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Jeb turns hose on Reno with Sept. 11 hero
Orlando Sentinel ^
| June 4, 2002
| Mike Thomas
Posted on 06/03/2002 6:54:54 PM PDT by E=MC<sup>2</sup>
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Sentinel Columnist
Mike Thomas
Jeb turns hose on Reno with Sept. 11 hero
Published June 4, 2002
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If Janet Reno's campaign were a dog, the humane thing would be to take it behind the barn and shoot it.
That was my thought after watching the state's firefighters union endorse Jeb Bush on Monday.
This wasn't a surprise given that Bush has sweetened their pensions. But it was the manner in which the announcement was made that shows the Bush campaign is reaching juggernaut status.
The endorsement of firefighters once meant little more than support from people with a lot of time on their hands. But the aftermath of Sept. 11 has made them heroes by association. To fully capitalize, the Bush people brought down a real Sept. 11 hero, former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani.
In less-skilled hands, this would have come across as crass politicization of a tragedy.
And it's not that the Republicans haven't been accused of such tactics. They are, after all, selling those pictures of George W. on the phone to Dick Cheney from Air Force One.
But Giuliani was so good, he pulled it off without the slightest hint of exploitation. He technically never endorsed Jeb Bush during his speech. He didn't even mention George W.
He simply talked to the firefighters. He told them about his uncle, a firefighter seriously injured when thrown from a hook-and-ladder truck.
He told them about two New York firefighters who performed heroically at the burning towers.
He even included a joke about firefighters from Boston, coming to help.
"Imagine Boston coming to help New York," he said.
He sounded like a guy who seemed to love firefighters and simply wanted to tell them that. They responded with a rousing ovation, all wearing "Firefighters for Jeb" shirts for the TV cameras. I haven't seen so many happy people in red T-shirts since last Saturday at Disney.
Janet Reno, meanwhile, has been endorsed by the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees. Bush has the support of the heroes -- and Reno the bureaucrats.
Reno also has announced the endorsement of EMILY's List, a political action committee that supports pro-choice Democratic women; the National Women's Political Caucus of Florida; and the Florida National Organization for Women.
You may not have heard about these. Because, who cares.
Bush brings down Giuliani, while Reno prepares to campaign with Martin Sheen. Not only is he a pretend president, he is a very liberal pretend president who would have no chance of carrying Florida if he were a real president.
What's he going to say: "I remember a script from the second season of West Wing when I faced a terrorist attack. I sure could have used Janet Reno in the cast."
As Reno stumbles along, Bush campaigns like a man 10 points behind in the polls. The GOP not only wants to beat her -- that's a given -- they want to destroy her and end the Democratic rebellion in Florida that almost cost George W. the election.
In Mike Tyson lingo, they want to eat the Democrats' children.
They want the aftershock of a landslide to carry through to 2004, maybe even 2006 if Jeb decides to take out Bill Nelson.
And so they aren't missing an angle, be it a federal buyout of offshore oil-gas leases, or bringing in Giuliani for a lesson in how professionals do it.
Mike Thomas can be reached at 407-420-5525 or mthomas@orlandosentinel.com.
Copyright © 2002, Orlando Sentinel |
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TOPICS: Editorial; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections; US: Florida
KEYWORDS: jebbush; reno
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Sounds like Jeb is rolling along (and this from a demonrat columnist).
To: All
"I remember a script from the second season of West Wing when I faced a terrorist attack. I sure could have used Janet Reno in the cast."
That's an instant classic!!!
To: Chi-townChief
That is almost as good as clinton said when he was gov.of arkansas he had to call the national guard out a couple of times he said yea i had to make some tough des.what a laugh.
To: All
He sounded like a guy who seemed to love firefighters and simply wanted to tell them that. He does love police and firefighters. He doesn't have to fake it. He has been to every funeral of a cop or a firefighter killed in the line of duty, not only after 9/11, but during his whole time in office.
In contrast, Hillary Rodham Clinton only attended three funerals where there happened to be television cameras.
By the way, I'm not replying to E=MC2 with this Reply because the software won't let me.
4
posted on
06/03/2002 7:30:30 PM PDT
by
Cicero
To: E=MC<sup>2</sup>
As Reno stumbles along, Bush campaigns like a man 10 points behind in the polls. The GOP not only wants to beat her -- that's a given -- they want to destroy her and end the Democratic rebellion in Florida that almost cost George W. the election.
In Mike Tyson lingo, they want to eat the Democrats' children.
I like that :)
Why isn't... uh... what's his name... Simon campaigning like he's ten points behind?
5
posted on
06/03/2002 7:50:37 PM PDT
by
hitthefan
To: summer
ping!
To: hitthefan
In Mike Tyson lingo, they want to eat the Democrats' children. When Janet tries to bite Jeb's ear off at the weigh-in, it will all be over for her!
7
posted on
06/03/2002 7:55:14 PM PDT
by
tet68
To: Ernest_at_the_Beach
Ernest, Thank you so much for this ping! I am laughing at the very first paragraph here! Now I'll read the rest of it... LOL! Thanks again! :)
8
posted on
06/03/2002 8:07:17 PM PDT
by
summer
To: E=mc²; floriduh voter
Re your post #1 - And, this particular Dem columnist HATES Gov. Bush! Mike Thomas wrote a HORRIBLE column titled "An F Grade for Jeb for Education" or something like that! Mike Thomas demonstrated his total LACK OF KNOWLEDGE about Gov Bush's education policies, and what is happening here in FL.
Thus, since Mike Thomas doesn't know *@!T about education, it's nice to know he can accurately evaluate a campaign rally!
9
posted on
06/03/2002 8:13:39 PM PDT
by
summer
To: tet68
You don't really have to feel sorry for Janet though. She could have a successful career at the Jacksonville Zoo.
To: Cicero
BTW, this columnist omitted mentioning the actual bills Gov. Bush signed to help firefighters and others, as Gov. Bush's acts are NOT accurately described here by Mike Thomas. For info about the actual bills, read the brief article
HERE.
11
posted on
06/03/2002 8:26:47 PM PDT
by
summer
To: Spookbrat;
not-alone...
FYI! :)
12
posted on
06/03/2002 8:38:19 PM PDT
by
summer
To: M. Thatcher; Sungirl
Rudy: "And, the winner is: JEB BUSH in a LANDSLIDE!"
13
posted on
06/03/2002 8:39:50 PM PDT
by
summer
To: Dog Gone; RightOnLine; Miss Marple; Registered; lowbridge
From article:
If Janet Reno's campaign were a dog, the humane thing would be to take it behind the barn and shoot it.
14
posted on
06/03/2002 8:41:11 PM PDT
by
summer
To: Savage Beast
You don't really have to feel sorry for Janet though. She could have a successful career at the Jacksonville Zoo.
To: Paul Atreides
That famous video! I knew I'd seen Janet somewhere before!
To: mdittmar
FYI! :)
17
posted on
06/03/2002 8:58:55 PM PDT
by
summer
To: summer
"From article: 'If Janet Reno's campaign were a dog, the humane thing would be to take it behind the barn and shoot it.' "I know. I was thinking the same thing but decided...well...just not to go there.
To: E=MC
Reno hosed down in a wet T-Shirt contest will be my nightmare tonight.
Thanks a lot!
19
posted on
06/03/2002 9:05:33 PM PDT
by
A CA Guy
To: Dan from Michigan
FYI.
20
posted on
06/03/2002 9:08:16 PM PDT
by
summer
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