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If siblings are at odds, maybe it's on principle
© St. Petersburg Times, published April 20, 2001 Gov. Jeb Bush can't win over this oil-drilling thing, and he can't lose, depending on whose theory you believe. He can't win (his friends complain). If his brother the president now surrenders to Jeb and blocks oil drilling in the Gulf of Mexico, the critics will say: "Aha! It's a political payoff." If the feds go through with it, they will say: "Look, his brother rolled right over him!" Or: "Jeb was just opposing it for show!" The governor can't lose, either (his enemies sneer). Either this is a setup, so that Jeb wins and looks like a hero, or it's a setup, so that George W. wins but the governor still looks good for opposing it. Got all that? There is another possible truth that I am reluctant to mention, because nobody will believe it, but here it is: Maybe George W. just thinks the risk is acceptable and Jeb doesn't. "This will happen more than once, where the state and the national government have a disagreement," the governor said in an interview in his office. It is irresistible to portray dealings between the feds and the state in personal terms -- brother versus brother. Depending on the theory of the day, either they are in cahoots, or they are shoving each other in sibling rivalry. Therefore, it is not the Department of the Interior notifying Florida it will proceed with auctions for oil leases. It's George W. trying to drill in Jeb's water, and what is Jeb going to do about it? The governor takes pains to de-personalize the issue. Sure, he's talked to the president about oil drilling, he says, but "just like any other governor does on a regular basis." If their mom is having to break them up at family gatherings, we're not going to hear about it. Since he first ran for governor in 1994, Jeb Bush has spoken against oil exploration. He points out that he has asked the feds to block drilling in an area beyond that opposed by his three predecessors: Bob Graham, Bob Martinez and Lawton Chiles. The best way to judge his sincerity is to watch what he does now. Will he pay lip service, maybe write a letter or two? Will he meet and plan action with Florida's congressional delegation? Will he commit his office, his supporters and his party to an all-out campaign? "I think we have a good chance of winning this, just because there'll be enough public pressure. ... I'm hopeful that they'll re-evaluate this when they see the opposition," Bush said. The success of that opposition will depend on Jeb Bush. He will portray it as a policy battle between a state and Washington. Whether he likes it or not, most of the spin will play up the angle of a brother fighting a brother. Who can fail to notice that at the same time the governor opposes oil drilling, he supports a plan to pump untreated water into Florida's aquifer? To Bush, the comparison is between apples and oranges. The risks of drilling are obvious. The theory of aquifer storage (according to its supporters) is safe. In an interview, Bush drew a hasty sketch to illustrate the distance between the drinking water supply and the stored water -- "Look, it's more than three football fields, three Raymond James Stadiums," he said. Yet many experts say the idea of storing untreated, bacteria-laced water in Florida's most precious resource is unproven at best. Public concern is strong and mounting. At least one supporter in the Senate already has switched sides. The Senate has put off its final vote until next week, giving opponents more time to work. "I think we have a good chance of winning this, just because there'll be enough public pressure ..." Bush said about oil. What's sauce for the goose ... - You can reach Howard Troxler at (727) 893-8505 or at troxler@sptimes.com.
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Times columns today Howard Troxler Alicia Caldwell Robert Trigaux Ernest Hooper From the Times Metro desk |
