Senate bid by Jeb Bush iffy, friends say

Republican excitement over the prospect of Jeb Bush running for U.S. Senate has given way to increasing speculation that the former governor will stay out of the race.

Bush declined to comment for this article but was expected to make an announcement perhaps as early as this week. Even with his father on national TV Sunday touting Bush as a terrific potential future senator or president, friends say family considerations could outweigh the pull of public service.

Bush may conclude after completing his methodical review process that there are other ways he can help rebuild the GOP besides a Senate career that would take a toll on his consulting business and be difficult for his family.

"I know it's a big struggle for him,'' said former state Republican chairman Al Cardenas, who believes Bush is still undecided. "As his friend I think maybe he's better off where he is. As a Republican who loves his party so much, I know we need him." (story here)

Comments

Please run, Jeb. Florida needs some adult leadership. You can define your own role once you are in the Senate, and there's no doubt there is a vacuum for you to fill. You will have a ground army unlike anything any candidate has ever had, and a base that will be so motivated and energized, it would be a huge republican win in 2010. We miss you and your strong leadership.

Jeb was Florida's best governor ever.

Jeb was Florida's best governor ever which is why his career path should not take him to the U.S. Senate where it would effectively Dead End. Jeb! in '16.

Run Jeb!

Not for President... for U.S. Senate. (No more scaring Floridians with that kind of talk from the beloved family!)

We need you.

If he will not run for Senate then run for RPOF Chairman, the election is this weekend.

Now that I could see.

Jeb must not be seeing the polling numbers he would like. Otherwise he would be in the race. He must be realizing his brother has destroyed the Bush name for many years.

Also, anyone who thinks that Jeb was a good governor hasn't opened their eyes lately to see the results of his disasterous time in office. He successfully drove our public education system right to the bottom of the heap and destroyed the states middle class with his 'leadership'.

Thank goodness the people are awakening to how terrible the Bush family has been as leaders. The last thing Florida or the US needs is another Bush in a position of power!

Jeb for RNC Chair!

Run Jeb! Run!

DC needs adult supervision!

Gov. Bush's education legacy:

Florida was recognized in 2007 by Education Week's Quality Counts report as being 14th in the nation, moving up from 31 in 2006.

Based on a review of test scores and analyzing data from the National Assessment of Educational Progress:

In 1998, a stunning 47 percent of Florida fourth graders scored ‘below basic’ on the NAEP reading test. In 2007, 70 percent of Florida fourth graders scored basic or above on reading. The percentage of Florida children failing to master basic literacy dropped by 36 percent in less than 10 years. The percentage of fourth graders scoring “proficient” increased by 54 percent, and the percent scoring “advanced” (the highest level of achievement) doubled, from four to eight percent.

Florida ’s African American scores have soared since 1998; from significantly below the national average for African Americans to significantly above. In 2007, Florida ’s African American scores nearly tied the average score for all students in California. Florida’s African American students already score higher than the average for all students in Louisiana and Mississippi. Florida’s inner-city, low-income, and minority fourth-graders outperformed average California fourth-graders, even though California public schools receive $2,300 more in state funding per-pupil. California’s median household income is nearly $12,000 higher than Florida, and more of the adult population has a bachelor’s or advanced degree.

Florida Hispanic student scores have soared in recent years. Florida Hispanic fourth-graders now have the second-highest NAEP reading scores among all Hispanic students in the nation.

[P.C.]

I too want to see Jeb run.

I want him to run as far away from Florida as he can.

Whatever you people that say Jeb was the best Governor that Florida has ever had are smoking, PLEASE THROW IT AWAY.

Check our great state's economy.

Jeb's father said it best yesterday when he said that we don't need another Bush in Washington.

Jeb should run--for the hills. We do not need any more Bushes--ever.

Last in Education; First in Corruption!

That's Jeb’s Florida Legacy!

PC - you are correct. See what Charlie has done to our state economy in just two year years on the job. When Jeb was governor, Florida led the nation in job creation. He recruited new industry to the state.

Of course, no governor is to blame for a world-wide downturn in the economy. It's just a cycle.

[Florida Citizen]

George H. W. Bush said on TV Sunday that he thought Jeb should run for President.
The reporter asked when did he think Jeb should run?
Daddy Bush said: "Eight years ago."

We miss your leadership sir. Please run!

Cardenas? Can't he just go away?

Ask Jeb what he'd do about the current budge deficit. You know, the one he helped create. Jeb will take office again after someone has done the hard work of establishing a surplus. Then he can piss it all away.

Last in Education; First in Corruption!

Connie Mack should run again. We need some real Republican leadership.

[The "Forgotten" People]

I’d just be happy with some freaking leadership, regardless of the marketing label!

Get out of Florida. Please leave the country!

