Greer: Rubio ought not challenge Crist

From today's print Buzz column: ...And in a Political Connections interview airing on Bay News 9 today at 11 a.m. and 8 p.m., Greer warned Republican former House Speaker Marco Rubio of Miami that he would be misguided to challenge Gov. Charlie Crist in a Senate primary.

"I'd say (to Rubio) you've served Florida very well in the speakership in the Legislature, but I think we all know that Charlie Crist is a highly popular governor," said Greer, who owes his job to Crist. "Anyone thinking of challenging Charlie Crist for any public office, I would encourage them to look somewhere else."

Comments

[Wentzel]

Why not? Because Rubio might well WIM a Republican primary, and show how Greer has been
- mishandling RPOF funds;
- ignoring some Republican candidates;
- creating resentment by playing favorites among Republicans;
- threw the Presidential race when Charlie didn't get tapped for VP,

and ALL just to further Charlie Crist's political career?

[Shut up Jimmy]

The only person who said they are running for Senate is Marco. If Crist wants to run for an open seat he should run for Gov.

[Dream On]

Marco was a hac as a speaker. He was horrible and most members did not like him. How long before the Sansom investigation gets expanded to look at Rivera and all their lobbyist friends and "EXPONICA" etc.? Come on? Marco, just ride into the sunset like all former speakers did and stop having daydreams of things out of your league.

[go]

They want Marco to enter the race, that is why they are being disrespectful to him.

[truth]

8:47, say what you want about Rubio's future prospects, but he was an outstanding Speaker.

[Bill]

Dear Mr. Speaker:

Please REMOVE the spouse’s program from the budget. In these tough economic times the taxpayers of Florida should not be asked to foot the bill for this type of useless program. There are plenty of babysitting establishments in Tallahassee in which a member could use during their BRIEF stay in Leon County. Stimulate the local economy and turn the lights off of this legislative perk. Speaking of perks, start making these part time employees pay for their health insurance.

[Bill]

Mrs. K we all know you can’t stay away from a good Rubio blog…..

Along with your “wad” terminology the one that runs a very close second is “dream on”.

We hear it all the time in the lounge and I went back and listened to the tapes t o confirm.

You really need to get more creative on these blogs….Again your drunken conspiracy theories about Rubio and Rivera….blah blah….Get a life…….

[Interesting]

WOW Times! What Bill says is a HUGE story! The Speakers office staff secretly listens in and TAPES the wives of the House of Representatives!!! I think that may be a violation of Federal wire tapping laws.

You should investigate this. This could be your next big story!!

[Luis Melendez]

Greer is wrong. Rubio should definately run.

[Really?!?!]

OK, first I will have to say that Marco truly is a partisan hack. He really is unfit for any further political office. However, Greer's statement actually makes me want to support the guy. Who the hell does George Greer think he is to "warn" anyone at all against running against Governor Suntan? For Greer to think that Charlie should just be handed any office that he decides he wants to run for is the ultimate exercise in hubris!! Note to George... These offices are still elected by the people of Florida and WE will decided who serves in them... NOT YOU, SIR!!!!

[Bill]

Come’on Mrs. K……you really make it to easy for me….I’m fishing in a stock pond here…….

I know you can’t help it and by now you’ve tipped back a few so really this is unfair on my part.

But really…. Do you actually think that we… the taxpayers should be paying for a babysitting service???? It’s bad enough the taxpayers have been paying for you to fly around this state.

Go back to sleep……

[GOP CM]

Jim Greer must fear for his job if he's trying something as heavy-handed as this.

Let's face it: if he hadn't been "re-elected" to the Chairmanship and Suntan Charlie weren't governor, he might be looking at an indictment for the way he strongarmed donations to and then handled the funds of the RPOF.

[Albert]

Looiks like there is a FEAR of Rubio and there should be. Crist will get his clock cleaned in a Republican primary and he knows it. You have to be a Republican to win a primary and Crist is not. Good by and good riddance to Crist the RINO!!

[FL GOP Insider]

The quicker we get a new governor, the quicker we get a new chairman and party!

Run for governor Rubio...throw Greer out on his butt, where he belongs.

Crist will be just as affective in the Senate as he is in the Governor's Office - absent/partially absent for nearly the half of the year.

