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Crist Receives Standing 8-count
By Javier Manjarres | 08/18/09 | 01:51 AM EDT | 25 Comments
It is starting to look as if Governor Charlie Crist’s highly-touted popularity with Floridians has eroded to a level that would have been considered inconceivable not too long ago. Over the past several months, Governor Crist has been convincingly defeated in statewide Republican Executive Committee (REC) straw polls by his primary opponent, Former Speaker of the Florida House of Representatives, Marco Rubio.
In addition to these straw poll defeats, Crist has also lost two censure votes conducted by the Volusia and Palm Beach county RECs. To be fair, the Palm Beach County vote actually was a very controversial 65-65 vote not to censure the governor, but this result cannot in any way be considered a victory for the Chuckster- just the mere fact of a censure vote being conducted is a loss for him.
The four straw polls that Crist has lost to Rubio are just the first of many straw polls that will be conducted over the next several months. There has been some opposition within certain RECs to conducting such straw polls in .jpg)
the first place, especially in the Crist-friendly REC in Broward county. Several members within the Executive Committee have sought to block any measures of conducting a straw poll. Why is this, you ask? It appears that certain individuals within the REC leadership are aware of the growing Rubio surge, and they know that a Rubio victory could lead the way towards defeating Crist in Broward County- a county that has long been known to be a Crist stronghold, at least according to the conventional wisdom of the establishment.
I do have to hand it to the Governor, he is smart enough to reach out to the county chairs and make an attempt to “fix” his image problem, but it’s pretty clear that his little clean-up exercise isn’t going so well for him. Here’s a sample of quotes given by three prominent county chairs in an article on Centralfloridapolitics.com:
“I’m as conservative as any governor. I’m chain gang Charlie. I’m pro-gun. I’m pro life,” Crist said. “He used the Charlie Crist charm. He’s got work to do and I think he’s doing it.”-Jason Steele
Hillsborough’s Republican Party Chair, Deborah Cox-Roush, said the calls and temperature-taking from Crist is nothing new. “He’s always reaching out,” she said.
But over in Pasco County, after Rubio walloped Crist in a straw poll of Republicans this summer, a Crist .jpg)
campaign staffer called county party chief Randy Maggard. He recounted the litany of Crist’s transgressions, including the Supreme Court pick and his literal embrace of Barack Obama and the Democrats’ stimulus package.
“That picture is etched in our minds. The base is really fed up with this,” said Maggard.
All of this does not bode well for the governor. But the trouncing from the straw polls aside, there is some interesting buzz out there that could be even more damaging to the Governor. Veteran Republican strategist and Charlie Crist supporter Roger Stone, writing in his personal StoneZone newsletter, penned an article entitled, .jpg)
“Crist's Vulnerability: It's the little Frenchman, “ in which he says:
“Governor Charlie Crist's former Chief of Staff George LeMieux has made millions since leaving state government. Now LeMieux's business dealings are likely to become the focus of Democratic attacks on U.S. Senate candidate Charlie Crist.”
“Also worrisome to the Crist camp are conversations LeMieux had with indicted viatical scamster Joel Steinger of Mutual Benefits while Steinger was wearing a wire for the Feds. The Mutual Benefits scandal will take down more Florida politicians who the company approached to stem the federal investigation that ultimately brought the company down. LeMieux may be the biggest fish.”
Yikes! I have always said that where there is smoke, there is fire. As the campaign rolls on, there will surely be some tasty and closeted secrets that are yet to be revealed.
Stay tuned, there’s much more news to come— and you won’t have to wait very long for it.
TAGS: roger stone, charlie crist, marco rubio, javier manjarres, senate, republican, gop
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25 Comments | Related Topics »Miami-Dade County (FL) | FLORIDA | National
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Comments
There's no doubt that Marco is quickly gaining momentum day by day. He's also become much more on message and is really taking the fight to the grassroots, the voters. More and more people are starting to realize that he's got the voters and the enthusiasm. My prediction is that it won't even be close.
All of a sudden Charlie Crist is a true conservative? Ya, whatever happen to "chain gang Charlie?" If God forbid Charlie get's elected he will go to D.C. and vote like a democrat! Like Mark Levin said... "Crist is an Obama republican!" And I will not vote for Crist again! Crist and his buddy Obama can go fly a kite! I'm voting for a real republican...And thats Marco Rubio!! Go to www.marcorubio.com and donate liberal Crist out!
Even though Charlie Crist wasn't censured in the Palm Beach County REC, not a single person spoke in favor of him or his policies. Clearly, he does not have the support of our members. Those of us that argued against censure simply didn't feel it was the right way for us to send the Governor our message of displeasure with his political decisions. No one should mistake the failure of the censure vote as a victory for Charlie. He didn't break any law or commit any ethical violations. Therefore we felt the right way to "punish" him was to vote yes on having a straw poll in October and to vote for Marco Rubio at that time. Moreover, next August most of us will not be voting for Crist in the primary.
We can only hope Rubio is victorious. We need more conservatives, less RINO'S.
The RNC made a big mistake backing another rino, they have not been listening to our emails, fax's and phone calls. Rubio is a conservative and heis the one the RNC should be backing.
Crist+Lemeiux+Steinger=Crime syndicate
I wonder what Bubba is going to think when he sees these three guys walk in his cell block?
