The Jeb Bush Nobody Knows - Part 8: Why Some FL Dem Voters May "Never Forget" -- and, vote for Jeb

The Jeb Bush Nobody Knows - Part 8: Why Some FL Dem Voters May "Never Forget" -- and, vote for Jeb

Written by summer - a former Dem, now an independent, and a FL-certified teacher

One of FL's many beautiful rivers

A subject usually taught by elementary teachers throughout this country is state history. And, here in FL, teachers also spend time teaching their students about FL's unique and beautiful natural environment.

I was thinking about this recently, after someone tried to convince me to vote for a Dem candidate for FL governor this year. It seems to me that person's reasoning can be summed up as follows:

Something happened in FL during Election 2000 -- and FL voters should "never forget."

I would like to tell this person something truly did happen only in FL during Election 2000. And, FL voters most concerned about FL's environment may in fact remember such events.

Election 2000 was the year Gov. Jeb Bush announced his controversial decision to restore FL's Ocklawaha River. His announcement followed 25 years of FL voters fighting to remove a dam to restore this river's natural run. As soon as he publicly took a stand, FL environmentalists loudly praised him, according to this Jacksonville newspaper article:

…Environmentalists cheered Bush's recent announcement and said it should speed up their 25-year effort to remove the dam and restore the natural run of the Ocklawaha, a tributary of the St. Johns River.

"With this governor's leadership, we think that will make all the difference," said David White, an attorney with the Center for Marine Conservation….

The aforementioned article also discusses how some members of the FL governor's own political party were against the FL environmentalists on this issue - and, against Gov. Jeb Bush's decision.

But, as is often the case, sometimes an individual has to take a stand. Even if he stands alone.

Meanwhile during 2000, these same FL environmentalists were waiting -- and waiting -- for Al Gore to speak out.

They wanted to hear what Gore had to say about the following controversial environment question: Should the old USA Homestead Airforce Base near Miami be developed into a commercial airport - and, thereby, potentially threaten the Everglades? What was Al Gore's public position?

To the shock and disappointment of FL environmentalists, Al Gore would not take a stand. He offered them nothing but silence. These stunned FL voters realized they could not count on Dem leadership to support FL's environment in this highly publicized battle they'd fought since 1994 against developers and Dade County.

Then came November 2000. And -- big surprise in FL! Why?

Well, according to National Public Radio, some of these FL environmentalists remembered Gore's silence. And, once again, these FL voters took a stand --- and, took their vote elsewhere. Here's how one FL voter interviewed by NPR explained her vote in Election 2000:

"I think that if Al Gore had taken a stand on (the Homestead Airport), I might have considered being part of that 50 percent margin that left Nader at the last minute and went and voted for Gore."

Hillary Gerber
Ralph Nader supporter

This FL voter's comments were originally broadcast on Nov. 24, 2000, as part of NPR's "Living on Earth" series The title of this radio news documentary was:

"Did Al Gore's silence on the controversy over plans to build a major airport near the Everglades cost him crucial votes in Florida?"

According to a FL environmental activist website known as "no airport"you can listen to this archived broadcast by visiting the Living on Earth website.

The longtime controversy over future use of the Homestead Airforce Base came to a close as the legal battles were dropped in 2001. Shortly thereafter, a federal report sided with FL environmentalists, and found the proposed commercial airport would indeed threaten the Everglades. According to this subsequent Dec. 2001 Miami editorial, FL voters can thank the US AirForce for putting the "nail in the coffin" of the Homestead airport proposal. Dade County will now develop the Homestead Airforce base in a different manner-- one that is environmentally sound.

As we move into a new election in 2002, FL voters devoted to preserving FL's natural environment will no doubt take into account Gov. Jeb Bush's on-going, outstanding record on environmental issues. To review his environmental record , click here.

I can't help but wonder if the person who tried to influence my vote will ever realize that some FL voters may also recall Election 2000 in terms of the Dem's non-existent leadership.

By contrast, in another part of FL during that same year, FL's current GOP governor decided to let a river run.
He took a stand.

Perhaps Dem Party leaders should be careful what they wish for in this upcoming 2002 election, as they call on FL voters to remember 2000.

