Posted on 03/17/2005 7:23:24 AM PST by shortstop
As defections go, at least within Florida Republican circles, this was Martin Luther, hammer in hand; this was Brutus greeting Caesar; this was Rudolph Hess parachuting into Scotland.
For not only did former Florida Republican Party Chairman Tom Slade note the emperor has no clothes, but that he has a big, fat, huge keister, too.
Recently, in a wide-ranging interview with University of South Florida political science Professor Darryl Paulson, Slade dished more dirt than ``Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood'' meets ``The First Wives Club'' when the subject arose about the Bush family and other hotsy-totsy Republicans.
Regarding Jeb Bush's potential presidential prospects, Slade mused that the governor ``does not have the maturity and wisdom to ascend to the White House.'
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As well, Slade told Paulson he regarded Bush's management style as ``dictatorial'' and marked by an inability to take advice.
This is from a guy who is largely credited as being the early architect of the governor's political career! Imagine Slade's views if he didn't like the dynasty-in-waiting.
A faux chastened Slade insisted that when he opined Jeb Bush had as much maturity and as many people skills to be president as Travis Bickle, he assumed his comments would not see the light of day for the foreseeable future, as the professor prepared his book.
But that is more disingenuous than Eddie Haskell complimenting June Cleaver on her Apple Brown Betty.
Slade is more of an old war horse than Robert E. Lee's Traveller, a savvy pol who has been around the block more often than Heidi Fleiss.
For Slade not to realize his comments suggesting a sitting governor and prospective presidential candidate had all the political temperament of Juan Peron meets Bobby Knight wouldn't have Paulson more lathered up than Old Yeller is dubious.
Realizing his remarks might blacklist him forever from getting a White House invitation to the Freedonia state dinner, or, even worse, that President Bush might rescind his presidential nickname, Spanky Pants, Slade subsequently attempted to argue that he now regards Jeb Bush as the Clemenceau of Tallahassee.
But the damage may have already been done.
It's one thing for Jeb Bush's political opponents - or even this space, for example, as it has done for years - to intimate the governor is the petulant Little Lord Fauntleroy of the Apalachee Parkway.
However, to have Tom Slade, the Yoda of the state GOP, admit that his protege, his grasshopper, was afflicted with terminal hubris and all the people skills of Bobby Fischer is hardly the kind of thing to hang one's ambition on.
At the same time, this year's legislative session also marked the beginning of Bush's status as a lame-duck governor.
With his power starting to ebb, one important stick still available to the governor to influence legislation and sway opinion is the perception that he might be a presidential contender in the not too distant future.
After all, what Republican in the Legislature would want to buck a governor who might be in a position to turn his district into a bombing range in a couple of years?
You do have to wonder why Slade, who at 69 enjoys a thriving lobbyist practice in Tallahassee, would risk his business and political influence by publicly acknowledging what many Republicans only whisper about in private.
Why knows? Maybe Slade is fed up with the political game.
Or maybe it's simply a subconscious plea for help to stop him before he mentors again.
At any rate, this much is probably certain: Hillary Clinton will probably make it to Crawford before Tom Slade - which could have been the hidden agenda all along.
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This guy deserves a Mark Morford Award for "Writing In A Manner That Only The Author Finds Amusing".
I was thinking more along the lines of @$$hole of allusions. He seems like a pretty lazy writer who can't come up with meaningful descriptive phrases, so he uses one obscure allegorical reference after another to the point that almost nobody could even figure out what the heck he is trying to say.
Not being in Florida, I am interested in this accusation that Jeb is, I don't know, spoiled? Is that what he was trying to say?
Never once have I seen any public behavior to indicate Jeb is anything other than a responsive and effective Governor.
Is that wrong?
My FL relations have nothing but good things to say. Sounds like the elderly "mentor" may not have been able to pry as many favors out of Governor Bush as he'd hoped to.
Good question. Perhaps he was needing an appointment to Jeb's administration?
Hi Joe, Hi Nauti....
Joe, I've never heard of Slade either. Out of curiosity, gonna ask some of the Pinellas long time Party people about Slade.
The "writer" is a miserable read.....and the subject (Slade) is a risible mead. Or put another way, both are losers and nobodys.
The only things that could be construed as negative that I have ever heard (and I don't think its a negative, but that opinion) is that Governor Bush is very wonkish, and prefers to craft, analyze and study policy more then he likes to do the whole "meet and greet" thing.
Personally, since Tom Slade is a lobbyist, he may be upset that Jeb Bush isn't doing the whole "scratch my back and I'll scratch yours" thing. Lobbyist are always going to want favors and such, and he's a former Florida state GOP chair, so he may feel entitled to some favors and stuff for his clients (plus I'm sure it was part of his sales pitch, and if he can't deliver, then he's not going to by lobbying much longer).
Jeb Bush probably didn't pull some special strings for Tom Slades clients, which probably left Slade feeling slighted, and he was upset and said some things.
It happens, its politics, and Governor Bush has a very strong record from various groups for his fiscal disipline, which is going tick off some special interests, which Slade represents and can not only make him look bad, but also cost him his lobbying work.
This is pretty cut and dry, the author though chose to skip the journalism and research part of his job, and just dish out metaphors and jokes.
As I read this article, all I could think was this guy is a failed Mark Steyn wannabee. Unfortunately all he does is prove that there are times when imitation is not a form of flattery - sincere or otherwise.
As I read this article, all I could think was this guy is a failed Mark Steyn wannabee. Unfortunately all he does is prove that there are times when imitation is not a form of flattery - sincere or otherwise.
(Meant to send this to you in the first place)
Regardless of his political opinions, this editorial is so sophomoric as to be embarrassing. The writer throws names and descriptions around thinking himself to appear clever, when it looks like a really bad term paper trying to gain brownie points from a liberal professor.
"The "writer" is a miserable read.....and the subject (Slade) is a risible mead. Or put another way, both are losers and nobodys."
You sound like Pooh Bear.
Please don't mention Daniel Ruth in same sentence as Mark Steyn. Ruth is a pathetic socialist hack pretending to be a writer who isn't even fit to clean up after Steyn's dog.
Nor have I! Maybe, this Daniel Ruth guy, is trying to get the attention of the democrats. His bantor leaves me with a feeling that he is trying to divide (GOP) and conquer! Whatever his motive, his writing definitely grates on me.
This is unbelievable. I sent Daniel Ruth the URL for this thread and stated something to the effect that he might want to see the reaction to his column re: Jeb Bush. Here's his reply: "All in all a good day's work.
Curious about one thing though. Who is Mark Steyn? Never heard of him." Honest, I believe he is serious. Wait til he gets my response.
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