I was very disappointed when I saw Gov. Crist in Ft. Myers, all aglow with Obama when he came there on his campaign stop. That did it for me.
I will not vote for Charlie. Florida does not need another R.I.N.O. in the Senate.
"I’m chain gang Charlie. I’m pro-gun. I’m pro life,” Crist said.
WHAT?!?!? Then WHY did you put in a Supreme Court Justice approved by Planned Parenthood? A truly pro-life person would not have appointed such a judge.
Go away, Charlie Crist. I'm voting for Marco Rubio.
The only reason to vote Republican is for court picks so Crist failed.
He appointed a liberal to the Supreme Court. Rubio is too conservative
but Crist is making me mad. Not sure who I will vote for next year.
Crist wins & I become a libertarin. Another Republican that doesn't want any more RINO representing them in Washington. If you are not a conservative, don't know or believe in the Constitution, or feel their are above the law do not run as a Republican. Become a Democrat, the party of corruption, power grabbing, with no regard for the Constitution. The elected Dems think it is okay NOT to read the bills they vote on. Shouldn't they be fired for not proforming their duties. The average worker would, oh I just didn't bother to read the info it was to long & complicated. I just ran out of time, my dog ate the bill or more truthful I am to lazy or stupid to read & understand the legislation. We have a choice vote for Rubio and get a true Republican or vote for Crist and get what ever the polls say is popular that week. RUBIO A TRUE REPUBLICAN or Crist a true RINO, your vote counts.
I am entirely sick of people who talk out of both sides of their mouths to get, gain, or keep popularity. Just makes me think your a snake, Mr. Crist. Thanks for writing this informative article Javier, it's good to know what's going on in your state.
It is obvious that the Governor is scared-why would he be calling around to try to put fires out?
That picture of him and Obama is disturbing.
CRIST IS A DEMOCRAT IN REPUBLICAN CLOTHING! GO MARCO RUBIO!!
We need to look into all of Gov.Crist's shaddy friend's and dealing's. Gov.Crist is the worst governor florida has ever had! And now Crist wants to leave florida and the mess he made as fast as he can to go to D.C. to be with his democrat friends! Governor Crist is a Arlen Specter and us republicans would be screwed for years to come! My vote is with Marco Rubio! Crist is too LIBERAL!!!! And now Crist is trying to prove he is a conservative all of a sudden! Please!!!!!!! Watch Crist use all his money on ads to lie about Marco Rubio! But in the end it's the GRASSROOTS that going to put Marco over the top! RUBIO 2010!!!
integrity is defined as -Doing the right thing, legally and morally-
The right thing for Governor Crist to do is to appoint the person who will better represent the interests of Florida, not best represent his political goals. the Best person for him to appoint would be Marco Rubio.
Also, being pro-gun and pro-life does not a conservative make. it's a start, but he's got a long long long way to go.
Keep an eye out on Thursday for a great new post. I cannot wait to post it. Make sure you send it around to all your friends and have them all leave a comment.
The Governor reads my posts, so say hello to him as you leave a comment.
Hi, Chuckster!!!
Depending on who you read, Stone and LeMieux are sworn enemies of each other. So I imagine it doesn't hurt to take anything either of them say about the other with at least a grain of salt.
And tequila. And a splash of lime, if you've got it.
Oh, by the way... still nobody reads my article's! WAAAAA!!!!!
Matt Mitchell.
The worst politician in the United States of America is hands down Ted Kennedy. He has concievably destroyed more morality and bolstered more liberal legislation than any other politician in OUR country's storied history. However, you will see me vote for Ted Kennedy before I'll cast a vote for Charlie Crist again. At least with Ted Kennedy, I know what I'm putting in office!
Shame on Charlie for my first voting error....but shame on me if I do it again!
US REPUBLICANS ARE MAD AND WE ARE NOT GOING TO TAKE IT ANYMORE! WE ARE GOING TO VOTE OUT CRIST! AND VOTE RUBIO IN 2010!! GO TO WWW.MARCORUBIO.COM AND DONATE!! IF NOT... CRIST WIN'S! AND WE CANT LET THAT HAPPEN!!
http://www.insurancejournal.com/news/southeast/2009/06/08/101182.htm
IF YOU OWN A CONDO HERE IN FLORIDA... YOUR CONDO FEE's ARE GOING TO GO UP SOONER THAN LATER! THANK'S TO CHARLIE CRIST!!
Not sure who I am voting for, but it won't be Crist.
You stated:
"I do have to hand it to the Governor, he is smart enough to reach out to the county chairs and make an attempt to “fix” his image problem, but it’s pretty clear that his little clean-up exercise isn’t going so well for him."
Here is what I say:
"I will reach across the aisle when those items of concern are within my conservative principles, otherwise I will fight for what is right all the while knowing those who compromise their principles compromise their integrity."
Can Charlie Crist say the same thing?
How can we demand accountability from the government and refrain from demanding it from our own party? If the GOP continues the path it has chosen, it will emerge as an even stronger form of Dem lite. Ironically, there is a sharp difference in our local GOP here in Duval and the state party. Here there really is a big tent and integrity. Party leaders should look to Duval as a model. And on Rubio, he is absolutely the chosen one here in NE Florida.
Sarah Palin is going to endorse Marco Rubio! Go Marco....you rule!
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