Charlie Crist to announce Tuesday, likely to run for U.S. Senate in 2010 and face Rubio

Gov. Charlie Crist will announce his political plans on Tuesday and it very likely means he's running for U.S. Senate, Republican Party Chairman Jim Greer said tonight.

"Charlie Crist is going to be the next U.S. senator from Florida," Greer told the Buzz a few minutes ago. Crist has said he would make a decision after the legislative session but the precise day was first reported this evening by The Associated Press.

"It's probably going to be low-key," Greer told the Buzz. "It's his intention not to do anything that would take away from what he's got to be focused on in the coming weeks. There's a lot to do with being governor."

Greer strongly indicated Crist will run for the seat being vacated by U.S. Sen. Mel Martinez. "It's my opinion he has come to the conclusion that he needs to fight for Floridians on the issues coming out of Washington, D.C., and he needs to be there first-hand," Greer said.

Crist would face fellow Republican Marco Rubio, who has been generating buzz ever since formally announcing his candidacy last week. 

Greer is not an objective voice, for sure, having come into prominence with Crist. But he boasted that Crist would have widespread support even as he said he would not dissuade other candidates.

"In a competition, whether it's playing baseball or a political race, you want to make sure when you go on the field you have a good chance of winning. Charlie Crist is going to be the next U.S. senator from Florida."

Two Democrats are vying for the seat as well: U.S. Rep. Kendrick Meek of Miami and state Sen. Dan Gelber of Miami Beach.

Comments

[Tom]

A loss would be embarassing.

[Timmy]

You can call it right now, 9:58 pm.
This race is over.
Game to Crist.

[Spanking coming]

Now that child Rubio will get the spanking he's been asking for!

[resign]

The party shouldn't take an official position in a primary, this is wrong and Greer should resign.

[Next Best Thing Charlie]

Ran Florida into the toilet, why not give DC a try, Charlie?

[william]

Why is the Chairman of the Republican Party making statements like this. It sounds like we have a primary, and he needs to keep his nose out of it. Rubio could very well give Crist a race in a primary, and it could hurt our potential nominee if our own party chair is running his mouth. If there is behind the scenes maneuvering to convince Rubio to quit the race, then keep it behind the scenes. Don't use the party this way, Greer. Its just wrong.

[Say What?]

Hopefully former RPOF chairs will stand up and decry this anti democratic move by Mr. Greer.

[CRIST=SPECTER]

Jim Greer needs to be recalled NOW. His blatant use of the RPOF to sway a Republican primary election is an outrage. He's as much of a disgrace as Charlie Crist is.

RECALL JIM GREER NOW!

Bye, bye Marco.

[Power]

It is unusual for a State Party Chair (Republican or Democrat) to make a statement like this at this stage of the game. I wonder what scares them so?

[$$$]

Party interference will not last. RPOF can only expend $5,000 for a federal primary. Inkind contribution or otherwise. Contested primary or clear field. Still a contribution limit of $5,000.

Federal requirements for valuing use of corporate aircraft will have RPOF blowing through that limit in a day. The cost of the press conference alone will eat up a bunch of that. Low key or not. $5,000 limit will come in no time.

[Nice Tie]

Greer is doing what a party boss should do , make it clear Rubio should get out NOW!

[Gallagher 2010]

Gallagher 2010..Doster and the Gang can re-unite

[:~]

"It's probably going to be low-key" HUH?

Crist, the press, cameras, the announcement that's been the talk of Florida politics for months and months, and it's going to be "low key"??? doesn't sound like the Crist we all know.

what's really going on here.

[Marco for school board.]

Greer has BIG Balls and I like that in a Party Chair. Marco or for that matter any other Republican should not have taken on our Governor....

[Gen P]

Is it true Greer is clearing the GOP field for the Governors race and handing it to McCollum ?.

Good idea, Slade did that in 94, but can Greer pull it off? ( lots of egos) if so Sink maybe sunk!!!!!! and Greer will come out looking like a King maker.

[,]

Unbelieveable---let the resignations begin and watch the state come to a halt. Governor, this is not the time to be bailing on Florida.
And you could have at least left things a little better for Kottcamp before leaving him in the dust of an ethics charge.

[X]

Marco read the writing on the wall , get out NOW!!!

