Jeb Bush Deserves a Second Look

There’s a reason Florida is one of the most desired places to live: it’s Jeb Bush.

There is a reason that Florida is a strong, Republican-controlled state: Jeb Bush.

There is even a reason Marco Rubio is running for president today: Yep, Jeb again.

As New Hampshire voters come down to the wire, I think Republican voters there and across the country need to take a serious, second look at Jeb.

While I think we have a remarkable field — from a brilliant businessman like Donald Trump, a conservative champion like Carly Fiorina, a charismatic Rubio, and respected governors like Chris Christie and John Kasich, Jeb may fit the bill of what Americans want this November.

Americans have a long history of picking governors for president — think Reagan, FDR, Theodore Roosevelt — someone from outside of Washington with strong executive experience.

It makes great sense and testifies to the wisdom of the American people.

There is no dispute Jeb Bush was an outstanding governor of Florida.

At the time he was elected, Florida had long been a solid Democratic state. Jeb almost single-handedly changed all of that.

He is the architect of Florida’s powerful and conservative Republican Party, which today controls the governorship and the legislature.

He did this by recruiting the best and the brightest to join the party and his administration.

Florida’s demographics have been rapidly changing, and Jeb actively sought out and encouraged Hispanics to become active in the GOP.

One was a 26-year-old lawyer no one ever heard of running for city commission of little West Miami. His name was Marco Rubio.

But Bush went well beyond building a party.

He built a conservative movement in Florida and implemented conservative policies.

He dramatically cut taxes and government regulations. He took on the powerful teachers union for education reform. He aggressively pushed laws backing the Second Amendment and pro-life issues.

Michael Reagan has stated Jeb was far more conservative than even his dad Ronald Reagan had been while governing California.

But Jeb proved a few things.

First, he showed that a conservative agenda actually can improve the lives of ordinary Americans.

During his time as governor, Politifact states unequivocally Bush led the nation in jobs created — more than 1.1 million during his tenure.

And to show you how astounding this was, California was second to Bush, creating 1 million jobs during the same period. And Florida had half the population of California!

But the political equation is not only about sensible policies — it’s also about leadership.

I lived in Florida when Bush was governor, and the state was hit by no less than eight hurricanes and major tropical storms in an 18-month period — two of these of Katrina-level.

Yet no Katrina disaster happened under Bush’s watch. In fact, Bush’s emergency management system was so good, President Obama sought to replicate it in his FEMA.

During the past eight years, America has had a president who has been a powerful communicator. Look where that has gotten us!

Jeb Bush is not a gifted orator. But he is a gifted leader.

And by leadership I mean two things. First, the leader has a strategy. And second, he can implement the strategy.

The country is facing serious problems with a debt over $19 trillion and growing each day. Economic stagnation and youth unemployment at record levels. Growing threats from ISIS, Iran and North Korea.

With all of the noise in the current campaign, it’s vitally important we conservatives look for a leader with a strong track record, a real leader.

Surely the American people will look for these qualities come November — and Jeb has them in spades.

Christopher Ruddy is CEO and editor of Newsmax Media Inc. Read more Christopher Ruddy Insider articles — Click Here Now.