Wash Times column: Crist bad for Republicans

Panama City talk radio host Burnie Thompson has a Washington Times column imploring John McCain not to tap Charlie Crist for veep: "Mr. Crist is the RINO poster boy. He's a Republican in name only. He's as politically calculating as the Clintons, and equally enamored of power. That explains why he's been flying around the country on the Arizona senator's left wing, vying for the vice presidency as his state's economy sinks....In less than 18 months, Mr. Crist has socialized Florida's insurance market, hamstrung businesses with climate regulations, invigorated trial lawyers, and launched costly public-works projects to stimulate the economy. With a record like that, could a New York Times endorsement of Charlie Crist for VP be far behind?"

Ouch. Guess we assume Mr. Thompson would also disapprove of Crist as McCain's attorney general or interior secretary.

Comments

RIGHT ON

[Cynical Idealist]

Yawn...why do these people not tell us something we don't already know?

Why is it the rest of the media outlets in the WHOLE country see CC for what he is, but he consistently gets a pass by our media?

Only thing to come of this is the sinking credibility of the likes of the SPTs and everyone afraid to tell it the way it REALLY is...

[terminator]

well Charlie may not be a bad as the dim bulb James Watt who was interior secretary under HW Bush. Quayle looks like a Rhodes Scholar next to CC.

just put the guy somewhere where he can do the least amount of damage!

what will Rome do when Chuck doesn't get VP or AG? does she think Floridians will actually take her seriously or even like her for that matter?

Crist should hook up with Hulk Hogan's wife instead of Carole Rome. Crist could get a lot more national publicity and TV exposure with the Hulktress.

[tom]

How can the Governor of a state which relies on tourism agree with McCain/Bush and big oil knowing full well drilling off our coast won't lower the price of oil?

However, what it has the potential to do is turn our beautiful beaches into tar balls like Texas. Once the tourist is driven off will be a pivotal point when our real problems will start. Taxes would have to rise to cover the loss in tourism dollars.

Tom Gallagher is looking pretty good right now. Betcha anything that one year from now, Crist will be facing a recall petition.

His piece only bolsters the argument for CC as McCain's VP.

General elections are about the political center. CC's "green" and "public works" initiatives are just the level of moderation that McCain is probably looking for. Swing states like Florida, Penn, Ohio, and Michigan don't elect crazy right wingers.

Besides, those who would be upset with a CC pick probably aren't very happy with a McCain nomination anyway. Crist is one of the most skilled politicians of our lifetime. He'd be a fantastic VP!!!

RECALL!? What are you smoking!!!??? The guy has approval ratings in the 70's.

Tom Gallagher LOST! It's over. GET OVER IT.

I guess they missed the part about record tax cuts, about model health insurance reform, about an energy policy that will lead the way towards energy independence...Crist is a New Republican...a fiscal conservative, tough on crime, innovative on energy policy, and consumer friendly...this is the pathway to success for the Republican Party if they are smart enough to embrace it....what we continue to see in various media outlets around the country is team Romney's desperate effort to discredit the successful Governor of Florida. 27 Electoral Votes. 27 Electoral Votes. 27 electoral votes.

Republicans in any form are bad for America. Crist is no exception.

[Jason Straight]

Crist is weak and a poor leader.Reformed health care Ha!.50% of Floridians have no health insurance and more are losing it every day.The massive increase in foreclosures spreading through this state will solve the tax and insurance problem.The Banks will be paying 20% of the local taxes and everyone of these folks loses their Homestead=More income.The Gop Righties and moderate have trashed Florida.The whole group stinks (unless you are FPL)

10:30 General elections are not about the political center. They are about getting the people who are most likely to vote -- the base, whether right or left -- to go out and vote, and take their friends with them. As a "friend of all," I see an expanded, invigorated base at D functions, and a dispirited, disgusted base at R functions. Charlie has helped make that happen. I'll vote for McCain, but Obama is going to win, and we'll be stuck with Charlie.

Although I agree with you, Charlie is one of the most skilled politicians of our lifetime.