[crystal ball]

watch the obama machine roll right over him.

i'd keep my powder dry.

THIS OVER RATED and OVER WEIGHT slop bucket believes he is ENTITLED to the office!!

GO TO HELL, FATTIE and wait there for the balance of your evil-infested family!!!!

[Brainless GOP Lemming]

We miss your dictatorship sir. Please run!

12:10 Jeb Bush is not over rated. Whether you agreed with his policies or not he was Florida's most dedicated and accomplished governor; and you always knew where he stood on any issue.

There were no platitudes ever offered by Gov Bush, only sound statements and successful policy. He led this state tirelessly and gave 100% of himself.

There are not many men in either party who would spend the efforts to improve conditions for the poor and disadvantaged in Education, but Jeb Bush did and still does. He stayed the course despite relentless and unwarranted criticism dished out regularly from the teachers unions and liberal media. He held Florida Schools and teachers accountable to a standard as they should be.

Florida earned a Triple AAA Bond Rating
for the first time ever under his leadership. He successfully pursued and brought prestigious Biotech and Research and Development companies to relocate in FL from around the country and globe.

His handling of our natural disasters during his 2 term administration including 8 major hurricanes in 2 years was phenomenal.

Gov Bush's strong successful record is well in tact. He left office with a 63% apporval rating after 8 years. And one day he will make a great President.

[Banana Republican]

"one day he will make a great President."

Dictator Wanted - Chicanery and Deception a plus. Must have strong connections to oil industry. Experienced only need apply.

Those wishing for Connie Mack will get their wish--if Jeb doesn't run, Mack Jr. will.
Jeb should give Florida a break and stay home. But he should really give his wife a break and not make her totally miserable by dragging her into the public arena again, which she obviously loathes. She took it for 8 years; she deserves a medal, not more punishment.

FLORIDA RANKED TOP TEN IN THE NATION IN EDUCATION

~ 2009 Quality Counts report highlights the continued progress of the state’s education system ~

TALLAHASSEE – Governor Charlie Crist today announced that Florida’s education ranking jumped from 14th to 10th in the nation, and its overall grade improved from a C-plus to a B-minus, according to the 2009 Quality Counts: Portrait of a Population report released today. The report, issued annually by Education Week, tracks state policies and performance across key areas of education and assigns each state with an overall letter grade to signify their education standing in the nation. This improvement builds on last year’s drastic improvement that took Florida from 31st in 2006 to 14th in 2007.

“I congratulate Florida’s educators and students for their continued hard work in the pursuit of learning,” Governor Crist said. “The Quality Counts report released today clearly indicates that Florida schools are on the right track and that our students are being prepared to compete with students across the nation. I am committed to building upon the tremendous progress made in the last two years and under Governor Jeb Bush’s leadership.”

This year’s edition of the report grades states based on their performance and policies in six distinct education areas: Chance for Success; Transitions and Alignment; School Finance; K-12 Achievement; Standards, Assessments, and Accountability; and the Teaching Profession. Beginning this year, the report updates data in three of those areas (Chance for Success, Transitions and Alignment, and School Finance) and combines it with the previous report’s grades for the remaining categories. The overall grade assigned to each state is the average score for all six categories.

"This is a stunning achievement that further cements Florida’s status as a national leader in education,” said Commissioner of Education Dr. Eric J. Smith. “We are a state with high expectations for our youth and I’m proud to see that our efforts are creating a more successful future for our children.”

Florida's grade in the Transitions and Alignment category was a C-plus, which was above the national average of a C. This section indicates if states have performed actions such as adopting a definition of school readiness, requiring high school students to complete a college-preparatory curriculum to earn a diploma, and adopting definitions of college and workforce readiness.

The Chance for Success category looks at a state’s educational framework that spans a student’s life, from prekindergarten to the workforce. Florida tied the national average in this category with a C-plus and ranked ninth and 11th in Preschool and Kindergarten enrollment, respectively. The state also ranked high in the Steady Employment indicator with a ranking of 12th place.

Florida also received high marks for the equity of its education spending, exceeding the national average in three of the four indicators for this subsection. The state’s overall grade in this section was a C-minus, which was below the national average of a C-plus.

For the three previous-year categories that were factored into this year’s score, Florida was ranked fourth in the nation for the Teaching Profession; seventh in the nation for K-12 Achievement; and 12th in the nation for Standards, Assessment and Accountability.

In addition to the six categories, the report includes an in-depth examination of the condition of English-language learners (ELL) in schools across the nation. While this section did not receive a grade, it did single out states in its analysis. Florida was highlighted for leading the nation in the number of certified teachers in Federal Title III language instruction programs, and is one of only three states that requires all prospective teachers to show they are competent to teach ELL students.

For more information about the report, visit www.edweek.org.