Notes For Friday, February 28, 2003

SADDAM MADE HIM DO IT. Read "J[ohn Ellis Bush] and Saddam".

"Tuesday, Bush snapped back at critics, saying some people 'can't see there might be a better way of doing things.' He also said that the library plan is part of the downsizing of state government, partly because the almost-certain prospect of war with Iraq will hurt state revenues."

"Saddam made him do it."

"At least Bush has drawn a new straw man into this poorly conceived plan. Heretofore, the dreaded bullet-train amendment was going to suck all the money from other projects. Then, it was the class-size reduction amendment, which could cost the state billions of dollars. Then again, the state could have been in better financial shape today if Bush and the Legislature hadn't chopped off about $4 billion in revenues by cutting taxes over the past few sessions. When the state library's closing was first announced, Bush said the plan was to move much of the collection to Florida State University. But FSU President T.K. Wetherell said he was already facing a $18 million cut in the proposed budget - and there wasn't any money included for moving and housing the disbursed state library's goods. Tuesday, a bristling Bush proposed sending the library's circulating collection to Nova Southeastern University. It is a private college in Broward County." 5:55 AM [Go to current Florida Politics site (no popup ads)]

VISIT FLORIDA, SPEND YOUR MONEY. Graham stories coming fast and furious - unfortunately the mostly say the same thing. This one points out that "even if Graham emerges as the Democratic candidate, don't expect the GOP to roll over and play dead in the Sunshine State." All purpose quote machine Larry Sabato opines that, even if Graham is the nominee, he would "'expect Florida to be another knockdown, dragout state'". 5:47 AM [Go to current Florida Politics site (no popup ads)]

DYER DATA. "Not including absentee and early votes, Dyer earned 2,144 more votes than opponent Pete Barr Sr. in the five black-dominated precincts" in the City. And, "[t]hose precincts accounted for 49 percent of Dyer's 4,358-vote victory margin." So, it appears that Dyer received a majority, albeit small, of the white vote, together with the overwhelming majority of the black vote. See "Data shows boost Dyer gained from minorities". Interestingly, more voters turned out in the runoff than did in the special election. 5:36 AM [Go to current Florida Politics site (no popup ads)]

GRAHAM MAY KEEP SENATE OPTION OPEN. Mark Silva reports that Graham is mum about whether he'll run for the senate in the event his bid for the Dem nomination fails. See "Graham: 'I am the best-prepared to lead'". 5:26 AM [Go to current Florida Politics site (no popup ads)]

BUSH'S PRIVATIZATION SCHEMES KNOW NO BOUNDS. "Gov. Bush's infatuation with privatization appears boundless. Even a priceless collection of books and documents that Floridians have assembled through several centuries is subject to transfer from public control, with the public losing out as a result." Read the rest of the editorial. 5:18 AM [Go to current Florida Politics site (no popup ads)]

WHO CAN BLAME HIM. In this AP piece about the Lt. Gov vacancy, Jax Mayor John Delaney is reported to have "said he is "intrigued" by the vacant president's post at the University of North Florida." With the money these GOP dominated university boards are paying politicians to act as university presidents, who can blame Delaney. 5:12 AM [Go to current Florida Politics site (no popup ads)]