Jason...just because you don't like facts and the truth doesn't change either....

people know he's not really a republican anyway.

wait, what???

11:21 said "General elections are not about the political center."

independents and npa's decide EVERY general election. Every signle one. Go to 'votehillsborough.org' and look at past election results. Add up all the reg. dems in the district you are looking up and then add up all reg rep. It will pop right out at ya.

This thinking though, that 11:21 talks about, works when you have either two terrible candidates or two great candidates in environments in low voter turnout elections. Extrapolating the curves from off cycle elections would lead you to believe he was right -- this type of thinking will be at the core of why McCain will lose. Old school politics in a much different environment where obsolete axioms such as 11:21 shared will do more harm then good.

These public thrashings of Chuck are long overdue.

10:27 pm - can you please cite the constitutional reference which authorizes the recall of a Governor?

[Jason Straight]

Crist really appeals to a shallow electorate..Like most of our state..The voters need a stiff recession to wake up and figure their lot in life is related to their votes..Soon my GOP friends ,,you wont have to wait that long..In six mos 8per cent unemployment reality will set in.

CC did NOTHING for property taxes as it wasn't even on his top 10 list - notably "health care" was number 1 (wonder why? has to add to the VP resume). Thankfully, values are bringing down taxes for those who did not have homestead protection. He's a phony and this engagement is the biggest farce since Liza got engaged to her quasi-hetero husband and we quickly learned what that was about.

Crist will not get recalled but he WILL get challenged in the Republican Primary when he runs for re-election. He is immensely disliked by conservatives.

[Jason Straight]

He needs to run on his record..of BALONY.Hes gonna need a Day job the way Carole spends money!Guess they will live in her Sobo apt after 2010..

Property taxes? Still sky high.
Insurance? DIDN'T drop like a rock.
Employment? IS dropping like a rock.
Health insurance? All Charlie's done is ask for proposals.

The only thing Charlie HAS accomplished to bring money into the State is the Compact with the Seminoles over gambling. And he fouled that up too by overstepping his authority.

....think what he can do for America (frightening thought, isn't it?)

I would be willing to wager that the gubernatorial marriage never happens. Isn't it supposed to occur after the election? The only way it might happen is if Crist is picked for VP and the ticket actually wins, which is a long shot.

Approval ratings in the 70s????

Not for a LONG TIME now. Not all of Jim Greer's wasting RPOF resources exclusively on promoting Charlie has been able to keep that empty suit's ratings high.

You can fool some of the people some of the time...

It won't happen because Ole Chalie is in the closet and the "marriage" is a beard.
If Mccain picks charlie the hiding homo, then he will loose to the terrorist B Hussein Obama

"Mr. Crist is the RINO poster boy. He's a Republican in name only. He's as politically calculating as the Clintons, and equally enamored of power."

Thompson describes Crist with just 3 short sentences. I could not agree more.

Traveling to Europe for Trade Missions - please. What benefits will Floridians see from this trip? It's nothing more than a global photo-op, at the taxpayers' expense.

And while I'm at it.. that engagement announcement last week was only to deflect from the bad press of the court's decision on the gaming compact - Crist had planned to announce the engagement in Europe, just ask Erin.

8:41: The marriage will happen and happen soon. Cristi and his advisors never take anything for chance. The marriage will occur after the Democratic convention to put this gay issue to the wayside, they hope anyway.

Why do winguts always focus on Obama's middle name?

Good thing you weren't around when it came down to George Washington or George III.

8:55...

Crist was quoted yesterday as saying marriage won't happen before the election, and maybe not until spring.

8:59 - for the same reason that jesse jackson always focuses on obama's n*ts - because it's there and it is his middle name - it's folks like you on the left that see a muslim middle name as a liability

A wedding will be as politically calculated as the engagement announcement...

Is it true that Paris Hilton is going to be maid of honor and Tom McGreevey the best man? I love Hollywood marriages.

9:21 - thank god someone was able to offer a meaningless answer a rhetorical device that really didn't require a response.