Run for AG.

"Elections? We don't need no stinking elections." The new socialism, brought to you by Obama/Crist.

[gen p]

my name is jim greer and i dont know Bill Mccollem thinks im a joke. I eat plenty but know little.

[Jerry L. Smith]

Time for Republicans to wake up on this next election cycle and eleminate all RINO'S! Greer needs to be recalled NOW!!! Why send another "Darlin Arlan" to the U.S. Senate? Charlie (carbon/brain neutral) Crist will hide behind the R and vote for the D. Rubio may be young, but he is not a thumb sucking RINO like cutesey Charlie!

[Carol]

His campaign slogan should be:

"It's all about me."

[sentinel]

Crist would be a disaster for Florida as a senator, as he has been a disaster for Florida as a governor. I hope the electorate can see through this functional moron.

[Susan S]

At some point Florida voters will get fed up with the self-serving Republicans who have destroyed our state. It happened at the federal level and it's past time for the chickens to come home to roost here in Florida.

BTW, didn't Greer support Michael Steele for RNC Chair?

[POd CW]

STOP MILKING THIS NONSENSE.

GRASPING CHARLIE IS GOING TO RUN FOR SENATE!

[supporting our Governor]

Rubio should run for Governor if Charlie runs for Senate.

[Buzzard.]

Charlie's a nice guy and a politician's politician. But Rubio's the better candidate for U.S. Senate. We need to bring some sense back to the Senate.

[Fed up]

How about he announce he's finally going to do the job he was elected to do.
I am so glad I can say I didn't vote for this empty chair.

[Stay Away]

The grassroots still loves Charlie, but hates Greer. The more this guy could stay invisible, the better for Charlie. But he's ego is too big, too, and he'll cause more damage than help.

[death to the constitution and protected liberties........]

While President Barack Obama has, in one sense, tipped his hand by saying he wants judges with "empathy" for certain groups, he has in a more fundamental sense concealed the real goal:

Getting judges who will ratify an expanding scope of the power of the federal government and a declining restraint by the U.S. Constitution.

This is consistent with everything else Obama has done in office and is consistent with his decades-long record of alliances with people who reject American society's fundamentals.

Judicial expansion of federal power is not really new, even if the audacity with which that goal is being pursued may be unique. For more than a century, believers in bigger government have also been believers in having judges interpret the restraints of the Constitution out of existence.

They called this "a living Constitution." It has in fact been a dying Constitution, as its restraining provisions have been "interpreted" to mean less and less so that the federal government can do more and more.

For example, the Constitution lets private property be taken for "public use" — perhaps building a reservoir or a highway — if "just compensation" is paid. That power was expanded by the Supreme Court in 2005 when it "interpreted" this to mean that private property could be taken for a "public purpose," which could include almost anything for which politicians could come up with the right rhetoric.

As for "just compensation," that is often about as just as "separate but equal" was equal.

As for "empathy" for the less fortunate, it is precisely lower income and minority neighborhoods that are disproportionately bulldozed to make way for upscale shopping and entertainment centers that will bring in more taxes for politicians to spend to get themselves re-elected.

This process of "interpreting" the Constitution (or legislation) to mean pretty much whatever you want it to mean, no matter how plainly the words say something else, has been called judicial activism.

As a result of widespread objections to this, that problem has been solved by redefining "judicial activism" to mean something different.

By the new definition, a judge who declares legislation that exceeds the authority of the legislature unconstitutional is called a "judicial activist."

The verbal virtuosity is breathtaking. With just a new meaning to an old phrase, reality is turned upside down. Those who oppose letting government actions exceed the bounds of the Constitution — justices like Antonin Scalia and Clarence Thomas — are now called "judicial activists." It is a verbal coup.

Politicians such as Sen. Patrick Leahy and law professors such as Cass Sunstein and many in the media measure how much of a judicial activist a judge is by how many laws that judge has declared unconstitutional. Sunstein, incidentally, is among those being mentioned as a nominee for a post on the Supreme Court.

When the Supreme Court in 1995 declared that carrying a gun near a school was not "interstate commerce," there was consternation and outrage in the liberal press because previous decisions of the Supreme Court in years past had allowed Congress to legislate on virtually anything it wanted to by saying it was exercising its authority to regulate interstate commerce.

