Not One Red Cent

Obama is "doing what's right for the country" Says Charlie Crist

2012-01-31T17:47:00.000-05:00

Now why doesn't this surprise me? Via The Corner:

In a rare television interview, former Florida Gov. Charlie Crist, who left the Republican Party during his unsuccessful 2010 U.S. Senate bid, told Chuck Todd on “The Daily Rundown” that he’d consider voting for President Obama in November.

“Consider? Sure, I would consider that,” said Crist. “I really think he’s sincere and genuine. I think we have a lot time, a lot of issues to talk about, but I think, in his heart, he’s trying to do what’s right for the country overall.”

Remember, this blog was founded specifically because in 2009 the NRSC supported Gov. Charlie Crist in a Senate primary against rising conservative star Marco Rubio which enraged conservatives across the nation.

Charlie Crist has just validated the very existence of this blog. "...he's trying to do what's right for the country overall"? Seriously?

Note to Mr. Crist:

Please explain why Solyndra was "right for the country"?
Why was Fast 'n Furious "right for the country"?
Why was it "right for the country" to nearly triple entitlement spending?
How is slashing defense spending "right for the country"?
How are those unintended consequences of the power-grabbing Obamacare legislation "right for the country"?
I don't think the folks around the Gulf of Mexico think the drilling moratorium was "right for the country".

Need I go on?

Charlie Crist is free to vote for whomever he chooses, of course, just as conservatives were free to reject Crist's poorly camouflaged liberal tripe.

And to the NRSC, remember, "Don't piss down my back and tell me it's raining."

Not one red cent!

The Face of the Future

2012-01-30T16:50:00.001-05:00

Four minutes well spent:

Via The Other McCain

Dear Republican Establishment: Thanks for Nothing

2012-01-19T17:44:00.000-05:00

Okay so we all saw Perry's big announcement today coming. You can't hang around in last place in the polls for too long before you become a drain on the whole system. I hate that Perry's bid played out the way that it did but what are you going to do? Wasn't his time.

Perry had improved a great deal since those first debates but maybe it was too little too late. I think also that too many people listened to Rick Perry and heard George W. Bush and they just aren't over Bush yet. Although I still think history will redeem Bush in the end. Somewhat.

So where to go from here?

Pundette has gone to Rick Santorum. Stacy McCain has been with Rick Santorum since Herman Cain dropped out. Legal Insurrection is still with Newt.

I don't know where I'm going right now.

To be honest, I just don't like any of them. I don't.

How can the Republican establishment have farked this up so badly? That's a rhetorical question - you don't have to answer it. It's because they're the Republican establishment. All this PR about "we really do have a strong field of candidates" is just crap. I don't even want to begin listing my grievances with these candidates. Not enough time and it's all been said.

Is it too late to get Michele Bachmann back?

I suspect that the Democrats are more afraid of Newt than anyone else and you can call me a conspiracy theorist if you want to but I think that's in part what pulled Marianne Gingrich back into the limelight. I don't think Team Obama wants to debate Newt.

And when in the hell did debating skills become a prerequisite for running for president, anyway? Speaking skills are important but so is executive experience, intelligence, foreign policy knowledge and experience, business acumen, character, integrity, and honor.

Coming into this election I've always said that "a dust bunny could beat Obama," because WTF is he going to run on? His record? His job killing, debt hiking, food stamp raising, partisan, scandal ridden record? Seriously?

But here's the Republican establishment about to hand it right back to him.

I'm going to stick my head in the oven. Maybe there's a beer in there. And a match.

Loser Named 2012 NRSC Vice Chair

2011-07-12T20:30:00.006-04:00

Press release:

National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC) Chairman U.S. Senator John Cornyn (R-TX) today announced that businesswoman and civic leader Carly Fiorina will join the organization as a Vice Chair for the 2012 election cycle.
Serving alongside Cornyn and NRSC Vice Chairman U.S. Senator Orrin Hatch (R-UT), Fiorina will amplify Senate Republicans’ focus on healing America’s troubled economy, and assist with the NRSC’s crucial fundraising efforts in support of a Republican majority in the U.S. Senate.
“I’m pleased to welcome my friend Carly Fiorina to the NRSC team . . .

READ MORE at TheOtherMcCain.com

Turn off the tap!

2011-04-14T11:03:00.000-04:00

FRESHMEN REPUBLICANS DISSING TEA PARTY VOTERS WHO PUT THEM INTO OFFICE

"“It’s not that I’m not worried about them. And I would like to be all things to all people, but if you try to do that, you’re nothing to anybody. So I’m more inclined to just vote yes and move this in the right direction,” said Rep. Mike Kelly (R-Pa.), a freshman lawmaker who’s a favorite of Tea Party activists back in his home district."

“As much of a fiscal conservative as I am, you do have to accept the small victory sometimes before you get to the bigger victory,” said freshman Rep. Michael Grimm (R-N.Y.), who has taken some heat from Tea Party activists back in his home district.

“It’s not something I worry about,” Grimm said of the potential for a primary challenge. “My job is to lead and to govern. If I wanted to just sit back and not be a member of Congress and just be a member of a Tea Party, well, then I can espouse whatever I want because there are no consequences.”

“At the end of the day, [the Tea Party] is just gonna have to grade each one of their legislators on their performance,” Palazzo (R.-MS) said. “If you expect us to agree with you 100 percent of the time, you might as well just go ahead and start pulling out primary candidates now and start vetting them.”

What an interesting suggestion... In the meantime, demonstrate YOUR fiscal responsibility by turning off the donation tap to these sellouts.

Tonight's" WTF Moment" Comes From Politico

2011-03-15T21:01:00.002-04:00

Via Politico, a real WTF moment:

Texas Sen. John Cornyn, chairman of the National Republican Senatorial Committee, helped elect Rubio, and like many Republicans, is putting a lot of pressure on him to live up to expectations.

Hunh? Isn't Cornyn the guy who endorsed Crist right out of the gate? What am I missing here?

(Cross posted at And So it Goes in Shreveport)

Is This For Real? Sen. John Cornyn Approached Joe Scarborough To Run For Senate?

2011-03-10T23:58:00.001-05:00

Gadzooks, it might not be a joke after all:

The genius who picked Charlie Crist over Marco Rubio is back to his old tricks in the Sunshine State.

Sen. John Cornyn (Texas), who heads the National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC), told The Hill on Thursday that he has talked to Scarborough a couple times about a Senate bid. And he indicated he’s still working on persuading the MSNBC host to run for the upper chamber.
“I’d be delighted to talk to him a third time,” Cornyn said.

Just what the Republicans need. Another Senator who will capitulate his own side in order to 'work across the isle'.

UPDATE: Clarification is called for. It wasn't Florida but New York Cornyn talked to Scarborough about.

This Election Isn't Over Yet

2010-11-05T12:09:00.000-04:00

AKA, One Last Call For Ten Buck Friday.

Renee Ellmers still needs your help.

Noted choke-hold expert Bob Etheridge will not go faintly into the night after finding a couple of hundred ballots someplace. Etheridge's "Get The Extreme Elderly Out To Vote" seems to be working better than expected.

The margin was close but enough for a decisive win for Ellmers. Until a "counting error" was found. If anymore votes are "found", it trigger a recount by law. And the recount will go on and on until enough votes break for Bob "WWF" Etheridge.

Ellmers needs your support more than ever.

Election night, after the ten counties in my district had reported their votes, I led Bob Etheridge by 2,100 votes. (That number is crucial because under North Carolina law Congressman Etheridge is not entitled to an ‘automatic recount’ if he trails by more than 1% – or 1,888 votes.)

Then, yesterday afternoon – unexpectedly – the vote totals changed. The State Board of Elections reported my lead had dropped to 1,600 votes. Two hours later Bob Etheridge announced he intended to call for a recount.

As a result, last night my campaign began hiring attorneys – eleven attorneys in all. One in each county to monitor each recount and an attorney to work with the North Carolina State Board of Elections.

Right now, our best estimate of the minimum cost we face is $50,000. But, of course, my campaign spent every penny we had before the election.

Yesterday, we appealed to the National Republican Congressional Committee for support, asking if they could contribute to help pay the costs of this recount. Their answer, unfortunately, was, No – that we would have to raise the money to pay for the recount ourselves.

I was afraid that would be their answer. Months ago, I went to Washington and asked the National Republican Congressional Committee and many conservative leaders to help my campaign. Many conservative groups – like the Susan B. Anthony List, Concerned Women of America, Freedom Works, and Sarah Palin’s Sarah PAC all helped, but the NRCC declined. Later, they did support other campaigns in North Carolina – which, unfortunately, lost – but we never received their support. In fact, their spokesman told the press “that the campaign wasn’t ready for prime time” – which actually made it even harder for us to raise money. So, I am doubtful we will get support from the NRCC to help with the expense of the recount.

Since that time, the NRCC has finally done their part for this "Not Ready For Prime Time" candidate who happened to win her election. They did the job they are supposed to do.

Back to Ten Buck Friday.

It was an amazingly simple concept that many blogs picked up on in the run up to the general election. At the end of each workweek, take 10 bucks (or 20 or 30 or whatever amount you wanted to use) and donate it. Instead of dinner for four at Pizza Hut, you could have bought a take and bake pizza and a bottle of soda and sent the price difference to the candidate of your choice. It's that easy.

So here is the scoop. I already donated to Renee's recount fund. And between all of the blogs I contribute to:

At The Point Of A Gun
Not One Red Cent
Disrupt The Narrative
Conservatives 4 Palin
The Daley Gator

Out of those five blogs, surely there is a readership of more than a hundred people on any one day. And if those 100 readers could donate 10 bucks each, it would make it an easy grand in her bank. If it helps, I already donated $25 bucks this morning.

I don't make this bleg (blog beg) lightly. And I'm not saying that Bob "Five Martini Breakfast" Etheridge is out to steal this election. But I'm not not saying it either. And by steal I mean that liberals mean to render you mute on how you want this country to be ran. Don't let them steal your voice and your vote. Speak out today.

Thanks to Bob for some of the links and the reminder for Ten Buck Fridays.

Senator Marco Rubio and Family

2010-11-02T22:22:00.000-04:00

With Apologies to Clement Clarke Moore

2010-11-01T20:42:00.002-04:00

Twas the night before the election when all through the land
Not a liberal was stirring as they sat on their hands;

Sample ballots were marked by the voters with care
In hopes that the wave soon would be there.

The Republicans were nestled all snug in their beds
While visions of takeovers danced in their heads

And Nancy with her Botox and Harry's face all stern
Had just settled down for a long night's returns

When out at the polls there arose such a clatter
They sprang from their beds to see what was the matter.

Away to their pollsters they ran like a flash
To see what Republicans were left they could smash

When what to their wondering eyes should appear
But a Republican majority and power so dear

A look at their TVs, so lively and quick
They knew in a minute their trouble was thick.

More rapid than rockets the returns as they came
And we whistled and shouted and called them by name:

Now Rubio, now Raese, now Carly and Angle,
On Kirk, on Bielat, on Ayotte and O'Donnell!

To the top of the charts, to the top of the Hill!
Now dash away, dash away, oh what a thrill!

As the liberals before the Tea Party flies
They blame George Bush then begin to cry

So up to the Hill the Republicans flew
With a Pledge for America and a new Speaker too.

Okay, okay. You get the idea. Not One Red Cent is not one to count our chickens and all that but the predictions are looking fine for tomorrow's returns. Thanks today to Professor Jacobson for the shout out of our work here.

Our work is not done, not by a long shot. 2012 is coming and Not One Red Cent will be here.

Now dash away, dash away, dash away all, AND VOTE!

Charlie Crist a man with no conscience

2010-10-04T18:37:00.000-04:00

Charlie is the perfect example of what American voters are fed up with. He is a guy who will say ANYTHING, tell any lie, change any position, to get elected. He has no interest in serving his constituents, he is, instead all about power!

Political sleeze at its worst. Charlie Crist was interviewed by the Palm Beach Post editorial board. Crist went for low blows against his republican opponent Marco Rubio calling him a “radical right” politician that has the “fringe views” of those in the tea parties. He also called Rubio a “Jeb Bush Republican” in dire hopes that the Bush label might work in this election cycle against Rubio, and curry favor to his campaign.

So, he condemns Rubio as a “Jeb Bush Republican. Yet, he labeled himself, not that long ago, a “Jeb Bush Republican”.

Charlie, come on, can’t you even summon the integrity to stick to one lie? But at least you did get ONE THING right.

To the Palm Beach Post‘s credit, they did not let Crist get away with labeling Rubio a “Jeb Bush Republican”

Crist hasn’t become a full-throated Bush basher.

“He did a good job,” Crist said of Bush during his Post interview.

Afterward, Crist was asked about his former “Jeb Bush Republican” self-description.

“Yeah, well, that’s changed,” Crist said. “I think Jeb and I both agree on that. I’m not even a Republican.”

Yes, Charlie, that is right! Fact is you have shown yourself to be nothing but a bag of lies.

Finally, An Honest Campaign Ad From Charlie Crist

2010-09-09T17:52:00.004-04:00

Via Ace.

