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Eminentoes
Loitering With Intent
Our favorite Republican In Name Only has made it official — he’s not even that anymore.
Florida’s Republican in Name Only governor Charlie Crist made it official Thursday. He won’t even be a Republican in name on the ballot in November. He will run for the U.S. Senate as an independent because conservative former Florida House Speaker Marco Rubio ran him out of the Republican primary.
Of course, Crist didn’t frame his move this way yesterday. Rather he made yet another attempt to conflate his own self-interest with that of all Floridians. It’s unlikely a large fraction of Florida voters will buy it.
“My decision to run for the United States Senate as a candidate without party affiliation in many ways says more about our nation and our state than it does about me,” Crist unctuously intoned to a small crowd in downtown St. Petersburg gathered to hear his announcement. “Our political system is broken,” he added.
Nonsense on steroids. Crist’s desperate decision to bolt the Republican Party came entirely because Republicans in Florida clearly prefer Rubio, who has run an effective retail campaign based on principles of limited government, free enterprise, a strong national defense, and opposition to the Obama agenda.
Crist tried to counter Rubio’s solid record in the Florida House and Rubio’s conservative campaign with a record as governor that’s all over the ideological map: first being one of the few Republicans to whoop up President Obama’s $787 billion “stimulus” slush fund, then denying he supported it when it became unpopular, then defending his support after it became clear no one believed his claims that he didn’t support it. He’s flip-flopped on other major issues, suiting his position to the political audience he’s trying to cozen at the time. He isn’t called “Wind-sock Charlie” for nothing.
Voters noticed. That’s why Crist trailed Rubio by more than 20 points in most polls before he made the decision to quit a Republican race he couldn’t win. Unlike a few weeks back when he was trying to out-conservative Rubio to compete in that race, Crist is now crooning about the virtues of moderation.
And no, Charlie, the political system in Florida is not broken when it roots out opportunists like you. “Charlie Crist gives moderation a bad name,” said Mort Kondracke on Fox News after Crist’s St. Petersburg séance. “I don’t know where he stands on anything anymore.”
Not to worry, Mort. Floridians don’t know either. And how could they? In the past two years Crist has been for the slush fund, against the slush fund and big government spending, and for the slush fund again. He’s been against drilling for oil off Florida’s coast, for drilling, and now against it again. He was for legislation that would have introduced some accountability in Florida government school education until he was against it and vetoed an accountability bill put through by Florida Republicans. If Charlie Crist has any political principles, they’re written in pencil, not pen.
“For me it’s never been about doing what’s easy,” Crist said. “The easiest thing would have been running for re-election for governor.”
Wrong again. Leaving the governor’s job to run for the Senate is attempting to move from a tough executive post, in which Crist’s performance has been the soul of mediocrity, to a relatively softer touch as one of 535 legislators. A prestigious place to hide for a politician who, like Crist, shows no real interest in policy or taste for hard work. Since Florida’s constitution was changed in 1968 to allow Florida governors to seek a second term, Crist is the first Florida governor not to do so. And he’s bucking a national trend of legislators wearying of trying to achieve anything in the legislative branch and seeking executive office.
Crist’s assertion that he wanted to go to Washington because that’s where he could do the most good for Floridians always had a bit of a hollow ring to it. But it’s consistent with Crist’s entire political career where he’s held offices for a short time, forever seeking the next prize. Crist has always spent as much or more time running for the next office as he has in taking care of the one he held. He’s not worked hard as Florida’s governor, spending more time maneuvering first to become vice president (yes, of the United States), then to become a U.S. Senator, than in matters of state governance. His entire political career could be described as loitering with intent.
Crist trotted out more high-minded reasons why he will run for the Senate as an independent (after saying countless times in countless forums that he would not do so). No point in enumerating them; they’re all bogus. He’s running as an independent because he couldn’t compete with Rubio, and he was looking at his political career ending with the August 24 Florida primary.
Now Crist’s career will almost certainly be over Nov. 2. The problems of running without a political party are formidable. His Republican staff will desert en masse, leaving the campaign to amateurs. The money will dry up. Republicans who gave to him early will ask for their money back. Democrats and Republicans will find their way back to their own parties by Nov. 2, by which date Charlie Crist will be lucky to have as much support as an 11-year-old in a training bra.
About the Author
Larry Thornberry is a writer in Tampa.
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Pingback| 4.30.10 @ 6:39AM
Twitter Trackbacks for The American Spectator : Loitering With Intent [spectator.org links to this page. Here’s an excerpt:
Melvin| 4.30.10 @ 7:33AM
Charlie Crist to Florida is what John Edwards is to North Carolina. Lots of hair, full of themselves, and a fake tan to match their characters.
