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Jeb Not Hiding His Light

Posted Aug 16, 2007 by William March

Updated Aug 17, 2007 at 11:14 AM

Former Gov. Jeb Bush is taking a low profile in Florida politics since leaving office—for instance, he hasn’t publicly taken sides in the presidential primary, nor has he had much to say about the performance in office of his successor, Gov. Charlie Crist.

But that doesn’t mean he’s hiding his light under a bushel. Bush is maintaining a schedule of speaking appearances, often before conservative or religious groups, and is represented by a big-name speaker’s agency, Washington Speaker’s Bureau.

Today, Bush spoke to a crowd at the Maine Heritage Policy Center in Portland, an organization that promotes conservative political principles, according to a report from WCSH-TV.

In July, he spoke to the Youth and Family Encounter, a religious conference for families sponsored by a Catholic group in Atlanta. According to news reports, he told the group, “Jesus was my best political advisor.”

He also said he prayed in the Governor’s Mansion at 2 a.m. after election day in 2000, as the Florida presidential vote began melting down into what became the infamous recount.

The Washington Speaker’s Bureau doesn’t say what Bush charges for a speech, but he is not on their list of speakers available for under $15,000.
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UPDATE: In his speech in Portland, Bush played down the possibility that he might run for office in the future, but didn’t deny it. Asked about his future by an audience member during a question session at the end of his speech, Bush replied, according to a story in the Portland Press Herald, “Have you ever had a dream? I actually had one that came true. It just ended. I don’t have ambition in politics. I love policy, the advocacy of ideas. I love to implement big ideas. I love dysfunctional things and making them work.”

Jason Fortin, spokesman for the Maine Heritage Policy Center, said those were Bush’s only comments on his political future, and called it a “wonderful” speech. “He really reached out and captured the crowd.”