Notes For Monday, January 06, 2003

FIRST LET HIM RUN FLORIDA INTO THE GROUND. John Ellis Bush can't go anywhere without being questioned about running for president in 2008. The Miami Herald reports today that "The governor's obvious next steps are to challenge U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson in 2006 or run for president in 2008. Friends say he dismisses the idea of serving in the Senate, where he can have little direct influence on policy, the part of his job he enjoys most." Bush "dismisses" talk that he'll run in 2008 in a piece in the Palm Beach Post today. The rash of stories follows a fawning column yesterday by Peter Wallsten.

While the speculation is entertaining, let us not forget that Bush took a robust economy and massive surplus, and blew it on tax cuts, while failing to improve education spending levels (in light of growth and inflation). Now Florida is in economic crisis, and Bush refuses to take any responsibility for it (we assume he blames Bill Clinton and Lawton Chiles). Moreover, he has refused to say how he will address the funding crisis, other than to keep his options open on gambling. The upcoming Legislative session should be interesting, though we do not expect to see much critical media coverage. No doubt the courtiers in the media - not wanting to undermine Bush's chances in 2008 (as well as their chances to cover a national race) - will continue to flatter Bush, and themselves, through the next few years.



7:15 AM [Go to current Florida Politics site (no popup ads)]

DIDN'T HE GO TO UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS? First he sticks his nose into the Lott matter, now this little thing involving the University of Miami football team and its loss in the Fiesta Bowl. It is not unusual for those of us who did not go to college to adopt a Florida school to support in sports. But Gov Bush went to the University of Texas? That makes him a "Longhorn", not a "'cane". But then, Miami is a private school. 7:01 AM [Go to current Florida Politics site (no popup ads)]