Jeb Bush Rivals Face Uphill Battle [WA Post: "we have a train wreck waiting to happen."]

The Washington Post ^ | Aug 24, 2002 | Ken Thomas

[summer]

On the other hand, Jeb has skillfully coopted every potential Dem "issue".

Well, he was smart to do so, considering this is a state where there are more registered Dems than GOP voters; the environment is always a big votring issue, as is education. If he had been uninvolved on these two issues, he would be committing political suicide in this state. Fortunately for the state, he has been very pro-active on these issues and a host of others. Dem candidates really never matched him at all in terms of scope of knowledge or depth of ideas.

[summer]

Yes, I've seen it - alot of people on FR really enjoy that tv commercial from Gov. Bush. (I too think it is great.) It packs a powerful punch without being heavy-handed, and as I have mentioned before - that balance and tone is not easy to achieve in political advertising.

[summer]

In addition, Gov Bush has always had support among independents, who never went for the Dems' non-campaign mode of campaigning.

[floriduh voter]

Laura Ingraham agrees with you regarding Jeb's political future. She noticed my Jeb button at Friva in Vegas. Further, I told her what I thought of the newly designed absentee ballots. I'm sure she'll be watching our elections closely based upon 2000 and she needs material every day for her conservative talk show.

Have you seen the absentee ballots? You have to connect an arrow. I can't even draw a straight line myself. How are they going to divine intent if the person draws a squiggly line where somebody makes a legal challenge? Will that vote be disqualified - I say someone will challenge squiggly lines because they're desperate, wouldn't you agree?

So we've traded pregnant chads for art class.

[floriduh voter]

The tag of Jeb's McLawyer commercial is: Fancy footwork that Florida cannot afford or something to that effect. You know, they even found an office that resembles Holland & Knight when they show laid off employees packing up their personal items. That was 230 laid off employees.

And, they are trying to make it sound like he made sacrifices at H & K so the employees would get more money. He's already a millionaire thanks to his wife. He's not made any sacrifices, except maybe at little league.

[MichiganMan]

Hm. Think we might be seeing a third Bush president a few years down the road?

Shhhhhhhh!!! Don't jinx it!

[SBeck]

Eala, According to SBeck - Gov Bush is the one for 2008. (And, according to many here on FR, that would be just fine!) :)

It is inevitable.

[LarryLied]

When Jeb becomes President and you are his Karen Hughes would you put in a word for me? I want to head the Department of Education (but I'll take Health and Human Services if he has someone else in mind).

[jalisco555]

Hi Summer. Thanks for the ping. I have a question for you. You've been saying that the Dems are not going after Jeb on any issues. What issues do you think he would be vulnerable on if he actually had decent opposition? Just curious.

[VOA]

Governor Bush speaks to crowd on the USS Kennedy upon its return from deployment in the Middle East.

It's just not fair.
Jeb will be getting vote from all those "tax-cheat" military personnel that vote
in Florida.

...just wanted to remind folks of how a leftist/Democratic-shill journalist
characterized the military personnel based in Florida during the Presidential Election
imbroglio of 2000...because they don't have a state income tax in FLA.

[Paulus Invictus]

Let's hope it's Jeb in 2008 for Prez. He would be great and would surely defeat any RAT including her heinous.

[summer]

Re your post #49 - LOL...well, I don't want to HELP Gov. Bush's opponents, but, I would say there are a great number of issues of real interest to FL voters of all political parties, and this is certainly one of them:

Hospitals Feeling Strain from Illegal Immigrants - The NYT, Sunday, August 25, 2002 (Story is from Stuart, FL but also concerns other states such as TX and CA)

An excerpt:

------------------------------------------

August 25, 2002

Hospitals Feeling Strain From Illegal Immigrants

By DANA CANEDY

STUART, Fla. — In the two and a half years since Luis Jiménez arrived at the Martin Memorial Medical Center emergency room with severe brain damage from a head-on car collision, the hospital here has become his home.

In that time, Mr. Jiménez, 30, a former gardener, has emerged from a coma, had two birthdays and accumulated medical bills of almost $1 million.By all accounts, he is well enough to be discharged, but the hospital and advocates for the patient are in a conflict over his mounting medical bills and future care that makes his release unlikely without a court order.

A penniless illegal immigrant from Guatemala, Mr. Jiménez has no health insurance, and his injuries have left him with limited mobility and the mental capacity of a 3-year-old. Martin Memorial wants to send him back to his homeland for any remaining medical care. But Mr. Jiménez's advocates insist that he must remain at the hospital until it can find a suitable place in the United States or Guatemala that is willing to care for him.

The impasse is at the center of a national debate over who is ultimately responsible for illegal immigrants who require extensive medical care but have no means to pay for it. The issue has become an increasing concern for health care providers, particularly in Florida and border states with growing numbers of illegal immigrants.

