Run, "Jeb!", Run - Get The Heck Outa Florida - In discussing Cheney's agreement to serve as the VP candidate for Dubya, the New York Post notes that "By keeping Cheney, 61, as his No. 2, Bush also avoids creating a GOP heir apparent for 2008 - leaving the door wide open in case his brother, Florida Gov. Jeb Bush, wants to try to extend the Bush dynasty."
So-Called "Moderate" Senate Gives Up The Ghost - "Senate Republicans reached a deal Wednesday evening on more than $430 billion in tax cuts and aid to states over a 10-year period that salvaged much of President Bush's proposal while securing the crucial vote of a renegade GOP moderate."
"Eager to avoid an embarrassing defeat for Bush, Republicans grudgingly agreed to reduce the tax that individuals pay on corporate dividends by up to 20 percent. Bush wanted the tax eliminated. Other elements of the Senate GOP agreement are virtually identical to Bush's original request." See "Senate GOP reaches tax-cut deal".
Graham Alleges 9-11 Cover Up - "Sen. Bob Graham, D-Fla., knows at least as much as President Bush about what went wrong leading up to Sept. 11, 2001. The difference is that Sen. Graham wants Americans to know what did. Sen. Graham and Rep. Porter Goss, R-Sanibel, co-chaired the congressional study into 9/11. In December, they gave the Bush administration the report and recommendations to improve security. President Bush has held up the report, refusing to release the findings for action. Rep. Goss is 'very frustrated this has taken this long.' Sen. Graham said he thinks President Bush is 'covering up' intelligence lapses. Withholding the report, he said, 'denies to the people of America important information as to what happened before September the 11th (and) how well what we learned has been applied to protect the security of Americans.'" See "Graham offers answers; Bush stalls".
Jacksonville Mayoral Race Racisim - "Racially offensive graffiti was sprayed at Glover's campaign headquarters over the weekend, scrawled epithets in bold black and orange hues on all four outdoor walls of the office. 'NO N----- MAYOR,' the graffiti read. And a sign in front of the office of one of Glover's white Republican supporters was defaced to label him a `N----- LOVER.'" See "Old South racism appears during New South election".
Now That The Election Is Over, Foster Children On The Back Burner - "Gov. Jeb Bush and Department of Children & Families Secretary Jerry Regier pledged to fix the child-welfare system after the disappearance of then-5-year-old Rilya Wilson made national headlines. Though some reforms did pass, child advocates say state leaders again missed opportunities to help the 35,000 children in foster care." See "Session little help for foster care".
The Education Governor - "State university enrollments could be frozen and the number of teachers could be reduced if the Legislature cuts $100 million from the higher education budget as planned, three school presidents warned Wednesday." See "University presidents: Budget cuts too deep". Contrast that with this: Senate Republicans "agreed to reduce the tax that individuals pay on corporate dividends by up to 20 percent. Bush wanted the tax eliminated". When are we going to hear Bush described as the "corporate dividend tax cut governor"?
Our Green Governor - "Environmental lobbyists, who fight an uphill battle every spring in a Legislature dominated by special-interest money, were particularly glum last week as the regular session came to a close". See "Session Stings Ecology Activists".
Misplaced Priorities - "[A]t the same time that DCF put six respected workers' families in financial peril, three children in DCF care were killed in Miami-Dade and Monroe counties. The juxtaposition of the firings and deaths could not describe more clearly what DCF's priorities should be". See "Back on the job at DCF".
Hasterok: "Graham could win. Really." - "So Florida's favorite fellow doesn't stand a chance, right? He's a goner before the going even gets started? Not so fast. Graham could win. Really." Read how.
Contempt Of Crist - "Johnny Byrd to Charlie Crist: Drop dead. Johnny Byrd to the voters of Florida: Drop dead."
"If you haven't yet figured out that House Speaker Johnny Byrd (R-Plant City) holds Florida's Attorney General, and more significantly, Florida voters, in utter contempt, then you haven't been listening to Byrd's lawyer." See "An act of contempt".