Is Crist Rising on Wave of Rick Scott Criticism?
Former Gov. Charlie Crist increasingly is blasting Gov. Rick Scott over how he is running the state of Florida.
The 2012 election is barely in the books and already Florida politicos are turning their eyes to 2014, especially Democrats hungry to take back the Governor's mansion from the Republicans.
Increasingly, Democrats appear ready to embrace former Republican Gov. Charlie Crist as their best chance at winning in 2014. At the same time, Crist is taking a more vocal role in criticizing Gov. Rick Scott, even taking to Twitter to blast Scott's controversial decision not to extend early voting during the presidential election.
Crist certainly is a topic of news and speculation across Florida. Here is a sampling:
The populist former governor is undergoing a metamorphosis that is substantial even by political standards. He left his party in 2010 as a candidate for U.S. Senate, ran without party affiliation and lost to Republican Marco Rubio.
As an independent, he has since spent this election cycle campaigning aggressively for Obama, chastising his former party for an "extremist" agenda, and, in the last week, he has been accelerating criticism against Rick Scott.
When Scott refused to extend early voting hours as Crist had done in 2008, Crist tweeted "indefensible." When Scott defiantly defended his decision Friday, Crist sent out a link to his statement and added: "I don't think the people would agree, Governor."
MORE CRIST VS. SCOTT HEADLINES: Daily News: Think election's over? It's just beginning for Gov. Rick Scott and challengers; Herald-Tribune: Crist dipping toes back in politics, with Democrats
TWEET, TWEET: @CharlieCristFL: .@FLGovScott I don't think the people would agree, Governor. MT @HuffPostPol: Scott: "The Right Thing Happened"
EDITORIAL: DEMOCRATS CREEP TO RELEVANCE from the Tampa Tribune
"Florida Democrats have every right to be happy about the results of the general election. But they need to calm down a bit and face the reality that they've got a long way to go before they become a major player in Sunshine State politics again.
... A stronger Democratic Party actually would benefit the Republican Party, which has become increasingly arrogant in its use of power. Witness its creation of a costly 12th university when the state cannot adequately fund existings ones, solely because a powerful lawmaker demanded as much. Or its adoption of "election reforms" that made it more difficult to vote when there was no evidence of voter fraud."
There were some close calls and upsets in State House races. Here's a look:
DORWORTH RECOUNT EFFORT WENT LATE INTO SUNDAY NIGHT by Jason Garcia of the Orlando Sentinel
Seminole County election workers were slogging through a state-mandated recount Sunday night that should determine once and for all the fate of state Rep. Chris Dorworth. As a machine recount progressed into the evening, Democratic challenger Mike Clelland's paper-thin lead over Dorworth grew by four more votes - to 127 out of nearly 74,000 cast.
But Clelland's margin remained less than one-quarter of one percent, likely ensuring that the machine recount would be followed by manual tally. Mike Ertel, the Seminole County Supervisor of Elections, said his goal was to complete the entire process by late tonight or predawn Monday.
LATE INFLUX OF PARTY MONEY MANY HAVE HELPED CARL ZIMMERMAN DEFEAT PETER NEHR IN HD 65 by Will Hobson of the Tampa Bay Times
Scott Arceneaux had just received the results of a poll that showed Zimmermann up 2 points, according to Zimmermann. "What do you think it will take to win this race?" Arceneaux asked.
"If you just get me $10,000, I can win," Zimmermann replied. "I promise."
On Oct. 26, the state party gave Zimmermann $10,000, according to campaign filings. As Zimmermann reflected this week on his upset win over Nehr, he pointed to that money - combined with $5,000 Pinellas County Democrats gave him Oct. 23 - as the difference between his 2006 and 2008 losses to Nehr and this year's victory.
FACEBOOK STATUS OF THE DAY via former Representative Peter Nehr
"... And for those of you who are still defacing my signs, turning them upside down, writing nasty stuff on them: gee whiz you won the election. What's your problem?"
Rider
12:41 pm on Monday, November 12, 2012
Is Charlie the equivalent of Sarah Palin? Opportunistic governors who abandon their office and commitments for self advancement?
The Masked Blogger
12:52 pm on Monday, November 12, 2012
With a side order of Arlen Spector party changing to boot!
william
4:19 pm on Monday, November 12, 2012
That is what i was thinking even before i saw your post. Very good.
