Jeb's next move: Once again, a Republican governor upsets the plan for the smarter Bush

[seafan]

Keep an eye on li'l Jebbie.

I predict that he will muscle his way into the VP slot for 2008. And if that happens, he must be repudiated once and for all time, as America will not tolerate any more members of the BFEE *having their way* with our country and her citizens and wreaking havoc on the rest of the world.

Jeb knows he's in a squeeze play now.... W has soiled the family name for a long time to come, but Jeb cannot afford to wait out the looming threat Florida Governor Charlie Crist may pose in 2012 or 2016. So Jeb will swallow his distaste for the *second place* VP slot for 2008, for if he waits for 2012 or 2016 to run for president, it may be too late.

We, in Florida, are mercifully just beginning our long recovery from 8 painful and destructive years of Jeb Bush's rule.

Consider this an early warning. We do not want Jeb Bush anywhere near our White House.








Jeb's next move: Once again, a Republican governor upsets the plan for the smarter Bush

By S. V. Dáte
January 21, 2007

.....

Yet 13 years later, it's another Republican governor once again squeezing Jeb's presidential ambitions, this time from the other direction and possibly shortening Jeb's window of opportunity to this coming election cycle. This time, the other governor is the man who succeeded him, and whose stunning fund-raising ability and equally remarkable populist style threaten to take the state Republican Party in a direction that leaves Jeb behind.
What if, by the 2012 election, it is not Jeb Bush who is the obvious Florida choice for the national Republican ticket, but Charlie Crist?
It is far too early to say how Gov. Crist will perform in his first term, let alone whether he will win a second. But the mere possibility that Gov. Crist could in five years serve as an equally attractive alternative when it comes to organizing the state or joining the ticket as a running mate changes the dynamic for Jeb.
Charlie Crist's ability to raise some $50 million for his election without relying on Jeb Bush's machine, his ability to talk and act like a different kind of Republican, and his phenomenal poll numbers together may force Jeb to press for a vice-presidential slot in 2008 or risk losing his current status of GOP boss for the state's 27 crucial electoral votes.

.....


In the best of all of Jeb Bush's worlds, he would not have to serve as vice-anything. He is a smart man who studies details, works hard and, once he has come to an opinion, rarely can be moved from it. He has the ego and temperament of a ruler, not a team player.
But this is not a perfect world, as Jeb has learned again and again. Not only did his brother win in 1994 and then win reelection to set himself up for the 2000 presidential nomination, the election follies that year cast Jeb as an accomplice in the heavy-handed power play that wound up with a 5-4 split decision in the Supreme Court. .....
As far back as a year ago, the plan for the post-governor years was moving apace. Mr. Bush engineered it so that his successor, whoever it was, could not control the Board of Education until his second term. Jeb and his people assembled a legislative "farm team" to continue his legacy after he was gone.
These and other related schemes, of course, would not really let him continue as a shadow governor. But they would offer a measure of control over state policy and politics. Played correctly, they would allow Jeb Bush to remain the most important Republican in Florida, just as he had been after his 1994 election loss and before his 1998 win.

And then, along came Charlie Crist.


Charlie Crist, who developed his own fund-raising machine and then went on to demolish Jeb's 2002 mark by about $15 million. Charlie Crist, who called himself a Ronald Reagan conservative and praised Jeb Bush's legacy, but then ran a campaign during which he often sounded like a liberal Democrat. Charlie Crist, who snubbed Jeb's brother by skipping a Pensacola rally the president attended, yet won a healthy victory anyway in a year Republicans nationally were getting trounced.
Jeb and his people never respected Gov. Crist, whom they considered a lightweight and an opportunist. But they still must be shocked at how quickly the new governor has begun dismantling his predecessor's apparatus.
Gov. Crist made open government the aim of his first executive order, after Jeb Bush spent eight years building barriers to keep out the press and public. Gov. Crist yanked 283 Bush nominations, including both political supporters Jeb had been counting on to keep the Board of Education loyal to him. Jeb's education commissioner announced his retirement within days. And, most significant, Gov. Crist last week presided over a special session where bashing the insurance industry for "profiteering" was the order of the day - a stunning reversal of Jeb Bush's "what's-good-for-business-is-good-for-Florida" model.

.....


