Free Republic

Election 2002 ... recommendation for governor: Bush Monday, October 28, 2002 The Naples Daily News Florida had confidence in Jeb Bush four years ago, figuring that after trying in vain once to become governor he was tested and ready to lead. Florida was right. Republican Bush proceeded to lead Florida forward on education, law enforcement, the environment and commerce. He is a solid choice for re-election on Tuesday, Nov. 5. Bush's Democratic opponent, Bill McBride, has chosen to confront Bush on education. Not only does McBride pick the wrong issue, he comes up short on better ideas and ways to...

<p>Voters should return Gov. Jeb Bush to Tallahassee for a second term.</p> <p>The Republican governor's Democratic opponent, Bill McBride, on the other hand, appears to have no concept of the economic realities facing Florida....</p> <p>Bush campaigned in 1998 on education reform, and wasted no time joining forces with the Legislature to implement his A-Plus plan, which abolished "social promotions" and rated schools according to student achievement. It also provided vouchers to enable students to escape the worst public schools....</p> <p>Bush's One Florida plan also demonstrated his willingness to try new ideas to address a social concern. ...</p>

ELECTION 2002 McBride fails to gain on Bush By Mark Silva | Sentinel Political Editor Posted October 27, 2002 TALLAHASSEE -- Gov. Jeb Bush holds a firm command of the governor's race.... The poll reveals strong signs that more voters have confidence in Bush's ability to lead ... "...McBride's momentum has stopped," said Jim Kane, the Sentinel's pollster. ...Asked about leading issues overall -- from education to the economy -- more have faith in Bush's ability to handle them. ...Bush has managed to remain competitive among female voters while enjoying the continuing support of male voters.... A separate poll of...

(My caption): GOV JEB BUSH: “Thank you, Miami Herald, Tampa Tribune, and the Orlando Sentinel, for ALL for endorsing me in this year’s gov race. God bless you for telling the truth – that I have worked hard for FL, achieved a great deal for FL, and earned a 2nd term as FL GOV!” THE MIAMI HERALD RECOMMENDS -- FOR FLORIDA GOVERNOR: JEB BUSH (Miami Herald) Polls show that Gov. Jeb Bush and lawyer Bill McBride are within a few percentage points of each other in voters’ preference – a divide that also was reflected in Florida’s razor-thin finish...

From Gov Bush's campaign web site: Top 5 Reasons to Watch Governor Bush Debate Bill McBride 5. If you get close enough to the TV, you can see the union bosses pulling Bill McBride's puppet strings. 4. Start your own debate about Bill McBride's plans: what are they? what taxes will he increase to pay for them? 3. If you miss the debate because you're working late, remember that Bill McBride's tax plan will address that by throwing thousands of Floridians out of work. 2. Start a raffle: if you guess the total number of times Bill McBride says "I'll...

Judging law associates' job satisfaction By SCOTT BARANCIK, Times Staff Writer © St. Petersburg Times published October 21, 2002 The results are in from American Lawyer's annual survey of job satisfaction among mid level associates, and once again, Carlton Fields ranked near the top. The Tampa law firm came in fifth place out of 132 worldwide. Greenberg Traurig of Miami, the only other Florida firm represented in the survey, ranked 59th. So where was Holland & Knight? In disarray, it appears. The Tampa heavyweight failed to distribute the anonymous surveys to its third- and fourth-year associates. Spokeswoman Karen Schoening says...

A Special Message for our Dem Lurker Friends, Now Banned From Dem Sites Until Nov 6th Written by summer - a former Dem, now an independent and a FL certified teacher I know what happened to you folks, and I must say – I’m not surprised. Sometimes I read Dem sites because I am curious to know what the party that left me is up to now, as I now vote for whoever I want, as an independent. I know you disillusioned Dems must feel are living in Iraq, what with that “New Posting Rule” sprouting up at Dem sites:...

DNC to Help McBride's Get-Out-the-Vote Bid in Fla. By Dan Balz Washington Post Staff Writer Sunday, October 20, 2002; Page A05 Democratic Party officials have decided to rush additional staff and resources to Florida to bolster the campaign of gubernatorial candidate Bill McBride after an on-the-ground assessment found the challenger's get-out-the-vote operation badly in need of assistance. ...Democratic National Committee Chairman Terence McAuliffe has authorized at least another half million dollars in direct assistance to the Florida campaign. DNC officials have asked Nick Baldick, who ran Florida for Al Gore during the 2000 presidential campaign, to return to the state...

Activist's run for governor could spoil Democrats' hopes By Maya Bell | Sentinel Staff Writer Posted October 20, 2002 MIAMI BEACH -- Bob Kunst answers the door on a recent Sunday morning wearing red spandex shorts and a yellow whistle around his neck. At 60, belly bulging over waistband, Kunst has as much modesty as he has a chance of being Florida's next governor. ....Though Kunst barely registers 1 percent in the polls as the only no-party candidate on the ballot, he could be the Democratic spoiler come Election Day -- much like consumer advocate Ralph Nader was in Florida's...

