Rubio, Sink among '50 Politicos to Watch'

POLITICO today has come up with a list of "50 Politicos to Watch" and the list includes two Floridians: Marco Rubio and Alex Sink.

"If she defeats Republican Attorney General Bill McCollum in 2010, you can bet that her status as a female Democratic megastate governor will immediately catapult her into the national political spotlight," reads the Sink blurb.

"If elected, Rubio would almost immediately win national notice as the only Hispanic Republican in the Senate -- and one of only four in all of congress. Rubio, however, is a distinct underdog, since the party establishment has rallied behind (Gov. Charlie) Crist."

So help us out with a list of the top, say, 15 Florida politicos to watch. Rubio, Sink, Crist ... Weatherford ... ?

*

Comments

[Not Sink]

Sink can't really be considered since she won't be on hardly anyone's radar after next spring when she gets indicted for misuse of public position related to her usage of the state owned plane for personal jaunts.

OK, she'll be on her warden's radar but no one else.

[Micro Rubio]

If you want to watch Marco Rubio, you'll need a political microscope.

[who's who in Florida]

Jim Splaine. Mulberry City Commission.

[REAL INSIDER]

Hey! Alex-the party establishment is behind Crist; are you kidding me. Only the hand picked state party chairman and his staff are spreading the Crist message. Remember how it went when Chairman Greer wanted to suspend RNC rule 11 and the vast majority of the state party members revolted. I am a former member of the RPOF and I know! that Crist wouldn't win or even come close to a secret straw vote among the RPOF county chairman and state committee men and women.
If you wnat the truth why not call the RPOF members around the Tampa Bay area and get the real scoop.

[REAL ASTROTURFERS SUPPORT MARCO]

11:35 so what you're saying is that Crist's popularity comes from the voters, whereas Rubio has the support of the extremist party hacks?

[Me]

Crist, Meek, Rubio, Sink, Aronberg, Atwater, Gaetz, Richter, C. Smith, Cannon, Dorworth, Flores, Grady, Rader, Williams.

[Coach]

Hmmmmm...the extremist thing again.....define what makes a republican an extremist please.

Is it because they are pro-life, pro-marraige, anti-tax and supported the Iraq War?

[how 'bout them repiggies]

"Pro-life" and supporting the Iraq war should be mutually exclusive, but are not within the warped repiggie psyche.

[Other insider]

Hey Alex, I agree with "Real Insider" at 11:35. Why don't you guys go to the quarterly meeting in Orlando this August and conduct a straw poll or interviews of the attendees? You'll find that the grassroots hate Charlie Crist and love Marco Rubio.

In fact, there are some rumblings of a move to boot out Jim Greer for his explicit use of the party's resources to promote Crist in a primary, not to mention all of his other misuse of party funds for himself and his family.

[beachbum]

Democrat's use of plane prompts GOP-Dorworth, Crisafulli, Horner and Hudson to call for probe: http://bit.ly/17aNi

[You]

Crist, Rubio, Gelber, Rod Smith, Manny Diaz, Llorente, Rooney, Cannon, Cretul, McKeel, Brogan, Richter, Gaetz, Atwater, Hasner.

[Coach Norquista]

11:45 It goes beyond that. The most defining characteristic is their inability to accept responsibility for the failure of their agenda, and to adopt a different more reasonable approach. They cling to their polices of tax cuts for the rich , corporate welfare, and war for corporate profit, even though it's obvious that these things are at the root of our nation's problems and far more important issues right now than guns or abortions or homosexuals.

But even you must admit the absurdity of expecting sane people to take you seriously, Norquista, when you represent the worst of those ultra-extremist radicals, the Fascist-Libertarians. If you want to realize the true definition of extremist, you need look no further.

[:)]

www.toddmarks.com

[Campaign Manager]

Naturally, I am biased towards Tampa Bay based folks and I'm leaving anyone who already holds statewide office -

Rick Baker, Adam Putnam, Dave Aronberg, Ted Deutch, Dan Gelber, Janet Long, Charlie Justice, Buddy Dyer, Ion Sancho, Bob Hackworth, Michael Scionti, Daryl Rouson, Annette Taddeo, Karl Nurse, Pam Iorio

[Consider this]

I would much rather see you ask for a list of the 15 most savvy people, or smartest folks, or policy oriented people in and around government so at least someone begins to take the focus off of "politicos" and the games of government and instead places it on what needs to be the focus, the actual art of governance itself.