Harborite
1:47 pm on Monday, November 12, 2012
I believe that Pam Iorio, the former Mayor of Tampa, has the best chance of beating Gov. Scott. She is a non-ideological practical Democrat who can attract both the Independents and the moderate Republican voters. She is also a former elections supervisor who will help create voting reforms to stop Florida's embarrassing election problems. Pam Iorio is a woman and is well known along the electorally important I-4 corridor. We need more women in Tallahassee and Pam Iorio would be the perfect choice to defeat the unpopular Gov. Rick Scott.
Richard
10:33 pm on Wednesday, November 14, 2012
I agree, she would make a great governor, but will she run?
Voice of Reason
1:52 pm on Monday, November 12, 2012
Crist is an embarrassment! He had to take the bar several times to pass but became the Attorney General of the 3rd largest State in the Country! He hasn't had a real job out of politics until now with Morgan and Morgan as an ambulance chaser (and that was a favor!). He has questionable morals and he is a political opportunist that will go anyway the wind blows (he's a perfect Dem.) He is known as an empty suit. He road on the coat-tails of the popular Gov., Jeb Bush and was a failure as Gov. But who knows, the sheeple voted the embarrassment-in-chief back in office even though anyone with half a brain could tell you that he is incompetent so why not bring this godless wonder back into Florida's politics again. We deserve it! Common sense is not very common, is it?
Flafreethinker
3:25 pm on Monday, November 12, 2012
Wow, voice of reason! NOT! Guess you are are a republican with a bad attitude. I happen to hold 3 college degree's, and voted with pride for Mr Obama. Yes, I too am an atheist, (hence the college degree's) and realize that forward,progressive thinking people are hard for you to keep up with. Much easier to revert to 7th century beliefs, myth and superstition and bigotry,intollerance, and spewing forth hatred galore. It must be awful being you!
Harborite
3:42 pm on Monday, November 12, 2012
VOR, Your comment is an embarrassment, not Charlie Christ. Christ left the Republican Party like many others after it became filled with uneducated bigots, racists, misogynists, homophobes, extremists, religious fundamentalists and radical tea partiers. Your comment is typical of the low educated voter who now supports the Republican Party and has Rush Limbaugh as their hero. The Republican Party and its leaders like Gov. Rick Scott are the real embarrassments for the state of Florida and for our country.
Michael D.
4:23 pm on Monday, November 12, 2012
All three posters here need to take a step back. Because all three are going with labeling instead of discussion. Not all Democrats are Socialists and not all Republicans are Religious Hardliners. All three are just spewing stereotypes. To assume everything you post here about a group of people overall is just unnesscary and without facts.
Katherine Quayle
11:57 am on Tuesday, November 13, 2012
Finally, someone that tells it like it is!
Does anyone else find it frightening that we have generations of families that live on government hand outs? Remember the days when people were embarassed to let others know they received food stamps or even were on the free lunch program in the public schools? It seems like everyone has forgotten that government assistance is intended to be temporary, not a way of life!
It would be nice if all of the people that feel the need to boast about how great their political parties are would focus their efforts on their children and grandchildren instead. Try educating the next generation about how it's their responsibility to become productive members of society. Something seriously needs to change.
Dad of Three
7:00 pm on Monday, November 12, 2012
Joe C. has it right, indeed spot on, about Charlie Crist. He was simply was too logical for the Florida Republican Party.
And as to the first poster who made a comparison to Sarah Palin, well Charlie Crist is as similar to Sarah Palin as apples are to rocks.
He may not have an easy time getting the nomination from the Democrats, since he is too moderate for some of them, but he has great name recognition and did (despite some other comments above) a very credible job as Florida Governor.
While Jeb Bush did some good things as Governor, I don't look back on the J. Bush legacy with any fondness.
John Collins
7:52 pm on Monday, November 12, 2012
Charlie Crist is like an empty bottle in the Gulf of Mexico. Which ever way the wave is going, that is the way Charlie will go.
Goin' Commando
10:18 pm on Monday, November 12, 2012
Oh, you mean like Mitt Romney?
ironlion
11:31 pm on Monday, November 12, 2012
Woow this is very entertaining..reading your perspectives..except for (voice of reason) I hope you understand now we all can learn something new..no offense!..Republicans are strategically out of touch right now..refusing to extend voting hours will be a disaster for the current Rep GOV..your term is as good as done my dear sir..when you have us the voter to suffer waiting 5-6-7 or more hours..as a result of your strategy??..start packing..and if its One thing I know about Charlie Crist from what I have followed..is he's got balls!!..
