Jeb throws darts

The St. Petersburg Times already reported that former Gov. Jeb Bush likes Amendment 5. But The Gradebook forgot to mention the swipe he took along the way at Sen. Mike Haridopolos, R-Melbourne, who's set to become Senate president in 2010 and got a lot of ink today (see here and here) as Amendment 5's top opponent.

During a discussion with reporters at his education summit last week, Bush said of Amendment 5: "Unfortunately, I think some of the emerging leaders of the Legislature who'd have to deal with this don't want to deal with it … I don't know what they would rather do. To me, it'd be a lot of fun to deal with a big issue rather than worrying about the new state song or something."

Bush went on to say he liked Amendment 5 because it was a "big idea," then took another swipe: "We need to deal with the challenges we face in bigger ways, rather than small ways where we play like we're solving a problem but moving on to the next thing and playing like we're solving that one."

Sound like anyone we know?

- Ron Matus, state education reporter

Comments

[Bill]

Jeb Bush is so stoopy! I'm a teacher and my demands are simple.

*95k a year
*6 months paid vacation
*Little interaction with low income students
*An ability to whine to the public about my job as frequently as possible.

I MAKE A DIFFERENCE! I HELP KIDS READ! I HAVE THE MOST IMPORTANT JOB ON THE PLANET! I SHOULD BE GIVEN RESPECT IN THE COMMUNITY! I WENT TO USF!

oops...credibility lost.

[terminator]

Bill:
save that argument for the overpaid and overcompensated cops and firefighters.

the Jebster loves amendment five cause he knows it would wreak havoc on public school budgets, further weakening public schools and the teacher unions he hates so much.

unfortunately for him, most polls don't even come close to the requisite 60% necessary for passage.

I myself would be inclined to support it if it had raised the sales tax by two pennies rather than one (I think that will be the reason for it's failure) leaving a $5 billion gap to close.

And of course no one trusts the knuckleheads in Tallahassee to hold education harmless.

I'm afraid the Jebster is about to be humbled by his nemesis the FEA AGAIN!

Terminator---you are the biggest lier! It does come close to 60% and the fun hasn't even started. Wait until you see the campaign cards--"Senator Hairdope does NOT want to reduce your extremely high property taxes"! Dumdest thing he has ever done!

Like Jeb played solving the education crisis by enacting unconstitutional vouchers, the FCAT test, abstinence based sex education and scientific concepts like creationism?

Or like he played at keeping Terry Schiavo "alive" by pulling a feeding tube in and out of her?

Someone playing games Jeb? Like the one you played with state retirement funds?

Jeb, can't you just go work at a mission in Mexico for a few decades? Come back when your big retirement check kicks in.

[question]

Am I alone in wondering if the 60 mph winds the past few days originated from the spin of Jeb's summit?? If he wants to play with an issue, please restrict his influence to another country. GO AWAY JB!

[deborah]

How is it that a Gov. who came in as 'The Education Governor' when the state was 47th in the nation, and who went out eight years later as a Governor whose state clocked in at 49th in the nation, can be an expert on anything remotely associated with education? How is that?? What gives him the right to comment on anything other than to embarrass himself as he did and apologize for not only not meeting his promises; but he, along with a morally bankrupt Legislature, totally devolved what little was good with our educational system????

[SwampWoman]

You might want to recheck those stats on education. Other states are looking at Florida's impressive successes and are looking to emulate same.

[educatorqueen]

Swamp, you might want to think about what those stats mean. They are likely nothing more than a reflection of kids' ever-increasing ability at taking tests!