The big danger for Jeb is this: What if Floridians actually prefer Gov. Crist's brand of Republicanism? What if, as the years pass, Crist loyalists in the state party outnumber and outrank Bush loyalists? What if, by a Crist second term, many Florida Republicans start saying what some newly invigorated Republicans in Tallahassee already are saying: Jeb who?
Many of Jeb Bush's closest aides have signed on for the presidential campaign of former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney. This made sense under the pre-Crist Republican paradigm. Mr. Romney is catering to the Christian conservative wing of the party that both Bush brothers have made their base.
But what if, by 2012, this group no longer dominates GOP primaries in Florida and other states? Where does that leave Jeb Bush, who by then will have been out of office six years? Jeb, who may have thought he had the option of sitting out 2008 yet still remaining a contender for 2012 and 2016, probably is having to reassess.



Despite his protestations to the contrary, Jeb Bush is making the moves of a potential national player. He will appear next weekend at a Washington forum with Mr. Romney and Newt Gingrich. His Foundation for Florida's Future is sitting on $1.5 million in cash, money Jeb could use to talk up education reform in Iowa or New Hampshire. He met with Simon & Schuster about writing a book. His people are pushing hard to advance Florida's primary election date, which would enhance his status as a kingmaker. .....
More likely, though, his brother's increasingly despised adventure in Iraq will rule out 2008. And with Gov. Crist's rise in Florida potentially endangering Gov. Bush's status in 2012, Jeb is left with just one safe option that guarantees a clean shot at running for president: agreeing to be vice president first.

.....

[citygal]

1. no more b*shes - only trees!

[wakeme2008]

2. This Florida Dem hates to say it but he LIKES what he has seen of GOP Crist.

Another point. Jeb is looking at 2016 because unless he pairs up with OLD McCain in 2008, probably the Dem or GOP winner in 2008 will also run in 2012 and win.

I am still betting on McCain/Jeb in 2008.

[TheDebbieDee]

7. Maybe Crist is turning out to be a stealth Democrat!

[seafan]

8. It's almost surreal to see Crist dismantling Jeb's carefully crafted political operatives

in education, when Jeb fiercely touted his self-styled *education governor* label, pushing his vaunted FCAT testing and school vouchers and his "devious plans" for destroying smaller class sizes...

Crist also is opening government back up to public scrutiny, in direct opposition to Jeb's tightly controlled flow of information and thick web of secrecy that shrouded everything he did.


I am cautiously optimistic (but still maintain a healthy cynicism..) about what Crist has done thus far.

Whether he will follow through with substantial relief from exorbitant hurricane and property insurance for regular people and small business owners remains to be seen.


It just might be happy-go-lucky, good time Charlie who is the biggest threat to Jeb Bush's imperialistic ambition. Wouldn't that be a delicious irony indeed.


I tend to agree that it will most likely be a McCain/Jeb ticket in 2008. Then McCain may have *health concerns*, which do not bode well for us, if it gets to that point. It's too distressing to contemplate.

[Rosemary2205]

18. Don't feel bad

From what I have heard and read it would seem Jebro was so awful ANYONE even mildly competent would be an improvement regardless of political viewpoint.

[napi21]

3. I think your wrong. I do give Jeb credit forbeing the smart one.

You think he doesn't know the publicreally doesn't want any more Bushes!!!!! People have rather short memories, so I can believe MAYBE 2012 or 2016, but NOT 08!

[badgerpup]

4. Isn't Crist the guy...

...who nixed his planned big inaugural party and donated the earmarked funds to charity?
Said something about how people are struggling, and it just wouldn't be right?

Not bad...:thumbsup:

[KoKo]

13. Then it was reported he was in some campaign funds hot water

and that skipping the inaugural was to take the heat off what went on. A DU'er posted about it, but I don't have the link.

As with all Repugs...always look "behind the scenes" of what is reported about them when it's said to be "honorable." Ususually it's some dirt they are trying to cover up.

[badgerpup]

15. Well, as it happens...

I put up the OP about him skipping the Big Party Scene...and then a lot of other people who know where to look for this sort of stuff found the dirt. :applause::patriot:

Still, the money eventually did go to a good cause, however many times it had to turn left to get there. :shrug:

Found the original story on FARK, IIRC....but it's not there now.
http://www.fark.com/

[seafan]

16. More on that story:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=102&topic_id=2647248&mesg_id=2647248

[Initech]

5. Wait.... JEB's the smarter one?

:wtf:

I hope we can sink the BFEE once and for all in 2008. The last six years of W have been the equivalent of the Titanic hitting the ice berg.