Owen Linder, MD FACP
3:48 am on Tuesday, November 13, 2012
Whichever candidate becomes the Democratic party selection will have to earn it by force of personality. That person, be they Nan Rich, Pam Iorio, Charlie Christ, or Dark Horse will have to appear in front of the people, tough editorial boards, nonfluff tv interviews and in debates many times.
Speaking from my recent observation of Organizing for America the real campaigners on the ground will not support a power down selection process and it's candidate.2010 illustrated this.
The selected candidate has to earn their candidacy before earning the respect and then the hard work of these really good thoughtful people.
The Democratic Party candidate can lose is if he lets her or himself be annointed by money or power instead of earning the candidacy. In other words the many campaign workers I know will not support an unprincipled candidate.
But on the other side about four million Floridians voted for Romney..
Though Organizing for America provided the margin of victory for the Democratic Party there are still four million stalwart supporters of whoever carries the Republican flag.They support unprincipled power politics.
Let the auditions begin.
Amy Dinovo
9:58 am on Tuesday, November 13, 2012
While I'll agree that any Democratic candidate will need to earn that ground support to take the election, I believe that you also over estimate the "stalwart supporters" of the Republican flag. While I know many who voted for the RR ticket, some were Republicans some were voting for "Not Obama." Likewise, I think our next election might see big support for a Democratic candidate from Republicans who are voting for "Not Scott." If his current approval rating is any indication, the Florida Republican party might need to evaluate whether they will support Rick Scott's bid for re-election.
rick barasso
8:30 am on Tuesday, November 13, 2012
I like Charlie. I think he governed with reason. As far as his ability to beat DICK Scott, the rock mentioned in an earlier post would probably beat him....
Chuck R
9:34 am on Tuesday, November 13, 2012
Do the Republicans embrace Rick Scott? Seriously. I don't know if they do. I have friends who voted for him because of the R next to his name, then couldn't believe what they did a few months later.
I actually don't know if I dislike him because of his obvious greed and lack of morality, or respect him for making really unpopular decisions in an attempt to meet Florida's budget.
John B
9:53 am on Tuesday, November 13, 2012
I wouldn't vote for Charlie Crist as you don't know what he stands for. One minute he's a Republican, next minute he's an Independent, and then he speaks at the Democratic National Convention as a Democrat. I don't event think Charlie Crist knows what Charlie Crist is all about.
Harborite
12:22 pm on Tuesday, November 13, 2012
John, It sounds like you are describing the chameleon Mitt Romney.
Michael D.
12:27 pm on Tuesday, November 13, 2012
So Joe C. you wouldn't vote for Romney but would vote for Christ. They are extremely similar. They are the same candidate really.
Harborite
12:36 pm on Tuesday, November 13, 2012
Michael D., Charlie Christ would not be my first choice for Governor. But if the choice were voting for Charlie Christ or Gov. Rick Scott, then I wouldn't hesitate to vote for Charlie Christ. I actually think that the Democrats best choice to win the next election for Governor would be Pam Iorio. I hope that she wins the Democratic nomination in 2014. I am certain that she would easily beat our unpopular Governor.
Michael D.
1:10 pm on Tuesday, November 13, 2012
Joe,
I feel they are two sides of the same candidate. Met Crist, seems like a nice man. But also not a man I would trust. He is just a focus group follower. Between him and Scott we both loose. Iorio would be an interesting candidate. But don't know if she will translate statewide.
The Masked Blogger
12:52 pm on Tuesday, November 13, 2012
You know, I know the guy is trying to make his return to politics, (otherwise known as The Second Coming) but that is no reason to keep referring to him as Christ.
Michael D.
1:03 pm on Tuesday, November 13, 2012
Thanks MB, didn't catch that.
Dean S. Robinson
7:01 pm on Thursday, November 15, 2012
I don't know how much political clout CC has left. He's burned a number of bridges. He may be too 'flexible' for the current 'stake in the ground' environment. I think PI may have a better shot representing than he does.
Paul Allen
7:18 am on Friday, November 16, 2012
Charlie Christ has no idea where he stands. It all depends on which way the wind is blowing!. How can the voting public support this guy when you don't know what he stands for?
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