[towatch]

Karen Diebel (R-FL 24)

From "The Hill" -

Republicans are excited for Karen Diebel (R), a Winter Park city commissioner who announced her campaign in the first half of June. Sources say Diebel will approach the six-figure mark, an impressive start for a candidate who’s been on the job for just three weeks.

http://thehill.com/campaign-2008/ten-fec-reports-to-watch-2009-07-08.html

[WooHoo,extremism is soooooo obvious to most,if you don't know what extremism is? You need detox]

LOL@ the one person in here that doesn't know what an extremist is.

[Coach]

You didn't answer the question. I'm not suprised as I didnt believe you'd be able to. At any rate, its likely that GOP supporters of both Crist and Rubio share these points of view. Potential voting records in the US Senate by Crist and Rubio would be similar. However, Crist is from the McCain wing of the party that occassionally fires on its own troops. Thus Rubio, unlike Crist, would be a reliable vote in the Senate. I am sure you folks know this and coupled with the fact that Rubio is of Cuban decent, you're going after him.

[how 'bout them repiggies]

The more the repiggies play to their "base" in Teabagistan,
the more they alienate the intelligent independent voter.

Big mouths with small pocketbooks will not help Rubio.

[Micro Rubio]

If you want to watch Marco Rubio, you'll need to turn over a few rocks.

[Coach Norquista]

12:15 I did answer your question McCoach. What part of "the absurdity of expecting sane people to take you seriously" didn't you get? Accept responsibility for your failures and the immense damage they've caused. Quit undermining the President's efforts to help the folks who's lives you've destroyed. Beg forgiveness from God. Then we can talk!

[abramhoff,republican contributor,user of republican purchased power for personal gain,just like Odom did]

What ever happened to this investigation? Did this go away like the Presidential re-count did?
Who was in charge of Florida and why did this mans murder go unpunished.
What sort of extreme inside "deal" was made?
http://dir.salon.com/story/opinion/conason/2005/09/30/GOP_corruption/index.html

[Coach]

Ah, there is probably only one of you. You were careless to respond in under two different pseudonyms. Yet your continued usage of mantras and platitudes demonstrates your argument is bereft of factual support. Thus you are reduced to name calling, juvenile insults and innuendos. What's frightening for America is thinkers like you represent the power in the Democrat Party at all levels.

[*]

To Real Insider and Other Insider: I wish that you would spread the message and get some support going for Rubio. This constant shoving down our throats of Charlie Crist is annoying (actually it's worse than that but it would take way too long to reiterate all the negatives about him). And please, start the movement to get rid of Jim Greer and any other political hack who is helping sway national support behind the inept "governor".

[Buzzard.]

Y'know, I'd almost like to see Rubio run as an independent. Or maybe a Reform Party or Constitution Party candidate. How refreshing would THAT be?

[how 'bout them repiggies]

Coach, clean up your own name-calling.

[FL Rising stars]

GOP: Rubio (Crist wins this battle, Rubio has more upside), Crist, Weatherford, Peyton, Atwater, Grady, Richter, Rick Baker

Dems: Sink, Gelber, Aronberg, K. Castor, DWS (future Speaker), Manny Diaz, Deutch

[Coach]

* The support is slowly growing on Rubios candidacy at the grass roots level. He's getting attention at some of the top conservative blogs as well. Keep telling folks about Rubio. Poll numbers rveal that Rubio has indeed generated interests in the conservative party. The nomination for the party will come from rural counties -especially in northwest florida. The media is trying serve as a drag on his candidacy. Alex and Adam, while reporting well, always seem to find a way to slight Rubio in their post headlines

[Can this happen in Florida?]

If Charlie loses the primary, will he simply run in the general as an independent...

[Rubio raises $3.40]

Buzztard he could run as a Fascist-Libertarian. He has the support of all (1) of them on this blog.

[how 'bout it?]

Who said Meek was dropping out of the race?

[voter]

I say DWS, Aronberg, Gelber, Sink, Cannon, Kiar and Weatherford.

[Coach]

I really don't think Crist would do that. Arlen Specter's career is over after this term as he's likely to be defeated by Joe Saskic in the primary. Joe Lieberman's was a special case in that he lost the primary due to the Moveon and Kos crowd. He's a favorire son in Connecticut. But it speaks to why Dems here are always throwing fire at Rubio. They know that in a primary vote he can take down Crist. And that Rubio ruins Dem chances at attempting to secure the hispanic vote.

[Coach]

He's not. Despite my own partisanship, Meek has a chance of winning. He'll be able to bring Obama down to get out the vote in the big cities.