Stick with it for the payoff at the end.

Sometimes, it's the simplest of jokes that are the best.

The Other McCain has the original if you are so inclined to see it.

Cross posted here and here.

New Ten Buck Friday Poll Out

2010-08-31T11:46:00.002-04:00

It's a new week and a new batch of candidates up for a poll over at Right Klik.

For those of you new to Ten Buck Fridays, it's simple enough concept for even the most liberal of democrats to follow.

Here's how it works: For Ten Buck Fridays, congressional candidates are nominated and voted on throughout the week. The winner is announced Friday and cross-promoted amongst the supporting conservative blogs. These blogs then promote a $10 per donation money bomb for the winning candidate. Would you go to the link I've posted here and cast your vote for me? Tell your friends!

Doug Hoffman is up this week. He was in the special election in the 23rd Congressional District in New York state last year. He barely lost out to the Democrat then. Help push him over the top today.

Senator Coburn, I second that emotion!

2010-08-30T21:47:00.000-04:00

Tom Coburn is not exactly what you would call on the Newt 2012 bandwagon! Neither am I! Coburn has his reasons, which I share, and to which I would add quite simply that Newt is a politician, in my opinion before he is a Conservative! That just will not do! We need leadership, and in my opinion, politicians are not, by nature leaders. They are, rather than driven by principles, are driven too often by power!

Food For Thought

2010-08-30T11:13:00.000-04:00

Not sure how accurate the letter is but the point stands.

Letter to the Editor

Campaign Finance Reform, McCain?
—————————-
The man who wrote the McCain-Feingold Campaign Finance Bill, saying there’s too much money in politics evidently believes that there’s too much for the other candidates, but not for him.

We just witnessed the outright purchase of a Senate seat by John McCain, who spent over $21 MILLION to buy his re-election, a shamerful display. He was able to hold on to the campaign funds he didn’t spend in his failed Presidential bid, and toss that into the fray. This almost certainly is a record for a primary election campaign, and that’s nothing to be proud of, Mr. McCain.

Once the general election is over, McCain will go back to his clubhouse in Washington, and will no doubt do whatever he wants to do, and it won’t be what’s best for Arizona, but what’s best for John McCain.

John McCain, Spectacular Hypocrite.

Sincerely,
Ray Spitzer

Charlie Crist Knows Waffles

2010-08-27T16:22:00.000-04:00

So Charlie Crist would have us believe that he "misspoke" when he said he'd have voted FOR Obamacare. What he really meant, he says now, is that he would have voted against it because it's too big and it cuts Medicare Advantage. That was probably AFTER his handlers reminded him that lots of voters in Florida rely on Medicare Advantage and might think poorly of his position. Oops.

It's kind of like his "misspoke" when he said he was absolutely going to run as a Republican in this Senate campaign:

“To put these rumors to rest once and for all, as we have said countless times before, Governor Crist is running for the United States Senate as a Republican. He will not run as an Independent or as a No Party Affiliation.

It's kind of like he "misspoke" when he spoke in support of the stimulus but backed off of that and said he never supported it.

"I know it will help my state and that's why I support it!"

While in November 2009 he says "I didn't endorse it!"

Actually, during the debate between Crist and Rubio in March of this year, Crist said he'd vote to repeal Obamacare but he's also said he would not scrap Obamacare. Which is it?

Which is it, Charlie? Make up your mind.

Cross posted at And So it Goes in Shreveport

Rubio widens lead, Charile Crist hardest hit!

2010-08-24T20:42:00.000-04:00

Is he pulling away, as, The Reaganite Republican suggests? Let us hope so

A new Public Policy Polling poll out today -the day of his official GOP nomination- has Marco Rubio beginning to pull-away:

Good news, but let's not get cocky!

Help Merlin Froyd Against Democratic Cog Howard Berman!

2010-08-17T22:33:00.002-04:00

Help Merlin in his campaign against Democratic cog Howard Berman!

http://www.rightklik.net/2010/08/ten-buck-fridays-august-15-20.html

Mark Reed for Congress in Brad Sherman's 27th District!

2010-08-17T21:59:00.003-04:00

Brad Sherman literally laughs at his constituents when they ask him if he's read the legislation he votes for. He needs to not be here.

Mark Reed with Michelle Bachmann

MARK REED FOR CONGRESS

STATMENT THAT WILL APPEAR IN THE CALIFORNIA SAMPLE BALLOT

"It’s time to reject the Washington DC style of representation in the 27th District.

"As a lifelong San Fernando Valley resident, I pledge to represent you in Washington DC.”
Mark Reed, a descendant of the Mohawk and Apache with mixed European heritage. He is an entrepreneur, successful actor and advocate. At age 26 Mark purchased his first company, at age 28 opened a retail store and at age 32 began his third company.

"Mark served on the Screen Actor’s Guild Board of Directors, currently sits on the KCET Community Advisory Board, and is National Chairman for American Indians in Film and Television. A tireless advocate for veterans, Mark works to save the VA Sepulveda and West Los Angeles medical centers from encroachment by private sector developers.

"Mark is a fiscal conservative in favor of limited government. He will represent every member of the 27th District, regardless of political affiliation, bringing jobs, security and opportunity to the San Fernando Valley . Mark pledges to bring accountability, honesty and integrity back to Congress and will read every bill before casting your vote.

"Mark encourages every constituent to research his platform and campaign at www.markreedforcongress.com. Every voter should consider the facts. Don’t be taken in by campaign rhetoric and attack ads.

"When evaluated by his strength of character, his commitment to the district, and his position on the issues, Mark Reed is the best and only choice for a better 27th District and a better United States of America."

Merlin Froyd for Congress!

2010-08-12T20:55:00.006-04:00

Running against Howard Berman...

Merlin Froyd for Congress!

2010-08-12T20:55:00.001-04:00

Running against Howard Berman...

Marco Rubio Responds To Moronic Dolt, Harry Reid

2010-08-11T14:22:00.000-04:00

For starters, Harry Reid can't see much of anything beyond his own political divide. Which explains how he can say what he did about Hispanics. A republican Hispanic doesn't fit into his mindset. Worlds collide with dogs and cats living together or something.

Which brings us to Marco Rubio. Who happens to be Hispanic and a Republican running for Senate in Florida.

Reid has a 'D' after his name. Sadly, he can make stupid statements like he did and still be sitting as Majority Leader in the Senate.

Video: John McCain "I Chose Lying"

2010-08-11T11:10:00.003-04:00

Vai here, there and everywhere.*

The main reason I would like to see McCain booted from office would be to put other Senators on notice. Maybe they would sit straighter when people came to their office with complaints about how Congress is spending other people's money. Lindsey Graham, I'm looking at you.

All too often, people talk about getting more conservative politicians into office and booting the squishes. But when push comes to shove, they're back to the LOTE (Lesser of Two Evils) vote. The old habits die hard.

Now is the chance for conservatives to put their vote where their mouth is. Vote for J.D. Hayworth and give McCain his walking papers.

It's been argued in the comments over at Spade's place about Hayworth and is he a crook or not. No more so than McCain.

So look to the larger picture. What kind of message would this send to the people in the US Senate if someone as politically safe as McCain should be out of a job? Would they write it off as a purge? Or if more 'purges' should happen, would Congress start to listen to their constituents again? If the man who is a fixture in the Senate is no longer there due to the will of the people, shouldn't that shake up the halls of Congress? No political position should ever be considered safe.

Make this year the year of the anti-incumbent. Vote Hayworth.

*I've been trying not to bogart video clips as of late. It's a bad blogging form, same as snipping entire clips of a news article from one blog then posting a courtesy link at the end, leaving nothing to click over and see. Otherwise known as 'Pulling a Chuckie Johnson'.** In this case, the video has been around so I figured it was safe to use.

**I made that up on the spot.

Cross posted here At The Point Of A Gun.

Quarterly Campaign Report Is In For Marco Rubio

2010-07-14T16:10:00.002-04:00

In the year ending 2009 quarterly report, Rubio raised $1.75 million.

The first quarter of this year, Rubio was up to $3.6 million.

This last quarter alone, Rubio has raised $4.5 million. Even former Crist donor, U.S. Sen. George LeMieux, has chipped into Rubio's campaign chest.

Crist, on the other hand, has gone from $2 million to $1.1 million to not disclosing what he's brought in so far.

Update: Crist finally chimed in with $1.8 million.

Rasmussen: Rubio, Crist neck and neck

2010-07-08T21:21:00.000-04:00

Folks, my friends in Florida, it is time to step up your support for Marco Rubio. We all know what Crist is. He is a politician through and through. he will say anything, adopt any position to get elected.He has no crdedibility, no loyalty to anyone or anything but to himself and his interests.

Now, Rasmussen shows Crist nearly even with Rubio.

Crist needs to go, it is time to give the boot to those who gain political office to rule, rather than to serve. The choice is clear. Floridians can elect a political hack, or a true Conservative.

Choose wisely!

How About "Liar"?

2010-06-30T13:43:00.003-04:00

This one's a knee slapper!

I've got a word or two....

As Jim Geraghty points out, this is the guy who swore on national television, multiple times, he was going to run as a Republican. No ambivalence about it whatsoever.

And now this is the guy running as an independent and who got sued this week for refusing to return campaign donations from Republican donors who believed him.

I've got a word...how about LIAR?

(Cross posted at And So it Goes in Shreveport )

Charlie Crist Being Sued?

2010-06-29T10:24:00.001-04:00

Via Legal Insurrection who has more including the PDF of the complaint.

If Charlie Crist would have dropped out, he would have saved himself this trouble.

A pair of Republicans who contributed to Florida Gov. Charlie Crist's (I) campaign for Senate have filed a lawsuit demanding that those donations be returned.

The class action suit seeks refunds for all of Crist's GOP donors, arguing that not refunding Republican donors now that the governor has left the party and is running against a Republican, actually violates state law.

The man leading the legal fight is Florida state Rep. Tom Grady, a former regional chairman of Crist's Senate campaign.

From what I've read, a donation to the candidate is a donation to that candidate. Regardless of party affiliation. It's a waiting game on how it will be played out in court.

Quarterly reports will be out at the end of this month. So we'll see how badly he needs to hold onto what funds he has in his account.

John McCain. The Matthew Lesco Of The US Senate.*

2010-06-26T10:37:00.000-04:00

He's looking to give away money like a stranger in an unmarked van gives away candy to kids.

*In case you don't know who Matthew Lesco is.

John McCain Continues To Piss Down The Backs Of Arizona Voters And Telling Them That It's Raining

2010-06-09T11:10:00.001-04:00

Via Hot Air.

It appears this will be part II in an ongoing series.

I have to agree with Allahpundit that this ad isn't as bad as 'Build The Dang Fence' where McCain looks angry enough to chew prickly pear cactus but it is a close second.

To accuse J.D. Hayworth of being an insider when McCain has been in Washington DC for almost 30 years is laughable. McCain prided himself on being the 'Man To Get Things Done' in the Senate. He worked across the isle more times than I can count. He couldn't attain such a status if he wasn't an 'insider'. Is he looking to reclaim the 'Maverick' title again?

Cross posted here At The Point Of A Gun.

You wonder why the NRSC ever suported a scumbag like Crist

2010-06-08T19:27:00.000-04:00

So, Charlie thanked the GOP by bailing out on them, and doing his best to screw them out of the Senate seat the NRSC endorsed him for. Now he is showing his true colors by erasing his "pro-life principles"?

Charlie Crist, the new synonym for weasel, has cleansed his website of its pro-life content. He makes my skin crawl. Mark Hemingway asks, "So what’s the next core political political belief will Charlie Crist unceremoniously dump in his shameless bid for office? Any ideas?"

What a class act huh?

Rubio: We need to stand beside Israel!

2010-06-07T20:50:00.001-04:00

He nails it! Video via Babalu

Crist Claims Ignorance

2010-06-06T09:59:00.000-04:00

And so it begins. The fallout of the Jim Greer arrest is about to rain down all over Charlie Crist.

Via The St. Petersburg Times:

Gov. Charlie Crist personally signed off on his former Republican Party chairman's confidential fundraising role with the state party, according to Jim Greer's attorney, whose allegation contradicts the governor's statement that he "didn't know anything" about the deal now part of a criminal investigation.

State investigators say Greer and the party's former executive director, Delmar W. Johnson III, secretly set up a shell company called Victory Strategies to divert party money and enrich themselves. Greer was charged Wednesday with fraud and money laundering.

Crist says the entire Greer incident is "surprising" and "unfortunate" He says he didn't even know about the shell corporation Greer was using to funnel cash into his own pocket "until after Greer resigned in January." Crist's explanation for not knowing the specifics? He's too busy running the state. He can't be bothered with the little stuff.

When did ignorance become an excuse?

Actually, ever the opportunist, Crist attempts to take credit for Greer's current legal troubles by explaining "I'm the one actually who empanelled the state-wide grand jury that came down with this decision."

Greer's attorney contradicts Crist's ignorance excuse, explaining that Crist signed off on the diversion of GOP funds:

Chase said Greer and Crist discussed the fundraising deal at least three times last year: at the golf tournament in February, over the summer; and in the fall at the Fisher Island home of the governor's wife.

