I inserted my comments in bold and red.
What were Jeb's actual accomplishments, relevant to the presidency?
I was a teenager in the 2000's (and living in Rhode Island), so I don't remember everything. The only things I vaguely remember about Jeb as governor are:
1. the Terri Schiavo controversy, I think he tried to use state troops to prevent her husband from pulling the tube when she was in a vegetative state (a battle that Jeb eventually lost)
2. the 2000 Florida election mess, with many people thinking Jeb's government purging the eligible voter lists (and other weird stuff happening) might have led to his brother's victory
And I know during the Obama presidency he's been an advocate of Common Core.
Jeb Bush was one of the most successful Governors in terms of reforming government and implementing policies to create jobs and foster quality of life in modern history. He accomplished a lot while Governor, but is also an accomplished businessman.
Consider this:
-He cut taxes every year he was Governor of Florida, totaling $19 billion
Ok, I guess this can count as an accomplishment... but which taxes did he cut? Did he cut services to pay for these tax cuts? If not, how did he pay for them?
-He reduced the size of state government by roughly 10% and ended civil service protections
Ok, that's an accomplishment. But why is that good?
-He increased his state's reserves from $1 billion to $9 billion
Ok.
- He vetoed higher taxes & $2 billion in new spending
New spending in what?
-He enacted tort reform even as Republicans in the legislature fought him
Ok.
-He enacted medicaid reform that gave seniors the option to select a private plan and get a subsidy
Has this been effective?
-He implemented the first state voucher program in America, ended social promotion in third grade, and ended affirmative action in higher education
What have been the effects if the voucher program?
-He signed "Stand Your Ground" into law along with 11 other laws protecting gun owners
An accomplishment but not necessarily a good one.
-He signed into law a ban on partial-birth abortion and presided over Florida becoming the first state to have a "Choose Life" license plate
Did it hold up in court? And a pro-life license plate is NOT an accomplishment.
-He protected Florida's everglades while Governor
How?
- In the private sector, he helped create one of the largest commercial real estate firms in South Florida
How? What did he specifically do? How is it relevant?
- He helped establish a charter school in Florida
Um, ok.
- He served as Florida's Secretary of Commerce
Not really an accomplishment...
- During his tenure as Governor, 1.3 million jobs were created - roughly 15% of all the jobs created in America during his time in office. Florida's economy grew at an average rate of 4.4% during his tenure, the U.S. saw average growth of 3% during his time in office.
Ok, how did he do that?
And overall, it's not clear how much of this is stuff Jeb simply signed into law that his state legislature actually worked for, and how much came from Jeb.
