Still Think Charlie’s Staying in the GOP?

February 27, 2010

Still Think Charlie’s Staying in the GOP?

Disavow yourself of that notion right now:

Gov. Charlie Crist, a Republican U.S. Senate candidate, told The Palm Beach Post editorial board on Friday that, unlike many Republicans in Washington, he didn’t think President Obama should scrap his health care reform proposal.

But when pressed to elaborate on the parts of Obama’s plan that liked, Crist was at a loss:

“I don’t think a whole lot. Watching the discussion yesterday (Thursday) you get a chance to sort of see more of it be ferreted out. You know, I’m the kind of guy … I’m pragmatic. The stimulus is a great example. We needed the money.

Asked again if there were any parts he liked he said:

“Not at present. No.”

Not one good idea?

“There may be. There may be. You know, I’m pretty focused on Florida right now.

Crist is so obviously trying to have it both ways and tip-toe around the issue as to avoid offending anyone. He’s against scrapping the plan, yet he cannot think of a single thing he likes about it.

How very Independent of him…

by Kavon W. Nikrad @ 1:10 pm. Filed under 2010

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60 Responses to “Still Think Charlie’s Staying in the GOP?”

Aron Goldman Says:
February 27th, 2010 at 1:27 pm
Crist: Independent run ‘not going to happen’
http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2010/02/26/crist-independent-run-not-going-to-happen/?fbid=3yD69jy7vA4

Florida Gov. Charlie Crist is dismissing a rumor that he will abandon the Republican Senate primary and run as an Independent.

A conservative online columnist for the South Florida Sun-Sentinel floated the claim on Thursday, setting off a flurry of Internet speculation that Crist might bolt from his party to avoid losing to Marco Rubio in the primary. But Crist said Thursday it’s not true.

“It’s not going to happen,” Crist said at an event in Broward County, according to the St. Petersburg Times.

Crist also kept up his offensive against Rubio, who is back-pedaling this week after revelations that he made personal charges on his Republican Party of Florida credit card. The governor brushed off Rubio’s claim that Crist allies leaked the credit card information to newspapers.

“He is the one who made these charges, not me, not any of my friends,” Crist said, according to the Times. “When you do something like that you ought to just take personal responsibility.”

“The people will decide this issue,” he said. “I think it’s pretty clear that they don’t like that kind of double dipping. It’s just like taxpayers’ money. You ought to treat those funds in a vey sacred way.”
Tex Milan Says:
February 27th, 2010 at 1:29 pm
Charlie Crist is typical RINO or worse.

Until Sarah Palin and Tea party came on political scene
characters like him prospered.They hijacked Republican
Party and turned it into corrupt,spineless establishment.

No more!
This is what Sarah Palin said on Thursday,declaring war on Republican establishment that lost moral
compass and Reagan conservative values:

“Take over the Republican Party, tea partiers,” she said. “Get them to see the light. They are seeing the light clearer and clearer every day. Get them to understand what built this country. Get back to the foundation of America.”

Charlie Crist is done!Out the door,so he can spend even more time at tan sallons.
Sarah & Mike: Fox Superstars Says:
February 27th, 2010 at 1:30 pm
I don’t think he knows what to do at this point. But I hope he stays in our Party but also gives up his losing battle with Rubio. See the light, Charlie!
Sarah & Mike: Fox Superstars Says:
February 27th, 2010 at 1:33 pm
He could definitely open up a chain of tanning parlours throughout the great Sunshine State with Romney.
Jonathan Says:
February 27th, 2010 at 1:33 pm
“I don’t think a whole lot.”

You can say that again Governor.
Aron Goldman Says:
February 27th, 2010 at 1:35 pm
A rather disingenuous (and juvenile) headline from RedState…

Charlie Crist Says He’d Keep the Democrats’ Health Care Deform Plan
http://www.redstate.com/erick/2010/02/27/charlie-crist-says-hed-keep-the-democrats-health-care-deform-plan/
Kavon W. Nikrad Says:
February 27th, 2010 at 1:35 pm
Aron #1,

I believe that this is just posturing on Crist’s part. I find it hard to believe that he will simply walk into the sunset after losing the senate primary and having Bill McCollum take his place at the top of the GOP gubernatorial ticket.

How else do you see this playing out?
Tommy Boy Says:
February 27th, 2010 at 1:36 pm
Kavon,

But how can he weasel his way out of the statement?

If he kept quiet about it, he could plausibly pursue the tact that Miller laid out for him.

With all of his statements on record, it’ll be tougher for him and it’ll look more politicall motivated.
Dave Says:
February 27th, 2010 at 1:43 pm
Does anybody else consider Marco’s double dipping a Red Flag??
Aron Goldman Says:
February 27th, 2010 at 1:44 pm
The parts of Crist’s comments that Kavon conveniently omitted from the front page are in bold…

“There may be parts of it that you don’t have to scrap. There are three parts of it that I would like to see scrapped: It would raise taxes significantly, it would raise rates significantly and it would take half-a-trillion dollars out of Medicare.