ELECTION 2002 Presidential couple (dad and mom) hit trail for Jeb By Mark Silva | Sentinel Political Editor Posted October 19, 2002 ...Although various polls have suggested that the governor's race is close, a new survey showing Bush with a 9-point lead over McBride gave cheer to the Republicans on Friday. The poll by McLaughlin & Associates of Alexandria, Va., done for U.S. Sugar Corp., shows Bush with 49.2 percent to McBride's 40.5 percent, with the remainder undecided. The margin of error was 4 percent. Six hundred people were surveyed by phone Wednesday and Thursday this week. Jim McLaughlin, the...

Oct 18, 2002 New Bush ad paints picture of 'Big Spending Bill' By Paige St. John Gannett News Service TALLAHASSEE - The latest campaign TV advertisement from Gov. Jeb Bush takes aim at “Big Spending Bill” McBride, threatening that the Democrat might raise sales taxes, bring on higher property taxes and enact a state income tax. The 30-second commercial, to air on Sunday, marks the first attack ad by the Bush-Brogan campaign since the primary, when the campaign ignored Democratic contender Janet Reno and aimed at McBride. Bush’s campaign office had no immediate comment on the early release, obtained Friday...

To read the letter from Gov Jeb Bush, CLICK HERE.

DELAND -- Republicans are thrilled. Some Democrats are seething. Volusia County was awash in partisanship this week in anticipation of President Bush's visit to a New Smyrna Beach elementary school Thursday -- less than three weeks before voters decide whether to re-elect his brother as governor of Florida. The Bush brothers are scheduled to stop at Read-Pattillo Elementary School on Thursday for an invitation-only event about education.

For Immediate Release Wednesday, October 16, 2002 Bush Co-Chair Blasts McBride for Refusing to Condemn Remarks From Supporter Who Compared the Bush Family to Bin Laden and Called the Bushes “Godless” and “Neo-Nazis” TALLAHASSEE -- Bill McBride often says that Floridians should judge him by his friends. Recently, one of his “friends” made a series of vicious, personal attacks against Gov. Jeb Bush and his entire family, comparing the Bush family to the bin Laden family and calling the Bush’s “neo-Nazis.” When given the chance to condemn the attacks, and show that he is willing, and has the courage, to...

For Immediate Release Tuesday, October 15, 2002 At Universal Studios Debate, McBride A “Twister” of the Truth and “Terminator” of Specifics ORLANDO – Corporate lawyer Bill McBride took full advantage of the theme park setting of today’s debate, presenting himself once more as a “Twister” of the truth and a “Terminator” of specifics. Despite repeated pressing, McBride again failed to provide any real specifics on issues of concern and importance to Florida voters, leaving most listeners to conclude that McBride is out of touch with the needs of average Floridians. Fiction: Governor Bush’s education funding is less than a majority...

POLITICAL PULSE Independents count with both parties By John Kennedy | The Orlando Sentinel Posted October 13, 2002 Al Cardenas, Florida Republican Party chairman, gathered reporters together last week ..... "In Florida, it's a swing state. You put a generic Democrat on the ballot in a statewide race, and they get 40 percent. You put a generic Republican on, and they get 40 percent," Cardenas said. That leaves the remaining 20 percent up for grabs. ... "Double-digit leads are a practical impossibility in Florida, unless the candidate is a total flop and has no resources," Cardenas concluded. ...Democrats continue to...

Tues Oct 8, 2002 Black activists ask candidate to weigh in on election woes BY LESLEY CLARK AND PETER WALLSTEN pwallsten@herald.com Excerpt: McBRIDE IS MAN IN THE MIDDLE Just when South Florida's voting fiasco felt like ancient history for Bill McBride, the Democratic nominee for governor was forced Monday to confront the mess head-on. McBride, making his first visit to the state's Democratic stronghold of Broward County as the gubernatorial nominee, was asked during a meeting with black ministers to protect county elections chief Miriam Oliphant from 'good ol' boy Democrats'' who are faulting her for the September primary election...

CLICK HERE for article.

War & Subversion Mark the Bush Brothers' Election Strategies Republicans Masquerading as Democrats in the Sunshine State Florida's Independent Candidate Bob Kunst Sounds Off... By Jack Nichols Excerpt: ...independent gubernatorial candidate Bob Kunst continues to speak ... Kunst has recently been quoted in a number of Florida newspapers. Following Friday's Bush-McBride debate, Central Florida's ABC News television affiliate in Orlando carried Kunst's commentary, daring the "dull" candidates to include him in their debates. …Kunst told GayToday, "Jeb Bush now faces off against me-since I'm still on the ballot and Janet Reno isn't-and against a Faux Democrat who ought to be...

‘The Jeb Bush Nobody Knows’ –- Part 23: The “Juicy” and “Devious” details re: Jeb... ...ARE POSTED HERE.