Last week on the news, I heard that Jeb(!) was going to be making an appearance at a “tailgate party” in Punta Gorda, Florida, before a high school football game. I just happened to be in the neighborhood, so I decided to check it out. Mostly it was out of morbid curiosity, but the thought of actually being able to do some rabble rousing had entered my mind. I mean, as Governor he was bad enough, but I will
never be able to forgive him for his role in Election 2000 and leaving us with that steaming turd George Dubya as President. As far as I’m concerned, Jeb and his criminal enterprise are as responsible for that disaster as much as anyone. President Obama has cleaned things up pretty well, but the stench remains.
It had been a rough week for Jeb, with his getting his ass handed to him by little Marco at the debate, and then the sad news (the very same day if I’m not mistaken) that his campaign’s COO had bailed on him.
After some tough times on the campaign trail, Jeb was heading back to his comfort zone of Florida, the state he had done his best to leave a smoldering ruin after 8 years as governor. Aside from my wanting to see what his train wreck of a campaign would look like on this late Friday afternoon, I hoped there might be some fellow protesters/ kindred spirits, or that maybe there would be a Q & A session, and maybe I could ask a question. I really didn’t know what to expect. All I knew is that I had to be there. I mean, how often does one get to be in the presence of an individual who is responsible for that much carnage and destruction?
(What happens when a pissed-off Floridian with 15 years of pent-up anger and outrage gets to confront a weaselly former Governor and terrible current Presidential candidate? Find out below the fold... )
I parked nearby and walked right in, surprised that just anyone could walk right in off the street with no ticket, no credentials, no check of any kind. I am tempted to give him credit for that, although it’s probably more a reflection of his incompetence and/or desperation than actually wanting to connect with the people. “This thing is supposed to start at 5:30, right?”, I thought to myself as I checked my notes on my phone. The small parking lot of the church next door to the high school was about half full, and there were maybe 100 people or so milling about, most of them with the typical campaign stickers on their shirts. Many were holding the rally signs bearing Jeb’s new highly ironic “Jeb Can Fix It” slogan. Or maybe he was referring to “fixing” elections? I think there were actually more media people working there than actual attendees. Right then, I was mostly hoping that I didn’t see anyone there that I actually knew. I mean, what kind of cretin actually wants this guy to be President? Hopefully no friends, family , or anyone that I had any respect for. No problem there.
Anyway, a few of the local political operatives spoke - principal of the high school, local state rep, etc (I can’t remember who else), before Jeb took the stage. I have been to dozens of rallies like this (although this may have been my first Republican one), but none that offered this kind of canned, staged experience. The whole thing had a very creepy Stepford kind of vibe. Or maybe 'Invasion of the Body Snatchers'. The Halloween timing of it seemed appropriate. It was surreal. Of course, we all know there are way too many of these brainwashed Fox News watching zombies around, but it’s a whole other thing when you are actually surrounded by them when they are in their element.
Jeb took the stage to rousing applause from his dozens of supporters, talked about visiting Charlotte County after Hurricane Charley back in 2004, talked about all the other hurricanes that hit Florida that year and how great the response was. I had to bite my tongue at that point, wanting to scream out something about climate change being real, or “hey, what about Katrina - that one was a real doozy wasn’t it?” I stayed silent and pretended to be interested in what he was saying, but mostly I was just observing the freak show. I had bigger plans. By this point, I had realized I was the only “protester” there - I was on my own, and I was saving my verbal bullets for the appropriate time.
So Jeb went from the Hurricane blather into what I assume was his usual stump speech. Apparently his big selling point for the Presidency is “4% Growth”. Good luck with that one, Jebby. No doubt that will capture the hearts and minds of America! The foreign policy segment was just as nonsensical as you would expect. Blah blah blah “feckless”. “Leading from behind” blah blah fucking blah. The pod people nodded approvingly and blurted out the occasional “yeah!” or “that’s right!”. The obligatory reference to Israel. The red meat mentions of Obama and Hillary, of course, and even a subtle dig at Jimmy Carter.
He finally wrapped it up and the majority of the people left. The true believers (and I) stayed to take selfies, get stuff signed, and take in some more of Jeb’s endless supply of charisma. I went over to the swag table and grabbed a placard, then returned to the small crowd gathered in front of the stage where Jeb was working the crowd. As the first couple rows got their photos and signatures, I moved up a few steps and was about 2 rows back, maybe within 10 feet of the guy who had so outraged me during his days in Tallahassee and every day since with the trauma of his brother’s legacy. Anyway, while waiting patiently I was thinking about what to say. I was getting nervous. I didn’t know if I’d be attacked by the crowd (small as it was), dragged out by security thugs, or even arrested. Who knows what a cornered snake with a 100 million dollar Super PAC and terrible poll numbers is capable of? Hell, for all I knew I could be shot by some gun toting NRA nutjob, thanks to Florida's lax gun laws (Thanks Jeb!).
Finally, there was a pause in the crowd interaction and I jumped on my chance. “Governor!” I blurted out, just loud enough to get his attention. He looked up at me. “Given what we now know about 9/11, Iraq, Climate Change, and ISIS, do you regret stealing the election for your brother in 2000?” At the words “climate change” I noticed a change in his expression, like he realized at that split second “this is not going in a good direction”. When I finished my question, he just sort of looked down and shook his head. I turned around and walked away. I wasn’t really expecting an answer - I mean, how do you answer that? I don’t care that he didn’t answer, and I don’t even care that my words won’t change anything in the scheme of things. Sure, it would be nice if he could reflect on all the damage he did with all of that bullshit he perpetrated in 2000. It would be nice if he could acknowledge that it was a mistake. But he won’t. I understand that. I didn’t really expect my words to have much of an effect, if any, but damn it sure felt good to say it! I do think he needed to hear it, and I truly believe he needed to hear someone say it right to his fucking face. Who knows, maybe he actually does regret installing his idiot brother in the White House, and maybe he does realize, deep down, how much of a disaster his brother’s presidency was. It certainly hasn’t helped his campaign for 2016.
Actually, I probably should thank Jeb for motivating me to get politically active. Prior to 2000, I was a part-time activist - mostly around election time - and that’s about it. The whole Florida election fiasco 15 years ago left me so disgusted and so outraged that I have been a political junkie and hardcore activist ever since. So thanks Jeb!
By the way, if you have the stomach for it, CNN has a prime time 1-hour special premiering tonight on the 2000 election. Saturday will be the 15th anniversary of the presidential election that Al Gore won and the Jeb administration and Supreme Court stole from him.