In either case, whether Charlie Crist runs as a Republican or as a newly declared Independent-- his future with the GOP is a written chapter. Done. Finished. Over. But his career as a public servant in Florida may just be starting. You see, the polls show that in a three-way race, independent Charlie Crist could win-- beating Marco Rubio and the Democratic challenger, Congressman Kendrick Meek. This would drive the GOP apoplectic, because it would not only reinforce that idea that Floridians are tired of the same old, same old; people also don't believe that running willy-nilly over to Marco Rubio just because he delivers a carefully canned speech well means he ought to represent a state that is leaning more and more Democratic.Let me tell you why I like Charlie Crist. The guy who has been amiable his entire political career has come face-to-face with the ugly elements of the GOP in Florida. If he didn't understand what he was dealing with before, he surely gets it now and he could do a hell-of-a-job pulling down the curtains to show the puppeteers manipulating the party. There is a radical fringe of the GOP that is determined to plant its flag on Charlie Crist's dead political career. As far as I'm concerned-- and there are a ton of people like me: that is just plain wrong.
This business of beating up Charlie Crist because he embraced the president? Of garroting him politically because Florida accepted stimulus money? Of standing up to the craziness of FCAT and judging teachers by how well they teach a test? It is madness. Charlie Crist should run as a populist. He should run against the forces in his former party that greased the tracks for the worst economic crisis since the Depression. We're waiting for a new Charlie Crist to emerge; unshackled from the nonsense and speaking truth to power.
For Florida I say to Charlie Crist. Run, Charlie, run.
11 comments:
Meek lost it with the Sugar Letter. We need Charlie to run.
I can't help but think about Jimmy Morales during this Charlie Crist Saga.
Like Jimmy, Charlie tries to be all things to all people. Never take a stand, out of fear of pissing someone off. Trying to guage the prevailing populist wind. In other words: See which way the parade is marching, and then jump out front and make believe you've been leading the group the whole time.
Also like Jimmy's, Charlie's support is a reflection of himself: "A mile wide and an inch deep!"
If Charlie Crist truely supported SB6 at any time, but had problems with other parts of the bill, he should have done what any real leader would have done, and insert himself in to the process and work the problematic parts out of the bill, to make it better.
Instead, he told people he supported it, until the winds of public opinion blew against it. Then, he just hung his colleagues out to dry for simple political expediency.
SB6 might not be the answer to what ails our public schools, but neither is the status quo.
m
The Dems couldn't bring themselves to elect Rod Smith because they believe he sold out to US Sugar. Well look at what you got. Charlie Crist! Who sold out to US Sugar.
M - you're wrong. Crist embraced the Federal stimulus bill and President Obama - this is what got him in deep dodo with his own party and led to the rise of Marco Rubio. Crist has in fact stood apart from the state Republicans who,apparently, are still listening to Jeb Bush. Charlie Crist is going to make a better Senator than Rubio when he's elected to office as an Independent.
I think we should remember Rubio "passed" property tax reform for Florida a few years ago when he was Speaker of the House. Of course, the promised thousands that would be reduced to each Florida homeowner never came true. In fact, the average reduction was hundred dollars and change.
Mmmm...
thank goodness. My husband and I thought we were going to have to become Republicans in order to defeat Rubio. Now, if only Crist would stand up for the people of his own sexual persuasion and quit hiding behind his "beard", I would be happy to support him instead of voting to be rid of the teabagger.
mcm
Florida is definitely full of MANY scary conservatives.
It's sad to say, but anybody but Rubio at this point.
Crist has always tried to be popular, but he has never been a populist. He was a "Jeb Bush Republican" when he ran for Governor, which everybody knew wasn't true, but the GOP didn't trust Gallagher. So we elected an amiable willow tree as the "People's Governor" who has yet to understand the art of leadership. Crist is an opportunist, and running as Independent is an opportunity he should avoid if he ever wants to run for office again. And he does. He needs to take his lumps in the primary and come back after some soul searching.
Crist supporting the stimulus did get him into trouble with the party, no question.
But I think the more telling incident is when he lied out loud, trying to make believe it never happened.
That's the Charlie you have to watch out for. The one who isn't man enough to stand by his principles, and for two simple reasons. One, he has no spine. Two, he has no principles.
You newly-minted Cristites have been warned.
Ask not for whom the bus rolls,
It rolls for thee
Go Indie, Charlie!
Hey Nonee Moose - I beg to differ that Mr Crist has no spine. To have stood up against Jeb Bush and his cronies in TLH shows he has a spine and cojones. I'm a firm believer that the only reason Rubio has flared up the way he has is because behind the scenese Jebby boy is pulling all the strings.
miaex- Crist flipflopped on that issue too. It doesn't take cojones to stand up to something that was overwhelmingly unpopular to begin with, and he only got in front after his people polled it and the teachers were setting fire to the schoolhouse. Jeb flashed some of the old Bush hubris in running that bill now, when the governor was sucking wind without an issue to give him traction. If crist does wind up winning the senate seat, he'll have Jeb to thank for it.
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