"The governor knew about Victory Strategies from the very beginning," Chase said. "They all worked on it together. … They saw it as a way to save money."

Jennifer Rubin points out that Crist is certain to find out that he's the wrong candidate at the wrong time:

In an election year in which inside deals are under scrutiny (with the Sestak and Romanoff scandals swirling) and establishment candidates face a hostile electorate, Crist may find there is little patience for this sort of thing. And it’s a good reminder that the GOP inside the beltway political gurus (who backed Crist) often get it very, very wrong.

Some of us suggested a long time ago that Crist was the wrong guy. It was the NRSC who thought he was the right guy. They were wrong.

And so it begins.

(H/T: Memeorandum)

(Cross posted at And So it Goes in Shreveport)

Crist Uses Oil Spill for Campaign Cash

2010-06-05T10:54:00.000-04:00

Reaching lower levels of decency than one could fathom, Charlie Crist is now using the BP oil spill to raise campaign cash.

Via Ben Smith at Politico comes this fundraising plea from Crist:

As you know we are facing tremendous challenges in view of the BP oil spill which is now threatening our shores unlike anything we have ever experienced before. This spill is now being reported as the largest environmental disaster in our nation’s history. As we begin our summer it's important that we all come together to face this challenge.

He goes on to tell you how to donate to his campaign, which I won't link here.

It's bad enough that Crist refused to return Republican donations after he turned "Independent," now he wants to capitalize off this.

Ah well. It looks like he's received the kiss of campaign-death anyway. He's likely going to get Obama's endorsement.

Horrors.

Rubio Pounds Crist With New Ad

2010-06-03T12:26:00.000-04:00

Powerful stuff!

Former Florida GOP Chair Jim Greer is Arrested; Crist is "Disappointed."

2010-06-02T15:39:00.001-04:00

Charlie Crist buddy and "top-tier" fundraiser Jim Greer has been arrested at his home in Florida this morning. Greer was arrested around 9:15 a.m.; his buddy Charlie Crist was informed of the impending arrest around 9:00 a.m.

Greer was hand picked by Crist to head the Florida GOP and Crist steadfastly stood by his man when pressure mounted on Greer to resign earlier this year. Today, Crist says he's disappointed.

Greer is charged with six felony counts stemming from his corporation Victory Strategies. Prosecutor William Shepherd explained that Greer set up this shell corporation on which he could write checks to himself from the donations using the money "for his own personal lifestyle."

One one such occasion Greer is suspected of writing himself a check for $39,000 from Victory Strategies for his own personal use. There are multiple instances of such behavior and Greer is now charged with fraud, money laundering and four counts of grand theft.

During the press conference today, Shepherd was asked about potential prison time:

When asked about potential prison time, it was explained that each of the six charges is a felony count. Three are third degree felonies which carry a potential five years each in prison. The two first degree felony counts carry a maximum of thirty years each.

Greer is charged in Orange County, Florida and will be tried there. His bond is $105,000. There are no further arrests expected at this time.

My report of the press conference is here.

Memeorandum thread is here.

Stacy McCain's post is here. His Am. Spec. post is here.

Straight Talk From Alabama

2010-05-25T07:23:00.002-04:00

I like Rick Barber's message!

DJOU TAKES OBAMA'S HOMETOWN CONGRESSIONAL SEAT -- NRCC NOT INVOLVED.

2010-05-23T14:01:00.000-04:00

John McCain Losing Campaign Staffers Faster Than He Flip Flops On Positions

2010-05-17T15:43:00.002-04:00

And if you've seen his "Build the dang fence" commercial, that's pretty damn fast.

Sen. John McCain's re-election bid lost its campaign manager and another veteran Republican official, part of a shake-up for the Arizona lawmaker locked in a tight primary race with radio host and former Rep. J.D. Hayworth.

The pair of GOP hands—who started before Hayworth entered the race—will instead work on the Republican National Committee's effort in Arizona. Campaign spokesman Brian Rogers said neither Shiree Verdone nor Mike Hellon, a former Arizona GOP chairman, were fired.

"Senator McCain is very grateful for all that Shiree and Mike have done to launch the re-election campaign and establish it on a firm footing and looks forward to working closely with them for victory in November," Rogers said in a statement.

McCain, his party's 2008 presidential nominee, drew a Republican primary challenge that has forced him to the right. The one-time champion of a moderate, bipartisan approach to immigration now is running ads demanding Washington finish "the danged fence" he once mocked.

Four Reasons Why Crist Will Lose

2010-05-13T09:56:00.003-04:00

It's always dangerous to get close to a backstabber. The news that Charlie Crist won't refund contributions he received from Republican donors inspired me to explain why Crist's independent campaign is doomed:

Crist will get no more Republican money. Fundraising is crucial to politics, and there are no direct-mail lists of "raging moderates" who will donate to an independent Crist campaign. It was estimated in late April that Crist quit the GOP race with $6 million cash-on-hand. Based on his previous "burn rate," he's unlikely to have half that amount remaining by Labor Day. Florida is a large state where running TV ads statewide (from Miami to Orlando to Jacksonville to Pensacola) is very expensive. Crist will get buried under an avalanche of TV ads in September and October.
Crist has no campaign "ground game" infrastructure. Who will be county chairmen and precinct captains for Crist? Where will he find volunteers to staff local offices, working the phones and handing out yard signs? Crist must build a campaign apparatus from scratch, while Rubio will have the well-established election machinery of the Republican Party working for him. As Rubio's senior advisors said in a memo last month, "Florida’s county GOP offices are some of the most organized and sophisticated in the country . . . Crist will be starting from scratch to recruit, organize and mobilize volunteers for his campaign, whereas both Marco and [Democratic candidate Kendrick] Meek will have built-in volunteer networks to draw from."
Nobody trusts a traitor. And nobody respects a quitter, as Arlen Specter is belatedly learning. Like Specter's switch to the Democrats, Crist's decision to go independent was pure selfishness. Crist had expected his handpicked state GOP chairman Jim Greer to deliver the Senate nomination on a silver platter, and when that didn't happen, Crist decided to take his ball and go home. Think of how that lends itself to a devastating 30-second TV ad.
Rubio will win the debates. For nearly a year, Crist avoided debating Rubio. Once they finally met in a debate -- March 28 on "Fox News Sunday" -- it was obvious why, and Crist quit the GOP primary less than a month later. At some point this fall, Crist will have to share a debate stage with Rubio and the Democrat, Meek. Charlie will lose that debate, too, for the simple reason that there is no persuasive political rationale for Crist's candidacy. If Florida voters want an Obama-hugging, stimulus-endorsing, liberal stooge for Harry Reid, they'll support Kendrick Meek.

And any Republican operative who hires on with the Crist campaign is committing career suicide. Working for a RINO is bad enough, but working for an ex-RINO loser . . . well, that's what pilots call an "unrecoverable error."

MARCO RUBIO FOR U.S. SENATE

Tea Party Bags Bob Bennett!

2010-05-08T19:10:00.002-04:00

Utah's sitting senator, Bob Bennett, lost his bid for re-election after being eliminated in the second round of balloting at the GOP state convention, the AP is reporting.

"It's time to get rid of the incumbents," said Kyle Hosman, a 39-year-old North Ogden delegate supporting (GOP candidate Mike) Lee. "Quite frankly I'm disgusted by what I've seen in Congress the past 10 years."

The defining trend of this election as a referendum on incumbency itself continues.

Hat tip: Moe Lane

Charlie Crist Campaigns To Obscurity

2010-04-30T09:36:00.002-04:00

Charlie Crist is officially an independent. There's only one thing left to say to him.

Cornyn's Baby Betrays Florida... with OUR money!

2010-04-28T15:20:00.002-04:00

Charlie Crist, trailing Mark Rubio in the Florida GOP polls, is expected to announce his decision to run as an independent for the US Senate... with the money provided for him by GOP donors through the RNC and NRSC.

Michael Steele and John Cornyn once again have chosen to continue their vendetta against their own party membership rather than the Democratic Party majority in DC. Between them, these two idiots could not score a hooker in Tijuana or crack in a Compton City Council meeting, let alone hand pick GOP candidates for us.

Charlie Crist To Run As An Independent

2010-04-28T14:53:00.000-04:00

Via Drudge.

John Cornyn wept.

Republican Florida Governor Charlie Crist has decided he will run as an independent in the race to fill the Florida U.S. Senate seat, Crist allies tell Fox News. The official announcement is scheduled for Thursday at 5pm ET in St. Petersburg, Florida.

The Senate campaign has been rough and tumble for Crist, he was once the front-runner -- but in recent months began trailing his GOP opponent, Florida State Speaker Marco Rubio.

Crist has said that under no circumstance would he drop out of the race, saying he will do what is best for the voters of Florida. The governor says Republicans in Washington want him to stay in the Republican party but voters in Florida have told him they want him to run as an independent.

Not shocking at all to anyone who has been following the campaign.

Dump Reid

2010-04-26T19:10:00.002-04:00

No, really...

Chad Christensen, a Republican candidate for senator who hopes to unseat Reid, came up with this simple, but brilliant, marketing campaign.

Can We Call Marco Rubio A Fundraising Star Now?

2010-04-26T14:04:00.001-04:00

Chalk this up as one more reason for the NRSC to stay out of the primary. It seems like Marco Rubio is starting to self finance just fine all his own.

[VA]Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli has now become a national leader for conservative causes--and you don't have to take just our word for it.

Cuccinelli is a "nationwide leader in fighting the unconstitutional excesses of the federal government." That's according to Marco Rubio, a candidate in the GOP primary for senator in Florida and himself a conservative favorite, in a statement accepting Cuccinelli's endorsement of his candidacy this weekend.

Cuccinelli has joined a variety of Republicans taking sides in the Florida primary battle between Rubio and Gov. Charlie Crist. Last week, House Minority Whip Eric Cantor (R-Va.) also chose the more conservative Rubio over Crist.

If I recall, one of the big reasons why the NRSC asked Crist to run was because Crist could self-finance an election at the time. That will be an issue when he goes with an independent bid.

As of March 31, Crist was sitting on a healthy $7.6 million in his federal campaign account, but he’s going to need every penny — and more — in a race where a statewide media buy likely will cost well more than $1 million per week this fall.

Besides advertising, Crist will have to build a get-out-the-vote operation and gather voter information to microtarget his voters. One operative who has worked on multiple high-profile Independent campaigns said both of those important components — which make up a major part of what party organizations provide — can be bought on the open market, for a price.

But unlike New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg (I), who spent $102 million of his vast fortune to win re-election last fall, Crist can’t self-fund his bid.
[. . .]
Crist won’t be legally obligated to return the money that he’s raised and could try weathering the storm to preserve precious cash. But that would create its own issues with news stories about donors saying Crist took their money under false pretenses. If nothing else, it will be an awkward story for Crist to deal with as he tries to relaunch and rebrand himself.

Exit Question: What state should Crist retire quietly to?

Cross posted here At The Point Of A Gun.

Cheney endorses Rubio, invites Crist to go hunting

2010-04-22T19:10:00.000-04:00

Hot Air's Ed Morrissey posts about the latest Conservative to support Rubio, I found Cheney's take on Charlie Crist especially interesting.

"We can trust Marco to stand up to the Obama agenda that threatens our freedom, and promote clear conservative alternatives," Cheney said in a statement released by the Rubio campaign.

Cheney also implied Crist is guided more by polls than principles.

"Charlie Crist has shown time and again that he cannot be trusted in Washington to take on the Obama agenda because on issue after issue he actually supports that agenda," Cheney said. "Lately it seems Charlie Crist cannot be trusted even to remain a Republican."
Well stated Mr. Vice-President. That is the straight forward no BS talk we need from Republican leaders. As for Crist, he once again proved he is a weasel.

"It's just another Washington politician telling Florida what to do. I don't think Floridians appreciate it. It doesn't matter," Crist said of Cheney's endorsement while speaking to reporters outside the Capitol.
Excuse me Mr. Crist, but where were you when the NRSC was trying to prevent Rubio from having a legitimate shot in this race? Where was your concern for the "people of Florida"? Face it Charlie, you are falling further behind every day because Floridians know what a weasel you are! It is politicians like you they are fed up with.

Now, go do the right thing, drop out of the race.

Cross Posted at The DaleyGator

Crist Campaign Cracks Up in Florida

2010-04-21T10:52:00.000-04:00

What in the world is going on with Charlie Crist? I've all but blown him off as irrelevant in the past few weeks as Rubio has surged past him in the polls, but now with Crist's "dithering" and odd behavior regarding his status in the race, one can't help but notice. Maybe that's his intent.

Larry Thornberry at American Spectator has been keeping an eye on Crist while I've had my head turned and posts a great piece this morning:

Well, there are promises and there are Charlie Crist promises. After two years of most un-Republican-like behavior, Crist appears to be on a path to making the obvious official by leaving the Republican Party. Finding himself behind Rubio by between 11 and 32 points, depending on which recent poll he consulted, for the Republican nomination for the Senate seat Mel Martinez resigned from last summer, Crist is left with the options of admitting defeat and withdrawing from the race or running as an independent. He has until the April 30 filing deadline to decide.

