On Monday, Jeb Bush pointed out the obvious. Ronald Reagan could have never made it in today's Republican Party:
"Ronald Reagan would have, based on his record of finding accommodation, finding some degree of common ground, as would my dad — they would have a hard time if you define the Republican party — and I don’t — as having an orthodoxy that doesn’t allow for disagreement, doesn’t allow for finding some common ground."
This of course peeved conservatives, who were insulted at the thought that Saint Ronald Reagan, guardian of all that is conservative and holy, would have
compromised on anything, and bristled at Jeb Bush disagreeing with the party for saying they didn't allow disagreement. Or something. (It also peeved liberals, because we really liked that brief stretch of time when we did not have to listen to a member of the Bush family telling us what they thought about anything.)
I wouldn't say he's backing down yet, but he's definitely feeling conservative pressure, if his Twitter feed is any indication:
Am reminded today why I rarely read headlines. #ContextIsImportant
— @JebBush via HootSuite
The point I was making yesterday is this: The political system today is hyperpartisan. Both sides are at fault.
— @JebBush via HootSuite
Past 4 years, Democrats have held leadership roles w/opportunities to reach across political aisle. For sake of politics, they haven't.
— @JebBush via HootSuite
Here I'd like to just say two things. First, that Jeb Bush thinking "grand bargain"-talking Barack Obama hasn't been reaching across the aisle enough is one of the more ridiculous things I've recently heard. And second, that I am very, very depressed that we now live in a world in which I am forced to pay attention to Jeb Bush's Twitter feed. If Sarah Palin starts making news via Instagram, I'm out of here. I don't know if I can make it all the way to Mars in a garage-built spacecraft, but I'm willing to try.