What the [FL] Media Had to Say About the Debate [McLawyer McMumbled and McStumbled]

various: Orlando Sentinel, Miami Herald, Ft. Lauderdale Sun Sentinel, St.Pete Times, etc. ^ | Sept. 28, 2002 | various authors

[summer]

For Immediate Release Saturday, September 28, 2002

What the Media Had to Say About the Debate

"Gov. Jeb Bush's cool confidence in his record rose above maverick Democrat Bill McBride's nervousness and difficulty with detail in their first head-to-head confrontation." (Orlando Sentinel)

"The governor succeeded in his key goal: tagging his opponent as 'vague' about a number of important issues as the folksy McBride spoke in sweeping generalities." (Orlando Sentinel)

"McBride appeared flummoxed by [the hate crimes and environment] questions, offering little in the way of experience or ideas for the future." (Tampa Tribune)

"McBride didn't practice for the debate and it showed." (Ft. Lauderdale Sun Sentinel)

"In response to a question about hate crimes, McBride gave a fuzzy answer about treating everyone equally, while Bush spoke with specifics about visiting a Muslim mosque in Pinellas County." (St. Pete Times)

McBride "flubbed several lines, offered halting opening and closing statements, delivered mostly in a drooping monotone, and did little to silence critics who accuse him of lacking substance." (Miami Herald)

"McBride, at the same time, froze when confronted with questions to which he isn't accustomed. He fumbled the hate-crimes question, finally settling on a vague remark on people who are mistreated 'because of who they are.' On the environment, McBride could offer only a vague suggestion that he would bring people together." (Miami Herald)

Debate Moderator Michael Putney on WPLG-TV after the debate: "I think both candidates had their innings both candidates did score some points, but frankly I thought that Bill McBride was a little flat, a little unfocused at times and I think he really had more to gain from a good showing tonight then Jeb Bush...Bill McBride needed to show that he had a good command of Florida's government and mostly he did, but there were a few times when maybe he did not

[caltrop]

Feel free to remind me as often as you'd like. No matter how often you do, I'll still believe he's a Rockefeller Republican. He believes in government and the taxes needed to fund it.

I certainly agree he's cut some taxes but it's worth remembering he came out against the expanded sales tax (Florida's really big tax) only when a poll showed the public thought it a terrible idea, something like 80-20. He could have killed it before it got any momentum as he said he would based on his experience as Secretary of Commerce in Martinez' administration fifteen years ago. He made a very conscious decision not to.

In the first two years of his term annual spending rose in excess of 7.5%, his third year he pushed for and got a change in accounting which makes comparisons difficult but which, if you believe the numbers, resulted in a third year decline in state spending! Last time I checked, the Department of Banking and Finance still couldn't make an adjusted year to year comparison. My guess is the number, if adjusted, still increased by over 7.5%. Evidently the possibility spending might be reduced never enters his mind. Last Friday, for example, the papers reported the state took over $1 billion in trust fund money, which will have to be replaced, to pay day to day expenses.

If Compassionate Conservatism is Rockefeller Republicanism under a new name then I suppose you're right, by your definition he is a conservative. To those of us who believe in smaller government, however, it's clear he's not what we know as a conservative.

[az wildkitten]

This heralds the freezing over of Hell, as nursing organizations never endorse Repubs.

[floriduh voter]

I like this thread. Ping and bttt.

[floriduh voter]

I couldn't believe that Governor Bush was only given 30 seconds to respond to LIES PACKAGED IN GROUPS OF FOUR OR FIVE by McLawyer.

What really annoyed me was "LIE, LIE, LIE, LIE, LIE. Governor Bush knows this." Knows what? Just that you are lying?

[marajade]

The man ought to be studying state governmental organizational charts and which state departments do what...

I cannot keep over the fact that the man has had seven years of post secondary education... He came across as a total idiot...

McBride's response to every question, no matter what the subect, was either education or leadership...

[summer]

Re your post #62 - Thought you would enjoy this shot of h*ll freezing over:


FL's nurses endorse JEB!

[summer]

He [McLawyer] came across as a total idiot...

He really did.

[marajade]

"He really did."

The man doesn't even have an elemental fundamental understanding of state government...

Why on earth would you elect someone as governor who doesn't even know the purpose that state government serves?

[summer]

Re your post #62 - BTW, many nurses post right here on FR, as on this thread and others:

Bush Signs Nursing Recruitment Legislation
[Jeb: "I love nurses because..."] (AP)

[summer]

The man doesn't even have an elemental fundamental understanding of state government..

This was very evident to Dem swing voters I know here in FL who saw the debate. They were curious to see McLawyer, and once they saw him - and heard him - they gave him a big thumbs down.

McLawyer should thank his lucky stars Gov Bush is too busy as governor to go out and debate him everyday.

[summer]

McLawyer really was telling lies.

The "Liberty City" lie is one I caught, as McLawyer surely knows that area, near Miami, is where Gov Jeb Bush and a local black leader together co-founded the state's first charter school. So for McLawyer to then say in his closing statement, "Oh, gee, I happened to be in Liberty City and those kids never get any help," or however he put it, was very disingenuous.

Also, according to reliable sources, there was no "$3 billion surplus" left over from Gov Lawton Chiles as McLawyer stated. Because I wanted to know: If there was, then, why didn't Dem gov Chiles use that surplus to make teacher salaries #1 in the nation? Answer: Because there actually was no such surplus. (But, McLawyer could not stand to let people think Gov Bush had actually increased the state's education budget to keep up with the growing population.)

[summer]

they are praying for another election fiasco,

That's true - they're already talking about it on Dem web sites.

[HitmanLV]

I had worked with big time, NYC lawyers for about 8 years. Big partners in powerful firms.

I wouldn't trust most of them to balance a checkbook.

[summer]

I certainly agree he's cut some taxes

Yes, Gov Bush has done that. He has also decreased the size of government, caltrop, from what I understand. :)

[summer]

'The Jeb Bush Nobody Knows' -- Part 14:
A Big Court Victory for Jeb and Smaller State Gov't

[marajade]

I doubt it will happen... Because the Dept. of Justice and Pres. Carter will be there to prevent it from happening... in relation to the election fiasco..

[summer]

Well, I must say, I never imagined Dem Party McLawyer supporters might try to rob Reno of the Dem nomination by failing to open polling places! That tactic was certainly new! And quite brazen, IMO.

[Sonny M]

Maybe I got the wrong impression from the media, so maybe somone here can help me. McBride is a laywer, suppoedly a very good one, especially at going to trial and milking for money, he basically argues and debates for a living, how is talking his weak point? What kind of successfull laywer can't talk or debate? and is lazy or claims they don't practise before a debate? After watching this, I wouldn't hire this guy even if a had a case in the bag.

[marajade]

Someone was saying on another earlier thread that he sits behind a desk and is in charge of acquisitions and mergers and whatever company he works for has been successful in relation to that part of their business.

[marajade]

Well they'd be stupid to even consider it in Nov considering that each county's elected election official is personally liable, not the state or the governor.