With Gov. Jeb Bush out, Florida voters must decide state's direction

[seafan]

With Gov. Bush out, Florida voters must decide state's direction

By BRENDAN FARRINGTON
Associated Press Writer


September 3, 2006

Gov. Jeb Bush is leaving office after eight years, and Florida voters will take the first step Tuesday in deciding whether they want to elect someone who shares his values or a governor who will seek to dismantle some of the Republican's key programs.
It's a race that all of the candidates say could be a bellwether for the 2008 presidential election, saying that as Florida goes, so goes the nation. It's also an opportunity for the state's once-dominant Democrat Party to quickly get back some of the power it has lost in recent years.

<snip>

Bush, a powerful governor with a conservative agenda who is being forced out by term limits, has overhauled the education system, expanded privatization, given billions in tax breaks and begun a program to make Medicaid more like private managed care.

<snip>

It's clear that the Democrats in the race, U.S. Rep. Jim Davis and state Sen. Rod Smith, don't like the decisions Bush has made, while the two Republicans, Crist and Chief Financial Officer Tom Gallagher, stumble over each other heaping praise on Bush in virtually every policy area.
"This is a really crucial race and I think Jeb knows it in the sense of, is his legacy going to continue?" said Carol Weissert, a Florida State University political science professor. "It's going to change, but the question is, is it going to be an incremental change or a more significant change?"
Bush hasn't taken a side in his party's primary, but he has started actively campaigning for his agenda, making political stops to tout successes and to urge voters to support the eventual Republican nominee.

<snip>

For his part, Bush is trying to knock down criticism from Davis and Smith.
"I don't think they're showing that they have a compelling agenda or a vision for the state," the governor said. "Being the anti-Jeb isn't going to cut it."

<snip>

You know what WILL cut it, Jebbie?

Kicking your imperious, bulbous behind out of our government, along with ALL of your cronies, lackeys, secret pals and a$% kissers. Once and for all, we will return this beleaguered state to Democratic leadership that will actually start looking after our people, our environment, our health care, our schools, our ability to pay for housing, our now-corrupted prison system under your watch, our failed juvenile justice system under your watch, our disastrous Department of Children and Families under your watch, and reversing your gluttonous tax cuts for your wealthy pals in this state.

Yessiree, that will cut it. Pack your bags, your attitude and your professed *legacy* and get the sam hill out of here. And don't EVER come back.

[Botany]

1. I live in Columbus, OH

I feel your pain.

"DELAND, Fla., Nov. 11 - Something very strange happened on election night to Deborah Tannenbaum, a Democratic Party official in Volusia County. At 10 p.m., she called the county elections department and learned that Al Gore was leading George W. Bush 83,000 votes to 62,000. But when she checked the county's Web site for an update half an hour later, she found a startling development: Gore's count had dropped by 16,000 votes, while an obscure Socialist candidate had picked up 10,000--all because of a single precinct with only 600 voters."

- Washington Post Sunday , November 12, 2000 ; Page A22

[seafan]

7. This one incident was wholesale election theft. Still furious over it.

It is like pouring hot pepper juice on an open wound.

[ChiciB1]

13. Same Thing Happened Here In Sarasota County!!

It was before 11:00PM as they were beginning to see the Ohio conflict and votes started getting dumped all over the place. I WATCHED county by county on election night as HUGE numbers were being dumped into various columns. All of them NOT for Democrats. Then the call was made.... Bush Winds Florida! And I got stuck with Cruella AGAIN!

I've written about this about 50 times here! I'm telling you... IT DID HAPPEN!!

[Botany]

16. I saw and heard it in Ohio in 04 first hand

.... and then I was downtown Columbus and watch the vote change nationwide @ 11:30 or
..... I watched on secure computers w/ Kerry's people and it was wild .... the vote started to come
in 70, 80, 90% bush nationwide ... it did not matter the state, county, or precinct. It was like
a switch was flipped .... I watched people in the room I was in break down and start to cry.

But our state and national dem party along w/ Kerry did not say shit.

When the fuck are the people going to know the truth? That Kerry won just as well as Al Gore won.

I think the campaigns are for show and the real work is fixing the vote and getting a good cover
story.

[ChiciB1]

18. Believe Me... Been Down That Road... Have Been Up & Down

and all around! I stay flummoxed all the time and wonder why I'm still here putting myself through this stuff!

It happened here TWO times... kind of makes you "gun shy" about casting a vote at all!

I have many bumper stickers on my vehicle... one says, If You're Not Outraged... You're Not Paying Attention! Have many more and if ANYONE dares to say ANYTHING... well, so solly!

Funny thing is, I have yet to have ONE person make ANY "negative" comment to me! I have come to the conclusion that the MORE stickers you have, the more afraid they are and leave you alone! I'm not kidding, because people ask me all the time if I don't have people ripping me a "new one" all the time. It's not the Repukes who ask... it's the Democrats, after they come up and say... Great bumper stickers, so I tell them, get some YOURSELF!!

