, focuses on "limited government," he says. “The next question you'll ask is what do I think of my brother's record. I think circumstances come into play. When you're attacked as a nation it's legitimate to spend resources to deal with huge holes in national security. And so there are times in history when it's important to use the power of government."
(More Jeb Bush stories.)

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