That's the big question right now: will Crist run as an independent, a Republican, or drop out altogether. It's interesting that nobody seems to really trust what Crist says. Even though he has said countless times that he'll run as a Republican, who really believes that?

The Wall Street Journal reports that Crist is already laying the groundwork for an independent run:

Several advisers to Mr. Crist say the governor believes that an independent candidacy is his only chance to win the Senate seat. He is moving closer to deciding to take that course, they say, but still has qualms about leaving the GOP.

Crist's campaign against Rubio has been primarily one of character assassination because even Crist knows he can't beat Rubio on the issues. Met with disdain from Republicans, Crist has now pulled his attack ads against Rubio in some Florida markets.

The entire boondoggle gets even more complicated today as we get word that the Feds are now investigating Rubio and two of Crist's advisers regarding the use of party credit cards.

Ed Morrissey at Hot Air points out that Rubio has the most to lose in this investigation:

Obviously, Rubio has the most to lose. Not only is he the front runner in this race, but he’s the one candidate whose name has been attached to the scandal. Running on a Tea Party platform of government reform and accountability, Rubio also has the most to lose in terms of public perception.

I would contend that is stating the obvious. Rubio has already addressed this issue publicly and paid back the funds in question.

And, really, what does Crist have to lose at this point?

Cross posted at And So it Goes in Shreveport

Jim DeMint trying to cure John Cornyn of Stupiditis!

2010-04-20T17:30:00.000-04:00

In the ongoing struggle to ween the GOP establishment off of RINO milk, Jim DeMint is fighting for common sense, while Texas senator John Cornyn seems loathe to put down the RINO bottle. This story, in the Wall Street Journal gives us a glimpse into the struggle the GOP are in to embrace Conservative candidates, like Marco Rubio, and kick the Dead Skunk Republicans, to the curb.

Sen. John Cornyn, who is spearheading the Republicans’ campaign to take back the Senate, is on a roll. The GOP snatched a seat in Massachusetts and polls favor Republicans in many key states. But the genial Texas lawyer is facing an unusual challenge—from one of his own colleagues. Firebrand conservative Sen. Jim DeMint of South Carolina, breaking with the Senate’s tradition of deference, is endorsing and funding conservative candidates to challenge the party establishment’s picks. Just last week, he backed a conservative insurgent in the Colorado Republican primary over a former lieutenant governor.

The Republican Party is in play, and the passage of President Barack Obama’s health plan has inflamed the intraparty wrangling.

On one side are pragmatists like Mr. Cornyn who insist that uncompromising conservatives aren’t good bets to win swing states. On the other are purists like Mr. DeMint who want to field as many conservatives as possible to recapture the public’s trust at a moment when faith in government is at low ebb.

History suggests Mr. Cornyn’s approach is a safer bet. But recent polls suggest that in a number of states this year, the purist conservative could defeat the Democrat in the general election.

Mr. DeMint is deploying his Senate Conservatives Fund as a counterweight to Mr. Cornyn’s National Republican Senatorial Committee, pushing antiestablishment GOP candidates in Florida, California and Colorado.

Look, I like John Cornyn, I have voted for him, and admire a lot about him. But, he is dead wrong in his approach to retaking the Senate. We all know how his support of Charlie Crist turned out in Florida. Cornyn, and the NRSC jumped on the “Crist is electable” bandwagon, and now, that Marco Rubio is far ahead of Crist in the polls, Mr. Electable RINO is looking at sticking a knife into Cornyn’s back by running as an independent. Try as he might, Cornyn seems addicted to diminished expectations for Republican candidates. His philosophy is to keep putting out the same old weak-spined, squishy Republicans in the hope of winning seats.

Come on Senator, why not run more Conservative candidates? Let voters decide in primaries, give those anti-establishment guys and gals a shot. If we are really going to retake Congress, why not do it with candidates who are fresh, and sincere to Conservative principles?

DeMint, unlike Cornyn, seems to grasp that we need not lower our expectations before we even try to support real Conservatives. DeMint, and most Republicans, I would guess, are in favor of at least trying, rather than giving up before we even begin to fight. Come on Senator Cornyn, get your expectations up. Conservatism beats Liberalism, get behind the candidates who actually espouse Conservatism.

Yes, we know, you have to win elections to get anywhere, but winning with “Republicans” who vote like Democrats is called losing Senator Cornyn. Or if you do not believe me, just check your back for that knife Crist has planted in it.

Cross Posted at The DaleyGatora>

It is Too Late for Charlie to Come Back Now

2010-04-20T12:56:00.000-04:00
Compare this:

BACKGROUND: RUBIO’S STRAW POLL RECORD (23-0)

-Pasco County REC: 73-9 (June 2009)

-Lee County REC: 60-11 (July 2009)

-Highlands County REC: 75-1 (July 2009)

-Bay County REC: 23-2 (August 2009)

-Jefferson County REC: 87 Percent (August 2009)

-Florida Federation of College Republicans: 19-6 (August 2009)

-Republican Women’s Club of Duval Federated: 65-4 (September 2009)

-Gilchrist County REC: 11-1 (September 2009)

-Hernando County REC: 46-0 (September 2009)

-Northwest Orange Republican Women Federation: 49-3 (September 2009)

-Marion County REC: 40-8 (September 2009)

-Palm Beach County REC: 90-17 (October 2009)

-Okaloosa County REC: 86-4 (November 2009)

-Republican Club of South Sarasota County: 70-17 Percent (November 2009)

-Orange County Republican Party Hob Nob: 211-27 (November 2009)

-Pinellas County REC: 106-54 (January 2010)

-Okeechobee County REC: 10-0 (January 2010)

-Florida Federation of College Republicans: 71 percent (January 2010)

-Republican Business Council of North Central Florida: 141-12 (January 2010)

-Capital Conservatives: 40-0 (February 2010)

-Capital City Republican Club: 71-15 (February 2010)

-Brevard County GOP: 321-45 (February 2010)

-Orlando Tea Party: 277-17 (February 2010)

With this:

Charlie Crist gets to set the course for the GOP after all. (Whether it’s where Republicans want to be led -- that’s another question.)

Since we know that he’s listening and all -- what he’s hearing back is some mixed sounds, of varying volumes.

A party switch for Gov. Crist, R-Fla., may be his only remaining path to becoming a United States senator.

But it’s a path fraught with peril for the Republican Party -- and the possibility of Democrat Kendrick Meek winning in a three-way race would only be the GOP’s most immediate concern.

The storyline of Republican disarray was just about put to bed, or at least was on track to come to an end with this year’s primary season. Under the preferred (conservative) Republican scenario, Marcio Rubio defeats Charlie Crist, the Tea Party gets to drink deeply in victory, and there’s no Dede Scozzafava to worry about.

But if Crist runs as an independent, he writes a new chapter in a divisive story for the GOP, one that we’ll still be reading in November.
Looking at the results from the straw polls we see a Florida Republican Party that is united, statewide, behind Marco Rubio. In the excerpt above from Rick Klein’s article in The Note you would think that Rubio is the “Tea Party” candidate and that Crist is the “mainstream” guy. Not exactly the reality of the situation. And while it may be true that the national Republican Party has been in disarray, our state GOP is quite cohesive, particularly since we’ve been rid of Crist crony, former state chairman Jim Greer. Further, Klein’s article assumes two scenarios in the event of a three way race:

First, Rubio captures the far Right, Meek captures the far Left and Crist wins that wide swath in the middle.

OR

Second, Rubio captures the far Right and Meek and Crist split everything else with Crist taking just enough to become Florida's next senator.

More likely, if Crist launches an Independent bid, Crist and Meek will split the Left while Rubio will take the Center and Right and Rubio will be our Senator. As it stands now, Crist can't even take Pinellas County.

2008 not withstanding, Florida is a Center Right to Right state. Neither Meek nor Crist stand a chance of winning in November. Crist's best hope is 2012, but only if he uses the next two years to reinvent himself, ala John McCain, as a Conservative. If Crist really is a pragmatist, now would be a good time for him to show it.

Cross posted at Carol's Closet

Charlie Crist walks into a bar with a dead skunk..............

2010-04-19T19:24:00.003-04:00
And the bartender yells, "Hey, you, get that damned stinky thing outta here". To which Crist replies, "OK, give me a second". Shaking his head, the bartender says, "I was talking to the skunk!"

OK, that is not the most original of jokes, and, really, is not even funny, for a joke. How fitting, because Charlie Crist is like that failed joke. He is not funny, or even relevant, as polls have been showing for a while.

Now, Charlie Crist is thinking seriously of running as an independent for the Florida Senate seat.

Top GOP officials in DC now believe it is a virtual certainty that FL Gov. Charlie Crist (R) will bolt the GOP and run instead as an independent, sources tell Hotline OnCall.

Over the weekend, Crist pulled TV advertisements that had been running in key markets, slamming ex-FL House Speaker Marco Rubio (R). Those ads, on which Crist spent close to $1.5M so far, were aimed at moving poll numbers that showed Crist losing badly.

In taking the ads down, top GOP officials have surmised both that Crist has made his decision to run as an independent, and that the attacks weren't having an impact on the race.

Privately, GOP officials have even tried to broach the idea that Crist drop out of the race. NRSC chair John Cornyn called Crist on Friday, intending to make it clear that Crist should drop out if he doesn't believe he can win a party primary. Crist did not answer the phone, a source close to Cornyn said, and as of today Cornyn's call hasn't been returned

Unbelievable! Charlie Crist, is going, apparently, to say Screw the GOP, screw the Florida voters, and rather than doing the honorable, decent thing, is going to consider running as an independent. That move will likely fail miserably, as RS McCain points out but, what if the move, rather than simply exposing Crist as a typical politician, with no decency, causes that seat to go to a Democrat? What then Charlie? Is that what kind of Republican you are? One that would hurt you party, rather than accept the verdict of Florida Republicans, who clearly prefer Marco Rubio? Is that the type of man you are?

And, as McCain notes, recall exactly who we have to thank for this political turncoat

Remember who to thank for this debacle: John Cornyn and the treacherous bastards at the NRSC.

Amen!, it was the NRSC that decided, before Florida Republicans could have a chance to, that Crist was the golden child that "could win one for the GOP". They dismissed Rubio, and annointed Crist, now look where that has gotten them. Will they ever learn?

Cross Posted at The DaleyGator

Cross Posted at The DaleyGator

Interesting

2010-04-16T13:51:00.002-04:00
This was just posted at Ace's.

Mitt Romney to endorse Marco Rubio.

No other details yet.

UPDATED: More info here on the courageous Mitt and how he took the leadership reigns into his capable hands. Curious that Romney managed to tip his hand so soon after the Crist campaign started to circle the drain. Almost as if he wet his finger and tested the winds.

How it does help is that many retires from New York and Massachusetts will feel more at ease voting for a conservatives when such noted moderates have endorsed Rubio.

Sorry Charlie: Independent or Opportunist?

2010-04-16T09:07:00.002-04:00
Sorry Charlie Crist's GOP campaign chairman quit yesterday after Florida's governor vetoed a Republican-backed bill opposed by the state's teachers unions:
In the Republican primary, Crist is trailing badly in public opinion surveys to state House Speaker Marco Rubio, who is riding the energy of the national tea party movement. Crist has until April 30 to decide whether to appear on the Republican primary ballot or to run instead with no party affiliation on the general election ballot.
A new Quinnipiac poll that we cited earlier today lays out Crist’s options in stark terms: The governor trails Rubio by a large margin — 56% to 33% — in the Republican primary, but as an independent, Crist narrowly leads in a three-way matchup that includes expected Democratic candidate Rep. Kendrick Meek.
The three-way numbers: Crist, 32%; Rubio, 30%; Meek, 24%. The poll’s margin of error is 2.8 percentage points.
Let's hear from the guy whose pre-emptive endorsement doomed Crist:
But with Crist now trailing badly in the polls – and rumors intensifying that he will abandon the GOP primary fight – Cornyn says the governor will face an intense backlash from the Republican establishment if he runs as an independent.
“I would think that would be the end of his political career as a Republican,” Cornyn, chairman of the NRSC, told POLITICO. “So I doubt that will happen. My hope is that this is all resolved in the Republican primary by Florida voters.”
Hey, how about the end of your career, Mr. Cornyn?

That giant sucking sound you hear coming from Florida?

2010-04-12T19:16:00.000-04:00
Well, that would be the Senate hopes of one Charlie Crist
From Rasmussen Reports:

Support for Florida Governor Charlie Crist’s U.S. Senate bid has fallen this month to its lowest level yet. Just 28% of the state’s likely Republican voters support his candidacy now, down six points from March.

The latest Rasmussen Reports telephone survey of likely GOP Primary voters in the Sunshine State shows former state House Speaker Marco Rubio edging up a point from last month to 57%, his highest level of support to date. Three percent (3%) like some other candidate in the race, and 12% are undecided.

