9/25/2003
Editorial roundup on 'Glades judge
Editorial Boards are divided on over Big Sugar's successful move to kick a respected jurist off the case. And there are some surprises.
+ The Herald always avoids criticism of Jeb Bush. So now that he is Big Sugar's New Best Friend will it also feel a need to cheer-on Everglades pollutors? Signs point to "yes."
+ The Sentinel loves Jeb, too, but will criticize his worst excesses. It is outraged. Big Sugar's success in judge-shopping is a big loss for the Everglades.
+ Ft Myers News-Press: Judge's removal a mistake/Reprimand all that's needed for talking out of turn.
+ Lakeland Ledger: Life for Big Sugar just became much sweeter. It has gotten rid of what it believed to be a sourpuss judge.
+ The Palm Beach Post chooses to neither approve or disapprove, but worries instead about the next step. The Everglades has lost its long-time guardian. As soon as possible, it needs another one who is just as vigilant.
+ The Sun-Sentinel takes the same tact as The Herald wringing its collective hands and owning that Hoeveler may have been right in what he said, but he was wrong to say it. Any suggestion of whether polluting the Everglades is a bad thing, or maybe even a good thing, is avoided.
+More robust is The Tampa Tribune's editorial, An Everglades Champion Is Dumped The judge simply stated the obvious - the legislation undermined his ruling. The matter was relevant to the public, since the legislation was being debated at the time.
+ The Herald always avoids criticism of Jeb Bush. So now that he is Big Sugar's New Best Friend will it also feel a need to cheer-on Everglades pollutors? Signs point to "yes."
+ The Sentinel loves Jeb, too, but will criticize his worst excesses. It is outraged. Big Sugar's success in judge-shopping is a big loss for the Everglades.
+ Ft Myers News-Press: Judge's removal a mistake/Reprimand all that's needed for talking out of turn.
+ Lakeland Ledger: Life for Big Sugar just became much sweeter. It has gotten rid of what it believed to be a sourpuss judge.
+ The Palm Beach Post chooses to neither approve or disapprove, but worries instead about the next step. The Everglades has lost its long-time guardian. As soon as possible, it needs another one who is just as vigilant.
+ The Sun-Sentinel takes the same tact as The Herald wringing its collective hands and owning that Hoeveler may have been right in what he said, but he was wrong to say it. Any suggestion of whether polluting the Everglades is a bad thing, or maybe even a good thing, is avoided.
+More robust is The Tampa Tribune's editorial, An Everglades Champion Is Dumped The judge simply stated the obvious - the legislation undermined his ruling. The matter was relevant to the public, since the legislation was being debated at the time.