[its not shoving a candidate down anyone's throat if they have]

Its not shoving a candidate down anyone's throat if a majority like him/her. The ramming that is going on is the minority that is supported by the extremists organization The Heritage Foundation,which governs from a centralized location nationally.
You have to be a Floridian to understand this.Most of Rubios support comes from outside the state of Florida,he is being rammed down our throats by outside forces.

[moderate Floridian]

"You didn't answer the question. I'm not suprised as I didnt believe you'd be able to. At any rate, its likely that GOP supporters of both Crist and Rubio share these points of view. Potential voting records in the US Senate by Crist and Rubio would be similar. However, Crist is from the McCain wing of the party that occassionally fires on its own troops. Thus Rubio, unlike Crist, would be a reliable vote in the Senate. I am sure you folks know this and coupled with the fact that Rubio is of Cuban decent, you're going after him.

Posted by: Coach | July 10, 2009 at 12:15 PM"
Can you tell me of any attacks on the far right in the party by moderates?
I can tell you about incessant attacks by far right factions in the party against moderates.
You have to remember the very verbal and daily media attention about how Many far right Republicans would vote democrat if McCain was nominated?
many believe this is what cost McCain the election!
Please research before blindly posting,this is not fox where things are not debated openly.

[where are my tax cuts?]

I was forced to compete with illegal labor,the result? Lower wages for myself and coworkers.These workers were Bush invited,remember all the press conferences about needing this cheap labor and the illegals doing what we Americans wouldn't do,you know like concrete,masonry,roofing,carpentry!
I did not get a tax cut,I paid the same tax rate as I had before bush.
What will tax cuts do for me now that I am out of work?
Tax on nothing is nothing,so what the heck good is a tax cut!!!
The middle class and workers got a real bad deal from Bush's policies and I defy anyone blogger to show evidence otherwise.I have evidence that the middle class has lost in every financial category every year Bush was in office,those policies helped a few and hurt the many.
We need a strong middle class for a strong America.Through out our countries history we had our best years while we had a strong middle class.Many now consider a strong middle class as socialistic.

[Buzzard.]

Moderate: How many republicans would vote for Meek? Or Kevin Burns? Burns seems to be the least likely to be tainted by big money, but his other preferences would put him at odds with Republican principles.

[Coach]

I haven't the slightest idea what Moderate is talking about.

[Coach]

I notice the Astroturf poster (perhaps I'll call him/her Turf from here on) has an obsession with The Heritage Foundation and Grover Norquist - founder of Americans for Tax Reform. I would, too. They are strong advocates of conservative principles that most Americans live by. But its in the talking points, right Turf?

[Coach]

Turf: I'm not sure I'd be attacking folks who identify as Libertarian. Obama did very well amongst this group. Better check with Axelrod.

[Grassroots]

3:26 My apologies to all 10 of them.

[Coach]

Turf: Keep those Libertarian slurs coming....

[Knowing]

Cannon, Weatherford, Galvano, Crist, Meek, Sink, Aronberg, Rubio, Ron Reagan.

[Wadda Joke]

I suddenly realized why Coach (aka Norquista) really changes IDs continually. He becomes a laughingstock after a certain number of posts and has to abandon ship and move on.

[Coach]

I like to assume IDs like "Coach" and "Professor" as a subconscious plea for the repect I don't get in real life. The truth is I'm a bit obsessed with my on-line persona. I blog 24/7 because it gives my life some purpose. So much so that I have yet to take down the Ron Paul signs from my front lawn, or even mow the grass.

[UFF]

Wait until the Democrats (Meek) get to hang that soon to be huge Brogan as Chancellor contract around Crist's head. All of the SUS schools are cutting to the bone, even disconnecting phones,laying off faculty, and further downgrading the quality of education in Florida and this administration is going to allow one guy to get more than a half million a year. For what? And why? Utter nonsense and this is going to be a major campaign issue for the Dems to use against Crist that he can't pass off as a BoG decision. If it happens under his leadership and watch it will be made his problem!

[oh boy ,,,ignorance is not only a way of life,its an entire wing of a political party]

I haven't the slightest idea what Moderate is talking about.

Posted by: Coach | July 10, 2009 at 03:08 PM

LOL well heck no you don't,you have no idea what a far right extremist is either!!!
Don't expect many in here to agree with that extremism double standard you are used to with fox and the radio geeks.

[extremist coach works for Heritage Foundation]

All one has to do is go back over any of your posts to realize you never respond to what has been posted but instead respond about a poster.I notice Limbaugh do this as well as "The Foundry".
Weekly Standard and National Review have never made money for Rupert Murdoch,why are they subsidized?
Remember,Murdoch wrote down 8.4 billion (with a B)in losses last quarter

[Coach]

Now he even wants to be me!!!!!