Greer: get ur head out of CC. He will use you till he doesn't need you any more...like he does to everyone

[Get the popcorn]

Me thinks there is a new scandal brewing in the Speaker's office... this should be good.

[GOP CM]

FL GOP Insider I agree with you.

But I don't think Charlie is using Crist. I think those two bums are using each other.

Crist is using Greer to control and fleece the RPOF.

Greer is using Charlie for a paycheck and to feather his nest.

[terminator]

Greer:
can you hear the clucking?

sounds as if Marco has struck FEAR into the good chairman's meek little heart!

what's wrong with some healthy competition Jimbo?

"cluck, cluck, cluck" said the good Chairman!

[J.Cardenas]

Bill---does your mom know you are playing on the computer and not doing your homework?

[Truth Shall Set You Free]

The course of events that took place involving Sansom were on Rubio's watch--and Rubio, not Sansom, had the final say on the budget.

[Sunshine]

Sounds like Greer is concerned about Rubio. Perhaps he knows too much about the Crist-Greer team and their doings or even better he is childishly hoping that by running his mouth first he won't get punched in the nose later. Time for this bully to get over himself and get gone. He has driven the RPOF to a losing record and if things don't change fast it will be into minority party status as well.

Go Marco! or for that matter anyone else.

[BrowardGuy]

Rubio and Crist are two peas in the same pod on immigration, taxes (Rubio's plan was to get rid of property tax for a few years, up the sales tax and then bring prop tax back while keeping sales tax high). If you want a real conservative alternative, Jeb's Chief Medical Officer, Marion Thorpe, is running and he doesn't care what Charlie and Rubio do. He's in while all others are wavering. Check out his platform at www.MarionThorpe.com.

[respond]

12:05, Bob Ward had the final say on the budget.

[True Conservative]

Is that a threat fat boy?

[Thorpe is mental case]

Will the person that keeps posting on Marion Thorpe please get informed. Thorpe is an emotionally and mentally disturbed person that keeps accusing people of making racial and other threats against him in ever camapign he is in. He has even accused the FLA gop of this. Thorpe has made a career of annoucing he is running for some office or the other to collect funds only to spend it on "expenses" (i.e. his girlfriend/assistant). He also has significant financial issues and with an exwife. Do your homework and distance yourself from Thorpe as far as possible if you want to have any credibility. The dicision makers already know this guy is mentally unstable.

[GOP Conservative]

Rubio would make a much better Senator than Crist.
Rubio will defeat Crist.
Greer is a moron with a criminal record who needs to go back to servicing the titty bars and get out of the GOP.

[Fat Chances]

Say whatever about Rubio--Crist--Greer, (although Charlie would do well to lose that overfed mouth) but Rubio simply cannot defeat Charlie. Rubio is a legend in his own mind, and maybe a few friends. But statewide most people say who? and the others would just vote no.

[Do you believe in Magic... in the grassroots hearts?]

Fat Chance,

You know that's probably what George Bailey felt like (fat chance - I'm toast) when his Uncle Billy uncle lost the 8K bank deposit for the Building and Loan Business that crooked ole Mr. Potter ending up stealing.

But, as fate would have it, the small little grassroots one $ dollar bills put in the Bedford Falls laundry basket was more than enough to cover the money George needed.

It's A Wonderful Life.

[dirty little secret]

Marco can't win a local race in Miami-Dade so why not run statewide, steal more money, and then get a real job.

[GOP SUPER VOTER]

Lets see- N.C. State over Houston, Villinova over Georgetown, The RAYS in the World Series, The Jets over the Colts(Go Get EM Marco because you still have to play the game!)
In a GOP primary anyone that says Crist can't lose is not dealing in the real world. Crist/Obama for the largest give away ever and with EVERY Republican Congressmen voting against it-be real Rubio/Crist primary-can't wait.

GOP Super Voter

[News Alert]

FACT: US Mail Service published Obama´s resume on a new first class stamp.

[Marianne]

IS THIS AMERICA???

Why on earth should Rubio not challenge Charlie?? Who does Charlie think he is? Who does Greer think HE is??

[me]

Rubio would be better suited to run for gov, in my opinion. He prefers to lead, no build consensus. That's what caused him to flame-out prematurely as Speaker. I think Rubio thrives in an environment where he's calling the shots, not just a cog.

Crist, on the other hand, excels at bringing people together, building bridges, etc. Seems a good fit for Senate.