I'm sure you share Jackson's sentiment as you are clearly confounded by the fact that Obama is the only candidate with actual balls.

Obama promised his kids he would get them a dog after the election.

I'd bet the dog shows up before Crist shows up at church for wedding.

why is this RAG written about /quoted

this paper is owned by the biggest wingnut http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sun_Myung_Mooncult!
and people complain about the NY times???
ha ha ha h ha what a freak who runs this paper

[terminator]

that was funny (Paris and McGreevy).

Chuck's polling in the 70's? You must not keep up on the news much or are a Crist staffer (most likely the latter).

Most polls show Chuck dropping into the low 50's/high 40's.

If Chuck doesn't get the VP slot or does and they lose, he will get challenged in the GOP primary (McCollum would be the most likely candidate).

Florida can't afford two more years of the charade known as Chuck Crist!

And Tom would have done a whole lot better than Cristi, that's for damn sure!

Well what's the old saying "you get what you pay for". Most Floriduhians don't know their *sses from third base and they got stuck with a lemon.

Gee, I was holding my breath to see how Reverend Moon would come down on this one.

dont know how that paper has credibility
with such a nut in charge
remember the weddings in madison square gardens?
and parents saying "stay away from that crazy moony cult" in the 70's
now they get on c-span and like are regarded as a REAL newspaper

Geez, and you people thought Jim Davis was an "empty chair?" How do you like Charlie "Empty Head" Crist now? Idiots.

And then we also have that wingnut Murdoch over at News Corp. He's as big a flake as Moon. And we let him report on the stock market?

So, Princess Cristi will be meeting with Prince Charles on his England trip? I hope he has a gay old time.

Puh-lease. Charlie's approval rating hasn't been in the 70's for a few months now. Golden Boy has been 'dropping like a rock'. Too bad insurance rates and property taxes haven't.

And he also has now 'announced' that it will probably be spring before the glorious wedding. Uh-huh. We understand. You definitely don't want to go through with an actual wedding unless you are the vp and actually get elected. Good thinking on your part Charlie. You won't have to go through with it and Carole will have a nice cocktail ring to keep as a souvenir of her time spent with you. What a wonderful guy!

McCain/Merola '08

[stand bi]

look at the list of people attending the Europe trip with the governor. What a joke. Can't wait for Crist to ignore all the companies that are banking on him to say to Europe, "these are my guys", and instead hit the boutiques of Paris and other countries with Carole. So glad we're paying for all of this and that the governor might get back to work here in OUR Florida

Europe trip was probably Carole's idea.

Crist is bad for Pinellas County Sheriffs, too: 25 deputies were laid off today - from wfts website -

" Sheriff Jim Coats has been warning for months that budget cuts, brought on by Amendment One, would lead to lower service. Amendment One lowered property taxes in Florida.

Governor Charlie Crist, who championed the property tax cuts, assured Floridians police and firefighters would not lose their jobs because of Amendment One. Based on today's actions by the Pinellas sheriff, Crist apparently was wrong. The Governor lives in Pinellas County."

Now, how much is this Europe trip costing taxpayers??? let's see, hmm, one, maybe two deputies salaries?

Hey Charlie and Carole, have a great trip - don't worry about us back home. You two enjoy yourselves. Be sure to get pictures of you two lovebirds under the Eiffel Tower. Tell Prince Charles and Camilla "hey" for us.

Adam and Steve - where are you two on this story - Gov & girlfriend go to Europe, Pinellas County laid-off deputies go to the unemployment office! Seriously, this is just too much - Crist makes me sick.

well, karen thurman chair of the state dem party says charlie crist is a dem too!

you can see right here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ORQZ6iZw1D

She calls crist a dem, and she lobbies with the repubs, go figure.

[surfdog]

Leave the guy alone, he needs the time to work on his tan

[surfdog]

hey, its one big happy family....those "people" screw 'em
at&t go ahead break the law we will just give you amunity
unreal.....THE worst prez and lowest approval rating and the Dems STILL kiss his butt