A Report from a Fly on the Wall: How Dems View the FL Gov Race

A fly on a wall | May 26, 2002 | summer and others

[summer]

A Report from a Fly on the Wall: How Dems View the FL Gov Race

What follows below are 21 real comments from Dems about the FL gov race. I think it's quite interesting to see how they think, because you would probably never have guessed what they are saying about:

(1) JANET RENO (they know she will lose, and see her as an unappealing candidate);

(2) JEB BUSH (they fear his youth and vitality, and know he will win against any Dem nominee);

(3) BILL McBRIDE (they dislike him for several surprising reasons); and

(4) Their own predicted outcome of the FL gov race: JEB WINS IT.

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ACTUAL COMMENTS from Dems

(A) 7 Comments re: JANET RENO

(1) "The real reason people won't vote for Reno isn't because of the Elian or Waco thing (the Cubans and militia nuts are voting Republican anyway) or because of Clinton fatigue, but because she's an unattractive woman with a debilitating illness and a wooden personality."

(2) "I just don't see how anyone as thoroughly unappealing as Janet Reno would be able to make a lot of headway with the swing voters."

(3)"Like everyone else, I'm worried about the election. If the choice was Reno and [Daryl] Jones, I would pick Jones without a doubt."

(4)"I agree with Reno about 100 percent of the time, but I also know that she has no real chance of winning this fall."

(5)"Reno wont even win her base of liberal South Florida like Gore and Lieberman did. The Hispanic Turnout will be huge for Jeb, and the voters in the I-4 Corridor favor Jeb over Reno."

(6)" I am a state employee and spoken with other state employees that say they will not vote for Janet if she gets the ticket. Yes, I said STATE EMPLOYEES, that really boggles my mind as well. Thats just how controversial she is, that is not a good sign when state employees are willing to play russian roulette with their own jobs."

(7) "As for all the folks that have posted in favor of Janet, I would be willing to bet that you live in a metropolitan setting. How many of you live in rural communities like me. How many of you are blue collar white males Like me. I only ask these questions because I do talk with people in these rural communities that believe the bullshit they hear about Janet. I am involved with these people, and trust me, they will not vote for Janet. There are butt loads of them. If your really curious, take a drive out to one of these small towns and ask what the people think about Janet, I am sure you will get a rude awakening."

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(B) 3 Comments re: JEB BUSH

(1) "You have to realize something -- Janet Reno can't get elected with the votes of partisan Democrats alone. I think the more partisan Democrats would stick with Reno in the general election despite her many liabilities. But you can't win a two-candidate race with 40% of the vote, and that's all she'll get if she can't broaden her base. And swing voters who aren't especially ideological certainly DO vote based on appearances. And Jeb Bush has mastered the art of sounding more reasonable than his policies are. And compared to Reno he's the picture of youth and vitality."

(2)" My own prediction is a 56-44 win for Jeb. Reno has too many skeletons, and her campaign is doing practically nothing (except for riding Martin Sheen's 'coattails')."

(3) "If it's Jeb vs. McBride, Jeb will win in a cakewalk."

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(C) 8 Comments re: BILL McBRIDE

(1) "Some of her [Reno's] supporters (like the ones at the convention holding up signs in front of the camera during McBride's speech and passing out stupid editorials about his lack of name recognition) seem to be angry that Reno isn't being given the nomination on a silver platter."

(2) "I listened to both Reno and McBride at the convention. I don't care who 'spoke' the best. I was listening for content. I agreed more with what Reno said. From McBride, I got a list of who was endorsing him."

(3)"I can't do that with McBride [choose McBride over Reno]. I have too many questions… He has been asked those questions and has ignored them. So he knows they are "out there."… I just know that if I'm having these problems with McBride, others are too. I know what I need to hear, but he isn't saying anything near it. And I know so many people that are listening for the same stuff. That is why I think it's so important for the McBride campain to get off the "Reno can't win" game plan, and get on something real. It's making him too cocky, where he doesn't think he HAS to really reach out to us. He is to busy patting himself and his friends on the back. ~ that is what I'm seeing~ And try as I might, I can't get anything else going. Soon, I'm just going to give up on him. …

(4) "McBride & company needs to be talking. I'm sure the McBride [supporters] here might think they don't need to "talk about that stuff" here. However, it does give them good practice and helps with their memory. If they don't "know it", then it's because their candidate isn't saying it. OUCH! I'm not talking about differnces between him and Reno. I'm talking about his ideas and plans. Stuff that would let us know what kind of leader he would be."

