Jeb! Bush has tried mightily to avoid getting into a slapfight with fellow candidate Donald Trump. As
one Republican consultant said: "You don't want to create a sideshow spectacle by taking Trump's bait."
It appears that Jeb! has had all he can stands and he can't stands no more, however. Trump has been goading Jeb! by declaring that "I don't see [Jeb!] as a factor" in the elections. Now Jeb! has fired back by—wait for it—comparing Trump to Barack Obama.
"There are people that prey on peoples' fears and angst as well," Bush said in a video posted online by his campaign.
"Whether it’s Donald Trump or Barack Obama, their rhetoric of divisiveness is wrong. A Republican will never win by striking fear in people’s hearts,” Bush added.
Zing for the Obama reference. Double zing for Jeb! Bush's apparent conviction that Republicans would never stoop to striking fear in people's—
OH MY GOD TOM COTTON LOOK OUT ISIS IS IN ARKANSAS RIGHT NOW AND THEY BROUGHT EBOLA AND NOW THEY'RE GIVING COWS EBOLA AND ALL THE COWS HAVE MUSLIM EBOLA
—hearts.
Anyhoo, a positive campaign message from Backup Bush:
"A Republican can win and will win if we have an aspirational message that gives people hope that their lives will be better when we apply conservative principles the right way."
Aspirational meaning none of those principles worked when we tried them just one damn Bush presidency ago, and holy hell did it all go to hell in a handbasket right quick and just kept going until by the end people were talking about tent cities and soup kitchens, but Jeb!
aspires to come up with a message that makes you forget that part.
Honestly, having a little battle with Donald Trump might at least get Jeb! back in the news cycle again.