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Charlie Crist Joining Obama At Pro-Stimulus Event
The White House has just announced that President Obama will be campaigning for the stimulus plan tomorrow in Fort Myers, Florida -- where he'll be introduced by Republican Governor Charlie Crist.
It's odd to think that Crist -- who hit the campaign trail in a big way for John McCain last year, and has been courted to run for the open Senate seat -- has now broken ranks in such a conspicuous manner as to publicly appear with Obama.
It's not just that, but his official statement praises Obama in language that one would normally use for a political ally: "I am eager to welcome President Obama to the Sunshine State as he continues to work hard to reignite the US economy."
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Eric
1. Incredibly smart move on crist's part. He knows what his constituents want and he wants to help them get it. He really is a good governor.
2. Crist is totally angling for 2016 and a presidential run. Look out, he could be formidable.
3. He will never run for the senate. He is angling for president.
February 9, 2009 1:17 PM | Reply | Permalink
You are CORRECT, Sir!
February 9, 2009 2:01 PM | Reply | Permalink
You're spot-on on #1. Last week, he spoke out strongly on Hardball. Of all those I've heard, Crist's simple argument has been stronger than more than a few Dems. http://video.aol.com/video-detail/hardball-gop-governors-back-obamas-stimulus/2836973739/?icid=VIDLRVNWS04
In fact, most GOP governors are backing Obama's bill. These folk aren't stupid. Unlike Congressional members, they understand that the good of the people trumps the good of the party.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/28949195/
February 9, 2009 2:15 PM | Reply | Permalink
Joan Walsh has a great comment at Salon:
"GOP Gov. Charlie Crist will be by his side in Fort Myers, a nice way to flip off John McCain, who's back to his cranky claims of 'socialism!' about 'that one.'"
http://www.salon.com/opinion/walsh/politics/2009/02/09/elkhart_rally/index.html
February 9, 2009 4:44 PM | Reply | Permalink
A crank and crackpot all in one. Egomaniac, too! And such great judgment he showed, elevating Klondike Barbie to the national stage!
February 10, 2009 5:18 AM | Reply | Permalink
If all of the rumors about Charlie and his sexuality coming out of Florida turn out to be true, he's going to have a hard time running for anything as a republican.
February 9, 2009 8:52 PM | Reply | Permalink
I'm thinking he may be up for a special cabinet position - they aren't all filled yet you know.
February 9, 2009 1:18 PM | Reply | Permalink
This should put some pressure on Martinez. How could a Senator like Martinez say he's against the bill when their own Governor realizes the benefits of this package to help carry the state through this deep recession?
February 9, 2009 1:19 PM | Reply | Permalink
Very nice move by the Obama team. The island for obstructionist Republicans in congress keeps getting smaller and smaller.
I don't expect a large majority of support from the R's for the final bill as many still obviously have their heads up their ass, but I think the target of 50% is still a reality as the Pres puts his case to the public and the public and Republican Govs voice their support.
February 9, 2009 1:20 PM | Reply | Permalink
>>I think the target of 50% is still a reality as the Pres puts his case to the public and the public and Republican Govs voice their support.>>
Ha! There's a story in the DC Examiner and the WaPo about how fired up the Repugs are because they've been a solid block against the stimulus.
There's no benefit for them to support the stimulus. If it doesn't work, they can say "I told you so." If it does work, the Dems will get credit for it anyway.
They're not interested in doing what's best for the country, just what's best for their party.
February 9, 2009 1:23 PM | Reply | Permalink
Actually, there is a benefit: they demonstrate that they can be within the political mainstream and work within a constructive government.
The GOP has serious "trust" issues with the voting public.
February 9, 2009 1:38 PM | Reply | Permalink
Rejoining the mainstream is certainly the benefit of supporting the bill for the Republican party as a whole. But for the individual lawmakers, whose vision does not extend beyond 2010, it is too far up in the clouds.
They are Rumpublicans.
February 9, 2009 1:45 PM | Reply | Permalink
"They're not interested in doing what's best for the country, just what's best for their party."
Maybe I'm giving too much credit, but I'd think at least some realize that the future of their party depends on doing what their constiuency wants and needs.
February 9, 2009 1:46 PM | Reply | Permalink
Speaking strictly politically, you can't beat the other party by being like the other party. Rather than choose Democrat-lite, folks will choose Democrat.
Just like in 2002 when the reverse happened. Democrats went along with Bush on the war, etc., believing it would help them in the elections. Not so much. They looked like Repug-lite and folks just voted for the Repugs.
February 9, 2009 2:24 PM | Reply | Permalink
That's not quite true.
By this logic, the Republicans couldn't support anything the Democrats supported. There is plenty of space for common ground and the GOP is just occupying an extreme.