Republican Primary voters see Rubio as a stronger candidate than Crist in the General Election. Eighty-one percent (81%) say Rubio would be at least Somewhat Likely to win if nominated while just 63% say the same of Crist. Those figures include 53% who say Rubio would be Very Likely to win and 30% who see Crist as Very Likely to win.
Sorry Charlie!

This Friday News Dump Was Embarrassing

2010-04-10T07:44:00.002-04:00
Especially in light of Rubio's releasing his numbers earlier this week.

Charlie Crist has finally released his figures from the last quarter.

Charlie Crist, once known as a world champion money-raiser, announced Friday that he had raised $1.1 million for his U.S. Senate campaign this year -- less than one-third of what Republican front-runner Marco Rubio raised in that period.
[. . .]
Crist campaign manager Eric Eikenberg spun the weak total as due to Crist being busy governing. . .

That's about half of what he raised in the last quarter of 2009. Which was less than the quarter before that. I think the word is 'Nomentum'.

Cross posted here At The Point Of A Gun.

Sorry Charlie Crist Circles the Drain

2010-04-07T12:02:00.003-04:00
If it wasn't stick-a-fork-in-him time Monday, when Rudy Giuliani endorsed Marco Rubio, maybe the latest fundraising numbers will convince Sorry Charlie to pull the plug:
Marco Rubio's remarkable fundraising haul — $3.6 million this quarter, he just announced — is a reminder of the scale of his stardom inside the Republican Party, all of whose core constituencies seem to like the guy.
That's the Politico's Ben Smith, who finds spontaneous 2012 Rubio-for-President talk coming from Richard Land of the Southern Baptist Convention. That's getting way ahead of the game, but it does indicate the kind of insuperable energy that has been unleashed against Crist.

What's impressive about Rubio's fundraising report is that his average donation was less than $100 and fewer than 1% of his donors are "maxed out." He's had more than 50,000 contributors to date. That means all he has to do is contact his list of donors and say, "How about another $20?" and -- bam! -- he's got another million dollars, right there. Small donors make a big difference, and it's highly unlikely that Crist can match that kind of grassroots enthusiasm.

Check out this new campaign ad by Rubio:

Isn't This Special?

2010-04-05T17:51:00.001-04:00
Via Michelle Malkin.

I'm sure it will be a best seller*. No word as to who is helping Dede Scozzafava ghost write the book yet. But I bet you there will be something about how she was discriminated against because she's a woman.

New York state Assemblywoman Dede Scozzafava (R) is writing a memoir about last year's dramatic special election in the state's 23rd congressional district.   

Although she was the Republican Party's nominee, Scozzafava was never embraced by conservatives. She eventually dropped out of the race and endorsed the Democrat, now-Rep. Bill Owens.  

*Not sure what makes her think she's worth a book when she should be regulated to a mere footnote like this.

One More Endorsement Breaking For Rubio

2010-04-03T18:24:00.000-04:00
That in the form of Rudy Giuliani. Word is that he'll be making an announcement this upcoming Monday to make it official.

The AP reports that Rudy Giuliani will endorse Marco Rubio on Monday. This endorsement could damage Charlie Crist's attempts to appeal to moderates and independents. The backstory here: Crist reportedly offered his endorsement to Giuliani in the 2008 Republican primary but backed out after McCain convinced Crist that Rudy couldn't win.

Thanks to someone.

This Is Interesting

2010-04-02T16:12:00.002-04:00
Considering that the NRSC endorsed Charlie Crist with nary a thought about the primary.

Senator Tom Coburn has endorsed Marco Rubio.

“I have closely studied Florida’s Senate candidates and have no doubt that Marco Rubio is the only fiscal conservative in this race," the Oklahoma Republican said in a statement. “Rubio would be a faithful guardian of taxpayer dollars in Washington and a valued ally in the Senate. At a time when Washington is piling on crippling debt on our economy, the American people need Marco Rubio in Washington to stand up to this reckless behavior and offer clear conservative solutions."

Crist needs to withdrawal quietly. Especially if he wants John McCain to campaign for him. The last thing the media needs is an R on R battle with lines being drawn in the sand all the way up to the US Senate. It's for the greater good, Charlie Crist. Quit now.

RELATED/ADDED:

Crist received the Don Shula endorsement. As well as the stamp of approval from this guy:

[Col. Bud] Day confirmed he was speaking of Obama and Rubio.

“You’ve got the black one with the reading thing. He can go as fast as the speed of light and has no idea what he’s saying,” Day said. “I put Rubio in that same category, except I don’t know if he’s using one of those readers.” [emphasis mine]

McCain Calls For Troop Deployment Against JD Hayworth

2010-03-30T23:49:00.002-04:00

2008: "...The first [quote] is where McCain said that those who oppose amnesty for illegal aliens are 'going to destroy the fucking party.'
"The second [quote] is in a call with Senator Lindsey Graham where McCain said in frustration at the rebuke he was getting, 'Listen to these people ... Why would I want to be the leader of a party of such assholes?' Graham too called those opposed to amnesty bigots."
2010: McCain Calls For Troops on Arizona Border

Video: Rubio debates Crist on Fox News

2010-03-29T17:09:00.002-04:00
Via Clifton makes it very clear that Florida has a distinct choice in who gets the Republican nomination to run for the Senate seat that is up for grabs in November. Rubio is the more conservative candidate, and he is the candidate that will better represent common sense and fiscal responsibility.

Cros Posted at The DaleyGator

Charlie Crist Flips Flops On ObamaCare

2010-03-29T14:14:00.001-04:00
The Winds of Change are in the air and Florida Gov. Charlie Crist just wet his finger and stuck it in the air to find out what position he needed to take today.

Back in February, Gov. Charlie Crist expressed what could only be support for ObamaCare, saying that “There may be parts of it that you don’t have to scrap."

Now the 'moderate' Republican has changed his mind. In his debate with Marco Rubio last Sunday, repeal suddenly sounded like a good idea to him. “What we need to do is go ahead and repeal this thing,” said Crist bluntly. “Let’s start over.” Transcript here.

Not sure if he meant that as "start over" with a meddling plan that Republicans designed or not.

Suffice it to say, Rubio has been against ObamaCare from the start.

Cross posted here At The Point Of A Gun.

Christine O'Donnell Raises a Challenge

2010-03-26T21:51:00.003-04:00
The Delaware Senate race just got a little more interesting with the addition of Republican Christine O'Donnell to the race. O'Donnell forces a September primary against Representative Mike Castle who is looking to move from the House to the Senate.

Could Delaware be another Massachusetts? O'Donnell another Scott Brown? Castle voted against the Obamacare bill but has recently come out against repeal of the bill which will put him at odds against Senator Jim DeMint who has repeal at the top of his agenda.

Castle's position against repeal fits right in with his moderate label; he also voted FOR Cap and Trade in the House and supports embryonic stem cell research. He's soft on immigration and voted against forbidding interstate transportation of minors to get abortions.

Christine O'Donnell, on the other hand, is a proven vote getter, having run against Joe Biden for the seat in 2008 and garnering 35% of the vote - not enough to win, but quite respectable in a state that is supposedly a blue state.

The political landscape is very different now than in 2008 and O'Donnell looks to be a strong candidate.

She's pro-life, vows to fight to reduce taxes, strengthen national security and support gun rights.

All in all it should make the race more interesting and in today's political climate, anything can happen! If Mike Castle isn't going to join the Republican fight to repeal this job-killing liberty-sucking behemoth that is Obamacare, we don't need him.

Go here to donate to O'Donnell's campaign and put a true conservative in the Senate.

(Cross posted at And So it Goes in Shreveport)

Bring REAL Fighters to the Fight!

2010-03-15T15:40:00.001-04:00

Because Defending Our Liberty with Michael Steele and John Cornyn is like fighting a home invasion robbery with a water pistol...

Marco Rubio Responds To The Issues That Matter

2010-03-11T09:44:00.001-05:00
Which Charlie Crist happens to think is getting a back wax.

Is there any wonder why Crist is behind by 30 points in some polls?

Video via Freedom's Lighthouse.

Cross posted here At The Point Of A Gun.

Mark DeMoss Pulls His Financial Support

2010-03-07T09:33:00.003-05:00
In a follow-up to Stacy's post below, we note that Evangelical donor Mark DeMoss is withdrawing his financial support for the Republican establishment and will now donate only to those candidates he chooses to support. Citing the leaked PowerPoint presentation as an example of the lame brained, amateurish Republican tactics, which Stacy so adequately addressed in his update to his post on The Other McCain, DeMoss says in a letter to Michael Steele,
The depictions of President Obama, Speaker Pelosi and Majority Leader Harry Reid were shameful, immature and uncivil, at best. While I realize your office made steps to distance you from this presentation I’m afraid the presentation is representative of a culture and mindset within the Republican National Committee; consequently, I will no longer contribute to any fundraising entity of our Party—but will contribute only to individual candidates I choose to support.
Bravo!

Read the whole thing here.

'Message to the National Republican Establishment: Stay Out of Our Primary'

2010-03-06T17:40:00.004-05:00
Ever since John Cornyn and the NRSC backed Charlie Crist in Florida last May, that's been the basic message of Not One Red Cent. But if you thought Florida Republicans were outraged at national GOP meddling in their primary, just wait until you see the 'Bama buzzsaw that hits John Boehner when he gets to Huntsville on Monday:
Not long after invitations were sent out for a Rep. Parker Griffith fundraising event, headlined by House Minority Leader John Boehner (R-OH), several local organizations from both sides of the political spectrum announced plans to protest the event. Planned for March 8, 2010 at the Space & Rocket Center, starting at 5:00 pm, the the protest will include members of the Huntsville Tea Party, Left In Alabama, Athens-Limestone Tea Party Patriots, AAMU Democrats Student Club, The Dale Jackson Show, North Alabama Healthcare for All, Madison County Republican Executive Committee, and the Limestone County Republican Executive Committee. AFL-CIO will be holding a press conference at the Marriott Hotel near the Space & Rocket Center in protestation, before the protest event and the fundraiser. Organizers invite the public to attend.
"We are sending a message to the national Republican establishment: stay out of our primary. . . . We're pushing back against the political machine," said Christie Carden, founder of the Huntsville Tea Party. . . .
Read all of that. Just as with Cornyn's support for Crist against Marco Rubio, Boehner's backing of Griffith puts the national GOP establishment in the position of campaigning against the exact kind of dynamic young leaders they need to be supporting. Republican candidate Les Phillip:
"Congressman Boehner coming to Huntsville to raise money for Parker Griffith goes to show exactly how out of touch Washington D.C. is with the rest of America and their refusal to listen to "We the People"," remarked Phillip.
"Two of our local Republican executive committees specifically asked the National Republican Congressional Committee to stay out of this race and let the people of North Alabama decide who our best candidate is, but they refuse to listen because they think they know better than we do what is best for the fifth district." . . .
"John Boehner and the NRCC are supporting Griffith with the notion that he will lure more Democrats to switch parties. This approach does not take into consideration the conservative nature of Republicans in Alabama's 5th district, or Griffith's record of voting with Nancy Pelosi nearly 85% of the time, more than many of his former Democrat colleagues."
The liberal blog Left in Alabama has announced support for Monday's protest:
Griffith is everybody's problem. Sure, I won't agree with everyone at this protest on every single thing -- maybe not on most things. But we all agree that Griffith has got to go, and for now that one common purpose will let us stand on the same sidewalk in near perfect harmony.
Wingnuts and Moonbats unite! You have nothing to lose but those clueless morons at the national GOP!

(Cross-posted at The Other McCain.)

Rubio's straight talk

2010-03-04T19:45:00.000-05:00
Via Gateway Pundit comes this great video of Marco Rubio telling it like it is. You damned sure would never hear this from Charlie Crist's RINO mouth!

Charlie Crist Sounds Desperate

2010-03-04T07:24:00.002-05:00
Why do I get the feeling that Charlie Crist is only saying this because he's polling so far behind Marco Rubio in the Florida Senate election:
“It is awful how [Democrats] have this compulsion to ram this thing through, even though the American people don’t support it,” Crist says. “They don’t realize that even if they pass their bill [with reconciliation], the American people will still detest it. We need to take a free-market approach.” Crist also says that Obama is “moving too quickly” in trying to address health-care reform. “Bipartisanship is necessary here,” he says.
Anybody believe that? Anybody? Hello?

Me neither.

There's more. This one's a doozy - after calling Marco Rubio's campaign the "greatest fraud perpetrated on people," he says:
“I’m a true-blue Reaganite Republican,”
God help us, if that's true. Charlie's support for Porkulus belies that statement if nothing else does. These sound like the words of a nervous, scared candidate who knows he's lost the conservative vote.

There's more at The Corner. Read all of it.

(Cross posted at And So it Goes in Shreveport)

Not Looking Good For Charlie Crist

2010-03-01T10:44:00.000-05:00
Considering how the tracking polls have pretty much flipped against him and for Marco Rubio.

Two polls released last week showed Mr. Rubio leading the governor by 18 percentage points in the August primary, a reversal from last summer, when the former Florida House speaker trailed Mr. Crist by 30 points.

