King Jeb Is History In Florida

[ECW]

TALLAHASSEE -- On a bright January day in 1998 marked by bone-numbing 33-degree cold, Jeb Bush took office as Florida's 43rd governor with a pledge to safeguard the interests of the people, not the bureaucrats.

In the ensuing eight years, Bush sent shivers through Florida's status quo as he gathered more power than any previous governor and reshaped state government to fit his vision.

Nicknamed "King Jeb," the Republican transformed what he saw as a tangle of red tape and squanderer of public money into a smaller, business-friendly administration needing fewer tax dollars to run.

Bush, who passed the mantle to Charlie Crist (R) last Tuesday, leaves a legacy of a leader adamant about doing things his way, who fearlessly championed such controversial causes as school vouchers, faith-based prisons and prolonging the life of Terri Schiavo, a brain-damaged woman who became the centerpiece of a national right-to-die battle.

Yet, while his tenure coincided with a sizzling economy and an overflowing treasury, Bush's back-to-back terms were marred by frequent ethics scandals, official bungling and the inability of the government he downsized to meet growing demands for state services, including education and aid for the infirm and the elderly.

A policy wonk, Bush pursued an agenda so frenetic that even his efficiency czar resigned in protest.

"I've always felt, if you can do something today, why wait? It's just my nature," said Bush, 53, who grew grayer and slightly stouter in Tallahassee but never slackened his pace, even during his final days.

He championed tax cuts that chiefly benefited business and the wealthy, trimmed the state's payroll, stripped job protection from thousands of mid-level civil servants, gained more power over the judiciary, exploited his Washington connections to prevent the closing of military bases and launched the nation's first statewide private-school voucher program.

While older brother George's administration in Washington badly fumbled its initial response to Hurricane Katrina, Jeb Bush was praised for his actions before, during and after the eight hurricanes that raked Florida in 2004 and 2005. Seemingly everywhere, he warned residents in English and Spanish to gird themselves for the storms' fury, then oversaw relief efforts when the winds died down.

But his administration -- the Department of Children and Families, in particular -- was vilified for losing track of 500 youngsters under state care and for failing to prevent the deaths of several others. A smiling Rilya Wilson became the poster child for all that was wrong with the agency and, by extension, the Bush administration's failure to serve Floridians in need. Although her body was never found, it is believed the 5-year-old Miami girl was killed in December 2000, 15 months before the state realized she was missing.

Despite the controversy that swirled around the botched 2000 presidential election, which saw his brother win Florida and thus the White House by 537 votes, Bush failed to fully restore confidence in an electoral system that is still mired in controversy and lawsuits. He did little to counteract soaring property insurance rates or shorten waiting lists for citizens needing services.

Nothing like a younger brother that can pull strings to "hep" an older brother with his legacy. Too bad older brother botched that one up as well.

The Story (http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/01/05/AR2007010502156.html?nav=rss_politics)

[CheesyMuslim]

Sorry bout that,

1. But next we see King Bush, King President Bush.
2. That's the next step for Jeb Bush, he's got my vote!
3. What a wonderful leader, who gets things done.
4. To bad in Washington he will have the Liberals around his neck like an albatross, just like every Republican does who ascends to The Presidency.

Regards,
SirJamesofTexas

[Thirdparty]

TALLAHASSEE -- On a bright January day in 1998 marked by bone-numbing 33-degree cold, Jeb Bush took office as Florida's 43rd governor with a pledge to safeguard the interests of the people, not the bureaucrats.

In the ensuing eight years, Bush sent shivers through Florida's status quo as he gathered more power than any previous governor and reshaped state government to fit his vision.

Nicknamed "King Jeb," the Republican transformed what he saw as a tangle of red tape and squanderer of public money into a smaller, business-friendly administration needing fewer tax dollars to run.

Bush, who passed the mantle to Charlie Crist (R) last Tuesday, leaves a legacy of a leader adamant about doing things his way, who fearlessly championed such controversial causes as school vouchers, faith-based prisons and prolonging the life of Terri Schiavo, a brain-damaged woman who became the centerpiece of a national right-to-die battle.

