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Governor in Chief. Jeb Bush's remarkable eight years of achievement in Florida.
Weekly Standard ^ | June 12, 2006 | Fred Barnes

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 ...


TOPICS: Editorial; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections; US: Florida
KEYWORDS: bush; jeb; jebbush
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To: FairOpinion

Has his child protective service stopped losing kids?


21 posted on 06/02/2006 8:19:22 PM PDT by DManA
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To: claudiustg
No, just people who try to bring things like immigration or Terri Schiavo into every discussion.
22 posted on 06/02/2006 8:19:41 PM PDT by COEXERJ145 (Every person has a photographic memory - but some don't have their flash card installed.)
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To: FairOpinion
Florida is a wreck. A housing boom like Florida's can cover a lot of sins. As for Jeb Bush's leadership -- and believe me, I wanted to be impressed -- I'd have to say it was absent. Structurally the state is an overpoliced wreck.

RIP, Terri.

23 posted on 06/02/2006 8:20:43 PM PDT by the invisib1e hand (God might just be bullish on America.)
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To: FairOpinion

The thing is (IMO of course)is that he couldn't get anywhere with his state people. You think he could handle the DC crowd?


24 posted on 06/02/2006 8:21:18 PM PDT by CindyDawg
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To: CondorFlight
I posted #23 before reading this: Some of us still remember Terry Schiavo, when Bush did a magnificent job of waffling. . .
25 posted on 06/02/2006 8:21:52 PM PDT by the invisib1e hand (God might just be bullish on America.)
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To: COEXERJ145

No, just people who have concerns. Is that not allowed anymore?


26 posted on 06/02/2006 8:22:12 PM PDT by CindyDawg
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To: Echo Talon

He tried. He really did.


27 posted on 06/02/2006 8:23:23 PM PDT by CindyDawg
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To: FairOpinion
Jeb did everything in his power and some to try to rescue Terri.

Everything except stop the perversion of the legal system employed to kill the most innocent and helpless. Please warn us with a "Rubber Boots Needed" alert next time.

28 posted on 06/02/2006 8:24:10 PM PDT by the invisib1e hand (God might just be bullish on America.)
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To: FairOpinion

If Jeb was elected governor in 1994, he would probably be the president.


29 posted on 06/02/2006 8:24:54 PM PDT by LdSentinal
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To: DManA
Have they stopped hauling them into "protective custody" for being spanked?

Have they removed the fishbowls containing condoms from the state aid offices?

30 posted on 06/02/2006 8:25:39 PM PDT by the invisib1e hand (God might just be bullish on America.)
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To: CindyDawg

I thought so, he spent more time working on her case than any other ordinary Floridian.


31 posted on 06/02/2006 8:26:11 PM PDT by Echo Talon
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To: FairOpinion

I don't care if it's a dynasty or not. I think Jeb would be great as President with the background and history he has as Governor. It's the man that should be voted for, not the name.


32 posted on 06/02/2006 8:26:22 PM PDT by AmeriBrit (ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION IS A WEAPON OF MASS DESTRUCTION, IT INCLUDES TERRORIST SLEEPER CELLS!!)
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To: CindyDawg
He tried. He really did.

suuure he did. he tried (and succeeded) in making you think "he tried."

33 posted on 06/02/2006 8:26:56 PM PDT by the invisib1e hand (God might just be bullish on America.)
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To: the invisib1e hand

Jeb is executive branch, he couldn't do anything against the judiciary. He even tried to get the Protective services to rescue Terri, but someone leaked the plan and got a judge to get an injuction.

Jeb really cared and really did do everything possible.

It is horrific, that the judiciary is not accountable and literally they got away with murder.


34 posted on 06/02/2006 8:27:10 PM PDT by FairOpinion (Dem Foreign Policy: SURRENDER to our enemies. Real conservatives don't help Dems get elected.)
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To: AmeriBrit

"I don't care if it's a dynasty or not. I think Jeb would be great as President with the background and history he has as Governor. It's the man that should be voted for, not the name"


I agree!


35 posted on 06/02/2006 8:28:12 PM PDT by FairOpinion (Dem Foreign Policy: SURRENDER to our enemies. Real conservatives don't help Dems get elected.)
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To: FairOpinion

As a Florida resident for the last 20 years, I just want to thank Jeb. He's done a remarkable job in a remarkably dynamic state. He could and would handle anything - here and anywhere.


36 posted on 06/02/2006 8:29:16 PM PDT by FlJoePa (Success without honor is an unseasoned dish; it will satisfy your hunger, but it won't taste good.)
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To: COEXERJ145
No, just people who try to bring things like immigration or Terri Schiavo into every discussion.

sounds to be a rather obsessive sentiment in itself.

37 posted on 06/02/2006 8:29:18 PM PDT by the invisib1e hand (God might just be bullish on America.)
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To: COEXERJ145

---No, just people who try to bring things like immigration or Terri Schiavo into every discussion.---

Or as Archie Bunker would say, "Edith, stifle yourself!"


38 posted on 06/02/2006 8:29:40 PM PDT by claudiustg (¡En español, por favor!)
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To: WestVirginiaRebel

But would he carry on where his brother left off with this immigration nonsense?


39 posted on 06/02/2006 8:29:44 PM PDT by freekitty
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To: FlJoePa
As a Florida resident for the last 20 years, I just want to thank Jeb. He's done a remarkable job in a remarkably dynamic state. He could and would handle anything - here and anywhere.

I lived there 20 years, too. Jeb was invisible.

40 posted on 06/02/2006 8:30:26 PM PDT by the invisib1e hand (God might just be bullish on America.)
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