Bill| 5.1.10 @ 3:21PM
What do you expect from a queer?
last american| 4.30.10 @ 8:14AM
This is good news for florida. Marco Rubio is a disaster for conservatives, he can't and won't support any immigration reform, he is part of the Cuban mafia that keeps immigration doors wide open in Florida. Floridians are tired of the constant influx of refugees who, unlike their predecessors, voluntarily lived under a communist regime, and now that their are no jobs and cuba is crumbling, they all want to come to Miami. Unlike other refugees, they are eligible for government hand outs the minute they step on american shore. they don't work at legitimate jobs, they get involved in medicare fraud and mortgage fraud, this is why south florida has the highest rate of foreclosures in the country. And the Rubio and the Cuban mafia supports them all the way. The federal judges down here have called for reform of immigration policy because they are tired of seeing the ones that get caught running back to Cuba with american tax payer dollars. Don't be fooled by Rubio, he will keep the doors open to unfettered immigration and support government pay outs to refugees. He is bad for Florida and antithesis of conservative values.
Mike Rogers| 4.30.10 @ 9:18AM
Hmmmm.... Sounds like stereotyping to me.
Not only are most Hispanic immigrants naturally conservative (and Christian, too), but Marco was on Fox last night making it very clear that he supports LEGAL immigration, and is on board with AZrizonanss attempts to secure the border and their state.
Ask an illegal immigrant whether they think they should be deported, and you'll get a vastly different answer than you'd receive from an immigrant CITIZEN who plays by the rules.
canuckistani| 4.30.10 @ 1:12PM
First you get the money, then you get the power and then you get the women.....
-Tony Montana
2Anglico| 4.30.10 @ 8:36AM
Good riddance Chuck. And "last american", you do not know what you are talking about. Guilty white liberals are the problem. The Cuban population was told Cuba would be retaken. Some white politicians lied to them, whoda thunkit?
JimH| 4.30.10 @ 10:49AM
Charlie, don't let the door hit you where there is presumably no tan on the way out.
last american| 4.30.10 @ 2:05PM
You are right 2Ang, they were lied to, by Republicans, and the republicans have continued to do nothing about Cuba but curry votes from the cubans with their lies. Now tell me oh wise one, what do you think Rubio the cuban will do about immigration reform? He is backed into a corner and can't stand up for reform without looking like a traitor to the cuban commuity that put him where he is now. He will find out he is just another Michale Steele, a tool to curry votes from his constituency.
debateright| 4.30.10 @ 2:56PM
last american, I am so glad you cleared that up for us. I was operating all these years under the delusion that John F. Kennedy was a democrat.
Roscoe| 4.30.10 @ 8:45AM
Hmm, that third-from-last paragraph.... That sounds familiar... let me think. Who else could that be describing? Oh, yes, now I have it. How about the empty suit currently loitering in the White House?
Anthony| 4.30.10 @ 9:39AM
Charlie Crist is absolutely right. Our political system is indeed broken, and it has become broken by professional hack politicians who have no commitment to anything other than their continued political careers.
Crist, like Arlen Specter, are cancers on the body politic of America. We need to rid ourselves of the professional political class once and for all.
When reprobates like Crist can lie straight face to America, and insist he is running only as a Republican, then he will lie about anything, just like his pal Obama.
Why would we want this type of amoral loser anywhere near power????
ColoradoWest| 4.30.10 @ 9:48AM
Love the "training bra" comment! Very funny.
Citizen Jerry| 4.30.10 @ 10:21AM
This reminds me of what Ann Counter said about a similar politician -- Lincoln Chaffee: "He's too stupid to realize he's a Democrat."
Charlie Hustle forgot the first rule of good politics. It's about public service, not self-service.
John OB| 4.30.10 @ 10:40AM
"Put people above politics". That's Charlie Crist-a- fava's campaign ad running alongside the above article. What a pathetic farce!
Northern Rebel| 4.30.10 @ 11:29AM
I caught John (doddering old fool) McCain on FOX last night, and he said he was disappointed in Crist, but they were still friends.
McCain will be doing the same thing, soon.
Elizabeth Craine| 4.30.10 @ 12:45PM
Thats what is wrong with this country, we have politicians like Crist who are out for themselves. You cant believe anything he says. He has lied so many times. He promised us he would not go independant, but when he saw he wasnt going to win in the primary he bolted the party. He is out for himself.
I for one will be supporting Rubio who is a man of intergity. I believe he has the country's best interest at heart. He will be a good senator. And he will go to fight the DEms agenda ato raise our taxes which we cant afford.