The shifting fortunes underscore how profoundly President Barack Obama's slumping popularity is convulsing both parties. The rise of hard-line conservatives and Tea Party activists are eroding support for Democrats and moderate Republicans such as Mr. Crist, who was viewed as a possible vice-presidential candidate in 2008. [Emphasis mine]

Don't forget, most liberals think and want you to think that the Tea Parties are only a vocal minority. Despite the real world results.

There's more.

Mr. Rubio's ascent coincides with a descent in Mr. Obama's popularity in the key electoral state. Forty-nine percent of Floridians disapproved of the president's job performance and 45% approved in a January poll by Quinnipiac University. In February 2009, 64% of Floridians approved and 23% disapproved.

Mr. Crist also has lost about two dozen consecutive county straw polls among registered Republicans, including Pinellas County, where the governor grew up.

Tony DiMatteo, former Pinellas County Republican Party chairman, said he was a "zealot" for Mr. Crist in the 2006 race for governor. But he said he "got a sick feeling" watching Mr. Crist embrace Mr. Obama at the February 2009 rally in Fort Myers and his phone rang "off the hook" for several days from angry Republicans.

"I'm now a big Rubio supporter," Mr. DiMatteo said.

Please be sure to read the entire thing, seeing how I probably used a bit more than necessary on the blogger fair use snippet.

Two obvious reasons why Crist falling fast in the polls. What can only be taken as support for the Government Takeover of the Health Care System and his ignorance on how jobs are created. Here's a hint about jobs and the stimulus, Charlie, It Won't Work.

Somewhere, David Frum is crying.

Cross posted At The Point Of A Gun.

Crist Is Toast: 'Goodbye, Charlie'

2010-02-26T19:42:00.005-05:00
The American Spectator's Florida-based correspondent Larry Thornberry:
TAMPA – "Moderate" Florida governor Charlie Crist's Senate campaign is circling the drain. And it's mostly his own fault.
Crist, a formerly conservative politician who "grew in office" after becoming governor in 2007, went through a 50-point lead over conservative former Florida House Speaker Marco Rubio faster than Sherman went through Georgia. Polls released this week by Rasmussen and the Florida Chamber of Commerce both show Rubio with an 18-point lead over Crist in a race for the Republican nomination to the U.S. Senate seat Mel Martinez resigned from last summer. . . .
The sounds you hear of many hands clapping are those of grassroots Florida Republicans pleased at the prospect of Crist's long but undistinguished political career coming to an end. Not to mention the prospect of a young, energetic, intelligent conservative representing Florida in the U.S. Senate instead of the Arlen Specter wannabe Crist has become. . . .
Read the whole thing.

(Cross-posted at Right Wing News.)

J.D. Hayworth vs. John McCain

2010-02-25T07:09:00.001-05:00
Thanks to Barbara Espinosa at American Freedom for highlighting this issue-by-issue comparison:
TAXES
John McCain -- Opposed the Bush tax cuts. Voted against repealing the Death Tax. The Club for Growth says McCain’s overall record on taxes “is profoundly disturbing and anti-growth.”
J.D. Hayworth -- Helped to author the Bush tax cuts and supports repealing the Death Tax. JD has a higher lifetime rating from Citizens Against Government Waste than John McCain does.

BAILOUTS
John McCain -- Voted FOR the big bank bailouts and proposed an additional $300 Billion bailout of all bad debts, making the taxpayers responsible for the bad decisions of others.
J.D. Hayworth -- Opposed the big bank bailouts, opposed the Obama plan, and opposed the McCain plan to leave taxpayers holding the bag for the nation’s bad loans.

AMNESTY
John McCain -- Wrote the bill granting amnesty to millions of illegal aliens. McCain’s bill was estimated to cost the taxpayers more than $2.6 Trillion.
J.D. Hayworth -- Helped lead the fight against the McCain-Kennedy amnesty bill. JD is a national leader in the fight to secure our borders and protect our nation.

MARRIAGE
John McCain -- Opposed the Federal Marriage Amendment that would have protected and preserved marriage as between one man and one woman.
J.D. Hayworth -- Marriage Supported the Federal Amendment and believes it is critical that marriage be protected from those who would redefine it.

CAP AND TRADE
John McCain -- Co-authored the McCain-Lieberman Cap and Trade bill.
J.D. Hayworth -- Cap and Trade Opposes all Cap and Trade legislation and rejects phony climate change data.

FREE SPEECH
John McCain -- Authored the McCain-Feingold legislation that violated the First Amendment rights of every American and silenced conservative groups like Right to Life and the NRA.
J.D. Hayworth -- Opposed McCain-Feingold and believes that a free and vigorous debate is always in the best interests of our state and our nation.

TERRORISM
John McCain -- Opposes enhanced interrogation techniques, supports closing Guantanamo Bay, and supports treating terrorists like criminal defendants instead of enemy combatants.
J.D. Hayworth -- Supports our military and its use of enhanced interrogation techniques. Believes that Guantanamo Bay should remain open and that terrorists should be treated as such.

ERIC HOLDER
John McCain -- Voted to confirm this far-left activist.
J.D. Hayworth -- Opposed the confirmation of Eric Holder as Attorney General of the United States.
MORE READING:
Michelle Malkin: "Attention, GOP: John McCain Is the Problem"
Robert Costa, National Review: The Double Talk Express
Politico: John McCain "desperation" smear of Hayworth

American Spectator: John McCain Offers to Campaign for Charlie Crist

J.D. HAYWORTH for U.S. SENATE

So, Rubio can't win huh?

2010-02-23T19:54:00.000-05:00
I am sure y'all recall what the NRSC told us. Marco Rubio was a good guy, but it was not his time. They told us to just shut up and be good Republicans. Support Charlie Crist, he may not be the most Conservative candidate, but, it was either him,or a Democrat.
We, here at NORC told the NRSC to go fly a kite, we believed that a more Conservative candidate COULD get elected to the US Senate. Well, gues what, the polls say we are right The Crist campaign is falling apart and Rubio is rocking. That is great news, but listen to this bit of news. If you really want to know what an impact Rubio is having,and how fearful of him the Left is, consider that he is the victim of smear tactics from clowns like Donny Deutsch

JOY BEHAR: Let's talk about the Republican Party. They're becoming- You're a brander. You know about that. They are the party of no. And that's not a good thing.

DONNY DEUTSCH: It's not a good thing. But what they figured out, finally, unfortunately, in the last six weeks, if you think about Brown winning, if you think about in Virginia where they won, if you think about this guy Rubio they're pushing in Florida, they're understanding that just this vitriolic, "We hate Obama. The world is bad," the Sarah Palins of the world, the Dick Cheneys of the world, the Rush Limbaughs, is unelectable. Let's put forward a fiscal conservative, socially- what appears to be socially moderate in terms of whatnot [sic], that's the electable candidate. So they're getting it. There's a difference between-

BEHAR: Who is that person?

DEUTSCH: It's basically it's a Scott Brown. And once again. It's amazing. They're talking about presidential timber. He's never done anything in his whole life. That's the whole thing. It's the blank piece of paper people can assign things to. One of the reasons, interestingly enough, I think we are a society of no right now. One of the reasons Obama got elected, because he was a blank page. You could assign hope to him.

BEHAR: That's true.

DEUTSCH: We're such a media frenzy, 24/7 world that almost anybody that's been around too long, there's so much "no" attached to it, that you almost need that blank piece of paper. That's the new model. Like, you know, this coconut Rubio down in Florida. You know-

BEHAR: What's his name? I don't know him. Rubio?

DEUTSCH: Marco Rubio. He's running against Charlie Crist, who I think has done a great job. And he is the new great, you now, hope down there.

BEHAR: So, basically, these people, the tea partiers are basically angry with the right and the left for the same reason, that there's fiscal irresponsibility?

DEUTSCH: No, they're angry- they're basically- their argument is- and I think there's a lot of racism underneath it- is- "He, they, are taking your civil liberties away. They're stomping on the Constitution. They're telling us how many bullets we can have in our guns."

Folks, you KNOW you are a threat when the Left goes berserk on you! Anyone they fear will win elections they attack in the most antagonistic ways. Keep it up Marco Rubio!

It's On!*

2010-02-20T10:41:00.000-05:00
Like Donkey Kong.

Crist and Rubio have both agreed to appear on Fox News Sunday on March 28th. The Crist campaign has agreed to a Meet the Press appearance as well, originally schedule for March 7th, but Rubio will only agree to a Meet appearance if it's televised AFTER Fox.

Please don't adjust your TV Settings. Charlie Crist is supposed to be an odd shade of orange.

*Shamelessly lifted from Hot Air's headlines.

VIDEO-Marco Rubio on what makes America great

2010-02-15T20:31:00.000-05:00
Via Babalu Blog

Despite Rubio Cheering For The Saints, It's Easy To See Why He's Overtaking Crist In The Polls

2010-02-05T13:59:00.000-05:00
Via Ed at Hot Air.

Charlie Crist is toast

2010-02-03T19:57:00.001-05:00
Ed Morrissey at Hot Air asks if Governor Crist even wants to be Senator.
Sometimes one has to wonder whether Charlie Crist really wants to win his primary battle against Marco Rubio for the Republican nomination to contest Florida’s open Senate seat. When Rubio endorsed the conservative and mainstream national GOP position that the US Census should count only legal residents and citizens, Crist decided to differentiate himself by supporting the count of illegal immigrants — as a means to get more pork from Washington:
Well, Governor Crist is definitely not getting the point is he? Americans, more specifically Floridians in this case DO NOT want more pork, they are sick of pork, and high taxes, and political whores like Charlie Crist who will sell out their state for more government pork.

Crist once seemed a shoe in, and Rubio a long shot. The NRSC certainly thought so when they prematurely endorsed Crist as the only Republican that could win.

Times change don't they? Sorry Charlie, but Marco Rubio is what Republicans want as a Senator.

Calling Charlie Crist "dishonest" is a nice way to say that is a two faced, despicable liar

2010-02-02T12:57:00.000-05:00
Charlie Crist has put out a commercial that quotes Marco Rubio, who is kicking Crist's ass in the Florida Republican primary race for the U.S. Senate:

“…I am in favor of giving the Department of Environmental Protection a mandate that they go out and design a cap and trade, or a carbon tax program…”
Note the "..." that appear at the beginning and ending of Rubio's "quote". Choo choo Charlie is hoping that Florida voters won't find out what Rubio said on either end of that quote because if they do, it will show Crist's desperation and well as the cesspool that he is willing to bath in. Fortunately, Henry Lois Gomez at Babalu has the full transcript that Crist cherrypicked from in an attempt to mislead, no, lie to the people of Florida. Read Gomez's post and decide for yourself. A little context goes a long way.

Cross posted at Carol's Closet

What is it like to be Charlie Crist? Or any other RINO?

2010-02-01T21:38:00.002-05:00
Kind of like this I would surmise.

That giant sucking sound you hear is.........

2010-02-01T21:35:00.000-05:00
Florida governor Charlie Crist's Senate hopes going down the drain!

Former state House Speaker Marco Rubio has now jumped to a 12-point lead over Governor Charlie Crist in Florida’s Republican Primary race for the U.S. Senate.

A new Rasmussen Reports telephone survey of likely GOP Primary voters in the state finds Rubio leading Crist 49% to 37%. Three percent (3%) prefer another candidate, and 11% are undecided.

The new numbers mark a stunning turnaround. Crist was the strong favorite when he first announced for the Senate seat, and Rubio was viewed as a long-shot challenger.

But Crist’s support fell from 53% in August to 49% in October. By December, the two men were tied at 43% apiece.

Rubio leads Crist by 17 points among men and by seven among women. He also carries 52% of the conservative GOP vote, while moderates prefer Crist

Well now, I thought ther NRSC said it was not Rubio's time? How is that surrenfder and settle for less strategy working out?

Marco Rubio Leads Crist and Announces Stimulus Money Bomb!

2010-02-01T18:26:00.001-05:00
In exciting polling news today, word comes from Rasmussen that Marco Rubio leads Charlie Crist in the Florida Republican primary 49-37!

Charlie Crist has tanked faster than a rock in a pond and now Rubio moves ahead for the first time. Will Crist stay in the race? Erick Erickson thinks not.

Even better, Rubio has announced his Stimulus Money Bomb fund raising drive. It's common knowledge by now that Crist spoke out in support of Barack Obama's $787 billion stimulus plan last year. As the one-year anniversary of the stimulus approaches, Rubio is asking that over the next ten days you donate some configuration of that figure, for example, $7.87, or $78.70, or even better, $787.00! His goal is to raise $1,000 for every $1 billion that was wasted through the stimulus.

You can donate to Marco here.

Cross posted at And So it Goes in Shreveport

One More Reason Not To Trust The NRSC With Your Lunch Money

2010-01-26T13:21:00.003-05:00
Because the candidate they endorsed is dropping in the polls.

This is why the NRSC needed to wait until after the primary. Not before when, for example, a young, charismatic young man may emerge who will be a much, much better candidate that Charlie Crist.

For the first time, Quinnipiac finds the former state House Speaker Marco Rubio leading the formerly very popular — and still well-known — Gov. Charlie Crist by a margin of 47% to 44%.

