Toni Jennings might be part of devious plot [Jeb's new Lt Gov]

The Orlando Sentinel ^ | March 6, 2003 | Mike Thomas

[summer]

Toni Jennings might be part of devious plot

Published March 6, 2003

Mike Thomas

Is Toni Jennings just another one of Jeb Bush's devious plots?

And does Toni have a devious plot of her own brewing?

These are devious days indeed.

Let's start with Jeb, who began all this deviousness when he claimed before the election to have a "devious plot" to defeat the class-size amendment even if voters passed it.

He faces two big problems during this legislative session. He is facing a rebellious Senate and outraged education establishment.

On top of that, he has to make sure his brother carries Florida in 2004. A key to that will be winning moderate votes in Central Florida. So for his lieutenant governor, Jeb picked a Central Florida woman who is a former Senate president, former teacher and longtime education proponent.

Toni is a perfect fit.

The question is whether that is all she is, or if she actually will have input into Jeb's conservative policies....

She certainly has the credentials and skills to be a good governor....

Mike Thomas can be reached at 407-420-5525 or mthomas@orlandosentinel.com.

[summer]

She certainly has the credentials and skills to be a good governor....

Sounds to me like Mike Thomas may yet vote GOP again! LOL... (He's previously written that his first GOP vote in FL was for Gov Bush in 2002.)

BTW, I thought the Democrats were planning to protest Toni Jennings (or whomever Gov Bush selected as his Lt Gov) because they claimed he has no right to "choose" a Lt Gov, and voters had to vote on it. What happened to that protest, as I haven't heard boo since Toni Jennings got the job?

Also, this class size amendment idea of Gov Bush's -- to have the voters vote again on it -- maybe that idea should be revised, so that voters should vote on whether they want it IN THEIR COUNTY. And, let increased property taxes pay for it. So, if voters in Dade and Broward are bent on having this law -- which has already failed miserably in CA -- let those counties have it and deal with it, if they vote to have it, and leave everyone else in FL out of it. Just my 2 cents.

PS God bless America. I saw the fall of Bagdad - that was riveting! :)

[summer]

caltrop, See my post #1 - do you know why Dems have been silent on Toni Jennings? I thought they were planning some huge protest about her. I was surprised they made such a fuss before Gov Bush made his selection, and then suddenly fell silent. Also, what do you think Of McBride's wife thinking about running for FL Senate? I was laughing when I read an article about that -- because I wondered why her hubby was not considering another [losing] campaign... :)

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[longtermmemmory]

McBride's wife is another Hitlary in the making. She did not support her husband, (don't start me on married and did not take her husband's name) She is exactly what is wrong with feminist liberal leftists in politics.

[JohnnyZ]

Wow, this is wierd how everyone in the media has been pushing Toni Jennings for governor ever since she was appointed. I would think Mel Martinez, Tom Gallagher, Frank Brogan, and Charlie Crist would have something to say about that . . .

[caltrop]

The reason the Democrats aren't complaining about JEB picking Toni Jennings is because they like her and her policies. You may recall that from a conservative's point of view she was a pretty sorry Senate President. Had JEB picked Charlie Bronson, for example, the Democrats would have gone ballistic.

McBride's wife could, unhappily, win if the Republicans can't do better than McCollum or Foley. Both Foley and McCollum would need almost all the funds available to the Republican Party to win and, since the entire RPOF treasury is devoted to JEB, there simply isn't enough available to sell another sow's ear to the voters of Florida. My guess is the Republican's strongest candidate is Charlie Bronson, the Commissioner of Agriculture. He could win (Senate or Governor) even if he didn't have access to the amount of money JEB's needed. I should point out that I've no idea if Bronson would be interested.

[summer]

caltrop, I appreciate your reply here, but now I have even more quesions based on what you said...

[summer]

My guess is the Republican's strongest candidate is Charlie Bronson, the Commissioner of Agriculture. ...

First of all, I thought Charlie Bronson was a Democrat -- not a Republican. Are you sure he's a Republican??? Because I am sure he is a Democrat.

[summer]

...the amount of money JEB's needed....

Second of all (and, I say this knowing you enjoy taking a shot at Gov Bush every chance you can, even while I object continuously to you), I really don't think Gov Bush won because of "money." There are plenty of examples of candidates who spent more than was spent on the FL gov race, and I am thinking in particular of that race out ini CA with Ariana Huffington's ex-husband, and yet, the candidate lost, as her husband did. So, I don't know why you would cite money as the primarily factor in Gov Bush's landslide win.

