Child-care scandals threaten Bush image (Jeb)

[Judi Lynn]

Posted on Mon, Feb. 23, 2004

FLORIDA


Child-care scandals threaten Bush image

Troubles at three state agencies that deal with children threaten to mar Gov. Jeb Bush's legacy, and Democrats prepare to use the scandals against him and his brother.

BY PETER WALLSTEN AND LESLEY CLARK

[e-mail]


Jeb Bush has long flourished as Florida's Teflon governor, surviving bitter partisan battles over his reshaping of state government with high approval ratings and even a landslide reelection.

But swirling scandals enveloping the agencies in his administration that are responsible for taking care of children now threaten to soil Bush's legacy on a centerpiece of his political agenda: improving the lives of those he has called Florida's ``most vulnerable.''

The most pointed criticism has come in recent days from Republicans and Democrats alike, outraged over the events that led to the death in June of a teenager in the custody of Bush's Department of Juvenile Justice -- an occurrence that was followed by criminal charges against two nurses, the firing of several officials and the departure on Friday of the department's head, Secretary Bill Bankhead.

At the same time, critics continue to focus attention on the 2002 revelation that the state's massive child welfare agency, the Department of Children & Families, lost track of a 5-year-old girl, Rilya Wilson, who remains missing. Bush moved swiftly to clean house, but the agency is mired in new controversies over the infusion of religious doctrine by the governor's latest appointee to head the department.
(snip/...)

http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/news/local/states/florida/counties/broward_county/8017605.htm

[Tansy_Gold]

1. What a sanctimonious sack of stuff

Why is it that I never read anything that makes me think BETTER of any of the * family?

Can anyone name one thing Jebbie has done that has actually HELPED anyone needing the help? I'm not talking about his policies that shift more wealth to the wealthy.

Can anyone name one thing ANY * has done that has actually helped anyone needing the help?

Never mind, the task is impossible.


Tansy Gold

[SaddenedDem]

2. Nothing like repeating a failed strategy

They tried to use this same garbage against him in 2002 as well. He won in a landslide - what makes anyone think a failed strategy will work when he's not even running for re-election?????

Someday we Democrats might realize using tragedies involving children as political fodder never brings the intended result.

It just makes us look callous and uncaring.

[seasat]

10. After 9/11 the blind patriotism shielded Jeb.

That is the reason that any strategy to criticize his record failed. That combined with the candidates that we had available for governor hurt us in 2002. I supported Bill McBride and I think he would have made a far superior governor but I have to admit that he was a lousy campaigner. Jebbie has ticked off quite a few of his base by his educational policies. I know of a number of Republicans that do not support his FCAT after seeing what their kids go through. They also don't support his attempts to privatize education. Libertarian leaning Republicans are ticked at some of his policies such as the whole Terry Shiavo guardian incident. Of course us liberal democrats are just plain ticked at almost everyone of his policies. I'd find it easier to list the small handful of agreements that I've had with Jebbie's administration because the disagreements would cover dozens of pages. His brother has proven vunerable on criticism on a variety of issues now, let's open up both barrels on Jebbie.

[ms_splash]

3. Threaten his image?

Jeb Bush is a POS, what is there to threaten?

Oh, you mean all those deceived or selfish people who voted for him didn't know he was a POS?

I say, first one Bush out, then the other. Jeb should have been gone in 2002.

Oh, GHW and Bar have SO much to be proud of.

[lostnfound]

4. For a crazy moment I thought headline might refer to the dead babysitter..

but that was a different Bush, wasn't it?

[soup]

5. I think that was Marvelous Marvin.

yep. Marvin. Lovely family, just lovely.
http://www.disinfopedia.org/wiki.phtml?title=Marvin_Bush

[salin]

6. Missed that story

dead babysitter?

[soup]

7. Yep. Very odd circumstances, too.

Here's a link:

http://portland.indymedia.org/en/2003/10/273301.shtml
has the WaPo article

There was a discussion here at the time. I'll dig through the archives.


from LBN-
Bush Family Babysitter Killed in Fairfax 10/06/03
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=102&topic_id=152675


from GD-
Bush family babysitter dies 10/06/03
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=104&topic_id=481186

Bush Family Babysitter Killed in Fairfax 10/06/03
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=104&topic_id=482549

MARVIN BUSH EMPLOYEE'S MYSTERIOUS DEATH ? Connections to 9/11? 10/15/03
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=104&topic_id=537166

Love the new search by date function. How quick and easy is that?


note: sorry about wandering off topic.

[salin]

8. How in the world did I miss that story

(and those threads)... thanks.

[lostnfound]

9. Here's another link

http://www.apfn.net/messageboard/10-16-03/discussion.cgi.16.html