Bush, Crist join for victory lap [Jeb attacks Dem candidate day after primary; Dem candidate MIA]

Orlando Sentinel ^ | September 8, 2006 | John Kennedy and Christopher Sherman | Sentinel Staff Writers

[summer]

Florida's Favorite Governor, Jeb Bush,
hits the campaign trail for Charlie Crist

For the past eight years, Gov. Jeb Bush has been the rock star of Florida politics.

Now, he's just the warm-up act for Charlie Crist, the newly minted Republican nominee who hopes to replace him.

"There is definitely a power shift on the Republican side," said Jim Krog, a former chief of staff for the late Democratic Gov. Lawton Chiles. "Jeb will never be irrelevant, because of the strength of his personality. But you can see it. The switch is on."

Bush took the stage with Crist during a three-city victory lap Thursday. In doing so, the governor made his debut in what is expected to be his new role as party fund-raiser and attack dog.

At an appearance in Orlando, Bush showed he is ready to throw the elbows that he says Crist is too nice to use.

"Jim Davis is an ineffective politician, has no vision and would take our state back[ward]," [said] Bush ...

Crist followed the outgoing governor to the podium and promised to continue Bush's agenda of tax cuts and school accountability.

...Crist and Bush were joined on the fly-around by Gallagher and other leading Republicans, with the Orlando stop sandwiched between visits to Hialeah and Jacksonville.

Democratic gubernatorial nominee Jim Davis, a Tampa congressman, returned to Washington for the first time since his victory Tuesday...

..."Jeb used to be the 800-pound gorilla of Florida politics," said incoming Senate Democratic Leader Steve Geller of Hallandale. "But now he's more like the 500-pound gorilla....

[summer]

Democratic gubernatorial nominee Jim Davis, a Tampa congressman, returned to Washington for the first time since his victory Tuesday...

I really don't understand how the Dems think. Here's Gov Bush, one day after the primary, touring the state with the new GOP candidate, and attacking the Dem candidate -- who is MIA, in DC, doing whatever.

And, both GOP primary candidates are together touring with Gov Bush, while other news articles said the Dem primary loser will not be touring with the Dem primary winner. I just don't know how Dems think.

[summer]

BTW, you can find all the FL news articles about FL's gov race on the Sayfie Review, which is like a Florida version of Drudge. I think Justin Sayfie worked for Gov Bush at one time.

[summer]

FYI.

[summer]

BTW, here's the photo the Orlando Sentinel ran with this article:


Gov. Jeb Bush (left) joins Charlie Crist at Orlando's Marks Street Senior Recreation Complex on Thursday.

I was reading all the articles, and I liked that one I posted the best -- but, now I realize, it wasn't the photo with the article. The above photo is what was with that article.

Anyway, enjoy!

[summer]

And, one more photo here -- though I don't know which newspaper this one's from, but it's on the sayfie site:


Jeb Bush and Charlie Crist

[RGSpincich]

Time to unite.

[the invisib1e hand]

ping.

[cake_crumb]

What I don't understand is why the Democrats are standing on the sidelines basically saying ,"It'll never fly!" while Jeb and Crist are visible, but I like it. The "now he's the 500 pound gorilla" statement is SO third grade it's funny.

Expect to hear the Dem candidate explain his absence by saying "I'm above politics! I was dealing with matters important to those I hope will vote for me" by Monday.

[auto power]

Hoping that Jeb runs for President in 2012......he would be a terrific candidate!!

[cake_crumb]

Me too. He'd make a great president, but whenever I mention him as a possible candidate, people drag out the "we can't have three presidents from the same family!" mantra.

[windchime]

..."Jeb used to be the 800-pound gorilla of Florida politics,"

 

He wishes.

JEB's political weight will increase as the quality of his service as governor is realized by an increasing number of Floridians. 

Summer, I'm glad you posted the first picture, too.  If the Republican primary opponents can unite to win the election, surely Florida voters with much less invested can do the same.  Good to see them standing by their campaign statements that either would be better than the dem.

I'd vote for JEB for president, too!

[auto power]

geezz.....don't see why we can't have a Bush dynasty...afterall...we had the 2-fer Clintons for 8 damn long years....:)

[summer]

I would vote for him for president, too. And, most FL people on FR have said they would do the same. But, I think maybe Gov Bush is wise to wait four years before running for president. Some voters may just be "Bush weary" by the time 2008 rolls around -- but not in 2012.

[summer]

Re your post #6 - I can't understand the Dems either with this new gov candidate. His primary opponent made a big deal of the fact this candidate, Davis, has the 2nd worst record in the FL Senate in terms of just showing up -- and, here it is, right after the primary, and all the headlines are of the GOP candidate and GOv Bush because this Dem candidate decides this is a good time to leave the state. I just don't know how this FL Dem Party can ever get it together. They seem hopeless.

[summer]

RE your post #11 - Yeah, I really like that photo -- that's what a party should look like after a primary!

[windchime]

"But, I think maybe Gov Bush is wise to wait four years before running for president."


You're right, but he would be a candidate who has earned the trust to govern with the perserverance, strength and conviction that President Bush has.

An interim president from the left (Heaven forbid!) would likely turn "Bush weary" voters into "Bush hungry" voters.

[windchime]

"-- that's what a party should look like after a primary!"

Absolutely!

[summer]

...turn "Bush weary" voters into "Bush hungry" voters.

That may be exactly what happens in 2012. We'll see...

[summer]

FYI.

[napscoordinator]

Bush, Clinton, Bush, Clinton, Bush....It would certainly be a first. I just hope that having a democrat will not be the reason why we finally accept Jeb as President. I know that it is inevitable that we will have a dem President again but I truly hope it is not Hillary and quite frankly not for another hundred years or at least until the War on Terror is won. Having a Dem during "peacetime" would be far better and easier for the Republican to clean up the mess after the four years.