Jeb raps Crist, defends proposed rate increases

Jeb Bush never actually mentions Charlie Crist in this  Tallahassee Democrat column , but he clearly is taking a shot at Charlie Crist for vocally opposing FPL's requested rate increase. Seems to us the first time the former governor has publicly criticicized current leadership in Tallahassee:

The well-publicized pronouncements made outside this quasi-judicial process have already sent a warning signal to the capital markets that will be necessary to finance these large, long-term investments. The growing perception in Florida is that regulatory decisions will be based on poll-driven sentiments in spite of long-term benefits. When decisions crucial to the profitability and viability of a business enter the realm of chance and politics, the incentive for investment in new or expanded endeavors evaporates, along with the jobs and tax revenue that come with it.

Suit: State is failing schools, violating Constitution

Not enough money. Not enough progress. Florida is violating the state Constitution by not pouring enough money into schools and relentlessly focusing on high-stakes testing policies that aren't getting good results, says a lawsuit expected to be filed today in Leon County Circuit Court.

Prepared by a team of lawyers that includes a former Democratic House speaker and a Republican Party patriarch, the suit takes aim at virtually every aspect of the sweeping education overhaul engineered by former Gov. Jeb Bush and kept largely intact by his successor, Gov. Charlie Crist.

Low graduation rates, stagnant test scores, a persistent effort by lawmakers to shift education costs to school districts — all of it shows Florida is not living up to a constitutional mandate to provide high-quality schools, the suit says.

Some of the suit's roots go back to last spring's budget cuts, when everything from music programs to teaching assistants were considered for the chopping block, said Kathleen Oropeza, co-founder of an Orlando-based parents group listed as a plaintiff.

"The first question we asked amongst ourselves was, 'What can we do to fix this?' " Oropeza said Tuesday. "It always came back to legal action."

(Story here)

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Jeb Jr. and George P Bush raising money for Marco Rubio

Jeb Jr. and George P. Bush will headline a mid-December primary for Marco Rubio. No word if the old man will be there, but its certainly safe to assume the ex-governor's kids wouldn't be doing this without his blessing.

Poll: 7 in 10 Fla Republicans would prefer Jeb Bush as governor

The single biggest threat to Charlie Crist’s political future probably isn’t his U.S. Senate primary rival, Marco Rubio. It’s former Gov. Jeb Bush, who could give Rubio an enormous boost if he chose to.

A new St. Petersburg Times/Miami Herald/Bay News 9 poll underscores how much Bush’s shadow still looms over Florida almost three years after leaving office: Forty-six percent said they would rather have Bush leading Florida today, while 41 percent said Crist.

More striking, 71 percent of Republicans would pick Bush as governor today,while only 22 percent of Republicans said they would pick Crist over Bush.

“Is there a path to victory for Marco Rubio? Yes, but it involves the support of Jeb Bush,’’ said pollster Tom Eldon. “Crist may have appointed the last senator, but Bush has it in his hands to appoint the next one.”
Despite their occasional public professions of mutual respect, the Crist-Bush rivalry is among the worst-kept secrets in Florida. It has served as an undercurrent in everything from Florida’s presidential primary contest between Mitt Romney and John McCain to the current debate about the future of the GOP.

(Story here)

Jeb sticks to policy, avoids Crist-bashing

We asked a few folks at this weekend's Jeb-a-Thon just what the former guv said about the current guv and just what was discussed.

Here's what an attendee sent us:

When conversations involved people's disappointment with Governor Crist (there seemed to be a lot of that - probably a good thing for Gov Crist there wasn't a straw poll, as I don't think his fortunes would have improved with this crowd), Governor Bush would typically deflect the conversation and change the subject. He seems to have an incredible discipline and respect for the office, regardless of who occupies it, and that seems to come through. He spoke a lot about policy and the things he was motivated to continue working on. ALOT of discussion about education reform. I swear the guy is more committed to that than anything else I've seen from any leader in my life. He talks of our need to be more competitive in education if we are going to be able to compete with the emergence of global competition for commerce. He was very energized about that, and it seemed infectious. The weekend really was nothing more than a reunion of sorts, people catching up, and just being around old friends made over the last ten years. 
 
Chatter among the masses? Concern about the drift with the state and Governor Crist's inattention to it (or at least his perceived lack of capability). Amusement over Gov. Crist taking credit for the improvements in education achievement in Michigan. Disappointment with how the party has been managed over the last couple years and alot of relief that Alan Bense is now involved. He brings credibility and a lot of people respect him. A lot of people happy to see Senator Thrasher returning to Tallahassee. Nothing you haven't already heard from your many sources, I am sure.

Marc Caputo, Herald/Times

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The Charlie Crist video Marco Rubio says you shouldn't watch

UPDATE: Rubio admonishes us for this post in a tweet: "Heard about youtube video using Hitler. It's offensive & grotesque I ask supporters not to forward & hope msm does not promote it"

Jeb Bush praises Obama's 'quiet revolution'

Jeb Bush in a David Brooks column today about the "quiet revolution" the Obama administration is pursuing on education reform:

“I’ve been deeply disturbed by a lot that’s going on in Washington,” Jeb Bush said on Thursday, “but this is not one of them. President Obama has been supporting a reform secretary, and this is deserving of Republican support.”

Read the column here.

A 'big, hairy' breakfast and a 'mild' roast for Jeb

The reunion weekend for "alumni" of former Gov. Jeb Bush's administration in Orlando this weekend will feature a "BHAG" (that's short for the tongue-in-cheek term "big hairy audacious goals") Breakfast on education policy and a "Remember and Roast" dinner with Bush on Saturday night.

According to an invitation for the event, to be held Friday and Saturday at Disney's Yacht and Beach Club Resorts, the event costs $125 per alumnus and adult guests, and children over 9 can pay $100 (kids 4 to 9 will be charged $50). The money will go to Bush's education foundation.

The weekend promises to bring together dozens of longtime Bush supporters and former staffers and lawmakers who worked during his two terms. The "Roast Masters" are former Lt. Govs. Frank Brogan and Toni Jennings and former House Speakers Tom Feeney and John Thrasher.

Four ex-governors back restoring Florida Forever funding

Environmental groups have lined up four ex-governors -- Reubin Askew, Bob Graham, Bob Martinez and Jeb Bush -- for their campaign to restore funding to the Florida Forever land-buying program.

Martinez himself took the microphone at a news conference on the shores of Tampa Bay Wednesday to tout the program's benefits and call for the Legislature to put money back into the popular program.

"I don't run into anybody that's against it," said Martinez, who was joined by Tampa Mayor Pam Iorio, Gainesville Mayor Pegeen Hanrahan and Southwest Florida Water Management District board member Heidi McCree at the event at Tampa's waterfront Cypress Point Park. "It's a question of do we have the money."

Jeb's travelling sales show

In the past few months, Jeb Bush has been living the chorus of an old country song, hitting the highways and byways of America — or at least its airports — as a rambling salesman for school reform.

He's been everywhere, man. Nashville. Indianapolis. Phoenix. Washington D.C., this week. Atlanta later this month.

At every stop, the former Republican governor is talking education and pitching Florida's "cocktail of reforms" to lawmakers and business leaders as a potential remedy for their schools.

(Story here)