Making Believe He's Gallagher

Candidates for governor spend hours in what's called debate prep, honing their skills, memorizing key words and phrases, working on hand gestures -- and anticipating what the opponent will do or say. (At least, that's what they should be doing).

Naturally, somebody has to play the role of the other guy. When Charlie Crist preps, the role of Tom Gallagher is played by Chris Kise, a Tampa lawyer and Crist's former solicitor general who recently left the attorney general's office for a job at the Foley & Lardner firm. Kise, 41, is much younger than Gallagher, but his blue eyes and perfect teeth conjure up an image of the CFO. Surely it's a coincidence that Kise, like Gallagher, is a proud 'Cane -- a University of Miami graduate.

The joke in the Crist campaign is that unlike Gallagher, Kise did not have to read from a prepared closing statement on TV Tuesday night.

    

Comments

Sorry Florida residents!

We were too busy editing and distributing our resumes so we didn't have any time to prep Tom for this closing statements. Oops!

Apologies,
Albert and Mallery

Sorry Florida voters!

Were too busy playing dress up, honing our BS, memorizing our Rove phrases, and preparing to receive the “One Finger” hand gesture…

TO ACTUALLY ANSWER QUESTIONS RELATING TO WHAT REALLY MATTERS TO FLORDIANS… ELECTING SOMEONE WHO REALLY UNDERSTANDS THE ISSUES THAT IMPACT OUR LIVES…

But you go ahead and keep playing with each other; we’ll focus on realism and winning.

GO ROD!

Im glad the press is picking up on this. I just couldn't believe it when he started reading his closing. I thought it was odd he had to read throughout the debate, but it shows a true lack of preperation to read the closing statement.

[John F.]

Watching the debate last night, Tom Gallagher reminded me of Gary Busey.

No, not because of what he was saying but how he looked and hwo he acted on stage.

The idea of a Busey look alike as Governor is appalling :p

Crist wouldn't need a prepared remarks because his closing said absolutely nothing.

There is nothing wrong with having it written down...

12:18 - you are right. Plus he acted like he suffered a might bump on the head

Like Busey, did Gallaghre have a kilo of Columbian bam-bam waiting for him in the dressing room?

who played charlie for Tom?

McGreevey

It was weird that he had to read the close.

Pretty pitiful from a guy who's run this same race three other times.

12:35,

I’m guessing it was Pee Wee Herman.

12:46,

Get a grip… a politician reading a prepared statement!!! Say it ain’t so Joe, say it ain’t so… bonehead, go to lunch.

prepared statement is one thing

closing argumnet another...arguments are rehearsed, planned and done well before the debate so thsta the cnadidate can leave a distinct impression on the listener...Gallagher should've known his inside and out

Crist certainly did

[1catalyst]

Politicians, reporters and other "masterfully presented" speaches are usually given with the aid of a telepromptor. These debates do not provide such high tech assists.

Tom read an important statement and his questions for Crist so he would be clear and concise under the glare of the camera and that is wise.

As has been noticed before, Crist had nothing beyond platitudes to spout so it was easy to present in his plastic CharlaTAN manner his bumper sticker sound bites without any notes.

When Crist had an opportunity to ask a question of Gallagher he asked if Gallager would support him if he won the primary. As Gallagher said, "That is an easy one..."

[Ron Mills]

12:01 PM
Please find something original,
you used this tired old worn out line with the mac& cheese when you were talking about Tommy and Charlie
you republicans have been worn out for 8 years
it is time to let the grownups lead Florida, Good Night John Boy

[JrGOP]

Pretty pathetic when Tg has to read his closing remarks. This isn't like it's his first go around at running for governor. Is he stupid or something, down 20 + points, he should have memorized his closing statements cold-

People we all know that Gallagher is not a good public speaker. Our President isnt a good public speaker. It doesnt matter. What articles like this do is take the focus off what is important: the issues. No one can argue that TG has the best grasp of he issues. The guy is a policy wonk. He lives for being the smatest guy in the room. He may not have the personality of Eddie Haskell ( aka Charlie Crist) but he knows what he is talking about. TG may be many things but he isnt stupid. It is amazing that the press write these rediculous articles and people focus on them. The St.Pete Times and every other newspaper need to replay the debate and see how Charlie Crist dodged evey question. Why do people want to support a man who is cotton candy. (All sugar and fluff on the outside with no substance on the inside)

Gallagher was all message, Charlie all style. Message works in GOP primaries. CC looked insincere, just repeating the same bromides. TG looked nervous. CC was on defense all night; TG had the better night. BTW, I get the feeling 90% of the posters on this blog are ringers on the payroll of one or the other of the campaigns. Makes it all meaningless.

