Inside the Beltway: John Sununu: Kasich’s the conservative candidate who can get things done

NEWS AND OPINION:

Things bode well for Republican hopeful Gov. John Kasich, according to those who laud his practical political experience, monitor the polls and compare the candidate’s public record with those of his rivals.

“John Kasich clearly is the most experienced candidate left in the race,” former U.S. Sen. John Sununu tells Inside the Beltway. “Senators Ted Cruz and Marco Rubio haven’t cut anyone’s taxes, they haven’t rolled back regulations to help small business. John Kasich has done both. He’s the conservative candidate who can get things done. He has demonstrated a very broad appeal with the public and an unexpected ability to grow the vote in New Hampshire and South Carolina.”

Mr. Sununu adds, “On March 1 we go to states where he could win a big chunk of delegates. This is obviously an unusual election year, but John Kasich is by far the strongest candidate the Republican Party can put forth. Voters are catching on to that.”

BUSH DYNASTY PART 2: GEORGE P. BUSH

After Jeb Bush suspended his bid for president Saturday, there was much gleeful chatter that the “Bush dynasty” was finally over. Kaput. Goodbye. In the 24 hours that followed, NBC’s “Meet the Press” host Chuck Todd advised his audience, “the Bush dynasty comes to an official end.” Vanity Fair published a lengthy “Requiem for the Bush dynasty,” while The Atlantic ran “An elegy for the Jeb Bush Campaign.” The Guardian put it this way: “Ding, dong, the dynasty is dead: So long to Jeb Bush and the family” while the New Republic declared, “And so the Bush dynasty comes to an end.”

These accounts appear to overlook the candidate’s son. George Prescott Bush, 39, is a former public school teacher, an attorney, U.S. Navy Reserve officer, real estate investor, married father of two and the commissioner of the Texas General Land Office. Mr. Bush the younger won his bid for that influential office in 2014 after conducting an aggressive campaign and promising Texas voters, “I will bring my conservative values and my real-world experience with me.” He’s not likely to fade into the Long Star landscape anytime soon.

“I love you Dad and proud that you offered a servant’s heart to the people of this great country,” the young official tweeted Sunday. And of ironic note to Republicans tempted to mull the end of the “Clinton dynasty”: There are already bumper stickers out there noting, “Chelsea Clinton for President 2020” — and future election years right up to 2032.

OBSERVATIONS FROM THE DUCK DYNASTY

“Can all the money I ever make — can it remove your sin, South Carolina? What about all this fame I received — will it raise me from the dead? That’s why I follow Jesus. That’s why I vote for people who follow Jesus. We went with the atheists beginning about 50 years ago, and we’ve almost created in America a hell on Earth. Vote godly. I love you, and I love God. It’s the only way to roll.”

— Duck Dynasty patriarch Phil Robertson, at a rally supporting Republican hopeful Sen. Ted Cruz in Charleston, South Carolina, on Saturday.

BULLYING CONSERVATIVE CHRISTIANS

In stores on Monday from Regnery Publishing: “You Will be Made to Care: The War on Faith, Family and Your Freedom to Believe,” by Erick Erickson and Bill Blankschaen. The new book offers a painstaking look at the cultural and political landscape and its effect on those who espouse traditional values and uphold the Constitution.

“Conservative Christians face unprecedented threats to their religious liberties. Across the country, they are being bullied and boycotted for expressing their traditional beliefs about marriage and sex. But their next fight is even more ominous: the Left no longer is simply demanding tolerance of their radical agenda — they now demand your approval,” the authors observe.

“Christians are welcome to practice their beliefs for one hour every Sunday — but don’t try living it in the secular world on Monday,” the pair writes.

“Now is not the time for quitting. Now is the time for engaging the culture strategically with an understanding of the times in which we live and a reinvigorated faith in God,” says Mr. Erickson.

WHITE HOUSE INK

Tattoos have become such a cultural fixture that pollsters now track the trends of those who favor the ink. The Harris Poll, in fact, interviewed 3,300 people about their tattoo sentiments to find that nearly three in 10 Americans have tattoos, and there’s no partisan divide here. Equal numbers of Republicans, Democrats and independents — about 28 percent of each — have one or more tattoos.

Much of the public is not bothered by tats, even on authority figures: 58 percent would not mind a U.S. president or presidential candidate with a visible tattoo. And equal numbers felt that way about a tattooed primary school teacher, judge or doctor.

AMERICAN LEGION ON THE MARCH

In the nation’s capital this week: That would be the American Legion, here for its 56th annual Washington Conference, which includes a public service award to Sen. Johnny Isakson, Georgia Republican, on Tuesday, and an appearance by National Commander Dale Barnett before a joint session of the House and Senate committees on Veterans’ Affairs on Wednesday.

Also along: 300 members of the American Legion Auxiliary, who count patriotism and public service among their basic callings. The ladies will “storm” Capitol Hill on Tuesday, among many other things.

POLL DU JOUR

• 53 percent of Americans say President Obama should nominate a replacement for the late Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia; 25 percent of Republicans, 46 percent of independents and 84 percent of Democrats agree.

• 50 percent have confidence in Mr. Obama’s ability to choose a nominee; 15 percent of Republicans, 42 percent of independents and 86 percent of Democrats agree.

• 43 percent do not have confidence in Mr. Obama’s ability to choose; 82 percent of Republicans, 46 percent of independents and 10 percent of Democrats agree.

• 35 percent say the new president should make the choice; 62 percent of Republicans, 37 percent of independents and 10 percent of Democrats agree.

Source: A YouGov poll of 998 U.S. adults conducted Feb. 17-18.

• Doggerel and caterwaul to jharper@washingtontimes.com