Crist dismisses call for Sansom investigation

After this morning's Cabinet meeting: Attorney General Bill McCollum said he has "no jurisdiction" to investigate ties between House Speaker Ray Sansom and developer Jay Odom. (McCollum's spokeswoman Sandi Copes later said he has limited scope to look into the issue if something like bribery was involved, but some other agency began the investigation.)

When asked whether he'd be willing to investigate, Gov. Charlie Crist said, "Who asked me to do that?"

"Karen Thurman," replied Tampa Tribune reporter Catherine Dolinski.

"Yeah, next question," Crist said.

Jennifer Liberto, Times Staff Writer

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Comments

There was a young fellah named Ray
Who came from a town by the bay
As this speakership wore on
he looked more like a moron
And we tax payers all had to pay

[MANUP]

Who is going to be the first GOPer to sprout a pair and collapse this house of cards?

(En falsetto:) "Steady boys, steady. If we all pretend nothing is wrong, we can brazen our way through this. Remember all of us have a stake in keeping the gravy train on the tracks."

"yeah, next question" - that's the kind of answer i get from my smart mouth teenager.

Charlie is an embarrassment.

why would no one ask Crist to address Thurman's letter that he reimburse for Europe trip?

Why the republican party will continue to decline. Their leaders are unwilling to call corruption within that the public is sick of and associates with republicans. By not dealing with this they are condoning this. The public will focus on this in the next election cycle, which Sansom will be in his role during. Its over for republicans come next election cycle.

There once was a man from nantuckett...

[Richard]

Maybe, just maybe, we should be looking into Mr. Crist as well. Seems like there may be more then one ridden apple in the barrel.

Let's just sue the entire Republican Florida legislature and get to the bottom of all this corruption.

Which seem to start at the top. Now there's a surprise!!!

As soon as Ray had reached his rank
our opinion of him quickly sank
thanks to bill and chuck
looks like we all are stuck
and we watched as the florida house sank

Said Sansom to Governor Crist
"what do you have on your christmas list?"
for I've found out a way
to make tax payers pay
And I'm sure that the cash won't be missed

[Andrew Jackson]

Former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush said the party should take four primary steps: show no tolerance for corruption, practice what it preaches about limiting the scope of government (“There should not be such a thing as a Big-Government Republican”), stand for working families and small business, and embrace reform.

Said Governor Crist to the Speaker
perhaps Ray you ought to be meeker
defending you here
might be costly I fear
and my next campaing might be a squeaker!

1:41 Like every Bush, what Jeb preaches and what he practices are two widely divergent things.

There was a new speaker named Ray.
His honeymoon lasted one day.
But with Charlie and Greer.
There to cover his rear.
Who's to tell us that crime doesn't pay?

Mike Hansen's e-mail:
hansen.michael@myfloridahouse.gov
karenmoul@aol.com

Charlie Crist's e-mail:
ccristjr@tampabay.rr.com

Dr. Bob Richburg's e-mail:
richburg@nwfstatecollege.edu

Ray Sansom's e-mail:
ray.sansom@myfloridahouse.gov

In other news:

Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich was arrested for trying to sell the Senate Seat vacated by The One, Himself.

Word from NY Gov. Patterson is that Hillary's seat will "be worth much more than just a cushy no-show job for my family" in an obvious reference to the Illinois Governor's plan.

Maybe the St Pete Times should add a thread on this story. No? Yeah thats right, we are way more interested in Charlie's personal life.

Where is Karen Thurman's outrage over Gary Siplin?

2:54 -

But those are Democrats, you see, so you know...no harm, no foul.

Look over there at the little birdie!

Nothing to see over here...Look at the birdie!

No, over there...

Well Siplin was put through the legal wringer; why not Ray Sansom? Actually Siplin's misuse of funds is more along the lines of Greer's. If anyone should be in front of a Grand Jury, it's Sansom.

3:06 What? From what I can see the Blagojevich affair is all over the news and he's going to face criminal prosecution. Problem Solved!

Now let's get back to Florida and do our duty. Prosecute Sansom.

OK 3:10 so what you are saying is that a politically based attack without any evidence should be hurried and we should not pay attention to the more pressing issue of a Governor trying to sell a Federal Senate Seat.

I think I will wait for more information about the Sansom affair before I call for the death penalty.

Until then, what was Obama's cut for the seat he vacated?

[politico]

2:42, How about your democratic friends??

Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich Arrested by Federal Agents

In a stunning development, Governor Rod Blagojevich (D) of Illinois and his chief of staff John Harris were taken into Federal custody in Chicago this morning.