[moderate]

John F.

I usually don't agree with many things you have to say on these blogs.

But I have to hand it to you. You hit this one right on the head.

Great analogy.

Best part was TG's hypothetical Perry Mason trick. Looked like the Charlie-bot was going to blow a circuit after that. That is the soundbite I've seen on the news today and it plays good for Gallagher. I don't know if he Tom will catch Charlie, but it is moving his way at the grassroots, no doubt. Charlie sounded a bit in the debate like he was in the wrong primary.

[George]

1:35, maybe cotton candy is preferable to someone as ethics-challenged as Gallagher is, and someone who is more inclined to anger and partisanship than building coalitions. The refusal to accept the people's will in slots and in class size troubles me more than Charlie's fuzziness. Add to that the admission by TG to the effect of "we're the State, we can intervene in anything", in defense of the Schiavo law, despite 19 courts ruling the same way. Sounds more like let's bludgeon the opposition, rather than work on a solution.

George - See once again the CC camp is taking the focus off the issues and using personal attacks. We all know that TG had an ethics complaint. The panel clearly stated he did not miss use his office. So he made a stupid mistake and everone knows that. What everyone doesnt know is where CC is on anything. He reffered things back to his website all night but his website is useless. It doesnt answer anything. His transportation plan says people should work closer to their homes in order to stop congestion on our highways. This is a joke. Why couldnt he just answer the questions? I dont know about you but I dont want a leader who lets his website do his talking. As governor will he just refer people to the state website. Come on he voters deserve more than this. If he is as wonderful as everyone says he is then why doesnt he give straight answers and let the voters decide? Everyone knows Tom's faults so it is time to move on and have CC answer some questions.

12:06 - It is funny that you mention that. I just recieved Albert's resume here at my portapotty store. I think this campaign has given him some great credentials to work for me. He will make a great "John" because he is already so full of sh*t.

1:45pm -

We ALL know Mallery's deal with the travel aide....that is damn repulsive. But the two Davids? Do tell...

(Despite its irrelevancy to this blog, these comments show that TG's staff is just a waste of space. Hey Mal! Your focus last night should have been on your idiot candidate rather than if your lover was wearing boxers or briefs!)

[Truth]

The truth that the Crist nation and charlie himself knows is that after last night, Charlie put himself in a box. Now the questions will only continue to haunt him for the next two weeks

-How will you pay for all of the programs you've proposed?
-What exactly is the difference between civil unions and gay marriage?

Maybe someone on here can provide some answers. Then one of the 20 crist interns on the blog can run it on up to Lemieux because it was clear last night that Charlie had no clue.

1:45 Here is the story of the two Davids: (Sing to the music of Fresh Prince)

In West Tallahassee Mallary wasnt born or raised.

Sittin in her campaign office is where she spends most of her days. Yelling and Screaming that having fun isnt cool,hiring her friends who havent even finshed high school.

When a couple of Davids that where up to some good started coming around the TG campaign Neighborhood.

Mallary got in multiple fights and the Davids got pissed and they said were moving on and joing the eventual winner Charlie Crist.

They whistled for their cars and when the Bense and Tahoe got near both Davids went over and pulled their TG bumper stickers off the rear.

They laughed for a minute and stuck their middle fingers in the air and then proceeded to throw away the rest of their Gallagear.

12:42pm right on with the McGreavy answer.. pretty witty I say. Kudos on that one.

Kise is a 'canes fan?

Well, at least he can enjoy Crist's big victory on the 5th, cause it's going to be all 'NOLES on the 4th.

Oops, I'm sorry wrong blog forum.

2:24 - Im a TG supporter so I could care less about that whole situation but that song is hilarious. However, I did meet that women once at an event and she was rude to me. I hope she knows that she is a representation of the campaign. Kudos for the CC interns for making that up, however, once again it lacks sustance. Typical. Go TG

2:24 - Love it!

2:24 - That song is freakin funny. It might be better than when someone posted the lyrics to because I got high after that scandal broke on TG.