February 9, 2009 2:31 PM | Reply | Permalink
They can support some things the Dems support, just not the controversial things. This bill is controversial, just like the war. There's no proof it will work. They don't want any part of owning it.
February 9, 2009 2:36 PM | Reply | Permalink
It's mostly controversial because they've made it controversial. In fact, Obama has about 2-1 support for his approach on the economy (new Gallup). The Pugs could easily have swum with the tide on this.
February 9, 2009 6:33 PM | Reply | Permalink
I agree. The Republicans are planning on running on the deficit in 2010, hoping the country will forget that they created the deficit and have nothing to show for it except a war that should have never been waged and the worse economic crisis since the Depression. It's disgusting to watch them put their party in front of the good of the country, and they need to be called on it loudly by the Democratic Congress. They created this mess.
February 9, 2009 3:01 PM | Reply | Permalink
I don't think it will get 50%, but it really doesn't matter. It will pass. Part of the benefit of a bipartisan approach is that those who still oppose have no excuse to hide behind. The public is overwhelmingly behind this bill. Eventually, the Republicans' instinct for self-preservation will kick in - especially those in states trending purple. It's not for nothing that the Republican Senators working for this bill are from strongly Democratic states.
The obstructionists will get a beating from their constituents back home over this. Many will come back significantly less obstructionist for the next major bill that comes along. This is a marathon, not a sprint.
February 9, 2009 3:27 PM | Reply | Permalink
Rush will have the last laugh
EXCOMMUNICATION NOW!
February 9, 2009 1:22 PM | Reply | Permalink
Crist is certainly a guy with a head on his shoulders. I remember him extending the early voting hours for voters in his state in the general election despite the resistant from the McCain camp.
He's caught doing the right thing again.
I agree with Michael A, he is gunning for Presidential run. Not sure though why he would till 2016?
Thankfully, however, Republicans will not accept him as their new national face. He's just too less moronic to lead the GOP.
February 9, 2009 1:25 PM | Reply | Permalink
I mean not sure why he would wait untill 2016?
February 9, 2009 1:27 PM | Reply | Permalink
Because popular incumbent presidents are very difficult to beat.
2012 will be a parade of Republican has-beens. The real stars, like Jindal and Crist, will wait until 2016.
February 9, 2009 1:34 PM | Reply | Permalink
Too early for educated guesses...but Jindal has closest to zero percent chance to ever become POTUS IMO.
February 9, 2009 1:40 PM | Reply | Permalink
They said the same thing about Obama, and he hadn't even been elected governor in one of the most racist states in the union.
February 9, 2009 1:59 PM | Reply | Permalink
I know what you mean.
But, IMO, GOP will press hard to keep him down. Second, when people know a little more they will know he's a leaner, darker, shorter and ever so smarter version of Palin.
Better brains same extreme philosphy.
Touchwood, I hope I'm right for the sake of the next generation.
February 9, 2009 2:07 PM | Reply | Permalink
Jindal is a Rhodes Scholar, certainly as smart as they come. YOu underestimate him at your peril, he will be more than a challeng in 2016. Just like Crist. 2016 will be a tough race indeed, hopefully Obama will be such a good President that he will have that "Reagan affect" where people will elect another Democrat simply because the last one was so popular.
February 9, 2009 9:25 PM | Reply | Permalink
My first thought too (not moronic enough). Will the base give him a pass? I doubt it espcially after after his welcome message. So what is wrong with Jindal from a Republican point of view (I know what is wrong with him from my point of view!). I think Palin and Joe the Plumber are going for it.
February 9, 2009 1:58 PM | Reply | Permalink
Crist is definitely a Republican front runner for 2016, and securing Florida would be a strong place to start, but I'm not so sure he would hold up under the brutal national scrutiny.
February 9, 2009 3:25 PM | Reply | Permalink
I guess we know where the wind's blowing.
http://www.pufferfishblog.com/
February 9, 2009 2:05 PM | Reply | Permalink
I think a Palin/Plumber ticket would be awesome! You get a complete bowl of shit stew from the assbackward upsidedown world of republican base politics.
On the Crist appearance you have to give him credit for knowing which way the wind blows but he really lost credibility when he hurried up and got married in time to make McLame's short list of VPs. It would be way way too much for the God Party to have a confirmed bachelor around when they all seem to turn out to be gay. There are a few kiss and tell boy toy stories about Crist that might get a bit more attention if he ups his profile to national office contender.
February 9, 2009 2:09 PM | Reply | Permalink
>>On the Crist appearance you have to give him credit for knowing which way the wind blows but he really lost credibility when he hurried up and got married in time to make McLame's short list of VPs. It would be way way too much for the God Party to have a confirmed bachelor around when they all seem to turn out to be gay. There are a few kiss and tell boy toy stories about Crist that might get a bit more attention if he ups his profile to national office contender. >>
OMG! What a homophobic asshole you are to be talking about Crist's sexuality like that. You've got no business saying "and he's a fag, too" when you're discussing him in a political situation.