Yet, while his tenure coincided with a sizzling economy and an overflowing treasury, Bush's back-to-back terms were marred by frequent ethics scandals, official bungling and the inability of the government he downsized to meet growing demands for state services, including education and aid for the infirm and the elderly.

A policy wonk, Bush pursued an agenda so frenetic that even his efficiency czar resigned in protest.

"I've always felt, if you can do something today, why wait? It's just my nature," said Bush, 53, who grew grayer and slightly stouter in Tallahassee but never slackened his pace, even during his final days.

He championed tax cuts that chiefly benefited business and the wealthy, trimmed the state's payroll, stripped job protection from thousands of mid-level civil servants, gained more power over the judiciary, exploited his Washington connections to prevent the closing of military bases and launched the nation's first statewide private-school voucher program.

While older brother George's administration in Washington badly fumbled its initial response to Hurricane Katrina, Jeb Bush was praised for his actions before, during and after the eight hurricanes that raked Florida in 2004 and 2005. Seemingly everywhere, he warned residents in English and Spanish to gird themselves for the storms' fury, then oversaw relief efforts when the winds died down.

But his administration -- the Department of Children and Families, in particular -- was vilified for losing track of 500 youngsters under state care and for failing to prevent the deaths of several others. A smiling Rilya Wilson became the poster child for all that was wrong with the agency and, by extension, the Bush administration's failure to serve Floridians in need. Although her body was never found, it is believed the 5-year-old Miami girl was killed in December 2000, 15 months before the state realized she was missing.

Despite the controversy that swirled around the botched 2000 presidential election, which saw his brother win Florida and thus the White House by 537 votes, Bush failed to fully restore confidence in an electoral system that is still mired in controversy and lawsuits. He did little to counteract soaring property insurance rates or shorten waiting lists for citizens needing services.

Nothing like a younger brother that can pull strings to "hep" an older brother with his legacy. Too bad older brother botched that one up as well.

The Story (http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/01/05/AR2007010502156.html?nav=rss_politics)



Of course, the Post (kindly remembered as Pravda on the Potomac in Cold War days) downplayed the great economy Florida had under Bush. What gains , which were tremendous , Florida did accomplish they smear by saying they were low paying jobs with no health care.

"Under Bush, Florida earned Wall Street's highest possible bond rating. He led a drive to make Florida a biotechnology center by luring the Scripps Research Institute to Palm Beach County with $369 million in state money as bait. But while Florida led the nation in job creation, much of that was in low-paid service industry jobs that left many Floridians without health insurance and scrambling for affordable housing amid a real estate boom that helped fuel business-friendly tax breaks."

First, I don't remember when the private sector and job creation was in charge of guaranteeing health care for everyone. I am sure this stat could be extrapolated and applied to most job growth under Bush and Clinton in the whole USA.Two, if Jeb Bush was so bad, why was he re-elected?

[Stoner]

Dude, you need to start thinking for yourself and get your own ideas and stop being a clone to every left-wing beat writer.

Now I see why liberals are so angry and full of hate all the time.

[bobbylien]

TALLAHASSEE -- On a bright January day in 1998 marked by bone-numbing 33-degree cold, Jeb Bush took office as Florida's 43rd governor with a pledge to safeguard the interests of the people, not the bureaucrats.

In the ensuing eight years, Bush sent shivers through Florida's status quo as he gathered more power than any previous governor and reshaped state government to fit his vision.

Nicknamed "King Jeb," the Republican transformed what he saw as a tangle of red tape and squanderer of public money into a smaller, business-friendly administration needing fewer tax dollars to run.

Bush, who passed the mantle to Charlie Crist (R) last Tuesday, leaves a legacy of a leader adamant about doing things his way, who fearlessly championed such controversial causes as school vouchers, faith-based prisons and prolonging the life of Terri Schiavo, a brain-damaged woman who became the centerpiece of a national right-to-die battle.

