Jeb Bush criticizes Katherine Harris' Senate campaign

The Gainesville Sun ^ | April 7, 2006 | Joe Follick

[Clintonfatigued]

Gov. Jeb Bush ratcheted up his criticism about the foundering U.S. Senate candidacy of fellow Republican Katherine Harris Thursday, saying he was concerned her woes made it difficult for his party to defeat incumbent Democratic Sen. Bill Nelson.

He said he has not been asked to intervene in the race in any way, and Bush has emphatically said he won't enter the race in his last year as governor.

Last month, Bush issued Harris advice via the media, saying the congresswoman from Longboat Key needed to make the race less about her turmoil and more about Nelson and the future of the state and country.

"I gave her that exact advice and it's gotten worse since," Bush said Thursday. "I am the party leader and I've got concerns."

[MindBender26]

>40 years of covering, influencing (and occasionally buying) Florida elections.

Wise men do not speak of what they do not know.

>Ah, your posterior.

Thank you. I'm told it's quite lovely

>OK. How many speeches have you seen her give?

Seven or eight.

>And what is the point? Is she running?

Wrong question. The real question is, can she be encouraged to?

>Or are you proposing parachuting her in and anointing her?

If you insist. It would make for some rather dramatic video on the Eveninbg News, do you not agree? Especially when we ended it with a full immersion Baptism by a local Rabbi in freshly squeezed Florida Orange Juice.

"Fresh-Not Frozen!"

Also, beats how they got Alcee Hastings to run!

[MikefromOhio]

IF he can win, sure thing.

But I think it's a bit too late to switch horses.

[MikefromOhio]

tick-tock tick-tock.....

[AmishDude]

Wrong question. The real question is, can she be encouraged to?

Like Alan Keyes? (MD or IL, take your pick)

[marc costanzo]

>>He said he has not been asked to intervene in the race in any way, and Bush has emphatically said he won't enter the race in his last year as governor. <<

WHY OH WHY IS JEB BUSH NOT RUNNING HIMSELF ?

Since this is his last year as governor, what does he have to lose by running for the U.S. Senate ?

Is he conserving his resources for a presidential run ?

Is not tough enough to go against Harris himself ?

Jeb should put his money where his mouth is !
If he wants Harris to drop out, then he should do the pushing himself !
Then again, maybe he has waited too long to make such moves quietly . .

[marc costanzo]

>>I continue to hope that Katherine Harris will do the sensible thing. But time is running short.<<

---

VERY SHORT !

For Jeb and Harris !

" A warning from a possible future to The Present, must be taken in the context of the present"

"More often than not, you don't get second chances in Life"

[marc costanzo]

>>I'll be honest. If I thought that begging could convince Harris to drop out of the race, I'd do it. Her campaign is destroying any chance of unseating a weak incumbent.<<

THEN WHY DON'T YOU DO SO ! ?

Got to her campaign headquarters in Sarasota, or, if you can, go to her office in Washington D.C., and beg her !

Goes against your grain ?

(I live in California)

[MindBender26]

>Like Alan Keyes? (MD or IL, take your pick)

Pluto

:~)

Be well

[Extremely Extreme Extremist]

LOL. Some of us work, you know. We don't have time to FReep 24/7.

[duckln]

KH is leading the polls to win the primaries with more than 20%.

She's got 3 big wins under her buckle, pretty good record I'd say. Is she too conservative for the 'moderates' on FR?

[MikefromOhio]

Is she too conservative for the 'moderates' on FR?

The question you should be asking is this: Does she have too much baggage to be elected in Florida?

[duckln]

Does she have too much baggage to be elected in Florida?

No. We own Florida and a win by KH will prove it. Even that a woos like Jeb was elected twice, should show you that.

Our problem is the neocons, who seem to think they own the Republican Party. They managed to scuttle Buchanan, one of many, now they are working KH over. It's a simple case of 'conservatives' need not apply.

[MikefromOhio]

LOL

Buchanan sunk himself with his Israel hate. That won't play in Florida.

As for KH, I'd LOVE to see her win, but I'm just not convinced anymore that she's the best candidate. But believe me SHE'S going to be the candidate.

Ask Clintonfatigued, I was thinking Harris could/would win just a couple months ago. It's on FR. You can look it up if you like.

But that's changed. I don't think she can now.

[duckln]

but I'm just not convinced anymore that she's the best candidate

So what, the voters in Florida will decide that in the primaries. That is Democracy. You don't count, and neither should the RNC.

[MikefromOhio]

You don't count, and neither should the RNC.

LOL what are you? Her campaign manager? And I'm SURE that if I lived in Florida you would say the same thing too huh? LOL

[duckln]

And I'm SURE that if I lived in Florida you would say the same thing too huh?

No, I wouldn't, and didn't. I said leave it up to the Florida voters.

[MikefromOhio]

It's a free country.

I'm free to ask the question, Florida voters notwithstanding.

I'm not going to keep my opinion to myself. Maybe you should consider that.

[Neil_Down]

Dear Extremist:

Actually, I've been reading some reports that the White House is trying to pull the rug out from underneath Ms. Harris' campaign.

Not sure the reason, tho.

Has anyone else read about this as well?

[duckln]

Fine with me, be a devious buddinskie if you like. I'm
just calling you on it. It's a free country, you even have
the right to be stupid.

[Neil_Down]

Quote

---

Our problem is the neocons, who seem to think they own the Republican Party. They managed to scuttle Buchanan, one of many, now they are working KH over. It's a simple case of 'conservatives' need not apply.

---

End Quote
Hi Duckln... may I cut in a bit here? (Sorry if I am being rude with it!)
I enjoyed your post (quoted above).
However, I would like to expand on it a bit, if I may.
What do you think it would take to become that big tent we were in 1994 again? Personally, I agree with you in the quote by the way.
IMHO (and forgive me for being a "Newbie" or a "Cherry" here at FP)...
I think it would take my personal hero, John McCain teaming up with my other hero, Rudy Giuliani (did I spell his name right??) as the Republican Dream Team for 2008.
I doubt if anyone that the Demos put up against this team could get elected! (Dear Jesus, save us from President (Hillary) Clinton!)
That would put the neo-cons back into their spot as part of our rank and file and let cooler (in both senses of the word) heads prevail!
Then, Christian Conservatives like Buchanan would get the voice he needs... and has been lacking for quite some time!
What do you think?