“Who would have thunk it? A former state lawmaker virtually unknown outside of his South Florida home whose challenge to an exceedingly popular sitting governor for a U.S. Senate nomination had many insiders scratching their heads,” said Peter Brown, assistant director of the Quinnipiac University Polling Institute. “He enters the race 31 points behind and seven months later sneaks into the lead.”

“And, the horse race numbers are not a fluke,” Brown added. “Rubio also tops Crist on a number of other measurements from registered Republicans, who are the only folks who can vote in the primary. Rubio’s grassroots campaigning among Republican activists around the state clearly has paid off.”

And we suspect the poll is only telling part of the tale for Rubio because the energy is on his side

RELATED: Donations to Rubio and Crist seem to be matching the polls. Crist's numbers have dropped off slightly. Rubio has had his best quarter yet.

Poll results via Ace of Spades.

Cross posted here At The Point Of A Gun.

Ace of Spades Investigates Illinois Senate Race!

2010-01-21T13:22:00.002-05:00
Kirk or Hughes for Illinois?

Cut down the cap and trade Gange of 8 traitor Mark Kirk before he spreads to another seat!

I Can't Find This Guy's Name In The Phone Book But Would Like To Buy Him A Beer

2010-01-20T10:09:00.000-05:00
Maybe two.

Dan Riehl has the screencap of the decade.

I think that gentleman still donated too much.

And Now A Word From Barack Obama's Favorite World Leader...

2010-01-20T10:05:00.002-05:00

This Was NOT a GOP Victory...

2010-01-20T09:54:00.002-05:00

And so the oldest, and arguably the foulest political dynasty ever foisted off on this Republic is reduced to one drunken, pill-popping freak in Rhode Island... My full and unqualified congratulations both to that outnumbered band of conservatives in Massachusetts who have held their principles firm in the face of overwhelming numbers and even abandonment by their own party, and to all those Democrats and independent Massachusetts voters who realized there was no future in following Barack Obama and the Democratic Party machine deeper into moral and fiscal bankruptcy. We welcome you back to the political life of this wonderful country, and look forward to working with you to make it again the shining triumph it was always meant to be. This was not a GOP victory tonight. If it had been left to the GOP, to Michael Steele and John Cornyn, Scott Brown would have vanished into obscurity and Ms. Coakley would have waltzed into Washington uncontested. This was, yes, a victory for the 'tea baggers,' the scorned, mocked American men and women from all parties and no party who came together to reject the politics of the insiders club in DC, GOP and Democrat, to reject the trading of favors paid for by our security, our solvency and our children's futures, to reject the notion of government by the mutal consent of well-placed incompetents who understand their own arcane parliamentary games and nothing else about this magnificent, diverse, yes, exceptional nation. And so to Nancy Pelosi, to Harry Reid, yes, to Michael Steele and especially to that jug-eared store mannequin in the Oval Office, I say again, "That's one... ...and she's just the first."

It's Worth Reading The New York Times For This

2010-01-12T10:02:00.003-05:00

Picture credit NYT. Picture benefit for the ladies.

Marco Rubio is featured in the New York Times Magazine this month. You wouldn't know it from the ten paragraphs in the story.

Part of it is confusing because Mark Leibovich muses about why Crist is a 'scourge' among Republicans:
Crist has become a conservative scourge, for reasons he seems at a loss to understand and that in some ways have nothing to do with him.

When he answers the question a earlier in that paragraph:
[T]he governor’s biggest sin was his support for the Obama administration’s $787 billion economic-stimulus package.

Not sure how Leibovich is dense enough to write that. Maybe he's like the beaten woman who goes back to her abusive husband. He just doesn't get it.

The takeaway quote from Rubio that I liked:

“I’m not a fan of personality-based politics,” Rubio said. “Very third worldish.” People who pin their trust and faith in a person are bound to be disappointed, he said. “I’m just a messenger for a set of ideas.”

It's eight pages long, a novel in the age of the blogosphere but please read the entire thing. Except for the last part of the last page. Only in the New York Times would a profile about Marco Rubio begins and end talking about Crist.

Cross posted At The Point Of A Gun.

Florida GOP Chairman Resigns

2010-01-05T19:59:00.002-05:00
Jim Greer, Chairman of the Florida Republican Party, has resigned. This is excellent news for those of us who believe that candidates should be chosen by the voters rather than appointed by behind doors by a cabal of party insiders.

"I cannot be a participant in the shredding and tearing in the fabric of the Republican Party," said Greer, blaming his conservative critics for their plan to stage a divisive fight over his post at a party meeting Saturday. His critics were willing to "burn the house down and try to destroy the Republican Party," Greer said.

Greer, a close ally of Governor Charlie Crist, is the highest-profile casualty to date of the conservative insurgency that, in Florida, backs Marco Rubio against Crist.

"I am not a purist," Greer said, begging his fellow Republicans to "stop the fight between moderates and conservatives [and] focus on electing Republicans in 2010."
Greer sounds eerily like Sen. John Cornyn, head of the NRSC. Both cling to the fallacy that the voters don’t know what is good for them and therefore need the “leadership” to make all their important decisions for them. The Florida race between Charlie Crist and Marco Rubio is a perfect example of this line of elitist thought.

Crist and Rubio both easily beat Kendrick Meek, the likely Democratic candidate in the Florida senate race. Yet only Crist received the backing of Greer and Cornyn. Why? Because for all their bluster about getting Republicans elected, Greer and Cornyn don’t want just any Republican elected, they want their Republican elected even if the voters want someone else.

Voters expressing a preference for one candidate over another is not tantamount to “…the shredding and tearing in the fabric of the Republican Party,". It is democracy. Greer either doesn’t understand the process, or more likely, doesn’t believe in the process. Either way, his resignation is good news for Florida Republicans.

Cross posted at Carol’s Closet

Gov. Charlie Crist Leaves Tallahassee and Moves to Some Place Called 'Da Nile'

2010-01-02T18:07:00.003-05:00

Exhibit A from the St. Pete Times:

"All in all, I think it's been a good year — a good year in challenging times," Crist said. "These are tough times. It sure hasn't been dull, to say the least, by any stretch."
If Good Time Charlie thinks it's been a good year he sure hasn't been hanging out in Florida.

Lets review:

He miscalculated the danger of his "man hug" with President Barack Obama in support of the Democrats' stimulus package. He signed a no-new taxes pledge only to raise taxes weeks later to balance the state budget. And the biggest contributor in his campaign for U.S. Senate, Fort Lauderdale lawyer Scott Rothstein, was charged in a $1.2 billion Ponzi scheme.
Speaking of that stimulus package that Crist supported and then denied that he supported and then denied that he denied supporting, what has Florida gotten out Crist's great big ol' man hug?

When Crist took office in 2007, the unemployment rate was 3.3 percent — less than a third of what it is now as more than 1 million Floridians can't find work. One in every 705 Florida homes was in foreclosure when he took office. Now the foreclosure rate is 1 of 165, according to RealtyTrac data service. (emphais added)

Even Crist's staunchest critics say many of Florida's woes are largely beyond his control. But they question whether Crist did what he could when he could. When the economy deteriorated, Crist paid visits to regional unemployment centers and held roundtable discussions with veterans and real estate agents, but he didn't propose and implement specific policies to halt the tide of foreclosures and layoffs. (emphasis added)
Crist has put his vastly unpopular "green policies" on the back burner but he himself admits that it is only a temporary move. He is currently touting "light rail" as his signature program. Apparently he is unaware that government backed railroad transportation has had a long history of abject failure.

Most damaging for Crist is the perception that Crist really doesn't stand for anything and that he is one of those politicians who sticks his finger in the air in order to determine the direction of the political winds. Consider this:

Newly married to New York socialite and businesswoman Carole Rome, Crist spent the days just before 2009 hunting for Christmas gifts in the rural North Florida antique mecca of Havana. There Crist ran into a local who paid him such a compliment that he pulled a reporter aside and made her repeat it. (emphasis added)

"I believe he's a closet Democrat," Shirley Aaron said.

"I'll take that as a compliment," Crist said. "We have, in Florida, Republicans and Democrats and independents, but we're all Floridians first."
If Crist knew or cared about the profound ideological differences between the two political parties he wouldn't feel complimented by being called a closet Democrat. But for Crist, ideology is only skin deep and can be easily shed when it no longer suits Crist's needs.

Now that Crist has tanked in the polls, he is trying make up his lost ground but pretending that everything is just fine in Florida won't get him very far. Come the August primary Florida voters will be voting on whether they believe things are just fine and who they will trust to represent them. I don't expect that a year from now Crist will be sounding as enthusiastic as he is trying to sound now.

Cross posted at Carol's Closet

Cornyn to conservatives: Screw you!

2009-12-24T03:03:00.000-05:00
The NRSC Chairman says it is not "realistic" to try to elect conservatives to the Senate:
Sen. John Cornyn (Texas), the chairman of the National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC), suggested that conservatives need to have a more realistic sense of which races are winnable and with which candidates.
"Folks on the right . . . have to yield to the world as it is and not necessarily how they wish it would be," Cornyn told Reuters for a story about centrist Rep. Mike Castle's (R) bid for Senate next year in Delaware.
But Florida is not Delaware, is it, Senator? With 2010 shaping up as a good year for Republicans, the candidate with the "R" beside his name is a contender, and in every single race where the NRSC's influence has been exercised, it has favored bland "moderates" like Castle, a worthless fossil from the Gerald Ford era.

It's the same deal in California and Florida, and also in Nevada, where the "establishment" candidate is the former GOP state chairwoman whose chief achievement is running the state party into the ground. By backing the failed politics and failed politicians of yesterday, the NRSC is forfeiting the future.

Will Charlie Fall Down, Go Boom?

2009-12-22T21:11:00.001-05:00

As we rush head-long into what appears to be a “Harry Christmas”, it seems the worm is turning in Florida’s U.S. Senate race. To wit:

In a move that may deal a significant blow to the governor’s campaign, Lincoln and Mario Diaz-Balart have pulled their endorsement of Florida Governor Charlie Crist. Crist’s poll numbers have been slipping badly.

"We take our endorsements seriously, but the governor knows why we withdrew and he left us with no alternative,' Lincoln Diaz-Balart said.

There is heavy speculation that they are unhappy with a number of Crist’s recent policy decisions and a suggestion that Crist would be weak on Cuban policy. That last bit is a huge issue in South Florida. Lincoln Diaz-Balart has represented Florida's 21st District since 1992, which at 71%, has the highest Latino population in the state. Mario Rubio has represented the 25th District, with a 67% Latino population, since 1992.

For the moment, at least, it seems the Diaz-Balart brothers have no intention of officially throwing their support behind Crist’s primary challenger, former Florida State House Speaker Marco Rubio, who has been gaining steam among conservatives. But you have to wonder whether publicly retracting support for Crist amounts to the same thing.

Via Memeorandum

Posted by No Sheeples Here

Plant City Tea Party Gives Marco Rubio a Rousing Welcome

2009-12-16T20:14:00.002-05:00

An enthusiastic crowd met in Plant City today to listen to Willie Lawson of BlogTalk Radio, Dr, Gonzalez-Orthopedic Surgeon and Marco Rubio, who will be facing Gov. Charlie Crist in the Republican primary race for the US Senate.

Lawson, active in the local Tea Party, warmed the crowd up and Dr. Gonzalez spoke passionately about the need to stop the Democrats from passing their version of health care reform. The crowd broke out in cheers when Dr. Gonzalez reported that Sen. Bernie Sanders had withdrawn his "single payer" amendment today after Sen. Tom Coburn forced a reading of the 767 page amendment. Both speakers noted the importance of voting for a conservative candidate rather than a "Dem lite" in the August Republican primary. There were no names mentioned but it was clear that Rubio was considered the conservative candidate.

Rubio received a standing ovation when he took the stage. His message of personal and fiscal responsibility plays well across Florida and particularly resonates in Plant City, a small mostly rural community. After speaking, Rubio mingled with crowd answering questions and having his picture taken.

No one in this crowd was surprised that Rubio had tied Crist in the most recent Rasmussen poll-he was obviously their choice.

Cross posted at Carol's Closet

RINO in Our Sights!

2009-12-15T22:02:00.002-05:00
Marco Rubio ties Charley Crist in Rasmussen Poll.

And even more importantly, the Rasmussen poll highlights a fact the GOP must face: with the "tea party" independent conservatives, they lose. EVERY time. It.s time for Michael Steel to admit this. It's time for John Cornyn to admit this. It's time for Pete Sessions to admit this. And it's time for them to start steering the GOP that way...

RUBIO TIED!

2009-12-15T20:38:00.000-05:00
Via Ace.

Tied at 43%.

There's a lesson here for the NRSC. Something about pearls before swine.

At this rate, Crist might be Scozzafavaed by March of next year. One can only hope, at least.

David Frum called, he was crying about a big tent or something.

Richard Viguerie rejects GOP 'litmus test' proposal and slams . . . Karl Rove?