[Wiley50]

6. Any Pub Who Runs With Jeb On The Ticket As VP

Would Be Signing His Own Death Warrant.

The Bush Crime Family Is Ruthless

[lonestarnot]

9. fucking puke puke puke. The very sight of him gags me! puke

:puke: and more :puke:

[UTUSN]

10. In my LIFETIME I've had to live under RAYGUN and Shrub---NOT Jeb Crow Shrub!!111 n/t

[rocktivity]

11. Be still, my heart--McCain/Jeb is the best thing that could happen to us.

With a Bush in his back pocket, we could laugh McCain's "I'm a moderate independent" act right off the stage. And not only would we get to tar him with "the Bush brush," we could also create the threat of Jeb filling Cheney's role as the REAL power behind the throne!

:headbang:
rocknation

[rocktivity]

12. Sounds familiar

In the best of all of Jeb Bush's worlds, he would not have to serve as vice-anything. He is a smart man who studies details, works hard and, once he has come to an opinion, rarely can be moved from it. He has the ego and temperament of a ruler, not a team player...

...(T)he (2000) election follies...cast Jeb as an accomplice in the heavy-handed power play that wound up with a 5-4 split decision in the Supreme Court...

You write that as though those are GOOD things...well, they're good for the Dems!

:evilgrin:
rocknation

[democrat in Tallahassee]

14. Crist is like a breath of fresh air after 8 years of fetid, polluted

hot wind blowing out of Jeb's butt. We may never recover from JEB! I really don't believe that Crist is a republican.

[rocktivity]

17. Of course, he may be playing the same GOP game

of masquerading as a moderate, then making a hard right when they get into office.

:headbang:
rocknation

[seafan]

19. A harsh, pre-2008, preemptive reminder of the Jeb Bush years in Florida:

Jeb Bush's extremist policies overlooked by press, public

By Howard Simon
January 13, 2007

.....

But as accolades are heaped on our former governor, the last eight years also deserve sober review. It needs to be said that the personal appeal and likability of Jeb Bush led the press and public to overlook the extremism of many of his policies.
Bush had a Reaganesque Teflon quality -- he seemed immune from blame for the harsh consequences of his policies and the mismanagement of state government.


Take the Department of Children and Families, responsible for lost, brutalized and murdered children in the "care" of the state, and which the press referred to as a "troubled agency." This characterization created a picture of a governor who lacked ultimate responsibility for personnel decisions and the human consequences of his budget-slashing policies on the mentally ill, the disabled and children in foster care.
Jeb's high personal approval rating did not translate into support for many of his administration's key policies. The governor left office as he entered: advocating privatization of education through vouchers -- though the public opposes this version of education reform, as it did when he was elected in 1998.


Jeb Bush will probably want Florida to remember him as "the education governor." But the centerpiece of his "A+ Plan for Education," the Opportunity Scholarship Program (aka vouchers), was declared in violation of the Florida Constitution. And, arguably, the two most important educational reform measures in the state's history (the pre-k early readiness program and the reduction in class size) were adopted over his objections.
He points with pride to increased test scores as evidence of "rising student achievement" and claims that his use of the FCAT brought "accountability" to the classroom. He failed to address abysmally low graduation rates, among the lowest in the nation, and ignored the concerns of educators and parents about how the obsession with testing has converted classroom instruction to "teaching to the test."

It will be difficult for the public to forget his disgraceful performance in the Terri Schiavo case,.....

.....


Meanwhile, Florida has a civil and voting rights crisis greater than any other state. Hundreds of thousands of citizens have lost their right to vote and are ineligible for state occupational licenses. ..... His administration convinced the U.S. Supreme Court not to review whether the system was unconstitutionally created to take the vote away from blacks, despite historical evidence that this was precisely its purpose. .....
....in a notorious case, a severely retarded woman, placed in the care of the state, was raped and impregnated by one of the staff.
Bush prevented consideration of an abortion by sending DCF into court to seek the appointment of a guardian -- not for the woman, but the fetus. In another case, Bush was prevented from interfering with an abortion for a 13-year-old girl and thereby forcing children to have children.


.....

These are but a few examples of this individual's imperious leadership.