BUSH INFLUENCE DIMINISHES IN TALLAHASSEE

Betty Parker, the political columnist for the Fort Myers News-Press, takes a look this week at how the influence of 'ol Jeb! has seemingly diminished since his second (read: lame-duck) term began.

The honeymoon is definately over, especially with the Legislature. The body of lawmakers in Tallahassee has become noticably more critical of the governor, and the tone has become sharper this session. Senate President Tom Lee (R - Brandon), no fan of Jeb to begin with, responded harshly to the governor's charge that the State Senate was not working properly to confirm his agency appointees.

Republican Senator Paula Dockery (R - Lakeland) has basically said the governor sticks his nose where it should'nt be when it comes to legislative business:

"There's a feeling that he and his staff are blurring the lines between the legislative and executive branch," she said. "Now that the Senate president is making it more known, it's easier for the rest of us to express our opinions about what's going on."

Ms. Dockery is sounding more like her millionaire husband, C.C. Dockery, who was a huge supporter when Bush ran for office. That relationship ended bitterly over the bullet train issue. Mr. Dockery had put nearly three million dollars of his own money into supporting a constitutional amendment --- which passed --- supporting the idea, but Jeb vetoed funding and succeeded last year in having the amendment repealed in another vote.

She's not the only Republican complaining. Former state GOP chairman Tom Slade has been openly critical of the governor on occasion, and several of Dockery's fellow senators have noted that he has sought too much power while in office.

Here's something the governor should remember, courtesy of the late Robert Kennedy from his 1964 book 'I Remember, I Believe", The Pursuit of Justice:

The problem of power is how to achieve its responsible use rather than its irresponsible and indulgent use - of how to get men of power to live for the public rather than off the public.