 |
||||||||
 |
||||||||
|
||||||||
|
Media examining Jeb Bush's e-mails
By JULIE HAUSERMAN © St. Petersburg Times, published November 30, 2000 TALLAHASSEE -- In public, Gov. Jeb Bush has tried to distance himself from his brother's presidential fight. But one e-mail that the governor sent to a Republican who wrote a message of support to the Bush family suggests that he is still working to deliver Florida for George W. Bush. On Nov.11, a Miami woman who identifies herself as Mariela wrote an e-mail with the title: PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE . . . FIGHT!" "Dear Jeb: I can't even imagine how you guys feel. I am so mad and frustrated I can't even watch the news. Just wanted to tell you what I feel and everyone else too. PLEASE!!! DON'T LET THEM DO IT!! FIGHT WITH ALL YOU'VE GOT. MORE MEDIA TELLING THE TRUTH. NO MORE NICE GUYS!! AND IF YOU HAVE TO ACT LIKE THEM, PLEASE DO IT !!! This is like an unbelievable nightmare. We are all praying. Love to you all. Mariela." On Nov. 13, the governor replied: "We are working very hard to get this done." Bush spokeswoman Katie Baur immediately downplayed the governor's message when it was released Wednesday with a batch of his correspondence. "I think it's "we' -- speaking in terms of the whole state -- are working hard to make sure this situation is over as soon as possible," Baur said. "I wouldn't interpret that as any proactive statement by the governor." With the nation's media watching for any signs that Jeb Bush is pulling levers for his brother behind the scenes, the governor's office has produced towering stacks of e-mails for reporters to pore through. On Nov. 9, a Bush staffer sent a report that said e-mails were coming in at a rate of about 300 per hour. The day before the election, Bush sent a three-word message to supporter Anthony Veno. "On to Victory!" it said. Four days later, with the state in political chaos, Bush wrote an e-mail that signaled his frustration. Ibis Arias of Miami complained about the vote recounting in Broward County. "Dear Governor," Arias wrote, "How long do we have to count and recount and count again? . . . The obvious winner of the recount is George W. Now, how many times do we give the other side an opportunity to do things for a beneficial result to them?" Bush responded: "I agree that this can't and should not go on forever." On Wednesday, 24 days after Bush wrote his hopeful "On to Victory!" e-mail, one of the strangest political events in history was unfolding: Elections workers were collecting ballots, getting them ready to load onto a Palm Beach County truck bound for Tallahassee, where they might be counted again.
 © 2006 • All Rights Reserved • St. Petersburg Times
490 First Avenue South • St. Petersburg, FL 33701 • 727-893-8111 
|
From the Times election desk Top stories Around the nation Around the state From the AP national wire  |