2009-12-03T17:50:00.000-05:00
Few men alive have done more to build the American conservative movement than direct-mail fundraising pioneer Richard Viguerie. In recent years, Viguerie has applied his Old School savvy to New Media, with major online and e-mail operations. Obviously, he's not afraid to be controversial in the blogosphere:
While well intentioned, the litmus test proposal would do little to solve the two fundamental problems within the Republican Party: bad leadership and conservative acquiescence to bad leadership.
RINOs such as Dede Scozzafava and Florida Governor Charlie Crist aren’t the real issue. Scozzafava, Crist, and others who rightly deserve the “RINO” tag are merely an annoyance. Besides irritating their fellow Republicans with their liberalism, RINOs haven’t really had a great deal of impact on the direction of Republican party policies over the past decade.
The current Republican leadership has consistently supported our national slide to socialism. I’m talking about Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, House Minority Leader John Boehner, and the leading architect of Republican endorsed socialist-statism, former Bush White House political advisor Karl Rove. . . .
National conservatives who want to fix the Republican Party shouldn't waste their time forcing symbolic litmus test votes on the Republican National Committee. Instead, they should consider focusing their considerable energies on solving the real problem. Now is the time to put new leaders at the helm of the House, the Senate, the RNC, the NRCC, and the NRSC.
A litmus test is only as good as the character of the person who endorses it. It's easy for professional politicians to say they support something in order to pass a test that gives them access to campaign cash. The more important test is true devotion to the limited government principles embodied in our Constitution. . . .
Read the whole thing. Whether you agree or disagree, Viguerie is not a man whose opinions can be taken lightly.

Is McCain On the Skids in Arizona?

2009-11-26T18:24:00.002-05:00
Rasmussen says maybe...

Aisle-crossing, camera-hungry sucker out of touch with Republican values, Arizona voters say.
The self-styled GOP moderate and failed presidential candidate unsuccessfully relied on his reputation as a 'bipartisan' maverick who went against his party's lead, particularly on social and judicial issues, to draw independent voters. He has also drawn criticism for describing the GOP base as 'racists' over their demands for control of illegal immigration. Now he is polling just 3% above J.D. Hayworth, who has not yet even officially declared his candidacy.

Hayworth, a conservative former U.S. congressman who now is a popular radio talk show host in Phoenix, is reportedly interested in the race but has not formally declared for it. He captures 59% of the male GOP vote, while McCain wins 58% of female voters.

Younger GOP voters like Hayworth more than their elders. McCain has a solid lead among the relatively small number of moderate and liberal Republicans in the state while Hayworth picks up a plurality (48%) of conservatives. Over 61% of Arizona Republicans believe McCain has lost touch with their and the GOP's values.

Charlie Crist Trying to Heat Things Up in Florida

2009-11-18T08:15:00.004-05:00
The Crist/Rubio match up in Florida is heating up with the arrival of new campaign manager Eric Eikenberg in the Crist camp.

Via Memeorandum, the National Journal's On Call reports that the Crist campaign is going on the offensive, challenging Rubio's "failure to advance some conservative causes while leading the state House, for spending excessively while in the Speaker's office and for dragging his feet on immigration legislation that many Republicans favored."

Eikenberg said, ""Over the last five to six months, the governor has been focused on governing and our opponent's been running around the state because he doesn't have an office," Eikenberg said.
Meanwhile, Rubio "has had five to six months of the ability to go around and say whatever he'd like, and that's now changing."

The Rubio campaign responded by requesting debates between Rubio and Crist with the first suggested date of December 17. In a letter to Eikenberg yesterday, Rubio adviser Pat Shortridge pointed out that Rubio had challenged Crist to a series of debates earlier this year, saying "At that time, Marco acknowledged the differences that exist between him and Governor Crist on issues like wasteful stimulus spending that has failed to create jobs, cap-and-trade, property tax reform, judicial appointments, property insurance and a struggling Florida economy that has seen unemployment rise to a 34-year high. Marco expressed his belief that several debates would help bring these and other differences to light. Unfortunately, Governor Crist has shown no interest in debating Marco thus far."

Rubio has closed the gap to just a 15 point lead in the latest Qunnipiac poll , down from an earlier 29 point lead. Rubio continues to pound Crist in straw polls all over the state, the most recent by the Republican Club of South Sarasota County in which Rubio tops Crist 70.2% to 16.5%.

Eikenberg formerly served for four years as chief of staff to former Republican Congressman Clay Shaw of Fort Lauderdale and has recently served as Crist's gubernatorial chief of staff. Eikenberg speaks of “Charlie Crist’s brand of common-sense conservatism," but I don't think that's the kind of conservatism we need in the Senate. I don't think Florida really thinks so, either. If common-sense conservatism means supporting Obama's Stimulus plan, for one thing, well, no thanks. Charlie's support of cap and trade is "common sense"? Nope, again.

According to The Buzz, Rubio isn't worried about the addition of Eikenberg to the Crist team. Rubio supporters point to his work on the campaigns for both Clay Shaw and George LeMieux. They both lost.

(Cross posted at And So it Goes in Shreveport)

Why do some “Republicans” hate grassroots Conservatives?

2009-11-16T21:49:00.000-05:00
Cross posted at The DaleyGator

Excuse me for asking but it does seem that a good many of the GOP establishment, including some “Conservative” columnists have a certain disdain for the average, everyday American who dare to get too acvtive in politics. The latest example comes from David Frum via Wizbang. Frum opines doom and destruction for the GOP in this piece.

The Republican fratricide in the November 3 special election in upstate New York may prove just an opening round of an even more spectacular bloodbath in Florida in 2010. In New York, Republican feuding lost the party a seat in the House of Representatives. At stake in Florida is not only a senatorship — but very possibly Republican hopes for 2012 as well.
Hmmm, I guess Frum forgets that the “Republican” rejected was a Liberal, a Liberal who ended up endorsing the Democrat? Would we really be better off with a Democrat in Republican clothing? Frum also misses the point about why Consrvatives rose up against Scozzafava and for Doug Hoffman in NY23.

We did so because we, unlike elitists like Frum, beieve in our principles. We do not believe in sacrificing our ideals just to elect an”R” who will stab us in the back, and vote along Liberal lines. But, Frum continues his scolding of the Conservatives, who are, accroding to him to stupid to know what is good for them. He is aghast that a Conservative, Marco Rubio, who is opposing Chaelie Crist for one of Florida’s senate seat is getting support from Conservatives.

But here’s the most important unasked question raised by the enthusiasm for Rubio among Washington conservatives: What alternative policy should have been adopted back in the spring, when interest rates had been cut to almost zero and the economy was still collapsing? Are vague bromides about big government anything like an adequate response to the worst economic crisis experienced by any American under age 80?

The great free-market economist Milton Friedman argued that the right policy in the 1930s was a bank rescue — but the bank bailouts (begun under a Republican president, lest we forget) are even more unpopular among conservatives than Obama’s stimulus.

A few days ago, I was talking to a roomful of young conservatives about the crisis. All agreed in denouncing both the bank bailouts done under TARP and the stimulus. I asked: OK fine, what was the alternative?

There was a short pause, and then somebody laughed: “I guess it’s lucky that we weren’t in power.”
First of all, Mr. Frum, I think your “quote? is BS! I would be surprised if you did not embellish, or even fabricate it. But, I really want to focus on your orgasmic support of the stimulus package. Are you sure Mr. Frum, that you are a Conservative? Because Conservative have principles sir. We actually believe in things like the Constitution, in the founding principles. Do you? You do know the Founders would be against this reckless spending orgy?

One more thing Mr. Frum, you are aware, I hope anyway, that Gov. Crist and Rubio are BOTH Republicans? They are both vying for the Republican nod to run against a Democrat for that crucial senate seat? Why would you seek to tell Florida Republicans that they must not have a voice in deciding WHICH Republican they nominate?

If Crist gets the nod, I am sure he will get support from Conservatives, we just happen to prefer Rubio. Why does that bother you so? Again I ask, WHY do people like you show such disgust for Conservatives who try to take a more active role in politics?

Perhaps you just think we should know our place? Just support anything with an “R” by its name? Just shut up and do what the elites tell us? Tell me how did THAT work out in 2008? Hmmmm

It Couldn't Happen to a Nicer Guy

2009-11-15T16:03:00.005-05:00
Via Memeorandum

Gee, it can't be a good thing when a picture of a tipped tank is used to illustrate a politician's career, but hey, in this case, it couldn't happen to a nicer guy.
According to FitNews.Com Sen. Lindsey Graham's popularity is tanking in South Carolina. He's not only losing the confidence of Republican voters, he's also in a freefall with the all important Independent voters. Pardon me for a moment while I snicker.
Graham served in the House from 1995 to 2003 when he moved on to the Senate. At some point during the last fourteen years he decided as an incumbent he was a) in like Flynn and as a result b) his constituents could go to Hell. Apparently, his constituents disagree.
FitNews:
U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham’s public support is collapsing in South Carolina – driven by a wholesale revolt among the GOP electorate and a steady erosion of his support amongst independents.
Already consistently loathed by a solid third of GOP voters, Graham’s recent leftward bent – including his co-authoring of a controversial “Cap & Tax” proposal supported by President Barack Obama and liberal Sen. John Kerry (D-Mass.) – has him locked in a “terminal free fall,” according one prominent Republican consultant.
“A chunk of the GOP has always detested him, but in the last month a damn has broken,” said the consultant, who was granted anonymity to discuss the impact of two recent polls that were conducted in South Carolina (one allegedly by Graham’s own advisors). “More Republicans now oppose Sen. Graham than support him. Independents are also deserting him in huge numbers.”
So who is backing Graham? According to FITS, he's being back by the Truman National Security Project a liberal front group aimed at training “progressives” in their efforts to co-opt the debate over national security, which is typically one of the GOP’s bread-and-butter issues.

What a coincidence. Charlie Crist, who Graham endorsed, also has "progressive" donors. Usually, people donate to a candidate because the donor and the candidate share an ideology. Sometimes the donor expects something from the candidate in return. And, of course, sometimes the donor and the candidate share an ideology AND the donor believes that they will receive something in return. I smell RINO.
Just recently I've taken to including a small picture of pink flip flops to symbolize Crist on my posts relating to him. My bet is that Graham will be doing a flip flop of his own soon. Maybe I can find a green pair for Graham to symbolize his support for Cap & Trade.

Perfect!

Cross posted at Carol's Closet

Michael Steele Intimidates Whitey!

2009-11-12T19:51:00.001-05:00

"I've walked into the room and some white Republicans have been scared of me."

...and Erkel mugged Bernard Goetz.

FUN FACTS ABOUT MICHAEL STEELE:

When Chuck Norris heard Michael Steele was a big fan, his dick shrank a full quarter of an inch out of sheer embarrassment.

When Sarah Palin sings karaoke, Michael Steele hits the high notes for her.

When a two-bit rapper told Michael Steele the GOP was a racist party, he forgot to mention that whole "freeing the slaves/breaking the Voting Rights Act filibuster' thing... oh, wait, that's not made up...

When Michael Steele heard about Dick Cheney's "Night of the Cougar-man" hooker rampage, he went out and bought an anime cat-girl costume.

When his Democratic senate race opponent's campaign dressed him up as a minstrel, he just took it rather than marching an angry mob on their office... oh, wait, that's not made up either.

Got any more fun facts about Michael Steele? Post them here!

UPDATE: When the Boy Scouts heard Michael Steele wanted to address this year's Jamboree, they hired back three gay scoutmasters to protect them...

Is Charlie Starting to Choke?

2009-11-11T17:50:00.004-05:00
Josh Kraushaar at Politico says Crist is "panicking about his Florida Senate primary against Marco Rubio" and goes on to list a number of nasty nettles in the Crist campaign, the first of which is the firing by Crist of his longtime communications director Erin Isaac.

If that weren't enough to make Crist crazy, the Miami Herald Sun Sentinel has a front page story on the Scott Rothstein, one of Crist's largest financial backers, who is now in trouble with a Ponzi scheme. Robert Stacy McCain posted about that on this blog days ago.

If that weren't enough, Crist is now acting as his own press secretary:
In terms of press coverage lately, Crist has been having a bad stretch -- largely of his own doing. (The stimulus support he insists he never gave, Obama man-hug tape notwithstanding; his insistence he didn't know Obama's recent Florida itinerary; the uproar over an anti-Rubio Web site that had the participation of an RPOF paid consultant; and public floggings by former press buddies Wolf Blitzer and Chris Matthews, etc.)

Crist also lately has been acting as his own press secretary -- calling the Times' Adam Smith to set up an interview on Political Connections, and arranging the Times' recent interview in Gainesville with himself and first lady Carole Crist. The governor also recently instructed reporters to call his cell phone directly -- rather than using a "go-between" in the press office.
It's way WAY too early for a victory dance, but I'd say Charlie has some problems.

Update: Commeter spoutinghorn thankfully corrects me on the now mythic Miami Herald Sun Sentinel. I, of course, meant two different papers. I had too many windows open and not enough brain-power open. My mistake and thanks for the correction!

(H/T: Memeorandum)

(Cross posted at And So it Goes in Shreveport)