Yet, while his tenure coincided with a sizzling economy and an overflowing treasury, Bush's back-to-back terms were marred by frequent ethics scandals, official bungling and the inability of the government he downsized to meet growing demands for state services, including education and aid for the infirm and the elderly.

A policy wonk, Bush pursued an agenda so frenetic that even his efficiency czar resigned in protest.

"I've always felt, if you can do something today, why wait? It's just my nature," said Bush, 53, who grew grayer and slightly stouter in Tallahassee but never slackened his pace, even during his final days.

He championed tax cuts that chiefly benefited business and the wealthy, trimmed the state's payroll, stripped job protection from thousands of mid-level civil servants, gained more power over the judiciary, exploited his Washington connections to prevent the closing of military bases and launched the nation's first statewide private-school voucher program.

While older brother George's administration in Washington badly fumbled its initial response to Hurricane Katrina, Jeb Bush was praised for his actions before, during and after the eight hurricanes that raked Florida in 2004 and 2005. Seemingly everywhere, he warned residents in English and Spanish to gird themselves for the storms' fury, then oversaw relief efforts when the winds died down.

But his administration -- the Department of Children and Families, in particular -- was vilified for losing track of 500 youngsters under state care and for failing to prevent the deaths of several others. A smiling Rilya Wilson became the poster child for all that was wrong with the agency and, by extension, the Bush administration's failure to serve Floridians in need. Although her body was never found, it is believed the 5-year-old Miami girl was killed in December 2000, 15 months before the state realized she was missing.

Despite the controversy that swirled around the botched 2000 presidential election, which saw his brother win Florida and thus the White House by 537 votes, Bush failed to fully restore confidence in an electoral system that is still mired in controversy and lawsuits. He did little to counteract soaring property insurance rates or shorten waiting lists for citizens needing services.

Nothing like a younger brother that can pull strings to "hep" an older brother with his legacy. Too bad older brother botched that one up as well.

The Story (http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/01/05/AR2007010502156.html?nav=rss_politics)

Sounds to me like a writer who doesn't have much to criticize Jeb on.
the Republican transformed what he saw as a tangle of red tape and squanderer of public money into a smaller, business-friendly administration needing fewer tax dollars to run.
You mean he did what real conservatives do? I don't think its fair that Jeb gets a raw deal just because his brother is unpopular. They hardly see eye to eye. I believe that Jeb would have been a much better president than Bush. He still ain't got nothin on Guliani or McCain.

[Labrocca]

I don't like the article..it's just a smear campaign against Jeb Bush without much merit.Â*Â*It brings up the old 2004 election which at this point is ancient history.Â*Â*It's also just pure speculation that because he was governor his brother won.Â*Â*EVERY administration has trouble. You can't run a state or a country without it's share of problems and things gone wrong.Â*Â*I don't see you going after Ray Nagin!Â*Â*

I think Stoner has it pegged.

Dude, you need to start thinking for yourself and get your own ideas and stop being a clone to every left-wing beat writer.

Now I see why liberals are so angry and full of hate all the time.

You guys have the House now and you are still upset! What gives! Is it possible the left just want absolute power to do as they please?

[ECW]

Dude, you need to start thinking for yourself and get your own ideas and stop being a clone to every left-wing beat writer.

Now I see why liberals are so angry and full of hate all the time.


Hey, Sparky, you need to get that hair out of your ass about Liberals and respond to the article. You always want to make it about me and that's just so immature on your part. I guess when you don't like what is posted but you cannot come up with a cogent reason why you don't like it, you have to attack the poster and not the post. Whatever, doode.

[ECW]

I don't like the article..it's just a smear campaign against Jeb Bush without much merit.Â*Â*It brings up the old 2004 election which at this point is ancient history.Â*Â*It's also just pure speculation that because he was governor his brother won.Â*Â*EVERY administration has trouble. You can't run a state or a country without it's share of problems and things gone wrong.Â*Â*I don't see you going after Ray Nagin!Â*Â*

When they write an article about Ray Nagin that lays out his career and rips him a new one, I'll be sure to stomp on his sorry ass the exact same way.