If we dont take back the Senate or House, we will not recognize our country. We need conservative leadership. The libs are against freedom. Just look at what they have done since they have been in power.
canuckistani| 4.30.10 @ 1:24PM
What have they done?
I'm not clear on how they have affected freedom more than the previous regime did in the name of freedom, ironically.
I'm a fiscal conservative, socially libertarian and being dishonest with the facts is lazy.
How do you know Rubio is a man of integrity? He's 39 yrs old, the speaker of the house and has prevented many bills from hitting the floor for a simple vote - including bills he was clearly insinuated in their outcome. How do you know? Crist has a real record, and love 'em or hate 'em, the population has given him a strong approval rating.
Get ready, he will be the next senator.
Name one pol who is not in it for themselves? That's the trade-off for representative government. The pay sucks, so other aspirational rewards are the counterweight.
Ask Jeb if he considers W's opportunism in 2000 cost him his chance? He was the smart one, instead we got the dummy.
xcon| 5.1.10 @ 2:02PM
Arlen Crists approval numbers are in the low 40's.
Marco is in the high 50's.
Bills go to a committee. If the committee approves, the bills are brought to the floor for consideration.
Rubio seems a bit more honest than you canuck.
Former Floridian| 4.30.10 @ 1:30PM
I like Rubio. He has the gift, he can articulate his values simply yet strongly, without vague rhetoric like "Put People Above Politics." Sounds pretty hopey changey to me. After watching a four minute interview with Rubio, I know more about where he stands politically than anything I've EVER heard from Charlie, other than he supported Obama's non-stimulus package.
vitadmd| 4.30.10 @ 2:04PM
There's more than one way to get to Washington... Why is no one discussing the possibility that Obama/Democrats may be engineering this three-way race to ensure that the Democrat wins? Upon careful examination of Crist's behavior and politicians in general, there is no reason to exclude the possibility that a deal was made.
Ken (Old Texican)| 4.30.10 @ 2:31PM
Screw Crist...and all of his ilk.
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Colin Foy| 4.30.10 @ 3:34PM
So long you ruling political class fraud. I wish Snowe, Collins, McCain, Grahm and now Scot Brown, would wrap their trunks around Crist's RINO tail and follow him out of town! Sadly, I can't think of one latino pol, Republican or demarxistRat, who was actually ever worth a damn. We'll see?
Pingback| 4.30.10 @ 3:35PM
The American Spectator : Loitering With Intent < Read what Young Americans Read links to this page. Here’s an excerpt:
BlueOval| 4.30.10 @ 4:47PM
Poor Charlie, all the sacrafices he made to be the Republican senate candidate of choice, heck he even got married... to a woman!
Anthony| 4.30.10 @ 5:41PM
Who'll break the bad news to Barry? I thought they made a smashing couple.
blarset| 4.30.10 @ 5:22PM
Blueoval- Now son , ats funny ight er now- I dont care who ya are ats just clumb funny now. Probably I might could add : Lord I apologize for the Entrenched suckuppery of the Republican Party and for the former Republican revolutionist who will not go away.
Clinton| 4.30.10 @ 5:54PM
I don't have a dog in this hunt; this whole sordid Florida affair only serves to point out that the Tea Party will never get anywhere as long as we are "part of" the Republican Party. We need to go our way and they can go theirs and if they want Lindsey, Michael, Marco and John, then they can support the country clubbers and zealots. We'll do our thing, support our own candidates and then we'll meet when our interests are better suited together and on those things we don't agree, we don't have to burden them with our displeasure. Seems fair to me.
Pingback| 4.30.10 @ 7:06PM
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martin j smith| 5.1.10 @ 2:31PM
The lesson is this: In the end a vote for Christ is a vote for the Democrat side. So in this case once again a RINO is a Democrat-un acknowledged.
Andy Huddleston| 5.1.10 @ 3:30PM
Crist is but the latest self-serving pol trying to cover himself with the mantel of being "for the people."
We must make certain he looses so we're not ripped off again.
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SouthBeachConservative| 5.2.10 @ 7:57AM
Unfortunately the homosexual (yeah i know he married his staff chick this year so he would be better vice president material - and hey, i didn't out him, the Democrats did) will make this race a bit more interesting than it should be. Please God, vote Rubio.
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martin j smith| 5.2.10 @ 11:34AM
I ger =g your pardonSouthBeachConservative but the issue is -- Vote for Christ is a vote for Obama. Period.
No side issues. They detract and are suspcious in my eyes as to the motive to inject them.
Terry Kemple | 5.3.10 @ 12:17PM
If Charlie had been running ahead in the primary polls would he have vetoed SB6? Not likely, you say? What then does that say about him?
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