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

[floriduh voter]

Bill McBridisms from the Friday Debate Transcript

On the most important issue…

"If I were governor, I would have made prescription drug benefits my number-one priority." "The most important thing is to have your vote counted." "Well, there's nothing more important than to ensure that everyone is treated fairly." "Pivoting back to the most crucial issue, and that is whether we're going to invest in our kids to keep them in an education environment" "I think more importantly the question is just what this is all about."

McBride’s Thoughts about the Universe… "We need on to start viewing Florida as one." "It's the way I believe in my heart, that everybody will follow." "There is profiling that goes on. I know that a lot of people are working on this." "I think more importantly the question is just what this is all about." [liked this one so much, it made the list twice] "People having trouble, join me with this."

I SAY WE NEED TO GIVE THE FCAT EXAM TO MCBRIDE. His sentence structure and content gets a failing grade.

[floriduh voter]

Please see my post above to summer, I think #179. McBride doesn't want people to know he was a lawyer for whatever reason. If we wrote about McBride and wanted people to know that he was an attorney, we would still say it because he won't. Is he ashamed of his work at H & K?

Further, he doesn't want to advertise that his wife was a big exec at Bank of America.

That's the way they are running their campaign. He's a Marine who picked oranges in college and has two kids and some dogs. (doesn't mention his wife or H & K law firm because he does not want to open those can of worms). Fregards.

[caltrop]

The gains we've made under Bush? Pushing to have the Governor's office strengthened and reducing the number of elected officials in the Cabinet isn't my idea of progress. He's reduced some taxes but on the really big revenue producer, Senate President John McKay's plan to expand the sales tax, Bush was silent, even though he's said he opposed the same idea when it came up under Bob Martinez and would if it came up again, until the poll results came in. Had he told McKay, and the other Senators, it would be dead on arrival when it reached his desk they never would have passed it. Happily, the courts took his heavily tilted to approve the measure "commission", his idea of a compromise in the face of opposition from the House of Representatives, off the ballot. That's no thanks to Bush, however.

[Crusher138]

I have always felt that if your opponent is beating himself, then shut up and let him do it. It was clear from the start that an increase in the sales tax was wildly unpopular. Getting involved could have galvanized the opposition, so Bush stayed out of it.

That aside, IN GENERAL Bush has been far better for the state than Chiles, or McKay, or Graham. Government growth IN GENERAL either stopped or shrank. The worst you can say is that IF it grew, it grew a whole lot less that it would have otherwise.

To say that you want a Dem in the Governor's seat so that nothing gets done ignores the possibility that the State House and Senate could go Dem in the 2004 elections, then we would be REALLY up the creek.

[Boatlawyer]

I'm sure you're right about that. Both you and summer make excellent points about McBride's qualifications or lack thereof for governor. It's a shame to see them muddled up with aspersions as to the profession in general.

Keep up the good work.

[caltrop]

Bush chose to stay out of the Sales Tax discussion in public but, I'm told, offered encouragement to McKay. Had Bush not done so, I can't believe the Senate would have passed it.

Bush's spending in his first two years exceeded 7.5% a year. In his third year, he pushed a change in accounting which, if you could believe it, resulted in a decline in spending! Nobody at the Department of Banking and Finance was able to compare year 2 to year 3 on an adjusted basis on those occasions I've checked with them. With both houses of the legislature behind him, a conservative (someone who believes in smaller government) wouldn't have to defend a record like Bush's.

[floriduh voter]

If I really didn't like lawyers, I sure spent my entire career with them before I went into the t-shirt business. Because I free lanced for five years, I only got ticked when they didn't need me to come in. Then I'd have to scramble to find another client.

I'm not selling anything in my t-shirt biz until mid-2003, but I'm busy sending my slogans to the US Patent Office for trademarking.

Regarding attorneys and staff, the best way to learn organizational skills is definitely to work in a firm large or small. Mounds of paper having to make sense - a daunting task in addition to motions and all else.

[summer]

a conservative (someone who believes in smaller government)

caltrop, Please do ping me when the newspapers announce McMumble has stated he is a "conservative who believes in smnalelr government." This should be a huge headline as well on all the Dem sites, and especially to the Reno supporters. Maybe McMumble will mumble such when he is hosting Senator Clinton around FL. Thanks. :)

[summer]

smnalelr = smaller (Althought McMumble may in fact say: "smnalelr")

[summer]

FYI. :)

[caltrop]

I don't expect McBride will be making such an announcement but I do think it's a safe bet that, once the legislature doesn't have to follow Bush's lead, they'll be recognized as the conservatives most of them are. It's been tough on them for four years having to follow a Governor determined to go in the wrong direction. My understanding, for example, is that Bush didn't much care for the intansigence the House showed (from the instant the subject came up) in refusing to go along with the Senate in expanding the sales tax. As you know from previous posts, I'm very grateful they stood up to him.

[summer]

Well, like I said: let me know when McMumble actually says something. His pre-Primary strategy, according to you, was to say Nothing. But, his post-Primary strategy appears to also be say Nothing. I think many people will vote against him just to ensure they are not subjected to his mumbling about nothing, for four years, on local tv news.

[IVote2]

Excellent! I love reading the good news! I also see that Jeb is picking up some Democrat endorsements. Amazing!

Thanks for the ping Summer. :0)

[Goldwater Girl]

It's hard to do the math you requested, marajade- the state doesn't count the $$ that way. Maybe this will help:
Total tobacco taxes collected last year $425.7M
Amount that went to General revenue- $126M
Current state tax 34 cents per pack (cigars and smokeless are differnt, but negligible amounts)
*Lots of the sin taxes are directed to trust funds as dedicated funding for pet projects- only the GR can be redirected*
Multiple studies have shown tobacco taxes to mainly affect lower income citizens (48% of smokers is most common figure)- making them a VERY regressive tax structure.
Coupled with the logic that it is a DECREASING revenue source- tied both to the increased price and the millions spent from the settlement $$ to stop and prevent smoking-- as well as the negative impact on small business, increase in black market sales-- this idea is goofy at best.
You are certainly correct, also, that if Florida is counting on smokers to build new schools- they would be sending mixed messages to the citizens ("Two pack a day smokers wanted: new elementary school needed"), and contributing to the increased health care costs -- again disproportionately lower income, subsidized by state and feds through Medicaid.
Talk about fuzzy math.
Jeb's plan is tied to a growth sector: communications taxes. I would prefer not to raise ANY tax- but the public seems to overwhelmingly want more schools- so at least this makes sense- and it is a lot less regressive, since everybody and his brother wants a cell phone, cable or satellite dish.

[Goldwater Girl]

"As a lawyer I would think he would know this, but apparently as a high school graduate I know more about the legislative process than McBride."

It is obvious that you do! Maybe YOU should run for Governor!

[Goldwater Girl]

I would suspect that most lawyers on the EAST coast are McBride types- and a healthy % of the rest of the state, too- sad, isn't it?

[Goldwater Girl]

You are so right- McAuliffe was building his palace (a la Saddam) and there ain't nuttin' left for the candidates....

[Goldwater Girl]

Great response, calvin- I only wish Democrats understood logic.