When the Supreme Court decided by a 5-4 vote that carrying a gun near a school was not interstate commerce, it was saying something that most people would consider too obvious for words.

But it was considered outrageous that the Supreme Court recognized the obvious and refused to rubberstamp the sophistry that let Congress pass laws dealing with things that the Constitution never authorized it to deal with.

Incidentally, carrying a gun near a school was something that states had the authority to deal with, and most states had already banned it.

What is at stake in Supreme Court nominations is the power of the federal government.

"Empathy" is just camouflage, a soothing word for those who do not look beyond nice-sounding rhetoric.

[Paul]

Let's hope that the people of Florida are smart enough to see through this empty suit.

Charlie Crist has done nothing in his life but live off of the Florida taxpayers and promote himself politically.

Before considering sending him to Washington we should ask ourselves
what he did for (or too) Florida as our Governor?

[Paul]

Let's hope that if Charlie runs for the Senate that there will be a series of public debates so that the voters will see what
they are voting for.

[Marco buy a ladder]

The only way Rubio faces Crist is with a stepladder.

[wow]

Promised everything and delivered nothing.

[Think about it...]

Gen P - You make the comment that Slade did it in 1994... How did that work out?

[Mike]

Run Forest, Run! Run, Charlie, Run!

No, Forest actually had more brains than Charlie ever will. Please, just GO AWAY. Can you run for President of Ugandy?

[Hooray for FL]

Make it happen, Gov. Crist!!!! We need you in Washington!

[...]

Can you imagine the laughing stock Charlie would be if he maneuvers a way to appoint himself if Mel steps down...

But I am not sure Mel would give him that chance... Mel might be too close the the Bush family and Charlie's mockery of running as a Jeb Bush republican (good or bad) and then doing something completely different might get some heavyweights to get Mel to put the screws to Charlie...

[Tom]

I want to see the list of people who have "loaned" Ol' Charlie their planes to fly around the state...Mr. "Transparent" sure keeps who his plane pals are hidden....why ?

[ouch]

When the spanking's finished he'll be known as Marco Rojo.

[Joe Barone]

I'm glad Crist is running. I think the Republican party need more moderates like him. If they don't have room for a range of people and beliefs, they don't deserve to be elected.

[Jose]

As a Miami Cuban american I will be voting for gvnr Crist. He is a moderate and all inclusive.

I had enough of the fascist Cuban political "cosa nostra" and like the virus I see them as. I hope they are contained in Miami.

Sadly they are strong here because many Cubans will vote for a bucket of waste as long as its Cuban .

The younger Cuban voters are finally breaking away from this insane racist thinking.

[mad moderate]

I think the real heroes are the national politicians that are attempting to re-group and do so without people with negatives.I also think these same people are flaming cowards for not coming out and saying what they are doing or standing up to the bullies of the party.
Look at all the people that have had to drop to their knees because limbaugh's ego was injured.
If you don't like the extremists far right? you have to love limbaugh.He just can't help himself,his ego runs his brain so he will demolish any
republican that hurts his feelings.
The funny thing? "the people" just hate limbaugh so much its a badge of honor to have limbaugh bash you.
As the leader of the extremist far right,far too many people see and hear his many outrageous claims.Far more people hate his guts then like him,he is a very real and very serious liability that many are not even allowed to mention,for fear of reprisals from the fat man himself.
Speaking of a fat ugly and unattractive person,have you noticed how often he smears people just like him??

[mad moderate]

I think the real heroes are the national politicians that are attempting to re-group and do so without people with negatives.I also think these same people are flaming cowards for not coming out and saying what they are doing or standing up to the bullies of the party.
Look at all the people that have had to drop to their knees because limbaugh's ego was injured.
If you don't like the extremists far right? you have to love limbaugh.He just can't help himself,his ego runs his brain so he will demolish any
republican that hurts his feelings.
The funny thing? "the people" just hate limbaugh so much its a badge of honor to have limbaugh bash you.
As the leader of the extremist far right,far too many people see and hear his many outrageous claims.Far more people hate his guts then like him,he is a very real and very serious liability that many are not even allowed to mention,for fear of reprisals from the fat man himself.
Speaking of a fat ugly and unattractive person,have you noticed how often he smears people just like him??