Replies

Earlier this week I had the opportunity to engage Bill McBride in a meaningful conversation on things of importance to our state as well as on the pressing foreign issue of Iraq. It was a "let your hair down" (even though I have none) session with a group comprised of many veterans - -primarily retired relatively senior officers of all services-- with which I am happily associated. He was a most pleasant and articulate fellow and demonstrated his obvious intelligence in matters of current importance to the people of Florida; real property taxes, voter and election organization, local and state roads, population growth and urban sprawl--and the State National Guard organization.

He is indeed an impressive gentleman who, if elected, would appear to me and most of my colleagues to be a balanced and excellent governor.

So you don't like JEb.?

Re your post #7 - You should post that on one of the Dem sites, where the voters are always complaining they can never get McLawyer to answer a direct question on the issues. What a surprise it would be to those voters -- that he so openly talks to you, but won't talk to them.

I've been engaged in meaningful experiences with Governor Bush since he was inaugurated. He is very thoughtful and intelligent. He does work 12 to 14 hour days and is articulate in English and Spanish. However, he visits migrant schools where children and their parents attend to encourage them to learn English.

Governor Bush has assisted me and various neighbors at one time or another in the past four years. This is not access limited to any specific group. This is personal and result oriented access for any Floridian who needs his help.

I hope that you had a meaningful conversation with McBride about his ties to Terry MacAuliffe whose father-in-law is McBride's finance manager, Richard Swann. I hope that you asked McBride about the taxes he would like to raise for Floridians; dem millionaires always like to spend other people's money.

I could send you to an underground dem web site. Their strategy is to target veterans, especially Marines to get their vote. You are a number to Bill McBride. He wants to state that the Generals who vote for him are better than the Generals who support Jeb Bush. McBride's democratic party is the same party who challenged military absentee ballots. Did Bill McBride tell you that he hadn't seen his machine gunner from Nam, his best friend, since Nam? Makes him a hypocrite doesn't it? He leaves out that he didn't give this guy the time of day until he ran for governor, SINCE NAM.

Further, democrats are calling Christians the "Christian Taliban". I find that offensive do you? They are McBride supporters. Maybe you better do some more research on the Clinton's choice for governor. That's what you're getting. Fregards, FV

I read your comments about McBride with some skepticism. Then I read your profile.

By your own description, your military experience is overshadowed by your lawyerly experiences--in particular--the trial attorney consulting you enjoy. "...try to limit the degree of economic muscle applied by the commercial giant to the unfair or unlawful injury of the small business person."

Does the banking industry so completely represented by the McBride/Rossin ticket not fit into your commercial giant description? The trial attorney industry should be considered one of the most dangerous giants in our economy, unless, of course, you are one of them.

Your resentment that McCain lost the 2000 primary election tells another tale. McCain is expected to jump parties sooner rather than later.

I smell a special interest rat in the room.

Middie, it all depends on what you stand for. If you're a far left Democrat, McBride's your man. He's running as a moderate because that's the only way far left Democrats can get elected.

Cut through the talk to McBride's position on issues:

But when it comes to core ideology, no one in the field outflanks him on the left. That, of course, could be a ruinous niche nationally, but not statewide.

He's unabashedly supportive of public schools and teachers and activist on behalf of the environment and minority inclusion. He sees the value in unions and the good in affirmative action. He believes gays and lesbians should enjoy the same legal rights and benefits as married couples. He is, as he has said, a "proud and unapologetic Democrat."

"To suggest that any private school is better than a public school is disgraceful…" Bill McBride.
Link

If you're still not sure, his wife Alex Sink, is a longtime feminist and big $$$ donor to far left causes, a member of "Emily's List" who has donated campaign $$$ to Cynthia McKinney among others.
Alex Sink's Political Contributions>
McBride's Political Contributions

A few comments and quotes:
Could someone explain how an ex-Marine could work to undermine both God and the American family, claim to be a church-going man who cares about the children and yet be a "staunch" abortion and homosexual 'marriage' rights and public school advocate? Anyone who thinks McBride's military experience made him pro-gun rights...think Oliver Stone, Tom Daschle, Jimmy Carter.

And as the only college graduate in his Marine company, McBride eventually saw the war through the prism of a socio-economically-skewed America. "Lower middle class to poor kids were being asked to die for their country, but had the least stake in what was going on," figured McBride. "An experience like that shows the awesome power of government. Making decisions that change people's lives."
Link

McBride was there, but he sure didn't have a clue who was fighting for our side and why.

Those "poor kids" had a great deal at stake, Mr. McBride. That's why the vast majority of them - most over 20, most middle class or above - volunteered to serve to protect and defend the freedom they know our country stands for. Most of them knew that Communism is a failed and deadly system...especially for the "little guy".

Will the Real Vietnam Vet Stand Up?, by B.G. Burkett and Glenna Whitley. Excerpts from Stolen Valor: How The Vietnam Generation Was Robbed Of its Heroes And its History

About his stance on gun rights, please check out Joe Brower's thread titled "F" Troop. McBride's running mate Tom Rossin is anti-gun rights. As for McBride, you can read the following comments and decide for yourself:

McBride refuses to discuss guns or the 2nd Amendment- will not respond or offer his views. That's enough for me- he's a typical democrat- pro-abortion, and anti-gun.

33 posted on 9/18/02 10:31 PM Eastern by Goldwater Girl

I don't know what his campaign says about the Second Amendment, but his law firm had a written "no guns" policy.

26 posted on 9/18/02 10:01 PM Eastern by ConservativeLawyer

Really irritates me to hear people defend someone just because they served. I spent years being around the AF. Some of them I really respected and others I detested like in any other field.

37 posted on 9/18/02 10:40 PM Eastern by PhiKapMom

Agreed- I think it is despicable to try to separate our veterans from a Governor and party that supported them then and now. His service is laudable- his using it this way is not.

41 posted on 9/18/02 10:44 PM Eastern by Goldwater Girl

Position on firearms..
Added by guru on Wednesday, September 11, 2002 @ 01:30 PM

I happened to catch the trouser-snake at a luncheon with one of my clients, and heard him discussing the gun issue with one of his supporters.. he felt that guns should be kept out of the wrong hands, and he would make sure they were only kept by those people with the proper moral conscience to use them appropriately. I nearly choked and wanted to make a scene (I REALLY wanted to make a scene), but I was there with a client.. so I coughed loudly, made eye contact, and then made like I was writing his comment down in my PDA.

Here's a link to Joe's thread: The "F-Troop": Florida Gov. Candidate Bill McBride/Lt. Gov. Tom Rossin, put out by the Unified Sportsmen of Florida.