It’s almost like he was the last to know.
Former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush announced breathlessly on 
Facebook Tuesday that he had “decided to actively explore” a run for the White House in 2016.
As opposed to what? “Inactively exploring” or just “exploring” all by its lonesome, as he has been for at least the last several months? I mean, really Jeb? You just up and “decided” yesterday?
AP called it the “most definitive step yet toward running for president” and everybody is scrambling to find out how this affects the rest of the GOP bench. Does it sideline Sen. Marco Rubio? Or slow down New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie or any number of another dozen or so GOP hopefuls? Really? Did they not know, given all the speculation and polling and recent op-editorializing, that he was likely to jump in?
If it changes anything, it changes the ability of anybody else raising good money. That is, unless the conservative right takes issue with his stand on immigration reform. He is known as a moderate Republican, after all. That could hurt him in a primary.
Bush announced his “active exploration” Tuesday as if it were a spur of the moment decision borne from a Thanksgiving Day chat with his wife, according to the Facebook holiday greeting post, which had 5,458 likes and more than 1,500 shares in a little more than 12 hours.
“Merry Christmas and Happy Hanukkah!
Like many of you, our family was blessed with the opportunity to gather together over the recent Thanksgiving holiday.
Columba and I are so proud of the wonderful adults our children have become, and we loved spending time with our three precious grandchildren.
We shared good food and watched a whole lot of football.
We also talked about the future of our nation. As a result of these conversations and thoughtful consideration of the kind of strong leadership I think America needs, I have decided to actively explore the possibility of running for President of the United States.
In January, I also plan to establish a Leadership PAC that will help me facilitate conversations with citizens across America to discuss the most critical challenges facing our exceptional nation. The PAC’s purpose will be to support leaders, ideas and policies that will expand opportunity and prosperity for all Americans.
In the coming months, I hope to visit with many of you and have a conversation about restoring the promise of America.”
This conversation will likely make it’s way to Miami, where Jeb has many friends. He is likely more popular here than he is all over the state — and that’s pretty popular. The Cubans love him. The gringo GOPpers love him. Even some Democrats secretly love him.
But, as he said, he needs to travel America, first. And what better way to do that than funded by a Super PAC that will pay for his super tour bus and hotel stays and dinners and breakfasts and lunches?
Expect the fundraising to start soon. Especially down in these parts, where there are several politicians who owe him a favor for his endorsement.
And while he lent himself to some losing campaigns here this past year — most notably Miami-Dade Commissioner Lynda Bell and lobbyist Daniel Diaz-Leyva, who ran for state rep — he still has enough credibility and will get a return on good investments from the past. You know who you are.
GOP loyalists have been abuzz about the potential presidential run for months — years, in some circles — but everyone sees Tuesday’s public announcement as the real start of the campaign. Jeb’s public acceptance of what many say is his destiny certainly sets the the stage for what could be an epic campaign battle against former First Lady Hillary Clinton on the Democrats’ side.
Ladra says both parties do it if only for the consumer value of what would become the most watched and talked about and branded presidential campaign in U.S. history — the brother and son of two former presidents against former Secretary of State wife of one president, who would also be the first woman nominated.
They make movies out of this stuff.
And we get a front row seat to life imitating art. Pass the popcorn.
Jeb Bush finally makes breathless announcement for 2016 added by Ladra on
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