Posted on 12/17/2006 4:22:35 AM PST by jsh3180
Whether viewed by Floridians with reverence or disdain, Jeb Bush transformed Florida politics during his eight-year tenure, to the benefit of the Republican Party. BY BETH REINHARD breinhard@MiamiHerald.com
To size up Jeb Bush's political legacy, look no farther than the punctuation that followed his first name on his trademark campaign bumper sticker: Jeb!
The signature slogan captures the governor's atomic impact on Florida politics, for better or worse. He lifted the Republican Party onto the broad shoulders of his six-foot-four frame and into the stratosphere, sweeping up untold millions of campaign dollars, stacking hundreds of influential boards and courthouse benches, and galvanizing grass-roots activists from Little Havana to Panama City.
Ask his critics and, well, they'd like to take the punctuation mark after his name and put it at the end of a long list of expletives. They describe a man who wielded political power like a cudgel, clamping down on Democrats, strong-arming Republicans and seeking vengeance against anyone who dared cross him.
But whether his name is spoken with reverence or in a fit of anger, it's clear that Bush has transformed Florida politics and left an enduring legacy. The governor is leaving office with the highest poll ratings of his tenure, in stark contrast to the dwindling popularity of his brother, President Bush.
`A REVOLUTION'
''This is akin to war history, where you have these larger-than-life characters who dominate a chunk of history in the world, usually through conquests,'' said Al Cárdenas, who served as chairman of the Republican Party of Florida during the governor's first term. ``As a result of his leadership, we in essence accomplished a revolution.''
Not since Reconstruction had a Republican Florida governor won a second term, and a two-term Republican governor has never been followed by another. Gov.-elect Charlie Crist withstood the nationwide anti-GOP backlash last month partly because Bush had laid such a strong foundation. Under Bush's leadership, the GOP increased its dominance of the Legislature and Cabinet every two years until November, when the party lost a handful of seats.
Bush, his brother or father have appeared on every general election ballot in Florida except one since 1980.
''He and his family have created a vigorous infrastructure of fundraising and grass-roots activism that will endure for Republican candidates for many years,'' said Justin Sayfie, Bush's former speechwriter and communications director.
Bush's approval ratings averaged 58 percent over his eight years in office and recently peaked at 64 percent, according to figures provided by Mason-Dixon pollster Brad Coker. His secret: overwhelming regard among members of his own party -- and even some Democrats -- despite hostility toward some of his policies.
''He's the most divisive governor we've had since these polls started being taken'' in the 1970s, said Robert Crew, an American politics professor at Florida State University. ``He's carved out certain conservative theories and stuck to them, and that appeals to a more narrow segment of the population.''
Bush's predecessors, Democrat Lawton Chiles and Republican Bob Martinez, both grappled with legislative chambers dominated by the opposing party. Chiles also faced Hurricane Andrew's destruction and a sullen economy, while an unpopular tax on professional and consumer services sank Martinez.
PROSPEROUS ECONOMY
In contrast, Bush enjoyed a prosperous economy and a pliant Legislature that ratified his agenda and expanded his powers. Approval of his job performance dipped to its lowest point -- still a respectable 52 percent -- following his controversial executive order to ban racial preferences in college admissions and state contracts.
''To him, it was either my way or the highway,'' said U.S. Rep. Kendrick Meek, who as a state legislator clashed with Bush over affirmative action and the class-size amendment. ``I think the governor is more feared than liked.''
`KING JEB'
''I called him King Jeb,'' said state Sen. Frederica Wilson, also a Miami Democrat. `It was like the Legislature was under tyranny.''
Bush rarely sat out a debate and picked plenty of fights. He led the crusade to repeal a constitutional amendment calling for a high-speed bullet train and helped thwart a referendum to expand slot machine gambling in Miami-Dade. He unsuccessfully tried to foil the 2002 constitutional amendment reducing class sizes and attempted to intervene in a right-to-die battle over the brain-damaged Terri Schiavo.
''He took on big, difficult issues that in many cases were unpopular and unconventional,'' Sayfie said. ``I give the governor a lot of credit in daring to engage in issues that most elected officials would keep very far away from.''
Bush also gets kudos for unifying Florida's increasingly diverse electorate. The governor speaks fluent Spanish and his wife, Columba, is Mexican-American. He is as comfortable rallying abuelitos in a Hialeah senior center as he is mingling with executives on a trade mission to Latin America.
''He did more to consolidate the success of the Republican Party and Republican candidates across the state of Florida than any political figure previously,'' said Republican state Rep. David Rivera of Miami. ``Jeb Bush far and away eclipses anyone else, and it's partly because of his ability to attract Hispanics.''
In the last election, Crist did not do as well as Bush among Hispanics, but he did better among African Americans. The governor-elect has proven himself to be a savvy politician, a natural campaigner and prodigious fundraiser. But he's not a Bush.
`THERE WILL BE A VOID'
''Here was a two-term governor whose dad was president and brother is president, this all-consuming type figure who enjoyed financial dominance while campaigning and instilled fear while governing,'' said Screven Watson, a former executive director of the Florida Democratic Party. ``There will be a void, a vacuum. The Republicans will have to figure out how to live in the post-Jeb era.''
Or not. Bush has said repeatedly that he's not running for president, but keeps getting asked. As his longtime advisors and fundraisers sign up with 2008 contenders, the political grapevine buzzes.
Returning to Miami in January, he is likely to field lucrative offers from corporate boards and keep his hand in public policy through his educational think tank, the Foundation for Florida's Future. The nonprofit has nearly $2 million socked away.
When and if Bush does decide to seek public office again, he can depend on legions of former staffers, donors and activists across Florida and in Washington, a standing Bush army.
''One of the best ways to measure political impact is how long it will last,'' said Cárdenas, the former party chairman. ``With Jeb Bush's foundation and his passion for public policy, he's not going to ride into the sunset.''
Miami Herald staff writer Gary Fineout contributed to this report.
Ping
"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." -Manuel II Paleologus
"approval ratings recently peaked at 64%
Narrow segment????
"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." -Manuel II Paleologus
I only wish his brother had such a legacy.
"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." -Manuel II Paleologus
"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." -Manuel II Paleologus
"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." -Manuel II Paleologus
Agreed, that's the first thing I think of when I hear his name.
"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." -Manuel II Paleologus
Corruption at the local level is the particular issue of which I'm thinking just now.
"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." -Manuel II Paleologus
"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." -Manuel II Paleologus
Yeah, I noticed this obvious huge contradiction as well. I guess he means "narrow segment" of mostly left-wing, political "science" professors.
Of all the MSM papers in the country, you can always count on the Miami Hearld to be the worst written and most simplistic. They make the NY Post, my personal favorite, look like a bunch of Pulitzer Prize winners.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.