Some FL voters - including environmentalists and educators -- may again take their vote elsewhere if, in fact, they "never forget."

"Perhaps Dem Party leaders should be careful what they wish for in this upcoming 2002 election, as they call on FL voters to remember 2000."

I dunno, summer dear.
I'd help the DNC's gubenatorial campaign, if I could.

I'd help to remind the Leftist electorate of Elian, Waco, Loral, & even 911 by helping 'em all to understand Reno's exact role in all of those fiascos.
Yup. I'd be good at it, too.
I think I'd make a fine, enthusiastic proponent -- a specialized kind known as, "Janet's Li'l Helper"; if you will?

But alas; I don't think they'd have me as I'm not a FL resident. ~sigh~

Nevertheless...methinks be it education and/or enviromentalism?
The Libs would be well advised if they tried something new, something totally innovative this election cycle.
Run themselve's a, "Silent Campaign."

...'cuz they sure don't have much to say otherwise; nothing that'd be true, that is.

-BTTT-

The emphasis of your comments seemed to be that the dems might have forgotten that Gore had abandoned environmental issues, thus a rememberance would find dems voting for a republican. That could bear out.

You mentioned that the teachers in Florida teach the kids about the environment. While I appreciate the reasons why, I'm having a real problem with what's happening as a result of this, and other pushes to "heal" and "save" the environment.

Several months ago I viewed the movie, "Final Fantasy: The Spirits Within." What I came away with was the feeling that I had just witnessed a religious event.

The premise of the movie was that the "world spirit" of another planet had been hurtled to earth when it's home world was destroyed. It's conflict with our own world spirit was creating a massive world threat to humanity.

Ghia (sp?), our earth spirit was essentially attributed "god status" in this movie. Ghia was the world's spirit and the benevolent entity of the planet. From it all positive life flowed. The planet could not exist without it.

This may not be the prevailing thought by the teachers who promote environmental knowledge, but I'm begining to think that for at least some, it is.

I recently had a discussion with my 24 year old son. This movie came up and we had a short discussion on the premise. Before our conversation was over, I had to express my opinon that the earth "does not" have a spirit. It is a physical object. It is not a living being in the sense that humans and animals and plants live. It is NOT alive. It does not have a spirit in the conventional sense. It does not have a soul.

We can make a self containing biosphere in a small container. We can balance out the oxygen producers and burners. Life can exist in this closed environment. But that does not create a spirit. The world is no different. It's a living echo system yes. It is not inhabited by Ghia.

Our schools, Saturday morning cartoons, movies, leftist organiztions and people, special interst ecological groups, NGOs, the United States government and even the United Nations and other global concerns have contributed to the brainwashing of our youth on the topic of planetary management.

It has now come to the place that the earth is attributed a soul, Ghia. This is a religion. In differing levels, it is being taught or at least the foundation is being laid in our public schools. What they don't teach is being provided by the prevalent media bias. The result is that our young people are if not practicing Ghiasts, at the very least incredibly sympathetic to the message of Ghia's truly devoted clergy and disciples.

I grew up on a farm. I have seen the hurdles farmers have to overcome to be successful. I have read about homeowners being forbidden to do just about anything on their own property. I have seen damms destroyed exaserbating energy shortages. I have seen people's familys, homes, farms and regions destroyed by lies, manipulations and fraud. I have seen grizley bears and wolves reintroduced in areas where there is bound to be conflict with cattle and humans. I have seen the statements by environmental managers that admitted that humans would die as a result of some of these actions. And this despite the reality that these bears and wolves have a solid balanced existance today in other non-human inhabited regions.

I respect our natural resources. Only a fool would wish to do harm to them. I respect animal life and the reasonable efforts to protect these entities. What is being taught to our children today is nothing less than the absolute rule of nature over man. God put man in charge of nature, not the other way around.

I do not attribute to you the things that I have addressed here. But I have to tell you that when I hear a treacher admit that they teach children a respect for, or reverence for nature, my entire being goes on red alert.

Our children can be made to understand the need to respect nature with very little effort. But they can be turned into environmental Nazis with only a smidgen of additional effort. And that additional effort is demonstrated constantly. It's my opinion that we have crossed that line and left it in the distance.

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