Here you are spreading rumors about him and his private life which has nothing to do with this subject. You're a filthy rumor-mongering creep!
You may not think you're a bigot and homophobe because people who come from your backwoods part of the world are stupid but you are.
{Chanelling everything you called me when I said that Kos was gay.}
Fucking hypocrit douchebag! LOL!!!
February 9, 2009 2:34 PM | Reply | Permalink
Oh Please,
The talk of Crist's lifestyle choices have gone WELL beyond the rumor mills. Political reporters in the major media have all but outed him. Back during the primaries, I think I recall Chuck Todd suggesting that Crist's recent engagement was a sham to quiet the "talk".
Just because you find the talk about Crist's lifestyle to be unpleasant does not mean that the issue wouldn't be a massive road block to Crist's national political chances.
The vetting of Presidential candidates goes well beyond the vetting of any other political position on the planet. Were Crist to run for President, some partners of his past would likely emerge. If these partners were male, it would doom his presidential chances. Politics isn't about fair, it's about politics.
Such talk may not kill a Democratic politician, but it would definitely, certainly, and without question kill a Republican running for the nation's highest office. In today's climate, I suspect it would doom most (male) Democrats Presidential ambitions as well.
Crist may still run for President in 2016. Politicians are masters of self denial (see John Edwards and Gary Hart). Democrats probably wouldn't have to touch Crist on the issue, I suspect he'd be taken down in the primaries by his fellow Republicans.
February 9, 2009 3:36 PM | Reply | Permalink
Slow your roll! Did you read this part of my post?
{Chanelling everything you called me when I said that Kos was gay.}
Last week I posted that I think Kos is gay and Hollywood called me every name in the book, including the usual (homophobe, bigot). Mind you, I made no derrogatory comments about gays; in fact, I said he'd be happier if he stopped pretending.
Hollywood said I was just a nasty bitch who hates gays to even mention someone's sexuality when we're discussing politics. He accused me of calling Kos a "fag" (his word, not mine)
And now, here he comes with his gossip and opinion about Crist's sexuality when this conversation has nothing to do with that.
I'm not bothered by Hollywood saying Crist is gay, just his rank hipocracy. And I LOVED pointing it out to him!
February 9, 2009 4:08 PM | Reply | Permalink
Charlie got married?
Well, so he did!
February 9, 2009 4:25 PM | Reply | Permalink
Crist is definitely angling for a run in 2016. He won't run in 2012 since he realizes that the Republican brand is in the crapper at the moment. Plus, the Congressional Republicans have little incentive to moderate their positions, since most of the House Reps are in safe seats, and most of the Senators are in Red States or are retiring (Voinovich, Martinez, Bond). Notice that the "moderates" putting the stimulus over the top are from blue states. Specter knows he could never survive filibustering the stimulus package to death, since PA is relying on it to pass its state budget. Hence, Crist is rightfully waiting out the Republican Party's 8 years in the desert, with hopes or rebranding the party as centrist and pragmatic in 2016. (Note Crist's rather decent, pragmatic actions as governor - not only did he keep early polling places open longer, he gave felons the right to vote again, all in Jeb Bush's Florida!)
February 9, 2009 2:10 PM | Reply | Permalink
In what respect, Charlie? (Sorry couldn't help myself).
February 9, 2009 2:17 PM | Reply | Permalink
Breaking ranks with the confedo-republicans, he can kiss any political aspirations good buy. At least as a republican. As an independent he may have a chance. Crist is well liked in Florida.
C
February 9, 2009 2:32 PM | Reply | Permalink
Obama won Florida 51-48. Crist isn't brilliant or super-savvy, he just knows how to count (if he's really after that Senate seat). For a Republican, though, I guess the ability to count to any number higher than 10 counts as genius.
February 9, 2009 2:43 PM | Reply | Permalink
Good on both Obama's and Crist's part. I hope Obama can make even more use of Republican governors who know their compatriots in Washington are insane and are hanging them out to dry.
February 9, 2009 2:54 PM | Reply | Permalink
I've got first dibs on Crist/Palin.com
February 9, 2009 4:26 PM | Reply | Permalink
Charlie is too smart to ever pick Palin, he had the guts to criticize Jeb. Believe me a lot of people praised that move, really helped him get elected gov. Many think he thinks more like a dem than a repub. Florida at the moment, has a great dem movement building, maybe our Charlie will flip (or not). Fun to think about. He does think the future is where it's at, not stuck in the past like Boehner & old Mitch.
February 10, 2009 11:10 AM | Reply | Permalink