GOP Sen. Martinez to Resign
CNN reports that Sen. Mel Martinez (R-FL), who was not running for re-election in 2010, will resign his seat early.
Republican Gov. Charlie Crist -- who is already running for the seat, and is the clear frontrunner in all the polls -- will appoint a replacement under Florida law, who will hold the seat through the 2010 election.
For what my advice is worth (which is not much), Crist should appoint somebody other than himself, to serve as a caretaker. The history of governors appointing themselves to the Senate, even seemingly popular governors, is simply awful, and usually results in defeats for themselves and their parties at the next election.
Late Update: Martinez has made it official.
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Josh
Matt
Eric
Brian
Wow, he can't wait to get out of that shithole lol. Hopefully Crist appoints a modertate caretaker.
August 7, 2009 10:43 AM | Reply | Permalink
OK Uriah Heep enuf already...
We all know about the Kleefeld Effect
August 7, 2009 10:51 AM | Reply | Permalink
I'm glad he stuck around long enough to vote for Sonia Sotomayor's confirmation.
August 7, 2009 10:55 AM | Reply | Permalink
Yeah, was that racist or what?
Will the GOP attack him for favoring a wise Latina now?
Did he vote the La Raza ticket?
Frankly, Sonia is highly qualified and deserves the seat. If his Latina roots were part of the equation, so what. None of us are free of that and to assert otherwise is an effort in futility.
August 7, 2009 1:09 PM | Reply | Permalink
Wow i've heard for awhile he's been wanting to leave early, but I never thought it was serious. Can't blame him. When your in the minority and your party is as popular as cancer, i'd get the hell out of there too. Oh well he went out in style. He voted for fellow hispanic Sonia Sotomayor.
August 7, 2009 11:00 AM | Reply | Permalink
Katherine Harris is available.
August 7, 2009 11:01 AM | Reply | Permalink
Sarah Palin is available. And she loves the crocodile hunter, which means she really understands the needs of Florida voters. You betchya.
Plus, a year and a half term is perfect for her attention span and she thinks congress is a joke so it's not like Crist needs to worry about her as competition in 2010.
August 7, 2009 1:57 PM | Reply | Permalink
Yikes. What are the odds we get a complete wacko for the next year in the Senate so Crist can shore up his right flank during a primary?
August 7, 2009 11:13 AM | Reply | Permalink
Good call. Taking away our Second Amendment Rights forever, Obama as Joseph Mengele, Obamacare will mandate late-term abortions against the will of the mother, Obama born in an Indonesian terrorist cell, etc., etc., etc.
August 7, 2009 1:02 PM | Reply | Permalink
So can the Senate delay his replacement's swearing in until after the health care vote? I'm not sure about the procedural details, but it seems like this can be an opportunity to pull a Coleman and lower the threshold for passing legislation for a little while.
August 7, 2009 11:33 AM | Reply | Permalink
It takes two R vacancies to lower the magic number to 59.
August 7, 2009 12:00 PM | Reply | Permalink
Yes, But Kay Baily Hutchison has already said that she will resign in Nov/Dec to run full-time for Texas Guv.
August 7, 2009 4:49 PM | Reply | Permalink
Josh, where are the examples of Governor's appointing themselves and then losing? I can't seem to find the right GIS to pull out that info?
August 7, 2009 11:36 AM | Reply | Permalink
Stuck around long enough to confirm Sotomayer. Talk about a big F-U to the Republican Party!!
August 7, 2009 11:41 AM | Reply | Permalink
I would like to know why he is resigning now. His statement doesn't really give a reason.
August 7, 2009 11:44 AM | Reply | Permalink
Well, since he IS a Republican...my guess is...oh, I don't know...sex scandal? Maybe a gay sex scandal? Time to stake out C Street...
August 7, 2009 11:52 AM | Reply | Permalink
If he gives a completely incoherent resignation speech including the phrase "only dead dolphins swim with the gulf stream" I may never stop laughing.
August 7, 2009 11:59 AM | Reply | Permalink
He already has enough $$ in his pocket. No need for futher exposure.
August 7, 2009 11:49 AM | Reply | Permalink
If you're a Senator you can never have too much money (Bernie Sanders excepted). The next move is typically to a seven-figure gig on K Street. Once you've done the lobbyists' bidding for a while, you become a lobbyist. More money there than in the Senate, actually.
August 7, 2009 4:22 PM | Reply | Permalink
I think Mark Foley is available.
August 7, 2009 12:32 PM | Reply | Permalink
Reading the above comments it occurs to me that Martinez may be resigning because it has simply gotten too embarrassing to be a Republican politician any more.
August 7, 2009 12:48 PM | Reply | Permalink
This can only mean Palin/Martinez in 2012.
August 7, 2009 12:52 PM | Reply | Permalink
Heh, I think the post about all Republicans following Palin's example was intended in jest, but this works fine.
August 7, 2009 2:02 PM | Reply | Permalink
This is becoming a genuine trend. Specter switched, Martinez, Hutchinson is said to resign soon, Gregg, Voinivich and Kit Bond are not running, Chuck Hagel let it go. Do you think Ensign will survive?
This is a losing proposition of power.
August 7, 2009 2:14 PM | Reply | Permalink
Just waiting for Michael Steele to proclaim this another victory for Republicans.
August 7, 2009 2:54 PM | Reply | Permalink
Does this mean Sarah Palin is quitting her husband for a quitter ... er, Martinez?
August 7, 2009 4:06 PM | Reply | Permalink
Rats swimming furiously from the impending whirlpool. Interesting dilemma for the Gov.
Does Crist go base or moderate for appointee?
Anyone have any hard numbers for Fla. wingnutery? Rubino v Crist primary with Crist appointing a :
a) Fire breathing winger, to pacify the base?
b) un-electable but party loyal lackey, to ensure the nomination?
c) party centrist that his Gov's can run to the right of? Not sure they exist.
This is going to get good. Popcorn anyone?
August 7, 2009 10:48 PM | Reply | Permalink
Almost forgot
Or d) Appoint Self " It's good to be King"
I'm betting on (b
IMHO
August 7, 2009 10:54 PM | Reply | Permalink
It's been said before, but it bears repeating – in the GOP world, quit happens.
August 8, 2009 11:29 PM | Reply | Permalink
Hmmm... I wonder what kind of indictment shoe is waiting to drop in the Martinez closet.
People just don't quit the multi millionaire club, House of Lords aka US Senate for no reason.
Florida under Jeb Bush is full of financial fraud and Republican looting that is now only barely coming to light.
Case in point...the FBI raids on Colonial Bank in Ocala Fa. and the politically well connected whole sale mortgage bank Taylor, Bean & Whitaker:
" Turns out that location in Ocala was none other than the headquarters of Taylor, Bean & Whitaker."
Orlando Sentinel
Martinez is up to his eyeballs in something.
The speed and timing of events? If I were a Wall Street derivatives trader I would be shorting Martinez hard...
The FBI operating as far away from Wall Street as possible is good for the Obama administration and for Wall Street.
After all we know the track record of the FBI on investigating the massive Wall Street criminal fraud and securities fraud activities...
The FBI could not catch a Bernie Madoff if he walked into the FBI office and turned himself in.
August 9, 2009 5:15 PM | Reply | Permalink