All hail the Crist political machine

The Jeb Bush political network in this state is legendary. After Tuesday, it's time to pay homage to the Charlie Crist political operation, which may very well be what puts John McCain into the White House. ... With speculation already swirling about his vice presidential prospects, his aides are aggressively pumping up Crist's political operation to reporters around the country. The message? Crist can deliver Florida.

More here.

Comments

Excuse me, I think I just vomited in my mouth.

I couldn't react fast enough and vomited on my desk.

9:45 am -- Very insightful political commentary . . .why didn't you sign your name to the comment?

Why didn't you 9:50am? Clown!!

From today's Tallahassee Democrat... and as I mentioned yesterday... I hope, if one good thing has come from Amendment 1, that people start paying attention to what their local elected officials are doing.

The scare tactics, tax invreases, fee increases, millage increases are starting...

In addition, they're considering an increase in the gas tax, a jump in garbage pick-up and stormwater fees and a new tax to pay for mosquito control.

Commissioners made the preliminary decisions Wednesday, a day after Florida voters approved a constitutional amendment on property taxes that county officials say will drain $13 million from their budget.
"These cuts are real," Commissioner Ed DePuy said. "These are not imaginary. These are actually going to have an impact on how long it takes a sheriff's deputy or fire truck or ambulance to respond to your call for service."

Emergency services could see 8-percent cuts. Libraries, parks, veteran services, economic development and animal services could see 19-percent cuts. Event sponsorships could be cut by half.

The gas tax they discussed would be an increase of anywhere from $0.01 to $0.05 per gallon. This would be in addition to the existing $0.07 gas tax. Each cent added to the tax would result in about $1 million in extra revenue for the county, which would go toward road construction and maintenance. Commissioners plan to discuss the tax further in one of their upcoming regular meetings.
The commission may fund mosquito control through a separate property tax, which would be placed on the November ballot as a referendum.

Crist's political operation consists of supressing the majority in the GOP.

Are we in Cuba or Florida? I can't tell.

[History will judge]

I don't know if I would want my name associate with McCain with his tendency to restrict fundamental rights in favor of more bureaucracy and liberals running the bureaucracy and telling everyone what to do or else (fines jail time and big legal bills). Look at McCain-Feingold---an restriction of our fundamental rights of free expression and political debate. Look at his amnesty proposal with ted kennedy. Look at the new taxes he wants on carbon. etc. etc. Look at what santorum says McCain did and said behind closed doors--he obstructed truly constitutional federalism ideals which were the bedrock of Reaganism.

In Hillsborough County, the situation is very different. Property tax revenue -- up 93% -- has increased three times the rate of population growth and inflation added together over the last 6 yrs. Reports in the paper say the county has put aside $30 million as an added cushion and hundreds of millions in reserves.

[here is an idea]

put in platform that you will eliminate 2 laws for every new law passed and eliminate 20 regulations for every new regulation approved by an unelected bureaucrat.

Does anyone have a long term vision for Florida and the ability to lay a road map to get there? We are seeing the McDonaldization of policy development in Florida. We need an office somewhere with leadership that thinks big picture and long term. Otherwise we will be seeing budget free-for-alls, a structural disintegration of governance and a growth in the trend of people moving out of Florida. K-12 enrollments are down two years in a row. There are reasons for this that have lasting implications. Is anyone thinking this through?

9:59 - no... which is also why Amendment 1 was birthed... and why people voted for it...

But I will give the people the benefit of the doubt - they were not given the real information in PLAIN LANGUAGE (did Crist violate his own mandate?), therefore they were confused, and thought "wow, cut taxes" withouth thinking the amendment did nothing to stop the "drunken spending"

Another fee increase for the city-owned airport..

Airport parking fees climb

Julian Pecquet
DEMOCRAT STAFF WRITER

Travelers may have noticed that the parking fees have gone up at the airport.

We'll ask airport officials how the decision was made.

"He looked at me Saturday night right after the endorsement and said 'Go turn on the Crist machine,"' Arlene DiBenigno, Crist's deputy chief of staff, said of the governor.

"And then he told me, 'Remember, a little sugar. And lots of cream.'"

"And then he asked me to go get my shine box."

Chuck’s qualifications to run for VP:

1. Does not know where his office is
2. Made “Photo-Ops” his priority
3. Sleeps in a Microwave to maintain fake tan
4. Lies
5. Has never paid property taxes
6. Has never owned a home
7. Is owned by the Insurance Industry
8. Considers $240 a “Job well done”
9. Thinks “conservative” is a dress code
10. … and lies some more

He’s a great pick for McAmnesty!

Everyone gives the Crister way too much credit. Please....he cant even tie his own shoe or give his own speech without asking an advisor. I'd just love to know who the advisors really are. Those are the ones who are running this State. It sure isn't old charlie boy. Just ask his mother.

This is so funny. The more CC succeeds the madder you people get. Very fun to watch.

Has anyone seen Crist's internal polling just prior to the primary? There is NO WAY he made the endorsement without knowing McCain was already on target to win. Of course that's politically smart, before an endorsement, but if people think Crist is the rainmaker, they're painfully naive. Crist is a MASTER politician. And that is NOT a compliment.

[McCain's own voice: Restrict 1st Amendment]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5LPM_iYVoy4&eurl=

Free political debate and speech is fundamental and a bedrock--and what makes us different from all other cultures--even the european ones and canada. mccain doesn't like this aspect of being american, and wants to empower more bureaucrats regarding speech (watch out Rush--this is why you are enemy no. 1 in mccain's eyes). you have been warned.

There is no Crist machine. CC's machine consists of going to look at RCP averages every morning.

On the tax issue. Why dont the counties and cities resolve it by giving back what theyu have been taking for the last 4 or 5 years. I mean, just how is it that county and city managers in many cases make in excess of 200k when the governor makes barley 130K or so? Thats why these folks are threating to cut fire and police etc. They cant even imagine giving back these incredible salaries and expense accountrs they have issued themselves. Please folks. get with it. These local politicians need to sober up and give back what they have been stealing. Period. End of revenue deficit.

On the tax issue. Why dont the counties and cities resolve it by giving back what theyu have been taking for the last 4 or 5 years. I mean, just how is it that county and city managers in many cases make in excess of 200k when the governor makes barley 130K or so? Thats why these folks are threating to cut fire and police etc. They cant even imagine giving back these incredible salaries and expense accountrs they have issued themselves. Please folks. get with it. These local politicians need to sober up and give back what they have been stealing. Period. End of revenue deficit.

[frank]

On the tax issue. Why dont the counties and cities resolve it by giving back what theyu have been taking for the last 4 or 5 years. I mean, just how is it that county and city managers in many cases make in excess of 200k when the governor makes barley 130K or so? Thats why these folks are threating to cut fire and police etc. They cant even imagine giving back these incredible salaries and expense accountrs they have issued themselves. Please folks. get with it. These local politicians need to sober up and give back what they have been stealing. Period. End of revenue deficit.

[Publius]

McCain reminds this old sage of someone who shall remain unnamed. Let's see if we can figure him out though. McCain strength is military honor. So we have a strong nationalist as a candidate. But he also favors a bureaucracy to tame the private sector in all areas including taxes, mandates, restriction of speech, and central government control. So strong militaristic qualities with strong centralized control emanating from the elite ruling class of bureaucrats.

[frank]

On the tax issue. Why dont the counties and cities resolve it by giving back what theyu have been taking for the last 4 or 5 years. I mean, just how is it that county and city managers in many cases make in excess of 200k when the governor makes barley 130K or so? Thats why these folks are threating to cut fire and police etc. They cant even imagine giving back these incredible salaries and expense accountrs they have issued themselves. Please folks. get with it. These local politicians need to sober up and give back what they have been stealing. Period. End of revenue deficit.

[frank]

On the tax issue. Why dont the counties and cities resolve it by giving back what theyu have been taking for the last 4 or 5 years. I mean, just how is it that county and city managers in many cases make in excess of 200k when the governor makes barley 130K or so? Thats why these folks are threating to cut fire and police etc. They cant even imagine giving back these incredible salaries and expense accountrs they have issued themselves. Please folks. get with it. These local politicians need to sober up and give back what they have been stealing. Period. End of revenue deficit.

On the tax issue. Why dont the counties and cities resolve it by giving back what theyu have been taking for the last 4 or 5 years. I mean, just how is it that county and city managers in many cases make in excess of 200k when the governor makes barley 130K or so? Thats why these folks are threating to cut fire and police etc. They cant even imagine giving back these incredible salaries and expense accountrs they have issued themselves. Please folks. get with it. These local politicians need to sober up and give back what they have been stealing. Period. End of revenue deficit.

Is there some logical reason why you ahd to post the same message 6 times?

[Marsha]

Frank - please stop. we get the message.

By the way, CC is making far more than 130k this year - you don't think he represented the ProAdmen 1 out of civic duty, do you?

I find it funny, homeowners took advice and his endorsement at face value - we are truly surrounded by idiots. CC has never owned property. Until he finally started renting his condo/apartment, he lived on daddy's boat in the backyard dock. CC knows nothing of property taxes, homeowners insurance, replacing a roof, replacing an A/C unit, heck, he probably has never bought a stove, a microwave oven, etc. His cable bill might even be part of his rent!

Santorum threw away a sure re-election bid in Virginia becoming the face of Republican losers. Do you call that helpful to Republicans? He and Mitt spend way too much time on their hair; give me a real man who knows something about character.

[my2cents]

Why isn't anyone giving credit to Ellyn Bogdanoff? She was with the winner from day one. Charlie weighed in the day before...

She helped deliver Broward in a BIG way.
Great job Ellyn!

[11:01]

Santorum is not from Virginia. I guess you are an example of our current educational crisis which is in crisis because liberals and unions have been in control of education since the 60s.

11:09 then give Hasner credit too. But seriously Ellyn nor Charlie had anythig to do with this. Lets thanks Browning.

I like Charlie, and I hope he stays in Florida. But has anyone thought how his personal life will play on a national campaign, and with the national media? People in Florida are obviously OK with it, but things might be different elsewhere.
But no one can deny he was brilliant in this last campaign. Florida voters are clearly sick and tired of the hyper-partisanship and nastiness--it shows in their support for Charlie and McCain. It would be too much to hope for that Rush would get the message.

All you pinheaded staffers blogging the praises of “Chuck’s Con”, need to get your resumes ready. In six months, reality will hit and you snapper-heads will be job hunting. Except there aren’t any moving into Florida because of your boy Chuck.

The only place Charlie's staff might be going is to Washington, if McCain did pick Charlie. They mght go anyway, given the sucess they all pulled off Tuesday. If that's being a snapper-head, a lot more people ought to try it! But it seems there are a lot of them on here who just can't compete.

Hey snapper-head, what you call people who "can't compete"... we call people who wont lie.

You limp-sticks need to learn the difference between being successful at a lie, and being successful at the truth.

You boss is not in the latter.

NOW, GET BACK TO WORK STEALING MY TAXES… STAFFER!

[Beltway John]

lol, Gov Crist just jumped on the McCain bandwagon after it was rolling into victory lane.

The real big boost was Senator Martinez delivering the hispanic votes in South Florida.

With around 100,000 votes victory, Gov Crist's endorsement was probably irrelevant for the McCain victory.

No kidding! All CC does is jump on bandwagons. It's simply amazing to me that those who give him his 'favorable' numbers don't see that. (And, no, I'm not "a bitter Gallagher supporter.")

It's great to blog during the day, so all the staffers whose bosses backed losers have time to respond.It's the people of Florida giving Charlie his great numbers, not me. But I realize keeping all the flip-flops straight must take up a whole lot more of your time.

Well everyone's missing the point. Adam Smith slipped by letting the cat out of the bag - Rich Heffley runs Florida. First time he's ever been mentioned in Bloggersworld.

JEB must be furious! It was HIS plan to be Romney's VP! Now, CC has landed right where JEB wanted to be! All the king's men and all the kings horse's couldn't put Mitt's liberal ways back into a conservative shell. You go Charlie! You'll be great for Florida as the nation's VP!

Good point, 2:30. Rare is the political beast who is both talented and secure enough to stay off the radar and out of the blogs. Poor Rich got out'ed by Adam. 2:36 - quit embarrassing yourself.

So Rich Heffley runs Florida when all this time I thought it was Lemieux or his evil twin Ballard.

[Merriam]

self-ag·gran·dize·ment (slf-grndz-mnt)
n.
The act or practice of enhancing or exaggerating one's own importance, power, or reputation.

Arlene deserves all of the credit for Yes on 1 and McCain. She is the McQueen of FLorida.

Arlene wins, Sally and Karen go down in defeat

Sally and Karen did not have Heffley.

[zenatress]

Sally and Karen lacked something else: a viable candidate