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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: Rome2000
I expected more, but us little people are never happy.

Not really cause to trumpet "Jeb Bush's remarkable eight years of achievement in Florida," or to name him "the greatest governor in America," though, would you say?

61 posted on 06/02/2006 8:42:49 PM PDT by the invisib1e hand (God might just be bullish on America.)
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To: isthisnickcool
I'll pass, he's too much of a metrosexual for my taste.

What's that supposed to mean?

62 posted on 06/02/2006 8:42:55 PM PDT by Young Scholar
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To: Texasforever
I hear he is still pretty popular in Florida.

So is Scientology. And titty bars.

63 posted on 06/02/2006 8:44:07 PM PDT by the invisib1e hand (God might just be bullish on America.)
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To: the invisib1e hand
So is Scientology. And titty bars.

It sounds like you know a lot about both subjects.

64 posted on 06/02/2006 8:45:13 PM PDT by Texasforever (I have neither been there nor done that.)
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To: the invisib1e hand
period. not an activist. not a leader. just...a politician. a lackey to the powerful.

Go vote for cindy sheehan if you want an activist, or someone from PETA.

65 posted on 06/02/2006 8:45:25 PM PDT by Echo Talon
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To: Texasforever

No.


66 posted on 06/02/2006 8:45:55 PM PDT by CindyDawg
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To: CindyDawg

Why not?


67 posted on 06/02/2006 8:46:16 PM PDT by Texasforever (I have neither been there nor done that.)
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To: the invisib1e hand
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




As long as you just keep yourself invisible in our State, we will continue to be happy!!!
68 posted on 06/02/2006 8:46:40 PM PDT by danamco
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To: misterrob
I think that he would have done a better job than his brother though...

So did his mom and dad.

69 posted on 06/02/2006 8:47:44 PM PDT by Mad_Tom_Rackham (Memo to GOP: Don't ask me for any more money until you secure our Southern border.)
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To: CindyDawg
I hate it when ya'll pull this out of your pocket, every time a concern is raised. These two are NOT the only alternate choices.

Ive got to where I just discount anything anyone has to say when the only thing they sell is fear. It's really in the toilet when you have no positive reason to vote for someone.

70 posted on 06/02/2006 8:48:07 PM PDT by org.whodat (Never let the facts get in the way of a good assumption.)
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To: CindyDawg
would have been nice if they weren't obsessed about death in FL , but they do have laws.
71 posted on 06/02/2006 8:48:17 PM PDT by Echo Talon
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To: Young Scholar
What's that supposed to mean?

He didn't have the stones to help a dying woman and he sounded like a wussy recently talking about how "hurtful" the immigration issue is (re: his wife).

72 posted on 06/02/2006 8:48:57 PM PDT by isthisnickcool (What is it about "illegal" you don't understand?)
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To: Texasforever
It sounds like you know a lot about both subjects.

Well, there's an intelligent response worthy of FR. I lived a few minutes from the Ft. Harrison Hotel for nearly 20 years. I've done work for scientologists and even dated one. I've read extensive critiques and observed the effects of their money and mafia tactics on the local community.

In Florida, if you're in any community of any size, you can't get to the grocery store without passing a "gentleman's club."

I know more about them than I care to.

You can take your next shot or go back to watching the Simpsons now.

73 posted on 06/02/2006 8:49:31 PM PDT by the invisib1e hand (God might just be bullish on America.)
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To: Mad_Tom_Rackham
So did his mom and dad.

GHWB and Babs always called Jeb "the smart one". "W" becoming president was not what they expected. They thought Jeb would be.

74 posted on 06/02/2006 8:50:45 PM PDT by isthisnickcool (What is it about "illegal" you don't understand?)
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To: devane617
Jeb Bush would have been a better President than George, totally agree.

He didn't become FL Governor until 1998 though, so that automatically excluded him for a shot at 2000. Had he won in 1994 he would have gotten the job.

75 posted on 06/02/2006 8:51:09 PM PDT by Extremely Extreme Extremist (Conservatism is moderate, it is the center, it is the middle of the road)
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To: danamco
As long as you just keep yourself invisible in our State, we will continue to be happy!!!

Ignorance is bliss, is it not? It's also spun gold for politicians.

I'm just as happy to accomodate you, FRiend.

76 posted on 06/02/2006 8:51:20 PM PDT by the invisib1e hand (God might just be bullish on America.)
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To: the invisib1e hand
You can take your next shot or go back to watching the Simpsons now.

You sound very defensive.

77 posted on 06/02/2006 8:52:25 PM PDT by Texasforever (I have neither been there nor done that.)
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To: isthisnickcool
That is my understanding as well. I heard that they were surprised that GW threw his hat in instead of Jeb.
78 posted on 06/02/2006 8:52:44 PM PDT by Mad_Tom_Rackham (Memo to GOP: Don't ask me for any more money until you secure our Southern border.)
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To: Texasforever; All
It sounds like you know a lot about both subjects.

which brings up another great critique of Jeb: the proliferation of porn shops and strip joints, with their two story neon signs.

How I dreaded the time when I'd have to explain to my children what "XXX" meant. How many times I distracted them while in the car on the way to church.

Yeah, Florida's a great place to raise a family.

79 posted on 06/02/2006 8:54:09 PM PDT by the invisib1e hand (God might just be bullish on America.)
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To: Mad_Tom_Rackham

Unfortunately, the Bush family has gotten to the point that they no longer can relate to us regular folks.


80 posted on 06/02/2006 8:54:52 PM PDT by isthisnickcool (What is it about "illegal" you don't understand?)
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