Bush Has Kept His Promises, Deserves Another Four Years(tampa trib endorses jeb)

tampa trib ^ | 10-27-02 | tampa trib

[TheRedSoxWinThePennant]

Bush Has Kept His Promises, Deserves Another Four Years

Published: Oct 27, 2002

Florida voters have an admirable history of winnowing the gubernatorial field to two well-qualified candidates.

Consider the losers of the last six governor's races: Buddy MacKay, a lieutenant governor, U.S. congressman and state lawmaker; Bush, state secretary of commerce and successful businessman; Bob Martinez, governor and Tampa mayor; Steve Pajcic, state lawmaker; L.A. ``Skip'' Bafalis, U.S. congressman; and Jack Eckerd, founder of one of the nation's most successful drugstore chains.

Beyond their solid records of achievement, all these individuals were intelligent, committed and trustworthy - eminently capable of leading the state.

So are two candidates this year, though you might not think it to hear the heated campaign talk.

Tampa Democrat Bill McBride, the political newcomer who is running a surprisingly strong race, led the powerful Holland and Knight law firm with vigor and imagination. He has long supported charitable and civic causes.

Some telling decisions: McBride gave up a University of Florida football scholarship after he was injured because he felt keeping it would hurt the team. He later left college, enlisted in the Marines and served as an officer in Vietnam, where he earned the Bronze Star for valor in combat. He volunteered because he did not want to see someone else serving in his place.

Bill McBride is a man of character, but we worry about his wide range of liberal preferences, particularly his apparent intent to undo public school reforms and give teacher unions control over many education policies.

Beyond that, it appears to us that his wish list of education improvements would require tax increases unlikely to be applauded by the Legislature or most Floridians. Which is not to say that state tax reform is unneeded. It's just not in the cards any time soon.

The governor he seeks to replace is a man of principle and resolve. When campaigning four years ago, Jeb Bush pledged to overhaul state government. This bold, energetic leader has kept his promise, moving to make virtually every aspect of government more accountable and more efficient.

He has streamlined government operations, privatized some services, cut personnel and generally challenged the status quo.

While not free of missteps, he has been balanced and thoughtful on growth management and environmental protection. He has been a visionary ally of economic development and a strong proponent of law enforcement.

His controversial education plan has forced public schools to work harder to provide all students the skills they need to succeed in life. And he has been willing to make changes to address the concerns of educators and parents.

`One Florida' Is Working

He designed a plan to help minorities while eliminating racial quotas, proposing ``One Florida'' to defuse a referendum campaign to outlaw all affirmative action policies that would have restricted the state's ability to aid minorities.

Statistics show Bush's strategy - which includes guaranteeing that the top 20 percent of students in every high school senior class are accepted into a state university - is working.

Still, the governor could do a better job of involving the public before undertaking such dramatic changes. But he campaigned on the need to change government and is doing precisely what he said he would do.

Bill McBride is a quality person and candidate, but Bush has kept his word to the people of Florida and deserves a second term. For governor of Florida, the Tribune endorses Jeb Bush.

[TheRedSoxWinThePennant]

go jeb

[TheRedSoxWinThePennant]

ping

[martin_fierro]

Wump (Dubya Bump)!

[capt. norm]

For those not familiar with this campaign, Tampa-St. Petersburg (where this newspaper is based) is McBride's hometown.

[RedBloodedAmerican]

Good, right in McBoob's backyard!

[M Kehoe]

Interesting. Never thought I'd see that.

If Pravda west (St. Pete Times) or the Miami Herald endorses Jeb, I will think that I'm living in a different dimension.

5.56mm

[TheRedSoxWinThePennant]

st pete time already endorsed mcboob

[conservatism_IS_compassion]

His controversial education plan has forced public schools to work harder to provide all students the skills they need to succeed in life.

But . . . but . . . I thought public schools were dedicated exclusively to "provid[ing] all students the skills they need to succeed in life." If it's the only thing they want to do, why would a governor have to force them to do it? </sarcasm>

. . . and why would making them do it be "controversial"?

[M Kehoe]

st pete time already endorsed mcboob

Whew! At least I know there hasn't been a dimensional shift.

Oh, and to top it all off, I live four doors down from Robin Blumner. Grrrr. I really dislike that woman. If property values weren't increasing so much, I'd have moved five years ago.

5.56mm

[TheRedSoxWinThePennant]

Oh, and to top it all off, I live four doors down from Robin Blumner.

put a john ashcroft sign in your front yard and maybe she will move

[M Kehoe]

put a john ashcroft sign in your front yard and maybe she will move

LOL! She knows that I'm a gun toting member of the VRWC. SUV and all. What really gauls her is that my wife is of African heritage and more conservative than me. Ha!