(5) "I dare say this is why in my gut and in my heart I cannot support McBride. Something just doesn't sit right with me that he is so close to (how should I put this?) being a Republican? Pandering to Republicans? Being in bed with Republicans? Dare I bring up the fact that his firm sent campaign money to Republicans? Maybe I can't put my finger on it enough to convince anyone else, but I just feel he is too white-bred-good-old-boy-big-business to get my vote. I'm not trying to upset anyone, this is just the GUT feeling that I have. And, in this game, you have to follow your gut. And, yes, I did meet him at the Florida Democratic Conference, too."

(6) " McBride's Republican connections have bothered me. Not enough to vote for Jeb, that is for sure. And that might be the reason I want him to come out on what he is "for". I want him "pinned down" before I can trust him. So far, questions have been asked of him, and he has ignored them. The reason stated, is because he believes the group asking the question MIGHT have a Republican in it. Aghm??? I don't know about a Republican in the group, but serious Dems want the answers.

(7) "Well I say it's time for McBride to read the writing on the wall and start thinking about running as Reno's 2nd in command...."

(8) I have it from high-up in the McBride Camp that Bill would not run for Lt. Gov.

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(D) 3 Comments re: PREDICTED OUTCOME OF THE FL GOV RACE: JEB WINS IT

(1) "If Reno is nominated I fear that she will be crushed in a landslide of immense proportions."

(2) "Let's be realistic. McBride doesn't have a CHANCE IN HELL of beating Jebby."

(3) "Reno/McBride's chances vs Jebbie -- Unfortunately, they probably aren't much.McBride is a political newbie, and although he is getting more money and endorsements, Reno will defeat him in the primary simply because of name recognition and voter turnout.

Beating Jeb, also unfortunately, isn't going to happen…."

[summer]

I purposely did not include a source link because linking to Dem sites is discouraged, but if you want to confirm or verify what I have posted, freepmail me and I will freepmail you the link. I hope this thread stays up, because while this is not a scientific sample of comments in any way, I think it is useful to understand just how desperate these poor Dems are feeling about this gov race. They already know they don't have a candidate who can win. That's got to be depressing. Maybe they will get to the point where they try to understand why so many people are voting for Gov. Bush. If they are reading this, and want to know why, they can check out www.jeb.org

[summer]

FYI.

[summer]

FYI.

[JohnHuang2]

Thanks for the heads-up =^)

[summer]

You're welcome. But, I am falling asleep here, JH2, so -- good night! :)

[mafree]

Those Dummycrats better be scared- GO JEB!!

[JohnHuang2]

Good night =^)

[not-alone]

I'm hearing the same thing.

[EastCoast]

This is interesting. My niece's husband is involved with the Fla dem party, both democrats. It's nice to know about the opinions of Fla dem voters before I ask my niece 'Waz up?'!

[Bella]

Do you think your niece is going to tell you they're losing?Probably not..Now you have ALL the key points :-)

[davidosborne]

Great campaign update!! Thanks Summer.. Keep up the good work.. You make my search for the "news" very easy...

Passing it on..

David

[MeekOneGOP]

BIG Bush bump!

1. Please send me the link
2. WHEN is the Democratic Primary to see which LOSER it's gonna be?

[jalisco555]

Very interesting. The poor Dems sound totally demoralized. Did these comments seem representative to you or were there a lot of optimistic people as well?

[Joe Brower]

Thanks for the ping, David.

Julie, FYI.

[dalebert]

bump

[Joe Brower]

Summer, you are a one-person pro-Jeb research-engine army! Your posts are half the reason I log on to FR every day (RKBA being the other half)!

Keep up the GREAT work!

[JoeSixPack1]

Any and all information provided concerning liberal politics and the supposed free press is suspect in my mind.

McBride (the $54billion budget guy) and Reno (ol' Shake&Bake) will do and try ever dirty trick imaginable to overcome JEB's popularity. And although this "fly on the wall" info is encouraging and humorous, the downside is a blase' attitude developing in the Republican voter base which could spell disaster.

Vigilance and Republican encouragement should superseed liberal DemonRat indifference. Their indifference equates to voters ignoring the need to vote.

Not only should JEB win, but he should win so big that his opponent leaves politics!!!!!!! ROFL :-)

Semper Fi, Have a safe and reverent Memorial Day.

[E.G.C.]

BTTT for David and Summer.

[Boxsford]

Thanks for this post summer, what a fun read! (BTW,When do you sleep?!!)

[Real Cynic No More]

another bump