Posted on 06/02/2006 8:01:07 PM PDT by FairOpinion
IF ONLY HIS LAST NAME WERE SMITH. He'd not only attract national attention as the popular and successful governor of a difficult-to-govern state. He'd be viewed sympathetically as a leader who had dealt with family issues--his wife's aversion to politics, his daughter's bouts with drug addiction--without losing his grip on the governorship. And he'd be the prohibitive frontrunner for the Republican presidential nomination in 2008.
But his last name is Bush. So Jeb Bush, nearing the end of his eight years as governor of Florida, has to settle for being the best governor in America. Not proclaimed the best governor by the media and the political community. But recognized as the best by a smaller group: governors who served with him and experts and think-tank and conservative policy wonks who regard state government as something other than a machine for taxing and spending.
Why is Jeb Bush the best? It's very simple. His record is the best. No other governor, Republican or Democrat, comes close. Donna Arduin, perhaps the most respected state budget expert in the country, has worked for four big-state Republican governors--John Engler of Michigan, George Pataki of New York, Arnold Schwarzenegger of California, and Bush. Even while she worked for Schwarzenegger, she told me Bush is "absolutely" the nation's premier governor. "He's principled, brilliant, willing to ignore his pollsters, and say no to his friends," she says.
(Excerpt) Read more at weeklystandard.com ...
I take that back, because i dont know for sure how much time he spent on those missing girl cases in FL. :\
ABSOLUTELY NO WAY! Another Bush and I will drive a bullet in my brain. I will admit that he is much, much, much better than his brother, but we have had two idiots named Bush as President I will not support another. Fool me once, shame on you, fool me tice......., fool me three times, I had no choice, but shame on me, me, me. never agian.
"You think he could handle the DC crowd?"
Well, I rather take a chance on him, than see either Hillary or McCain in the WH -- shudder!
What did you want him to do, get arrested?
Now that you had your tempertantrum, calm down and ask yourself, if you really want to see McCain or Hillary as POTUS.
All of sudden Jeb will look infinitely more preferable.
Jeb may have cared and proved to be useless in the matter.
I understand the separation of powers. I also understand politics. And power. In Florida, when someone wants something done, within or without the "system," he gets it done. He doesn't even need to be the governor to do that.
Puhleeze. He did nothing but impotent posturing. My side of this debate is now closed.
That would have at least been symbolic.
now thats a FairOpinion. :P
Is that a promise?
That would have at least been symbolic.
OMG. He's a politician not an activist. If he would have gotten arrested his career would have been over and she still would have been starved/killed.
I hate it when yall pull this out of your pocket, every time a concern is raised. These two are NOT the only alternate choices.
One thing is for sure, it's not Terri Schaivo b*tching.
As far as Jeb? I'll pass, he's too much of a metrosexual for my taste. Plus, his views on illegal immigration are as screwed up as his brother's.
Bush I will be remembered for "No new taxes".
Bush II will be remembered for "we must face the reality that millions of illegal immigrants are already here"
No Bush III please.
Well what is the democrat alternative?
Not fair, not fair, now you're going to get cool aide thrown on you! LOL
period. not an activist. not a leader. just...a politician. a lackey to the powerful.
I'll say the same about Jeb Bush.
I expected more, but us little people are never happy.
I hear he is still pretty popular in Florida. Has that changed?
I'm not so sure about that. How would you want to be remembered though? The governor that tried or the governor that made it happen? :')
By any means necessary?
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