5.56mm

[summer]

WOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Thanks for the ping on this! :)

[summer]

From The Tampa Tribune's endorsement of gov Bush:

The governor he [McMumble] seeks to replace is a man of principle and resolve. When campaigning four years ago, Jeb Bush pledged to overhaul state government. This bold, energetic leader has kept his promise, moving to make virtually every aspect of government more accountable and more efficient.

He has streamlined government operations, privatized some services, cut personnel and generally challenged the status quo.

While not free of missteps, he has been balanced and thoughtful on growth management and environmental protection. He has been a visionary ally of economic development and a strong proponent of law enforcement.

His controversial education plan has forced public schools to work harder to provide all students the skills they need to succeed in life. And he has been willing to make changes to address the concerns of educators and parents.

`One Florida' Is Working

He designed a plan to help minorities while eliminating racial quotas, proposing ``One Florida'' to defuse a referendum campaign to outlaw all affirmative action policies that would have restricted the state's ability to aid minorities.

WOW again! Right in the swing voter I-4 corridor! And, in McMumble's HOME-BASE! WOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[summer]

From The Tampa Tribune's endorsement of gov Bush:

The governor he [McMumble] seeks to replace is a man of principle and resolve. When campaigning four years ago, Jeb Bush pledged to overhaul state government. This bold, energetic leader has kept his promise, moving to make virtually every aspect of government more accountable and more efficient.

He has streamlined government operations, privatized some services, cut personnel and generally challenged the status quo.

While not free of missteps, he has been balanced and thoughtful on growth management and environmental protection. He has been a visionary ally of economic development and a strong proponent of law enforcement.

His controversial education plan has forced public schools to work harder to provide all students the skills they need to succeed in life. And he has been willing to make changes to address the concerns of educators and parents.

`One Florida' Is Working

He designed a plan to help minorities while eliminating racial quotas, proposing ``One Florida'' to defuse a referendum campaign to outlaw all affirmative action policies that would have restricted the state's ability to aid minorities.

WOW again! Right in the swing voter I-4 corridor! And, in McMumble's HOME-BASE! WOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[summer]

[Gov Bush is a] "bold, energetic leader"

WOW again!!!!!!!!!!!! Save this editorial for the 2008 prez race!

[JulieRNR21]

Great News PING.....McB's hometime paper endorses JEB!

[summer]

[Gov Bush has] generally challenged the status quo.

While not free of missteps, he has been balanced and thoughtful on growth management and environmental protection. He has been a visionary ally of economic development and a strong proponent of law enforcement.

WOW, YET AGAIN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[summer]

[Gov Bush's] controversial education plan has forced public schools to work harder to provide all students the skills they need to succeed in life. And he has been willing to make changes to address the concerns of educators and parents.

YES! Gov Bush HAS addressed the needs of both EDUCATORS and parents, as I have been writing about here on FR for QUITE A WHILE NOW! Maybe THE TAMPA TRIBUNE lurks on FR!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[summer]

From the Tampa Tribune's endorsement of Gov Bush!

`One Florida' Is Working

Gov Bush designed a plan to help minorities while eliminating racial quotas, proposing ``One Florida'' to defuse a referendum campaign to outlaw all affirmative action policies that would have restricted the state's ability to aid minorities.

WOW!!!!!!!!!

[JulieRNR21]

This is so exciting! BTW I sent the following 'Letter to the Editor' of many FL newspapers including Tampa Trib. I'm thrilled to see that the Tampa Tribune agrees with me!

Dear Editor:

For whom should I vote....Bill McBride or Jeb Bush? Let's look at some facts.

After four years of Governor Bush, Florida is first in new business development and is the US leading State in job growth with 600,000 more jobs since 1999.

His One Florida plan guarantees the top 20% of each high school's graduates a place in state colleges. This has boosted enrollment of minorities and many Black community leaders who at first opposed it now support one Florida.

After several years as a mentor/volunteer in my county schools I have seen first hand the improvements achieved by Bush's A+Plan. Reading, writing, and math skills are improving, and the achievement gap between minority and non-minority students is being reduced.

First and second graders who read below grade level are no longer given a 'social promotion' but rather get intensive instruction until their reading skills have improved. If their child's school receives a failing grade for two consecutive years; parents may apply for an 'Opportunity Scholarship' to enroll their child in another public school or a participating private school.

Governor Bush has cut the tax burden on taxpayers by reducing the Florida property tax by $1 billion, and in 2001 he cut the business intangible tax by another $600 million.

He signed the "Three-Strikes Violent Felony Offender Act", which provides mandatory prison terms for any person who commits a third violent felony. He restored tough sentences for drug traffickers.

Florida's coastal and marine resources will continue to be free from the threat of offshore drilling; thanks to Bush's dedication to protecting our environment.

Governor Jeb Bush will get my vote because he's earned four more years to continue his efforts that already show significant results.

(name & town)