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 ...
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?
What's that supposed to mean?
So is Scientology. And titty bars.
It sounds like you know a lot about both subjects.
Go vote for cindy sheehan if you want an activist, or someone from PETA.
No.
Why not?
So did his mom and dad.
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.
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).
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.
GHWB and Babs always called Jeb "the smart one". "W" becoming president was not what they expected. They thought Jeb would be.
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.
Ignorance is bliss, is it not? It's also spun gold for politicians.
I'm just as happy to accomodate you, FRiend.
You sound very defensive.
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.
Unfortunately, the Bush family has gotten to the point that they no longer can relate to us regular folks.
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