Reno and McBride in Dead Heat! (Reno on the Ropes in Florida!!)

(Ft. Lauderdale) Sun-Satanel ^

[Lancey Howard]

First of all, "Marine" is always capitalized.
Second, there is something fishy about this guy's service record that I think bears checking out. I hope the Republicans have somebody digging on this. I remember from a thread last spring when this scumbag lawyer McBride announced he was in the race, seeing something about his service record that didn't look right. I can't remember exactly what it was but I think this guy got out a Captain and he was in long enough that he should have been a light bird or a Major at least. There may be nothing to it, but I would like a little more detail about what this guy did in the service if he is going to use his service in the Marines as a campaign prop.

[lasereye]

Can Republicans vote in the Democrat primary? Why don't Florida Republicans do what Michigan Democrats did in the 2000 primary when they backed McCain?

[Lancey Howard]

Wasn't Connie Mack a well-funded conservative who succeeded in Florida on a statewide basis?
Couldn't he have had that seat for life if he wanted it?

[Diddle E. Squat]

I disagree with your analysis. Sorry, but the memory of the 2000 ordeal is too fresh in the minds of many, and there is no way that most FL conservatives will vote for a Trojan Horse Democrat to "send a message." The stakes are too high right now, the state too split, and 2004 isn't that far away. 2000 left a bitter taste in the mouths of most conservatives. Only a small percentage harbor a grudge strong enough to override wanting victory. And of all people to do so, the Panhandle conservatives who felt disenfranchised by the liberal media with the early call are about the least likely to sit at home this election.

Your posts tend to run towards the pessimist side, and I think that is coming through in your analysis on this issue. I hope you'll support at least an incremental advancing of conservatism, at least until the next primary. Will you vote for Jeb?

[summer]

Are you sure - "Marine"? I did not know that. What about Army? Air Force? Seriously, I did not know. Thanks for telling me.

[summer]

Wasn't Connie Mack a well-funded conservative

Connie Mack was also extremely POPULAR with a wide variety of FL voters. Feeney, IMO, hardly fills the shoes of a person like Connie Mack. No comparison there at ALL!

[summer]

No, it's a closed primary in FL.

[summer]

Re your post #61 - Very interesting. FV, maybe you should ask newsmax if they know what LH is talking about here...

[summer]

And, in all honesty - I think Jeb Bush is a lot closer to the appeal of a Connie Mack. I think Gov. Bush, after his two terms, could easily be a US Senator from FL, if he wanted to.

[paul544]

Smoke on this.

Strengthening and diversifying Florida's economy has been a priority of our administration. Over the last three-and-a-half years, we have worked hard to successfully ensure that Florida's economy is the envy of the nation. While other states continue to suffer budget deficits following last year's attack on our nation, Florida's economy rebounded quickly, enabling us to fund our state's priorities while allowing Floridians to keep more of their hard-earned money.

Positive signs of Florida's continued economic growth include:

450,000 new jobs since 1999.

Florida ranks 5th in the country in the creation of high-tech jobs.

Florida continues to create more jobs than any other state, and was one of only 16 states to show job growth from July 2001 to June 2002.

California, with an economy nearly three times the size of Florida's, gained fewer jobs, and Texas, New York and Illinois each experienced job losses.

Also this year, Enterprise Florida directly assisted in creating 26,171 jobs, exceeding its job creation goals for rural and urban core areas and critical industries (biomedical and information technology, and aviation/aerospace). 75% of these jobs were created using state incentives, and pay an average of $40,000 a year.

The Travel Industry Association of America recently awarded VISIT FLORIDA (our state's official tourism marketing organization) a top national award for our marketing campaign following the terror attacks of September 11. The campaign matched $20 million in state funds with an additional $25 million investment from the tourism industry and innovative tourism promotions with state agencies, yielding a total advertising campaign of $76 million, the largest in the state's history. As a direct result, during April, May, and June of this year, an estimated 19.4 million visitors came to Florida, down only two percent from the same time last year - a huge improvement from the nineteen percent decline in Florida tourism immediately following 9/11.

Florida's unemployment rate is 5.1%, below the national average of 5.9%.

Prior to 1999, Florida had a higher poverty rate than the nation as a whole, but in 2000, Florida moved below the national average for poverty (10.6% compared to national rate of 11.3%), a positive sign for Florida's economy.

Plants, Sites & Parks magazine ranks Florida #1 in new business development and lists four Florida projects in the top 25 employment-generating projects.

The Small Business Survival Index 2002 ranked Florida the 5th most entrepreneur-friendly state in America.

