Jeb Bush's political obituary

WND ^ | Mar 30 05 | Farah

[churchillbuff]

I never had any desire to run for political office, but, if I did, it would be to make a difference.

If I didn't think I could make a difference, what would be the point?

Florida Gov. Jeb Bush told us last week he just didn't have the power and authority to save one innocent woman forced by court order and armed guard to starve to death in his state.

I don't believe that's true. Not for a minute do I believe it. Jeb Bush blinked. And that weakness that he showed for the whole world should represent the end of his political career.

It's unfortunate, because I believe Jeb Bush knew, deep in his convictions, it was wrong to let Terri Schiavo be murdered by a judge's order.

He even dispatched a team of state law enforcement officers to seize her hours after Judge George Greer refused to listen to his pleadings in the courtroom.

But he backed down. When local cops informed the state officers that they would enforce the judge's order, the agents of the Florida Department of Law Enforcement stopped.

That's not leadership. That's capitulation.

Gov. Jeb Bush shouldn't have merely dispatched officers to the scene to negotiate with the local cops, he should have led them. He should have personally persuaded those local officers that he was the highest law enforcement official in the state and he was ordering them to stand down.

He should have been a field general, not an armchair general.

He should have walked up to that hospice with overwhelming force behind him.

He should have done so with the whole world watching.

Jeb Bush has been talked about as a potential presidential candidate. But who is going to seriously consider a commander in chief who backs down at the first sign of resistance?

Bush may have been trying to take the safe route in this crisis, but it represents, in my estimation, the end of his political ambitions.

Jeb Bush was tested, and he was found lacking.

He allowed a terribly immoral action to take place in his state and did nothing but huff and puff about it.

And it wasn't the first time.

Say what you will about former U.S. Attorney General Janet Reno. I think she was a fascist. I think she was a criminal. I think she was possibly stark, raving mad. But she backed up her misguided convictions by sending armed federal agents swooping in to pick up little Elian Gonzalez and take him back to Cuba. It was wrong, but she wasn't afraid.

Back then, Gov. Jeb Bush sat by and watched his authority breached by Washington.

This time, he sat by and watched his authority breached by a puny, little county bureaucrat, a local politician, Judge George Greer.

Does the Florida governor have any authority?

If not, we shouldn't take the position seriously as a stepping stone to higher office. If it does, why didn't he use it when it counted?

I feel sorry for Jeb Bush today.

I think he knew right from wrong in this case but didn't have the courage of his convictions. I think he listened to all the wrong advisers. I think he will carry regrets about Terri Schiavo to his grave.

He could have been a hero. He could have been a leader.

Instead, he appears weak. Instead, he appears to vacillate.

My wife told me: "If Jeb Bush had done the right thing for Terri, I would have given up six months of my life to campaign for him. I would have done anything to help him."

I'm sure many people feel like that. Let me ask you today: Is anyone excited about the possibility of a third Bush administration?

[Nightshift]

SEE POST 24

[Primetimedonna]

"Not when a county judge is allowed to use local police to repel a state agency and state law enforcement. Then the rule of law is out the window --- especially when the governor lets the judge get away with this insurrection."

I agree the laws may need to be changed, but the were upheld not only by a "county judge" but by state and federal appeals courts. I don't like the outcome, but we cannot ignore the laws on the books now. If Jeb tried to take Terri and had police agencies fighting each other THAT would be an insurrection.

[ex-snook]

Jeb Bush, Gov of FL. Most noted for his now infamous words: "My hands are tied."

".. my hands are tied, blame someone else"

[webheart]

It is amazing that the MSM holds so much power in America. No politician wants to be excoriated in the press. The tragic part is that Republicans avoid doing the right thing because they are worried what the press will say about them, even though they know the press hates them and will never say anything nice. Bush and Bush are both afraid, first of what the press will say, and second, of being wrong and then what the press would say.

The MSM is like a schoolyard bully, and the Dems are the ones that pay protection money, while Republicans slink in the shadows hoping not to be noticed. I doubt if there will ever be any conservative rennaisance in this country until the MSM is either put out of business, or taken over outright. The only other alternative would be to face the press head on, and take the proverbial bloody nose.

[AlbionGirl]

A woman at my bus stop asked me what I thought of the Schiavo case, and we talked about it some. She said that she now thinks voting for someone makes little difference.

I don't know if she voted for President Bush or not, I didn't ask, but based on her remarks I'm assuming she did. I don't agree with her as yet, but it's alarming to me that the judiciary is this all powerful force, and that the feds are absolutely impotent in the face of that.

