Jeb Bush

The son watched his father, vowing not to repeat his mistakes. The weekend before George W. Bush defeated Texas Gov. Ann Richards in 1994, he stood in the backyard of his Dallas home hitting tennis balls into the swimming pool for his dog to fetch and ruminating about the future with his media strategist, Don Sipple.

Jeb Bush, the former Florida governor and brother of President Bush, has decided not to run for the U.S. Senate, ending weeks of speculation that he would try to preserve a family power center in the nation's capital. In contrast to his older brother, Jeb Bush left office with high approval ratings and a reputation as a master of policy. He was considered the strongest contender for the seat being vacated by Republican Sen. Mel Martinez in 2010.

Former Gov. Jeb Bush was snubbed for an honorary degree at the University of Florida -- but he can still call himself an honorary alumnus. The Alumni Assn. Board of Directors passed a resolution to make Bush an honorary alumnus. The move came on the heels of a 38-28 Faculty Senate vote to deny Bush an honorary degree.

Republican presidential hopeful Mitt Romney on Thursday dropped some names of potential running mates in the 2008 race, adding that such speculation was premature. Among those Romney mentioned for the second slot on the Republican ticket were three Southerners: South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford, former House Speaker Newt Gingrich of Georgia, and former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush. "There's some wonderful people right here in this state, as you know, Gov.

President Bush renewed his efforts Saturday to address a major domestic policy challenge -- one that possibly remains in reach -- by telling graduating students that the United States must build new immigration laws around economic needs and border protection, while helping newcomers join American society.

Even as energy companies and his own administration call for more aggressive oil and gas exploration in U.S. waters, President Bush told drilling opponents in this politically crucial state Friday that they should "rest easy." But despite the reassuring language, Bush in fact was embracing the very drilling expansion proposal that had riled environmentalists and Florida politicians of both parties. Bush said he was committed to preventing oil drilling within 100 miles of the state's Gulf Coast.

Accusing politicians of "pounding their chests" on immigration for short-term political gain, Florida Gov. Jeb Bush said Tuesday that the tone of the debate had been "hurtful" to him and his Mexican-born wife, Columba. Bush, the younger brother of President Bush, reserved some of his sharpest criticism for conservatives in his own Republican Party, calling it "just plain wrong" to charge illegal immigrants with a felony, as a provision passed by the Republican-led House would do.

An apologetic Gov. Jeb Bush met privately Thursday with the parents of a teen who died after a beating by guards at a Panama City boot camp, and rejected criticism he hasn't done enough to bring justice in a case that has inflamed Florida's black community. "He offered his condolences and apologized," said the family's attorney, Benjamin Crump, who attended the meeting.

Under intense political pressure, President Bush on Tuesday pledged new government action to root out any gasoline price gouging and announced a series of measures designed to encourage conservation and foster energy alternatives. But White House officials acknowledged that the steps were not likely to bring immediate relief.

Gov. Jeb Bush said in Tallahassee that Republican Rep. Katherine Harris has dropped so low in public opinion polls that she cannot beat Democratic U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson in November. "I just don't think she can win," Bush said in his strongest statement yet about his fellow Republican's struggling campaign. The governor has made no secret that he hopes House Speaker Allan Bense will challenge Harris for the Republican nomination. The deadline for entering September's primary is Friday.