In addition, I would think you could acknowledge that Gov Bush had a LOT of grassroots support, especially here on FR, as I know you saw such support and complained he received too much PR at times. So, which is it -- money or grassroots support that really helped Gov Bush? I think it was both, as both are required for a win, but money alone can not create the kind of enthusiasm and support existing here on FR and elsewhere for Gov Bush.

By sharp contrast, your guy, McLawyer, never had the support of his own party's voters -- and that's a fact which became evident in the election results. Did you ever both to read Dem sites during the FL gov race? Many of those posters bitterly complained about McLawyer throughout the race, yet their party leaders seemed bent on shoving that candidate down their throats whether they liked him or not.

[summer]

I meant to type:

....I really don't think Gov Bush won because of "money." There are plenty of examples of candidates who spent more than was spent on the FL gov race, and yet the candidate lost. I am thinking in particular of that expensive race out in CA with Ariana Huffington's ex-husband, and yet he lost. So, I don't know why you would cite money as the primary factor in Gov Bush's landslide win.

[summer]

McBride's wife could, unhappily, win if the Republicans can't do better than McCollum or Foley....

I think you may be right here. But Dems have a lousy recent record in FL, and it wouldn't surprise me if the Dem candidate, whomever it is, loses, should the GOP come up with a more exciting candidate than the two you mentioned.

[summer]

You may recall that from a conservative's point of view she was a pretty sorry Senate President.

This I don't recall. But, it may be because I was not following the state politics very much at that time; nor was I very much aware of a conservative point of view back then.

[summer]

The reason the Democrats aren't complaining about JEB picking Toni Jennings is because they like her and her policies

I'm not convinced that's the reason, caltrop.

I was thinking more along these lines: Some Dem Party leader finally figured out that every time the FL Dems complain, the Dem Party actually lose more voters, because the Dems tend to complain about things that don't really matter to FL voters, like: objecting to FL's FIRST female lt. gov.

(Or, maybe I am giving some Dem Party leader too much credit for figuring something out...LOL...) :)

[woofie]

Not being from Florida this is all beyond me ..but how come Jeb is devious(smart) and GW is an idiot in the brilliant minds of liberals?

[summer]

I would think Mel Martinez, Tom Gallagher, Frank Brogan, and Charlie Crist would have something to say about that..

I don't know -- maybe.

But, I would think Frank Brogan is pretty happy with his new life, his new wife, and his new gig as a FL university president, considering all the perks and the much bigger salary, and the fact he can keep that position for the rest of his life if he chooses to do so.

As for the others you mention, I think FL is ready for a female governor or a Hispanic governor the next time around, because we have already have plenty of white male governors (and, no offense at all intended to Gov Bush).

BTW, I always thought one of the WORST mistakes McBride made in the FL gov race was to choose as his running mate: Yet Another White Guy.

And, I think it is VERY exciting for FL to now have its first FEMALE Lt. Gov. I say this because this female gov IS qualified, and there ARE qualified blacks and Hispanics out there as well.

I thought for certain McBride would have chosen either Reno or the black male who was also running for gov and whose name escapes me at this moment. I was shocked when McBride chose Tom Rossing or whatever his name is, because that choice seemed to me to guarantee absolutely NO enthusiasm whatsoever among Reno's supporters/voters in this state.

[summer]

LOL.... I have no idea, woofie. :)

[summer]

BTW, I am thinking this upcoming presidential race is not going to be nearly as close as once thought, as GW now has some major, major victories which even the most uninvolved voter can identify and support. I don't think GW is an idiot. He has shown some tremendous leadership while in office. And, I have always thought he was dealt a very difficult hand since becoming president (9-11, etc).

[summer]

She did not support her husband, (don't start me on married and did not take her husband's name) She is exactly what is wrong with feminist liberal leftists in politics.

I don't know about that -- I think she tried to support her husband, but he was just so new and inexperienced as a candidate, and such an uninspiring punlic speaker, with no platform -- well, how much can a wife cover for THAT?

Also, it does not bother me at all when a woman does not take her husband's last name.

I admire her because she made a ton o bucks in banking, but, I would admire her a lot more if she was an independent. I just feel like voting Dem in FL will help put other Dems in power who may intend to abuse power. And, I am not into supporting that.

[summer]

I meant to type:

uninspiring public speaker

[caltrop]

Charlie Bronson is a former State Senator from Brevard County. He is currently Commissioner of Agriculture and was elected with 57.8% (the best vote of any statewide candidate) of the vote in 2002. He is a fifth generation Floridian and definitely a conservative Republican.