Blagojevich and Harris were accused of a wide-ranging criminal conspiracy that included Blagojevich conspiring to sell or trade the Senate seat left vacant by President-elect Barack Obama in exchange for financial benefits for the governor and his wife. The governor was also accused of obtaining campaign contributions in exchange for other official actions. Blagojevich, 51, and Harris, 46, both of Chicago , were each charged with conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud and solicitation of bribery.

Federal prosecutors alleged Blagojevich sought appointment as Secretary of Health and Human Services in the new Obama administration, or a lucrative job with a union in exchange for appointing a union-preferred candidate. It is also alleged that Blagojevich and Harris conspired to demand the firing of Chicago Tribune editorial board members responsible for editorials critical of Blagojevich in exchange for state help with the sale of Wrigley Field, the Chicago Cubs baseball stadium owned by Tribune Co.

The Illinois Republican Party called for Governor Blagojevichʼs resignation moments ago. Lieutenant governor Pat Quinn (D), who hails from the reform wing of Illinois ' Democratic party, would succeed Blagojevich if he stepped down, and would appoint Obama's successor.

There is certainly more to come in this breaking story out of Illinois , and we will keep you posted as it develops

4:22 Are you just getting around to posting that? Read the blog. It's been here all day. Democrats are rising up to denounce Blagojevich, just as Republicans should be doing to Ray Sansom. Your comparison backfires, politico hack!

[Sam]

If you think the Republicans are going to investigate each other, you'll be waiting a LONG TIME ! the Samsom connection of funneling $$$ to a school at a time when teachers are being laid off due to no funds-and- then a non advertised $110,000 school job is given to him by the school that he funneled the funds to....come on a first year law student could connect the dots ! But, the Federal investigators need to be brought in, the Republicans (I'm one) are not going to investigate each other, no matter how much it stinks !
Get the Feds involved...

[Gilbert]

While the situation in Illinois is truly sad, I, as a Floridian am more concerned about my local State Government, and of particular note, my party, the Republicans.

This brings me to the reality that something is amiss here and I would be remiss if I did not say so! Speaker Sansom has pulled some very questionable deals, as they are being reported, if not criminally damaging, ethically, it is right the cross hairs!

Why, the State Executive Branch has not explicitly asked for an investigation befuddles me. If Speaker Sansom is on the up and up, then HE should take the lead and call for an investigation himself to put his critics to pasture and restore his integrity-because he has lost it, and is losing it more by the minute with the average citizen.

Do we not have a Florida State Attorney General worth a grain of salt, that is willing to do what the citizens elected him/her to do? Is the Justice Department interested? The FDLE is suppose to be the elite investigative agency, are they aware of this obviously flawed situation here?

The answer to those questions, I guess not and who cares, obviously the Governor doesn't.

Thats all Thurman had to say? Why does'nt she ask for an investigation? Have someone file a formal complaint and have it investigated. But nooooo they wont do that, they never do. I wonder what deal she cut now. Get an investigation going.

[No RINOs]

Crist is supporting Sansom because Sansom is supporting Greer because Greer is covering up for his and Sansom's lavish expenditures.

Crist needs Greer to maintain the RPOF as his own personal PR firm so he wants Sansom to give his at-large votes to Greer. Tit-for-tat.

Gov. Crist has the authority to appoint a special prosecutor to investigate and possibly prosecute.

[bell]

The Republican Party of Florida RPOF.org web site has a list of Republican Principles, at least one of which Sansom violated in spades, but also a place to post comments. The silence of the GOP on this matter is deafening, and I am a Republican.

[Paul]

Hey Charlie,
You may dismiss the call for an inquiry because it did not come from what you do not recognize as a normal person. (she is a Democrat)
Keep defending your Republican friends come hell or high water and not even you will have friends who will admit to supporting an absent publicity seeking Governor who only
promotes himself and his other political hack friends.
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H - is for Haridopolos who helped pave the way

Y - is for Yes, Speaker Sansom, what can I give you today

P - is for Party, I can spend their money too

O - is for Oops I got caught - now what do I do

C - is for Christian which I will always be

R - is for Richburg, a great friend to me

I - is for Infraction but I’m hanging tough

T - is for Taxpayer money, I can’t get enough

E - is for Entitled - I deserve all this stuff!

Posted by: | December 07, 2008 at 03:23 PM

H - is for Hansen who’s my new Chief of Staff

Y - is for Yak on media, I’ll have the last laugh

P - is for Panhandle, from here you head west

O - is for Omnibus - the budgets I like best

C - is for Cover up so no one will know

R - is for Rich ‘cause I’m rolling in dough

I - is for Ivory Tower where I spend lots of time

T - is for Taxpayers who count every dime

E - is for Enriching myself - is that such a crime?

Posted by: | December 09, 2008 at 12:41 AM