[PhilDragoo]

He is a great candidate and has a terrific record to run on in this race.

veritas omnia vincit

For those of you in Palm Beach County, Dead Vote Falls Short; Florida Re-Jebs.

[Lancey Howard]

I think Gov. Bush, after his two terms, could easily be a US Senator from FL, if he wanted to.

I agree.
Jeb may have greater aspirations, but I think the US Senate would be a great place for him to bide his time.

[caltrop]

Chiles was from Lakeland and an old style Florida Democrat. As a US Senator he opposed stopping aid to the Contras and nuclear freeze proposals, supported school prayer and limits on abortion and, while a liberal, wasn't the sort of transplanted New Yorker who wants to do for Florida what they did for NY. Their agenda includes strengthening the Governor's office, having a full time legislature and increasing legislators' pay. All three are seen, correctly, as a means of making government grow and do more.

Bush pushed the change in the makeup of the Cabinet which changed some of the elected officials to appointments the Governor's office makes. The weak Governor's office Florida has enjoyed has acted as a break on activism and expensive initiatives. Bush can spin it anyway he'd like, it's a step in the direction of bigger government and definitely not a conservative, small government move.

[caltrop]

I understand your view and agree that most conservatives will be voting for Bush against either Reno or McBride. Since, IMHO, Reno is unelectable in Florida the question comes down to whether or not they'll vote for McBride. Based on what I see, it's more than the small percentage you're predicting. The conservatives I know include many who, prior to Goldwater/Reagan, were Southern Democrats. Some of them have already gone back to their local Democratic Party. The reason - JEB Bush.

I'm very much in favor of moving conservatism forward. Unfortunately, I don't see JEB moving the state in that direction. My feeling about his prospects are, I think, realistic. I believe he stands a pretty good chance of being a one term Governor against McBride. He's already shot himself in the foot by going after McBride and energizing the Democrats as a result. Since he's a micro-manager, he's to blame, not some advisor.

I'll be voting straight Republican this election if the Democrats nominate Reno, will vote against all the Supreme Court Judges on the ballot and am pretty sure I'll vote against six of the eleven Amendments. It's likely, however, if it's McBride instead of Reno, that I'll conclude divided government is the best I can hope for this year and vote against Bush by voting for McBride.

[lasereye]

What is the reason you prefer McBride to Bush? I don't want to hear some items where Bush is less than perfect in you opinion. What would McBride do differently that would be to your liking?

[caltrop]

The Republicans are in solid control here in Florida. Both houses of the legislature are, and will remain, Republican and the Cabinet is almost certain to remain lopsidedly Republican as well. Florida's Governor is more powerful (thanks to JEB's ill considered but successfull effort to strengthen it) than it used to be but is still not the powerhouse position that being Governor of New Jersey (the most powerful in the nation) is, for example. JEB is not only arrogant and not terribly bright but also a believer in bigger government. Leading the Republican Party, he has far more power to advance new initiatives than a Democratic Governor would have. In this case, divided government beats giving JEB four more years in Tallahassee and, as some have suggested, a basis to move on to something more influential.

[lasereye]

Leading the Republican Party, he has far more power to advance new initiatives than a Democratic Governor would have.

I don't see where you've really answered my question. What would McBride do differently? Or are you saying that you're opposed to any new initiatives of any kind and so with McBride in there nothing would happen?

[caltrop]

You're correct, my point is that McBride wouldn't be able to do much. The legislature and cabinet would be able to kill almost anything he'd want to do.

[lasereye]

Do you think that anything he's done has benefited Florida? For example his school voucher program, even though it's been shot down by the court?

[caltrop]

Yes, he repealed the intangibles tax, eliminated 2/3 of the alcoholic beverage surcharge, I think he also cut the Uniform Business Tax all incorporated businesses must file annually and some other taxes. Unfortunately, he phased most of his tax reductions in instead of simply killing them. The alcoholic beverage surcharge, for example, is apparently a paperwork nightmare. The Florida Restaurant Assn. supported Bush in 1998 and is again this year. Some observers contend the reason it wasn't phased out completely this term was to ensure the FRA would be on board for JEB's reelection. While I'm not sure I agree, the fact that it's suggested at all says something about JEB's reputation for being too cute by half.

Florida's economy is on a roll due to its deserved reputation as a tax haven (no personal income tax) that's small business friendly. In Florida you can form a one person corporation, get guaranteed (no preexisting bars but expensive) corporate health coverage, do plenty of things Pro-Se instead of hiring an attorney, etc. With all this going for the state, it's no wonder it's an economic powerhouse. Happily and to his credit, Bush recognizes the state's advantages and hasn't tried to kill the golden goose.