If this was such a smear campaign, it should be fairly easy to refute by going to local sources. Knock yourself out. I'll be waiting.

Speculation? Let's see... 10,000 voters knocked off the rolls by the Sec State Harris at the behest of King Jeb on the flimsiest of grounds; most were African American and 80%+ of A-Amer votes go Democratic; and George wins Florida by less than a thousand votes. The math is not hard to figure out.

You guys have the House now and you are still upset!Â*Â*What gives!Â*Â*Is it possible the left just want absolute power to do as they please?


Like the GOP just had? Six years of monkeying up everything while they had complete control and acted as if they had a landslide of a mandate while doing it. It just goes to show that Absolute power corrupted absolutely as far as the DO NOTHINGS were concerned. We didn't just win the House but the Senate as well. That leaves Republicans still in charge of the Judiciary and Chimpy in the White House. What more do you want?

[BoogyMan]

ECW its a funny thing, but I have only ever hear the "King Jeb" name used for the former governor when I have put on the hazardous chemicals suit and waded into places like Daily Kos or Democratic Underground.

This is an interesting piece though as it does more to illuminate the bias of the author than it does to damage the former governor as it seems intended so to do.

I am typically happy though when someone points something like this article out to me so that I don't accidentally step in it.

[Labrocca]

bah...I am just gonna laugh this one off. There isn't much substance here.

[ECW]

ECW its a funny thing, but I have only ever hear the "King Jeb" name used for the former governor when I have put on the hazardous chemicals suit and waded into places like Daily Kos or Democratic Underground.

Since I frequent neither place, it may tell you that the name is more widespread than you thought. He doesn't come up here much so I'm not surprised you haven't heard more of it. Tells me who you hang out with as well.

This is an interesting piece though as it does more to illuminate the bias of the author than it does to damage the former governor as it seems intended so to do.

I am typically happy though when someone points something like this article out to me so that I don't accidentally step in it.


Since you couldn't refute any of the points the article made, I'll just write this off as another example in a long line of Republicans playing Shoot The Messenger.

[ECW]

bah...I am just gonna laugh this one off.Â*Â*There isn't much substance here.


Funny, I said the same thing about Hizzoner King Jeb.

[Stoner]

http://planetsmilies.net/tired-sleeping-smiley-4673.gif (http://planetsmilies.net) http://planetsmilies.net/tired-sleeping-smiley-4682.gif (http://planetsmilies.net)

Please place substance in your posts. We have a rule about quality.

[CheesyMuslim]

Sorry bout that,

1. But King Jeb Bush will make a move and soon.
2. It will be fun watching ECW going nut job when that happens.
3. Hehehehehehehehehehehe,........

Regards,
SirJamesofTexas

[BoogyMan]

Since you couldn't refute any of the points the article made, I'll just write this off as another example in a long line of Republicans playing Shoot The Messenger.

What points ECW, it was a hit piece and there was nothing of substance in the article. What was there to refute other than personal bias?

[ECW]

How about not being able to fix the eligibility of voters in the state? He has made a big deal about the law that forbids former felons not being able to vote and has been responsible for hiring people to monitor this problem who merely wiped the voter rolls clean of anyone who's name even resembles a felon's name without doing the necessary checks into the matter. That was the first time back in 2000. Things have not improved since then.

Instead of opting for a smaller government and cutting people out of a job, put them to work determining which people are felons trying to register to vote. The last time this was tried they came up with a list of people, almost all black, that were ineligible despite the fact that there were almost as many Cuban/Hispanic felons in the state as black felons. See, King Jeb knows his base. Blacks do not care for him but he is big with the Cubans, thus the preponderance of blacks versus Cubans on that list.

He sent agents into black neighborhoods to scare old women about their voting rights and he sat at the head of a Republican party in the state that made it a practice to send aggressive poll watchers into every black district in the state to challenge voters in the last few elections, poll watchers, I may add, that were nowhere to be seen in white districts. He finally had to back away from that most recent list because the press called him on it.

There is plenty to dig into with King Jeb but I'll understand if you want to opt out of this one. He's a former governor, after all.