Federal law requires hospitals to provide emergency care to critically ill or injured patients regardless of their immigration status. But because many illegal immigrants work in low-wage jobs that offer no benefits, and cannot qualify for Medicaid, they use emergency rooms as their primary source of routine and critical health care. As the number of such patients increases sharply in states like Florida, California, Texas and Arizona, so too does the financial burden on health care centers that treat them, hospital administrators say.

"We have people coming to our country in good faith to work, but we have no system in place as a nation as to what to do when these people get sick," said Pat Austin, a spokeswoman for Martin Memorial. "Each hospital is left to kind of figure out what to do for itself."...

-----------------------

jalisco, Gov. Bush has done a lot to recruit more nurses to FL, but, at some point, the above problem should also find its way into the current FL gov debate, since this state's gov race has a national spotlight.

Yet, Dem candidates are silent on this issue as well as on the nursing shortage/recruitment issues. And, I am sure Dems' suggested solution to the illegal aliens burdening hospitals would be very different than Gov. Bush's -- as he has in fact been tightening FL's borders.

[summer]

BTW, you might be interested in knowing that last week, the FL Medical Association (16,000 FL physicians) endorsed Gov. Bush in this FL gov race. To read about it, CLICK HERE.

[summer]

sarasmom, As a FL voter, do you think the issue I identified in my post #52 is one the FL gov candidates should be discussing? :)

[jalisco555]

Summer, you never cease to amaze me. Do you have every newspaper article from the entire world that mentions Florida cataloged and cross-referenced? ;-)

As to the nursing shortage this is a national problem. It is a function of the miserable way nurses are treated, overworked, underpaid, overstressed and undersupported. Also, women today have the full range of career options, unlike a generation or two ago. The morale of the nurses where I work couldn't be lower. Of course, the morale of the docs isn't much better. BTW, I'm in the process of applying for a Florida medical license. I'll keep you posted.

[summer]

An excerpt from my link in post #53:

---------------------

Wednesday, August 21, 2002

HEALTH CARE COMMUNITY SUPPORTS BUSH-BROGAN

TALLAHASSEE, FL – The Bush-Brogan campaign is pleased to announce the endorsement of the Florida Medical Association (FMA). This endorsement is a sign of the Governor’s commitment to ensuring that all Floridians receive quality and affordable healthcare.

... “During the last four years, Governor Bush has worked closely with the medical community to ensure better access to quality healthcare for all Floridians,” stated Jim Dolan, M.D., an orthopedic surgeon from Jacksonville. “We look forward to four more years of leadership on healthcare issues from Governor Bush.”

“Governor Bush understands the problems facing doctors and the patients we serve and has pledged to work tirelessly to help solve these complex problems,” commented Madelyn Butler, M.D., an OB/GYN from Tampa.

Governor Bush and Lt. Governor Brogan are strongly committed to healthcare issues:

· Since 1999, nearly 90% more children will have access to the state’s publicly funded health insurance programs, for a total of over 1.5 million children enrolled by next summer;

· Bush signed a health care package in 2002 (Senate Bill 46-E), that required insurance companies to promptly reimburse patients and doctors for out-of-pocket and office expenses;

· In 2001, Gov Bush signed legislation that increased the flexibility of doctors to chose the products that best serve their patients medical needs; and

· Bush signed legislation that allowed hospital patients to be cared for by their family doctor rather than a hospital assigned physician.

“The doctors of the State of Florida believe Governor Jeb Bush is the right person to lead our state for the next four years," stated Steve West, M.D., a cardiologist from Fort Myers.” We know he will continue to be an advocate for our patients and work to increase access to quality healthcare.”

“The citizens of the State of Florida are fortunate to have a Governor who is dedicated to making their lives better,” stated Karl Altenburger, M.D., an allergist from Ocala. “Jeb Bush has earned the support of the medical community of Florida.”

The Florida Medical Association, representing over 16,000 doctors, serves as an advocate for physicians and their patients to promote the public health, to ensure high standards in medical education and ethics, and to enhance the quality and availability of health care.

[summer]

Do you have every newspaper article from the entire world that mentions Florida cataloged and cross-referenced? ;-)

ROTFLMAO!!!!!! No, but I am a very and thorough quick reader, and I do have a great memory. :)

[summer]

I meant: a very thorough and quick reader....

[summer]

The nursing threads on FR have been fascinating, and there are many nurses who post here. When you have the time, check out this thread if you missed it:

Bush Signs Nursing Recruitment Legislation
[Jeb: "I love nurses because..."] (AP)

[summer]

I'm in the process of applying for a Florida medical license. I'll keep you posted.

Please do! :)