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?

[Fitzcarraldo]

one or both parties here want to fight a test case, more will probably follow

[Howlin]

ROFLMAO!

[Babu]

Don't forget, dear friends, that one of the beauties of America is freedom of speech, which includes freedom of opinion.

Therefore, yes, we are free here and elsewhere in the nooks and crannies of this country to express our pleasure or displeasure with the actions of our elected representatives.

Would you rather live in a country like pre-liberated Iraq, where people were tortured and killed for criticizing their leader???

[Diva Betsy Ross]

Thanks. They also like to use how Terri would cry when buying school clothes to illustrate how "Fat" she was. Let me tell you a young adult female who is s size 7 will cry from the pressure of trying to look prefect. That does not prove she had Bulimia.That tells you that she was an average American teenager.

[nopardons]

No kidding! And did you notice that most of them are newbies or those who hate the Bush family and/or are fringe party enthusiasts anyway?

[Howlin]

These people never ever supported either of the Bush brothers. Ever.

[Lauren BaRecall]

THANK YOU FOR THIS!!!

[Howlin]

Reagan, on the other hand, would use the bully pulpit to change public opinion.

Really? Tell us all about how he used the bully pulpit to handle Lebanon and immigration.

[Normal4me]

Yup. We gotta lot of people here who didn't even know about Terri until it consumed the news 24/7. They have blamed everyone they can and are moving up the chain. I expect the Pope to be condemned by Friday because he didn't do enough and even though he now has his own feeding tube, he could still fly to Florida and protest outside the hospice.

[Howlin]

Yes, truth can be disturbing.

You talking about truth is like Bill Clinton talking about honesty.

[AmishDude]

It's soon time for him to start another thread.

[jpsb]

next election is in 2006, my congressman is Ron Paul, he will get my support and vote. Gov Perry will too, even thought he signed hate laws crap. But very time the GOP offers me a RINO, I vote vote D, just to spite them.

[Howlin]

That one's not very bright, IMO.

[Diva Betsy Ross]

So are you saying everyone here who disagrees with you hate the Bushes and is a newbie or a fringe party fan?

[pollywog]

I agree.

[carl in alaska]

It's not the Republicans that didn't save Terri, it's the RINO's that would not save her. We must start kicking the cowardly two-faced RINO's out of office so that the pro-life, anti-Democrat forces gain some real strength. These childish little "double agents" like McCain have to be booted out of office.

[Primetimedonna]

"You talking about truth is like Bill Clinton talking about honesty."

Good one.....it would make a good tagline!!

[Howlin]

I believe you are a disruptor; have since the first post I saw you make.

[clintonh8r]

Nobody's advocating stifling free speech, but those who are obviously more qualified to be governor of Florida should get down here and get a campaign staff organized. We're waiting. We have many Constitutional scholars, law enforecement experts, political sages, veteran pundits, insiders, strategerists, and outright macho guys in our midst, right here, right now. By God, they need to help us get control of this situation! (Do I really need the sarcasm tag?)

[JonDavid]

W had no choice but to sign whatever bill he was given by Congress that might help save Terri. If the law is lacking, blame the Senate for watering it down. I'd like to see the Senate revert back to being selected by state legislatures, rather than by popular vote. There'd be much less posturing for the public by those 100 prima donnas.



Stop drinking the Republican Kool-Aid. These guys in the Senate are no fools. They knew that the bill was not going to save Terri. It was a bone to the Christian base. This sham would have work if it were not for the Internet and talk radio hosts like Michael Savage. Savage at first praise the Republican Congress, but then realized it was for show. He was real sad after saying that.