[ellenfl]

2. botany posts a helpful reminder . . .

i have always thought that jebbie's wins were practice for dubya's stealing of the presidential elections.

ellen fl

[seafan]

6. And we can be sure that Jeb will do *everything he can* to ensure

a friendly puppet government in Tallahassee after he leaves, so that he'll have some protective, enabling cover for his future presidential ambition.

....Puppets who will make sure that favorable voting rules and standards will benefit him in any future election of his choice. Who will be the next Katherine Harris for Jeb's ambition? The Puppets will decide.

Puppets who will continue this micromanager's destructive policies, always bowing to constant direction and intimidation from on high.

Puppets who will smear moderates in the Republican party because they dared to cross Jeb in his damnable quest for his *legacy*.



It's a fantasy, Jeb. The people in Florida are on to your tactics, and we are going to instigate sweeping changes for the better, at long-suffering last. We anticipate the bright sunny days when your reign is but a distant, malodorous memory.

[ChiciB1]

14. Our County Commission Has Voted NOT To Allow Referendum For

paper ballots on the November election here. Seems, there was some so called "illegal" language on the petitions we got signed and presented to them! Were told that they had never seen so many signatures signed so quickly.... but it's a NO GO!

I'm almost sure they are no in LITIGATION over this!!

We are one of only 12 counties WITHOUT a paper trail! Not that I trust ANY voting here... but then IF you don't vote that might be playing into their hands! To vote, or not to vote?? Will my vote EVER count??? I don't really know, and it's a crappy way to feel!!!!

[seafan]

21. Paper ballots would mean the end of the GOP's election fraud.

And they certainly will fight it as long as possible. The GOP NEEDS to make voting/vote counting obscure, complicated and secretive, all making it easier to commit fraud against our democracy.

I will doggedly keep up the fight for pen and paper ballots, hand counted at every precinct under direct public observation, with the tallies called by phone into the Sec of State's office.

It is the answer to this mess.

[Olney Blue]

3. Jeb, take your pious hypocrisy and get out.

[Orangepeel]

4. Go, Jim Davis!

The primary has been nasty, due mostly to $4 million dollars in anti-Davis ads funded by "Big Sugar" which wants to keep polluting the Everglades and receiving corporate welfare.

But, Jim Davis has fought back, hard and quickly. And, since the primary ain't nearly as nasty as the general is going to be, it'll be good to have a candidate who can fight back. (and besides, Jim will make a very good governor).

[seafan]

8. Hey, orangepeel68! Voted early, today!! n/t

[Orangepeel]

9. Excellent!

I'm out of town, so I voted absentee. For Davis, of course! :hi:

[seafan]

10. He would make an outstanding governor! Looking forward to the returns

Tuesday.

[ChiciB1]

17. Guess I Was Wrong SeaFan!! n/t

[TankLV]

5. Hey repukes: It's the DEMOCRATIC Party.

Thank you.

...assholes...

[ChiciB1]

11. Can't Wait To See Jebby OUT!! But I Just Haven't Made Up My Mind

about Davis or Smith!!! I'll be making phone calls from my local Democratic Hdqrs to get out the vote, and I STILL can't make up my mind!! Got a call from Chiles' son saying vote for R. Smith, but got several calls from others, INCLUDING Gallagher, asking me to vote for Davis. Many around here are big on Davis, but ads play him up as being the "absent" Congressman. After watching the debate, I didn't "cotton" to how Smith came across and I do KNOW that he's very tied to "Big Sugar!" I'm not anti-immigrant, but I KNOW Sugar hires Undocumented immigrants almost exclusively!

And unlike many in my District, I'm staying with Jan Schneider!!! So many jumped ship on her and for what it's worth from ME... I think Cruella pulled some funny stuff last time out for the SECOND time! The Witch IS NOT going to be missed by me either!! I've lived 6 years of this world now, and I just wish '06 would be ending my "Trifecta" Hell!! But unless someone does something about His Royal Idiocy... well I'll stay somewhat depressed!

The Idiot, The Snide Sinister Jebby, and THE WITCH! I got 'em All!!

:puke: :nuke: :puke: :nuke:

[Orangepeel]

12. psst... vote for Davis

;-)

[ChiciB1]

15. Ya Know... I THOUGHT You Would Reply!

Been reading your posts at the state forum. Who's the other one you are debating with about this?? Is it Seafan?? I know, I can check it out. But I've seen several of your threads promoting Davis. And I will say I AM LEANING that way. I'm not happy about some of the stuff sticking to Davis, but Smith bothers me a little more!

It's crunch time, I know!

[Orangepeel]

20. :-)

Seafan is also a Davis supporter. I think you are thinking of Iamjoy, who is supporting Smith.

Neither Davis nor Smith is perfect, but both are good men and both would be good governors, so you really can't go wrong. (but you should still vote for Davis! :D )

[seafan]

19. LOL. n/t