Warm (and frosty) welcome for Crist at Tampa event

Gov. Charlie Crist got a standing ovation today at a national conference of foster care experts and government officials at Tampa's Intercontinental Hotel. The three-day event, hosted by the National Governors Association Center for Best Practices, is focusing on ways to reduce the number of children in foster care.

Joined by First Lady Carole Crist, the governor cited two years of record numbers of foster child adoptions in Florida: 3,777 last year and 3,764 the year before. He said that was the result of the "great efforts" of child welfare secretary George Sheldon and child advocate Jim Kallinger. "I'm a blessed man," Crist told the group.

On the way out, Crist was cornered by Fox-13 reporter Chris Chmura, who asked Crist if he made a "John Kerry-style flip flop" by now saying he didn't endorse President Barack Obama's stimulus package.

"They're wrong," Crist said, adding he didn't endorse the specific stimulus bill Congress passed -- though he is very grateful for the billions it brought to Florida. When the reporter asked Crist if he has "remade himself" for a race against Marco Rubio, the governor uncharacteristically asked travel aide Dave Mica Jr. to end the questioning. "Dave?" Crist interjected.

-- Steve Bousquet

Comments

[XX]

What is wrong with Crist??? Has he lost all sense of reality? Crist is on record as fully endorsing the plan, on record denying he endorsed, last nite in Gainesville he basically said he liked it, and now today he didnt endorse the "specific plan"?

Crist has lost it - both his mind and the senate race.

[LOL]

It's amazing how so many on this forum don't understand how things work or what's really going on in the real world.

Crist is about ready to unload on Rubio to the point that he'll beg to be allowed to switch to the AG's race. When Republican voter's, and I mean Conservatives too, find out about all of Rubio's baggage and dealings, they will run from his campaign. Crist has been a good Governor and a star on the national scene. Along with being a good fiscal conservative.

As far as Eikenberg goes, for those attacking him, he is a smart guy and is going to be a great campaign manager. RPOF Chairman Greer is a Crist loyalist personally but has helped McCollum get to where he is while trying to deal with the wingnuts and win elections.

I'm voting for Crist and I am going to work hard to support him.

[Adam]

LOL, your boy is toast, the people of Florida have had enough of his running from questions....he doesn't deserve a paycheck for being Governor...
You sound close to him...ask him to release the RPOF Amex card statements

[word on the street]

Crist is rattled, but his problems are just beginning. When the trade mission story hits Charlie might be the one begging to have his AG job back. What happened on those trips? What was found in the hotel room? How much does George, Erin, Eric know about it and why are they covering it up? These things don't just go away and the truth always emerges.

[Sorry Charlie]

LOL you sound just like the Gallagher people used to: constantly threatening to "unload" something. Never hapenned. Gallagher lost. The stink of desperation lingers everywhere Charlie goes.

[John Birch]

PURGE, BABY, PURGE!

Let the Republican Party purge itself of every moderate and centrist until the Party is pure of any compromising, middle-of-the-road centrist or establishment-backed moderate.

PURGE, BABY, PURGE!

[Sorry Charlie, You're Liberal]

Stimulus, Cap and Trade, Global Warming, Cigarette Taxes, Felons Voting Rights, Socialized Property Insurance, Socialized Health Care, Expanded Gambling...Sorry Charlie, You're Liberal

[Now that bite hurt]

“.. It is important that we pass the Stimulus Package…” Governor Charlie Crist.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GOXvgZvZqnw

[...]

George got Senate...

Eric got campaign and I am sure a hefty salary...

So what is Erin getting out of the cover-up?

[XX]

"word on the street" - I know the trade mission story(ies). Greer also participated in the cover-up. There'll be one more person trying to hide from the story(ies).

It's going to be fun, real fun, watching the rats scurry about on this one.

[Bob from south walton]

I won't be voting for Crist, and I sure won't be voting for Rubio and their policies that assisted putting Florida in it current situation.

[Sam]

Don't the people attending that conference know that gay parents are forbidden by law from adopting kids in Florida? And that Charlie (yes, Charlie) is fighting to keep that ban in place?

[Ask Congress what happened]

Bob,

It was neither Charlie Crist nor Marco Rubio who put Florida in the situation it is in. There is something going on called a global economic recession. This hinders tourism, recreation, travel....all the things that Florida's economy thrives off of. In a state with no income tax, we rely heavily on sales tax to bolster our economy. This isn't some failed policy from the governor's office or the Florida Legislature, you numbskull.

[On Message]

Crist said, "They're wrong."

Who is "they?" Is he saying the cameras are wrong? Is he saying the microphones are wrong? Maybe he means the transcripts are wrong?

The truth is, Governor Crist, you were wrong and you refuse to admit it. You were wrong to have endorsed the stimulus bill. You were wrong to have looked to Washington for the solution to our problem. You were wrong to finance your political career on the credit of our children and grandchildren.

Governor, you were wrong and now, you must face the consequences.

[Buzzard.]

Gotcha journalism in action. Who is Chris Chmura?

2:15 is correct. It was the failures of congress and the chicken-little hysteria of Democrats Nanci Pelosi et al that caused the economic meltdown.

[...]

Guess Dave Mica Jr is positioned to be the next high level staffer in the Governor's or RPOF offices...

[My name is Charlie Crist and I'm an IDIOT.]

Dave? Jim? Erin? George? Anybody? Please DEAR GOD somebody out here help me. These people won't quit asking me questions about things I've said before. I never realized that all my photo ops and interviews were actually being recorded! I thought it was like those endless loop security cameras in the stores! Why didn't somebody tell me? OH GOD. All the bribery money in the world might not get me out of this mess. Dave? Dave? Are you there????

[ABC- Anyone But Charlie]

Charlie wasn't saying " Dave ", to end the questioning,

He was probably saying " Dave, what should I say next"?

Dave probably said , " Let's get the hell out of here, you have said enough"