Jeb Bush builds on GOP base as Florida governor

[MelissaB]

Jeb Bush builds on GOP base as Florida governor

TALLAHASSEE -- No, Gov. Jeb Bush didn't get his way this spring on class size or Terri Schiavo. But even his political foes admit he has had a remarkably effective run over the past seven years if he ever wants to follow his father and his brother into the White House.

>>>snip

"In the last seven Legislative sessions he was able to obtain in one fashion or another everything he set out to do," said former Gov. Bob Martinez, a Republican.

But Florida's teachers unions say vouchers hurt public schools that need the most help. Activists complain that Bush's tax cuts benefit the wealthy and businesses and that his legal reforms deny justice to victims of medical malpractice. Many say the election system is still flawed, most notably because touch-screen voting machines do not produce a paper record.

>>>snip

"He consolidated more power in the governor's office than any of the past governors and he set out a right-wing agenda and accomplished it," said former Florida Democratic Party chairman Scott Maddox, who is running for governor in 2006.

>>>snip

In 1992, the Democrats controlled the state Senate, the House and governor's office. Now, they have only 14 of 40 Senate seats and 36 of 120 House seats, and Bush became Florida's first Republican governor to get re-elected.

More: http://www.heraldtribune.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20050519/BREAKING/50519010


Let's see...touch screen voting, consolidation of power, Democrats loosing MANY seats...

[RagingInMiami]

1. Why don't they just come out and say it

THE VOTE WAS HACKED.

Thankfully, down here in South Florida, Miami-Dade and Broward counties have agreed to do away with the computer voting machines.

[brainshrub]

2. When Bush III gets appointed, be very afraid.

Jeb isn't an idiot like his brother. Right now, the only thing keeping this country from becoming a full-fledged dictatorship is George's incompetence.

Jeb doesn't have that handicap.

[FrenchieCat]

5. Now that would be a real tragedy.....

To get another Bush into office.

But anything can happen...after all, we are now a Banana Republic, if no one has noticed!

[MelissaB]

6. I'm afraid this article is foreshadowing.

:scared: I hope I'm just being paranoid.

[napi21]

3. OK Floridians, WHY DID THIS HAPPEN?

I read the power grab strategy, but that doesn't make votes! He did get re-elected, and I can't believe there's that many Cuban Americans in the whole State to make that happen all by themselves!

[kaygore]

9. Vote rigging!

They be the masters.

[Catt03]

10. I'm is South Fl and I honestly don't know

how this happened. I woke up one day, Lawton Chiles passed away and then the next day it seems the state was Republican. I was shocked...like "what happened?'

The only thing I can think of is that, in my opinion (qualifier), is that Florida has not had a Democrat run for Governor who is strong enough. Another event was Bill Clinton's behavior in office, particularly in N Florida. And.....I think it was in the plan; George takes Washington and Jeb takes Florida via Rove's grand plan.

It is a royal mess though.

[napi21]

11. Maybe with the GW and Jeb, but I've hears sooo many bad things.

Children abd Family Services losing kids...many times, the Schiavp story, and a whole lot of other things that Jeb as Governor is responsible for.

Sad to say, but I've seen soo many times the comments "well it's Florida".

I agree with the people who say that Jeb is the smart one of the family. I saw that back when W was running and Jeb was campaigning for him. But as a Georgian, I gotta say, he hasn't done a very good job as Governer from what I can see!

[whistle]

4. Gee, it was so nice to not hear or see anything of Jeb Bush on....

...TV or in the news basically since the Terri Schiavo stand-off. This post, not disrespect meant to the poster, but the message in this post was like having a basket of dead rotting fish dumped on my computer.

[MelissaB]

7. I'm so sorry.

:cry: I was doing work on election reform and came across this with a google search using "voting machines".

[whistle]

8. no problem....I have my composure back now

:banghead: