National Review trashes Crist for VP

  Another rough week for Gov. Charlie Crist on the Veep-O-Meter. First came the St. Pete Times/Bay News 9/Herald poll showing he wouldn't help John McCain draw lots of Florida Democrats.

Now, the April National Review has a Crist profile (Headline: ""He's no Jeb Bush." Charlie Crist -- ambiguous conservative, potential vice president") featuring a laundry list of reasons why conservatives might distrust Crist, including his pro-choice past, his support for restoring felon rights, global warming initiatives, his being described by Democrats as among "the best Democratic governors Florida's ever had," and his handling of the property insurance crisis in Florida.

"He socialized our state’s insurance market,” state Rep. Dennis Ross, R-Lakeland, told William F. Buckley's magazine. “He’s doing everything he can to run insurance companies out of Florida.”

The piece concludes thusly: "On March 11, Crist explained the source of his passion (for fighting global warming): “Do you know who first introduced me to the idea of climate change? It was John McCain.”
Conservatives are likely to want a little more balance on the GOP presidential ticket. If McCain decides to spurn them, he would be smart to buy some disaster insurance beforehand."

Comments

"National Review" has become "Navel Review".

[Tommy T]

Thank God RPOF Chairman Greer Can't Remove the Editor of the Review or he would be gone in a Second saying such things about our Governor, This Story is so true.Please Jeb come back.

Gov. Crist has been a disappointment to conservatives. His policies have taken him out of the running for VP and will make him a one-term Governor as well.

RIGHT 9:29... A Governor with only a 70% approval rating really needs to be worried about not getting re-elected. I would be quaking in my boots if I were him.

[Zhombre]

So?

Quick Lemeiux and Greer get to work countering this story.

9:47

Lemeiux and Greer would have a better chance of raising William F. Buckley from the dead then convincing conservatives to vote for Crist.

[WFB 4-Life]

I never thought I could love National Review more than I already do. I will be framing this issue when it arrives at my door.

:)

This is all a bunch of garbage...the Romney people are sad...very sad...much in common with the Gallagher crowd...Conservatives (and I am one of them) will NEVER vote for Hillary or Obama...and don't say they will "stay home" that is a ridiculous argument considering the potential national crisis if either of the D's win the Presidency. The only state that the running mate has an impact on is the home state of the running mate...no matter who it is...and Romney brings to the table NO STATE that McCain won't already win. Despite recent polls...by the time November rolls around Florida will be a dead heat...and Crist is the best hope of McCain winning Florida.

10:34

You can go back to dinner now Greer.

Charlie is not going to be on the ticket. If Charlie isn't on the ticket, does that mean he won't campaign all over the state for McCain? Every voter in this state will know by election day how much Charlie supports Mac. He doesn't need to be on the ticket and the fact is Mac is going to choose someone who the Conservatives can support. That person is not Charlie Crist.

Get over it.

[Jack]

"Quick... Lemeiux and Greer get to work countering this story."

Doubt you'll see a press release from Greer tonight about this story.
He's already reached his daily quota of 10 press releases alerting the public to earth-shaking developments such as Greer's views on the importance of Groundhog Day to how proud Greer was he attended some citizenship ceremony in Miami where the new citizens were probably forced to listen to a rendition of Mrs Greer singing the national anthem.

Lemeiux wont be doing anything to counter this story, he's to busy ripping off the State so he can make money because he's not smart enough to do it without Crist. As for Greer he's so in love with Crist it makes me want to throw up.

[Mary]

Greer and Lemeiux are good people and are loyal to the Governor, so what if George is makeing money and Greer was at a citizenship ceremony, this is why he is a good Chairman of the GOP and McCain will win. Get off these guys cases and get a life.

"National Review trashes Crist for VP"

Big deal....it's not that hard to do. It's so easy, even a Republican can do it!!!

I'm a moderate Republican who thinks Crist is about as effective as a screen door on a submarine. No leadership at all. Seems to care more about his tan than fixing problems. Wind tests every issue. Won't vote for McCain if Crist is on the ticket.

[jack]

"Greer was at a citizenship ceremony, this is why he is a good Chairman of the GOP"

Yes I got that press release that boasted out of the 3000 new citizens, they managed to register a few hundred of them as Republicans.
So what does that mean? the 2800 others registered as Democrats?

I've never met a chairman so dedicated to promoting himself via these countless daily press releases.

At least Greer is hanging out at citizenship ceremonies instead of at strip clubs like in his allegedly "unruly" days.

I went to high school with the author...

[George]

Oh please, 7:02. Strip clubs? I suppose you have never been to one, right? LOLOL. Puritanism is alive and well. And so is hypocrisy!!

Lemieux and Greer are good people doing a good job.

Since their job is making Charlie look good, their job is very, very hard. (Don't even go there!)

Charlie is an empty suit. And now the whole country knows it. 70%? Where at RPOF HQ? The Democrat caucus? HAHAHAHAHAHA

Bring on Gov Sink, Gov. Rubio, Gov. McCollum, etc.

7:29 - 70% in every single poll taken. You people are so bitter and so filled with hate. Bitterness like that only hurts you. You get so angry your blood pressure goes up. Better watch out, you might have a stroke. Ar the very least, you cause yourself sleepless nights and you waste your energy on hating instead of putting your energy on something that will benefit your life. So, in the end, I guess Charlie wins again by making you crazy and you are helping! Thanks.

[Ben Watchin]

Gov Jim McGrevey
Gov Eliot Spitzer
Gov Charlie Crist

Is that clear? cause that's why there will be no VP bid for CC...No national candidate can afford to win just the state of Californication. In fact no AG bid either... How much further can McCain push the right wing of his party and expect them to actually vote in November? Unfortunate but fact or fiction the taint ain't going away.
To pick CC , McC needs two things:
1) no brains and
2) a PR consultant who won't charge by the hour for damage control.
How do you hide the spurs and chaps in CC's closet?

70% of the people who live in his Chuck’s parent’s house.

[Disappointed Republican]

I raised money for Crist, I voted for Crist and I have never been so disappointed in my life.
Anyone who still proclaims he is "great" and he is polling at 70%, my question would be, who the heck are they polling? His staff??
He is mocked among his peers, his only obvious goals are photo ops and pandering to whatever cause he thinks will make him look good, and he is an overall do-nothing Governor.
NEVER AGAIN.

I would not vote for a President who chooses as his running mate, a person who knows not where his office is, waits for a poll to tell him what to wear, and pimps $240 as a job well done.

McAmnesty/McFraud ’08 … NEVER!

They are polling Democrats which accounts for 70%. Add in the 10% approval from the Kool Aide drinking Republicans who are buying the stuff, and I'm not so sure our Governor will make it the next time.

Sorry Charlie.

National Review does not "trash" Crist. Why do you journos feel the need to use over th top adjectives when they are not needed?

It appears that National Review has put together a thoughtful and honest critique of Crist. Many conservatives here in Florida are disappointed with Crist. It's important that conservatives around the country understand why we believe Crist is unacceptable as the VP. It's not "trashing", it's called discussion and debate... jackass

[terminator]

Cristites:
wait till the national media gets ahold of your beloved Charlie the tuna.
do you really think they're going to go easy on Chuck like the Florida media did during the Gubernatorial primary/election?
can you say "scorched earth"?

if Crist goesn't get the nod...God help him. He will be a bruised and battered candidate who will come limp back "home" to Florida and the "people" and exposed for the fraud he really is.

Charlie: "I know Jeb Bush and you're no Jeb Bush republican".

The 26% of the Republican Party that are hardcore (so hardcore that they are willing to believe a lifelong liberal like Mitt Romney, or a lifelone lib/moderate like Gallagher) have always been "disappointed" with Crist...the remaining 70% (we leave out another 4% to account for the Ron Paul Super-Extremist) fully support the efforts of Crist. His approach to politics is 1. A much needed change from the bitter, childish partisan brand of politics of the past; 2. actually gets things done (the largest tax reduction in history, followed by the second largest tax reduction in history); and 3. is a roadmap for future success for the party. If you you sad 26%ers would admit it..you won't support Crist for anything ever...even though he has already cut more taxes than Jeb Bush in one year....has done a great job of breaking spending under control...and has promoted economic expansion...also realize there are MANY people who did not vote for Crist...who will in the future...will he be VP? No one knows...but if he is not selected it won't be because he is not Conservative enough....

[Charlie Could Change it Around]

He ran on cutting taxes and less government, but then starts talking about more regulations with global warming and other matter. Hey Charlie, look up Reagan and see what he said about government regulations--the are the first cousin of taxes and must be reduced. Otherwise you give power to unelected bureaucrats and boy will they ever tax your nerves if you piss them off.

Nice revisionist history Termie....you and the press were far from "easy" on Crist....you played the same old unethical game of trying to lie, steal, cheat and intimidate your way in to power. It may have worked to get your grip on leadership in the House, but it won't work in any environment where actual adults make decision. Crist weathered the storm of the Governor's race...and is more than capable of taking on the national media...he in fact has been featured in most of the major media outlets already...they are far less likely to run the baseless stories that you idiots let loose in the Governor's race...

9:29

Charlie ran as a Jeb Bush Republican. Do you think he has conducted himself like a Jeb Bush republican? Do you believe Charlie is guided by the same bed rock principles that guided Jeb Bush and the Republican takeover?

The simple truth is Charlie is a first class committed demagogue. Nothing more, nothing less.

[terminator]

9:34
that's a real hoot considering the ambush job Mac did on Gallagher.

Tom's mistake was he went too easy on poor effiminate Chuck, not wanting to go negative shy of the Cliff Curry episode.

I told Tom and Brett they better bring out the heavy artillery but....you know the rest of that story.

Charlie won't be able to hide his "secrets" from the national media. They will tear him to shreds.

Can't believe all these dinosaur conservatives who just won't admit that their policies are destroying our country. Win at all cost. Shame on you for not admitting your responsibility for our current mess and cooperating with the DEMs who want to fix things. You are a dying breed. Thank goodness!

Jeb Bush Republican - ignore the will of the voters whenever it doesn't suit your agenda. Poster boy for the lost-cause GOP.

RECALL "THE PEOPLE'S MISTAKE"!

did you see where he hired his general counsel's 32 year wife, a former office assistant, for $100,000 job as the head of a major agency. crazy.. people's governor?

Amazing. Sorry Charlie supporters. Life in the chocolate factory has tainted you. The National scrutiny WILL expose Charlie for the weak governor that he really is. He HAS NOT withstood that test already. When Ms. South Carolina begins speaking more regularly on National fronts, you can bet they will tear him apart. Additionally, polls are not the gospel. 70% approval is attainable with the proper sampling technique. It's called a controlled sample and you can pretty much guarantee the outcome you want. If an honest third party entered this state and could really ask EVERYONE their approval/opinion on the "man", you Chuckie lovers would probably cry when you saw the reality of what people really think about him.

McCain isn't that dumb. Charlie will be a one term governor unless we actually find a way to kick his sorry butt out of office before then.

[terminator]

9:58
are you hallucinating?

the DEMS want to FIX THINGS?

forgive while I laugh my robotic *ss off at such an ignorant statement.

the Dems can't even fix the box they've put themselves in regarding the Florida primary debacle.

how have the DEMS in DC fixed anything after two years of Speaker Pelosi's reign?

you sir are a complete imbecile!

10:19 then why hasn't your loser President been able to employ the same polling strategies to get his approval numbers out of the septic tank?

terminator I agree - the wimps have yet to impeach Bush/Cheney - that's pretty ineffective. Do you think they should employ the same Gingrich/Rove type politics that enabled the slim majority GOP congress to set the disasterous BUSH agenda, or should they acknowledge that (at present) their small majority doesn't give them a mandate to run roughshod over the voters and the constitution?

I guess the National Review failed to include in their list, that Gov. Crist is gay. Why's that?

[Buzzard]

10:33 -
Can you prove it or are you just a blogstoker - a Times employee?

The Winners !
Governoer Crist.
Chairman Greer.
George Lemeiux.
All who are loyal to the Governor.
The People.

The losers!.
Disloyal Staff.
Arlene Dibenigno.
The Anti- Crist Bloggers.

[The truth is always better.]

Reality Check Time!!!!!

The Winners !

Governoer Crist.
Chairman Greer.
George Lemeiux.
All who are loyal to the Governor.
Special Interest
Lobbyists
Insurance Industry
CSX

The losers!.

The People of Florida.

RECALL "THE PEOPLE'S MISTAKE"!

10:22 - Duh. Liberal media - even if Bush walked on water and the world was utopia, he would not have a decent approval rating. And the size of Florida compared to the United States is, well, quite different.

Charlie may not be Jeb Bush (thanks!) but McCain's Faustian flip-flop is position him as Dubya Lite. I guess the famous snub may yet turn out to be the salvation of Charlie's soul.

11:38 Duh, Conservative Die-Hard. Bush does think he walks on water and still believes he's created utopia.

11:45 - Of course he does. But those of us that live in the real world know that he does NOT walk on water nor is life utopia. But if it WAS, the liberal media still would not give a Bush anything positive. He's in no more of lala land than our wonderful governor who lives in the chocolate factory....

I would not vote for a President who chooses as his running mate, a person who knows not where his office is, waits for a poll to tell him what to wear, and pimps $240 as a job well done.

McAmnesty/McFraud ’08 … NEVER!