TheChat: Jeb Bush waging his final fight?

Howdy-ho.

▪ “I think 50-60 percent of Republicans here agree Jeb’s just not the right guy for this cycle. I know they concluded they like Jeb; they just don’t think the country’s going to go for another Bush next year.” — Fergus Cullen, a former state New Hampshire GOP chairman, speaking about Jeb Bush’s 2016 prospects.

New Hampshire is shaping up as the site of Bush’s last stand.

▪ “They're more aware of the shenanigans.” — Missouri state Rep. Tracy McCreery, a St. Louis Democrat, on voter perception of the state Capitol.

She predicts that lawmakers will put an ethics bill on Gov. Jay Nixon’s desk in the 2016 session. It’s about time.

▪ “Since Missouri holds the rank as one of the strictest abortion regulation states in the country, it is logical we borrow similar restrictions to lower our horrific gun violence rates.” — Missouri state Rep. Stacey Newman, a St. Louis Democrat, justifying her proposal to put new gun restrictions on the books.

Newman’s legislation implements a 72-hour waiting period for gun purchases, among other things. Newman may think her proposal is just common sense, but gun-rights advocates surely won’t see it that way.

▪ “It’s one month, we’re not going to throw too big a party yet.” — Kansas Revenue Secretary Nick Jordan on the news that state revenues topped estimates by about $8 million in November.

That’s probably the right attitude. Keep in mind that revenue estimates were recently lowered. Given the months of not-so-good-news on the revenue front, Jordan is right to temper his comments.

This story was originally published December 2, 2015 at 10:58 PM.