I heard a rumor that TG was sick on Saturday and Sunday. Maybe that had something to do with his performance?

which TG scandal?

Sick, was he going through detox?

2:24 Marvelous. I could not have explained it beter myself.

2:43 and 2:44 - I heard from some people in Tampa he goes to see a Dr. when he is in town and takes some kind of vitamin pills and gets injections.

[cue the prop]

i heard that laura and the kid were actually holding cue cards during the closing statement.

i read somewhere that tg's going to be dating again soon.

so you got to look good if youre going to be on the hunt.

Did anyone else who was there see Charlie put on his lip gloss at the podium before the debate???

I don't know about you all, but I don't recall Jeb, Reagan or even Connie Mack doing that

So we know he's got the lip gloss and the fan in the little bag he carries - wonder what else is in there?

Kise went to FSU law school.

2:43
Tom freaked out and went out Friday night and bought a lot of pot and got some hookers and partied all weekend just like the good'ol days. After the debate he was seen talking to a reporter and telling him “we had a great FUkIN weekend, we all got laid”. The reporter then asked Tom who do you think I am, Tom responded by saying you’re my accountant right?

People please welcome the next governor of the state of Florida, Tom “because I was high “ Gallagher.

I will personally pay for a public speaking course for Tom Gallagher. I wasn't sure who to support but I refuse to support a governor who is that terrible at public speaking. Charlie destroyed Tom at the debate.

Gallagher more like "stuttered" through a "prepared" closing statement. What a joke!!, the guy didn't even look up once and looked like he missed his reading location a few times with just plain weird awkward pauses. Get Gallagher away from politics, he is an embarassment.

[terminator]

John F.
I think you've been doing too much blow like your idol.
Maybe out drinking too much with Teddy last night in Hyannis.
Hope the same fate won't befall you as your namesake. Where's Oswald when you need him?
Hey, I loved Carney!

Did anyone see the end of the debate when TG's family came up on the stage?Charlie made a bee line for the audience like lickety split. Poor Charlie, no family to come up and greet him? He must have felt really lonely. Well at least Daddy was down in the audience with his lunch money for tomorrow.

no terminator, no one saw the end, because the camera panned away and WEDU rolled credits

its like when no one really looks or cares at Trebek talking to the contestants, especially the ones that just got their asses kicked

[hasta]

terminal,

i am impressed by your stupidity and your tenacity all at the same time. the combo is gallagher-esque.

it usually takes some kind of quantifiable iq to type as much as you do. but your constant psycho babble rarely, if ever, shows any trace of gray matter.

you'll have plenty of time for mind-building crosswords soon...

the end is near for you and yours.

hasta la vista baby

You shouldn’t use such big words, you’ll give him a headache.

Yes, please don't hurt Termie's brain with big words. If he stops blogging, we won't have anyone left on the TG team to spar with.

--------------------------------------
GOVERNOR'S RACE | GOP PRIMARY
BY BETH REINHARD AND GARY FINEOUT
Miami Herald
August 23, 2006

In a race defined by carrying on Gov. Jeb Bush's legacy, the two Republicans sought to define themselves and each other in their first matchup broadcast statewide on public television stations.

But showing composure while flinging barbs wins debates, not dropping names, and on those counts, Crist came out ahead. The state attorney general remained unflappable and good-humored, and in a dramatic flourish waved a copy of a state ethics commission opinion criticizing Gallagher.

Gallagher, the state's chief financial officer, fumbled his opening attack, stammering
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you all wish... zzzz i am still astounded and you will be too, when you llisten to the palm beach post blog of the ed board, some one may get fired over it.. but guess what , it is true and TG was awesome and CC was a little neck.. love it

what i love is that skinny greek, will be shocked when TG whips his ass in the primary.... and he will be asking.. WHAT HAPPENED... HELLOOOOOOOOOO charlie, you are gay, don't own anything, don't pay insurance, or taxes, you are a looooooooooooser and everyone knows that now... LOVE IT

[Boca Grande]

Kise may have perfect teeth and blue eyes, but his hair has gotten much thinner. Gallagher has him there.

12:11

I will laugh my ass off Sep 6th when Tom becomes the footnote in Florida political history he is destined for

You all keep saying the gay thing, yet you have no proof...unethical statements, just like your beloved candidate

I see that being a scumbag rubs off on those who support Tom