GOVERNOR: Bush, again [FL-Times Union, Jacksonville, FL, publishes an A+++ endorsement of JEB!]

The FL Times-Union, via www.jeb.org ^ | Nov. 3, 2002 | Editorial Board, FL Times-Union

[summer]

FL's current and future governor:
FL Gov Jeb Bush

[BTW, The latest Zoby poll predicts:
Bush 57% and McMumble 43%]

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Sunday, November 3, 2002
Florida Times-Union [Jacksonville, FL]

GOVERNOR: Bush, again

If ever a governor of Florida deserved another term, it is Jeb Bush.

Bush, a former commerce secretary, ran for governor in 1994 and narrowly lost in a decision that might have turned on a deceitful boiler room telephone campaign mounted against him.

In 1998, he ran again. His campaign was based on principles and Bush promised to follow them. He has.

His record of achievement is almost unparalleled. He has delivered, with the support of the Florida Legislature, $1.5 billion in tax relief.

This did not come at the expense of any vital programs. Spending on public schools, for example, has increased by $3 billion. Spending on child care has doubled.

This was, in part, because Bush followed sound business practices. He set priorities and devoted resources to the higher priorities. He eliminated unnecessary state jobs and functions, generally by abolishing unfilled positions.

Bush and the Legislature also built up the state's reserves, which made it less difficult to manage when the economy turned down, as it did last year.

In addition to his thoughtful, deliberate approach to public policy, or perhaps in keeping with it, Bush has been respectful of the environment.

He supported Florida Forever, and the Everglades restoration. He also opposed oil drilling in the Gulf shore of Florida, which was supported by the White House.

Challenging Bush this year is trial lawyer Bill McBride, a classic liberal tax-and-spend Democrat, backed enthusiastically by the teachers union bosses, if not the rank and file.

McBride, not surprisingly, has embraced the proposed constitutional amendment that would limit classroom sizes in grades K-12.

Although well-intended, the concept has been rejected by the Legislature because it is ruinously expensive, yet would yield little or no improvement in educational achievement. Rather, it is a fringe benefit for teachers in over- crowded schools, which primarily are in mismanaged school districts in South Florida.

The cost would be about $29 billion over the next eight years. McBride says he will pay for it by increasing taxes on cigarettes, which would bring in a half-billion dollars. Clearly, fiscal policy is not his forte.

Also, his attempt to be a folksy shadow of Lawton Chiles is not playing well, and his nebulous answers on hard issues raise eyebrows even on the left. The fact that he is joined at the hip with union bosses is another reason for concern.

Florida is on the right path. Bush is one reason. We can't aim any higher.

[summer]

A great endorsement for JEB! Also, an interesting article in today's St. Pete Times --

Behind the Suits: Profile of Gov Jeb Bush

[summer]

For index.

[summer]

FYI. :)

[summer]

FYI! :)

[summer]

FYI! :)

[Ragtime Cowgirl]

Great endorsement from the Florida Times-Union! Thanks, summer. (^:

His campaign was based on principles and Bush promised to follow them. He has.

His record of achievement is almost unparalleled.

Paging the rest of the newsmedia....

Go, Jeb!

[BonnieJ]

Fox News still seems to be reporting this race as too close to call...any basis for that analysis? I thought most felt Jeb had pulled enough ahead to have a "comfortable lead".

[PhiKapMom]

Jeb has a very comfortable lead.

Think you are seeing some of the true Fox more liberals come through. Just depends who is analyzing. Not impressed with Carl Cameron at all!

On Fox, if it isn't Hannity and Hume, I don't pay much attention. Snow is not impressive at all with some of his off the wall comments and we must be fair to both sides! Then goes out and asks puffball questions of the RATs and slams Republican guests -- happened too much in this campaign cycle to make me wonder!

[coloradomom]

"If ever a governor of Florida deserved another term, it is Jeb Bush."

Isn't it nice to see a newspaper endorsing Jeb this clearly? Great news!

[coloradomom]

I agree that the article is interesting. I don't think the writer was trying to paint a flattering portrait of Gov. Bush, but what came through to me is how very much Jeb cares about the people of Florida. Definitely a feeler, wouldn't you say?

[lstanle]

"Isn't it nice to see a newspaper endorsing Jeb this clearly? Great news!"

It is nice and its appreciated but I wonder about some of these newspapers that wait until it seems clear who the winner will most likely be. Do they wait to be sure they endorse the winner???

[Nayt2]

i was over at DU and they were flipping out about a poll that had jeb! up 52 - 39 on MSNBC. anyone see this? maybe there's already a thread here, i haven't seen it yet.

[GOPJ]

bump

[GOPJ]

Thanks for the ping. Jeb's great.

[WyCoKsRepublican]

Go get em' Jeb! We love you even here in the heartland!

[lodwick]

JEB bttt

[Qathleen]

bttt for JEB

[ItisaReligionofPeace]

close races are better for ratings. Jeb! has this one sealed.

[ItisaReligionofPeace]

This paper is from Jacksonville, which is in a large and heavily Republican county. This endorsement isn't surprising and isn't a result of the editors waiting to see who has the lead.

[BonnieJ]

If they (Fox news, etc) like close races for ratings, why not cover California where it is just as close, maybe closer? But there the story always is "Davis has this won" and "Simon's hopeless campaign", etc. Those campaigns have needed more scrutiny and coverage! But it's all about Jeb and McBride!