[.]

i hate them both equally -- neither will do FL any good

[Faulkner]

Rubio tried to get rid of property taxes - Charlie wouldn't support the idea - not HIS idea. Besides, what dpes Charlie know about property taxes? He doesn't own anything.

[conservative]

Is Greer saying this due to tan can man being his boss?
With all the ethic's issues we have right now I wouldn't be surprised to see a Democrat slip in.
I can't believe nobody spoke up about Speaker Sansom.That hurt us collectively as a party and we MUST change this approach to challenges such as this.
Another extremely problematic issue is the Limbaugh blow back.We as a party can't continue to defend many of these pundits.I strongly believe that these same pundits cost us this last election.

[Katherine Fernandez Rundle]

I'm on my knees and ready to beg Leon County's State Attorney Willie Meggs to move to Miami-Dade. He had former Florida House Speaker Ray Sansom frog marched out of the State Capitol yesterday. What a thrilling mug shot of this gangster in the St. Pete Times!

But Sansom did nothing that former House Speaker Marco Rubio didn't do first and bigger. See Rubio's middle of the night machinations to get his friend the Turnpike gas contract and the fake teaching job he secured for himself at Florida International University.

Bless Mr. Meggs and those common sense filled grand jurors in Tally. (Regular people know crime when they see it.) Bless the St. Pete Times and the Miami Herald for their dogged pursuit of the facts in this case. More evidence of the tragedy that would befall this state if the business model and profit imperative shut down print news.

Oh, and by the way, Marco Rubio will soon announce he wants to spend more time with his family. Crist has nothing to be concerned over.

[Coach Bill]

Dopes.....

Rubio--a horrible speaker by the way and out of touch with most Floridians--would lose to Crist but would wound him financially and probably expose some philosophical shortcomings. Crist, always the favorite, would then be facing a well-financed Democrat with an announced (real) platform and a track record in Washington. Greer is shrewder and more in tune than most of you moronic posters.

[Katherine]

Coach Bill: Are you sure you're not just "Mr. Bill" of SNL fame?

Your assessment of a fine man like Rubio and an empty suit like Charlie would tend to indicate that your IQs must be similar.

[Practical]

Rubio is a good pol but, given the political envirnoment if at all possible the R's need to avoid the mistakes of the 2006 CFO race. They can not afford a bllody primary!

[Cut Pork Spending]

Marco Rubio should run for governor if Charlie jumps ship.

[joe]

CC=spineless populist
Rubio = leader

anything else written is propaganda

[Andrew C]

Jim Greer is probably going to run for us house against Susane Kosamas FL district 24 in 2010. He is testing the waters for a run.

[Joe Kidd]

Greer needs to remember he is the Chairman of the Republican Party and should not be weighing in publicly like that who should or should not run.
He is not Crist's private PR person although he has run the RPOF for the last three years like it was Crist's private organization.

[GOP CM]

GREER RUNNING FOR CONGRESS???

You can't run for Congress with all sortrs of criminal and civil legal issues buzzing around you! Especially when there is a cloud over your hadling of funds, like there is around Greer's mishandling of RPOF funds. Remember, he STILL refuses to allow a real AUDIT.

[Rubio = Useless]

"you've served Florida very well in the speakership in the Legislature"

Typical Greer - the first words out of his mouth are a lie.

[Sick of RINOs]

Rubio has my vote. Actually, anyone BUT Crist has my vote.

[Republican]

Rubio-please run, demolish Crist and support the next Governor and get rid of Greer.

Let's get this dictator overthrown.

[Rubio = Useless]

Rubio-please run, we need to send a napoleonic little pip-squeek with no ideas to Washington to represent our state.

Let's get this popular governnor overthrown and replace him with a grasping twit who sucks up to all the tax-cutter who ruined our economy and wants to turn Florida into a Prop 13 ghetto state.

[John]

As a Republican I would generally not support Rubio's limited vision of America; but Greer's autocratic undemocratic argument that Rubio should not run because Crist is popular - has changed my mind. I won't support a democrat, so if I am stuck with Crist vs Rubio, I would rather support the candidate who believes in an open and fair democratic process such as Rubio - not crist/greer.

[Jack Boots]

As a member of the lunatic fringe of the voting public, I'd like to see a Libertarian on the ballot. But since that's not too likely, I'll settle for the little fascist Rubio.