It still seems surreal that a probate judge, who divies up furniture, antiques, collectibles and such has been given the power to sentence Terri to death. Unspeakably surreal. Perhaps a MaGritte (sp?) posting is in order.

[Howlin]

I think I knew that but in the "fog of hysteria" I missed it.

[AmishDude]

Here is his MO:

1. He posts an intentionally inflammatory article that bashes Bush.
2. He'll respond quickly to accusations against him as a poster.
3. He'll use the usual strawman and deflection arguments.
4. Then, he'll abandon the thread and start another one with exactly the same premise.
5. ad infinitum.

[Howlin]

and I would stay home.

Then be sure not to complain for the next four years.

[discostu]

"When local cops informed the state officers that they would enforce the judge's order, the agents of the Florida Department of Law Enforcement stopped."

So Jeb should have done what? Had the state cops shoot the local cops? Yeah that would have been great. Problem with all these "he should have done more" people is they don't think of the consequences, what happens if he doesn't back down from this confrontation? He gets impeached, goes to jail and Terri STILL DIES. His hands are tied people, get over it. If you really want to blaim somebody go after the Schindler's lawyer, he keeps running the same appeal to the same judges over and over again expecting different results, the guy stinks.

[A CA Guy]

The federal Courts as would ruled against them, so he had judgments from beyond the state level.

Ridiculous article.

[Tax Government]

ChurchillBuff, I agree 100% with your original post. Very little to add, except that "vengeance will be ours".

[duck duck goose]

Mr. nopardons,
UCLA would disagree with you. A Political Science Degree isn't an over priced cover sheet that adorns a wall, but it is my passion. I beg to differ with the statement or lack of thought on your part. I am entitled to my opinion , regardless of my demographic. Furthermore, any feeble attempt to put me down because I am a "newbie" ( btw shouldn't it be capitalized??) is ridiculous. You were new once as well. That is what makes this site great. A site with a collection of people with their own opinions, the agreeance to allow disagreements, (be just that) and the true wisdom to have conservative core values. I do understand "mess, politics, and or the Bushes." I do not pretend that a bad situation has not become worse over the last ten days. Now, enjoy your evening.

[madison10]

Regarding the title:

Oh, Shut Up! Why people want another Bill Clinton on their hands is beyond me. There are TONS of laws, rulings, etc. that we don't agree with the judiciary on, abortion for one, but we/he/they cannot go around strong-arming just to get their/our way. It HAS to be from through channels.

[sinkspur]

This is significant; what's happening to Terri could be happening to hundreds of patients a day, and the courts know this and reel from the thought that these rise up to clog the courts and inflame the sensibilities of those of us who are pro-life.

The courts don't know about these people. Decisions are made by families, and physicians.

If families deciding to pull feeding tubes angers you, you better gear up.

[WHBates]

If the foo s***ts

I could can less about Jeb's chances for future office but your statement tell me me much about you. You wouldn't have made such a statement if it didn't mean something to you.

Another single issue voter I guess.

[Road Warrior ‘04]

Where were all of you as Jeb was doing his "legal" duty? Bashing Jeb, especially on this site, is inexcusable. I wish that things could have, and they still might, turned out differently. Your anger should be poised toward Michael Schiavo and the courts. Everyone who thought the Congress and state legislature were wrong, because they are government, to get involved in this tragedy, think again. Are not the courts government?

Now everyone take your dissatisfaction with Jeb and go pound sand!

[AmishDude]

It's all the usual suspects. They've all bashed one Bush or the other for four or five different "reasons".

[churchillbuff]

Bush and Bush are both afraid"""

Reagan, on the other hand, would use the bully pulpit to change public opinion. He wouldn't let the MSM go unanswered.

[JonDavid]

I saw President Bush legal mouthpiece, Bartlett on TV this morning. I could have sworn hearing him include a feeding tube with other life support devices. Now if I heard right, then Terri was a goner from day one & the Congress bill was just a bone thrown to the Christan voter.

[Primetimedonna]

"People also ignore the fact that Janet Reno had already demonstrated that she had no qualms about killing Americans (Waco), so she sure wouldn't have cared if her storm-trooper tactics had ended up killing people. And if Elian's family or any of the others down there had resisted, they would certainly have been treated with no mercy."

That isn't the country we want. That's why we elected GW & Jeb in the first place. So things like this didn't happen.