Let's suppose that the GOP establishment does picks the smarter of the two leading Bush brothers, and instead of going for Gov. George W. Bush of Texas they instead opt for Florida Gov. Jeb Bush.
How would the ensuing decade have turned out assuming 9/11 happens as it historically did?
Partially discussed in the Jeb Bush in 2004 thread and there's this older thread to check out.
S.V. Date also covers some thoughts on Jeb in the Washington Post.
I can quote myself:
Basically Jeb Bush beats Lawton Chiles (quite reasonable) and it really doesn't matter if George Bush wins or not in 1994 since Jeb was seen as the one.
If Bush eked out a victory then Jeb takes Florida easily plus a couple extra states. In office is an open question of course but OTL Bush is a basic guide. Certainly Jeb would do the detail work better and certainly work Congress much harder. School vouchers, privatized Medicare… those kinds of things Jeb might well get through.
Is it safe to say that a President Jeb Bush would be much more fiscally conservative than his brother?
If you mean stuff like tax cuts for millionaires and vouchers and privatized Social Security it really is a wash. The difference is that Jeb would be much more likely to push forward on, and be successful at, the stuff that OTL George Bush gave up on.
I meant tax cuts along with spending cuts in the name of shrinking the size and scope of the federal government like what the Tea Party is so militant about.
Basically Jeb Bush beats Lawton Chiles (quite reasonable) and it really doesn't matter if George Bush wins or not in 1994 since Jeb was seen as the one.