“I think the real issue here, as it relates to health care, is that people want it to not cost so much and people want to have access to it. I think there is a consensus of agreement that the health care that is delivered in America is good. But it’s not easy to get it and it’s too expensive when you do get it.”

Asked if there were any parts of the bill he liked, Crist said:

“I don’t think a whole lot. Watching the discussion yesterday (Thursday) you get a chance to sort of see more of it be ferreted out. You know, I’m the kind of guy … I’m pragmatic. The stimulus is a great example. We needed the money. Every other Republican governor took it, too. I was just maybe a little more honest and straight forward about it. Well, shame on me for being honest. But, you know, as it relates to health care, if there are good ideas, I’m willing to look at them. And I would take that same approach to any issue in Washington.”

Asked again if there were any parts he liked he said:

“Not at present. No.”

Not one good idea?

“There may be. There may be. You know, I’m pretty focused on Florida right now. I mean, after the session I’ll be more focused on the issues in Washington. But I’ve got to do my first job first.”
Jonathan Says:
February 27th, 2010 at 1:47 pm
9:

Trust me, Rubio is not perfect, he’s not even that good. I personally thought he was a tyrannical Speaker and a bit of an egomaniac. However, he’s got my vote because he isn’t Charlie Crist.
Aron Goldman Says:
February 27th, 2010 at 1:54 pm
CBS4 VIDEO: Rubio and Crist Verbally Spar at Miami Breakfast
http://cbs4.com/video/?id=92238@wfor.dayport.com

Rubio: Crist not “pro-life”
http://www2.tbo.com/content/2010/feb/27/rubio-crist-not-pro-life/

Candidates address Christian group
http://staugustine.com/florida-news/2010-02-28/candidates-address-christian-group

Crist, Rubio trade swipes at Christian Family Coalition
http://www.postonpolitics.com/2010/02/crist-rubio-trade-swipes-at-christian-family-coalition/

Rubio chastised pro-life politicians, such as Crist, who do not pledge to overturn Roe v. Wade and instead say they work to “change hearts.”

“Senators can’t change hearts, only God can change hearts,” Rubio said. “But senators can change laws.”

Does anybody else consider Marco’s double dipping a Red Flag??

Of course, it is. But this news below is far more disturbing, and an instant dealbreaker for me.

Marco Rubio joins the Terri Schiavo crowd
http://blogs.orlandosentinel.com/news_columnist_mikethomas/2010/02/marco-rubio-joins-the-terri-schiavo-crowd.html

Marco Rubio’s campaign has put out a new release, whacking Charlie Crist for not being tough on social issues like abortion.

The release includes this mention of the Terri Schiavo case, ” Crist also received criticism on the Terri Schiavo debate about where he really stood on a Congressional bill that would have let Terri’s parents take their lawsuit to save her life to federal courts.”

In other words, Marco seems to favor government intervention in this case. Terri was in a permanent vegetative state. Her husband wanted to remove a feeding tube keeping her alive, saying that they had earlier talked about how neither would want to be kept alive under such conditions. Her parents tried to block him and were backed by Gov. Jeb Bush, creating a political circus.

The feeding tube was removed. An autopsy showed Terri’s brain had dissolved into spinal fluid and there was no chance of any kind of recovery.

PolitiFact: Gauging truthfulness of politicians’ claims
http://www.miamiherald.com/2010/02/28/1503244/politifact-gauging-truthfulness.html
Josiah Schmidt (Gary Johnson 2012) Says:
February 27th, 2010 at 1:55 pm
Here’s hoping Crist goes indie, splits the liberal vote, and ushers Rubio into the Senate!
Sarah & Mike: Fox Superstars Says:
February 27th, 2010 at 2:01 pm
“Senators can’t change hearts, only God can change hearts,” Rubio said. “But senators can change laws.”

FTW!
Liz Says:
February 27th, 2010 at 2:02 pm
It’s true, go read The Corner, Obama is going to nuclear option and he’s already factored in wiping out the dem party come November AND HE DOESN’T CARE. We call people like that radicals. It’s worth it to him to power grab and hope it sticks, even if he leaves office a bit prematurely.

I refer to the “Allah Akbhar” moment at the end of his Health Summit where he said he wasn’t going to waste anymore time on debating issues, he was going to reconcile himself into his long awaited Utopia and let his followers take their lumps in November. He, Pelosi, and Reid are likely at the strip joint making final preparations to fundamentally change the free market via the nuclear option. Seriously, I don’t think the Constitution has a provision for dealing with suicide politicians. I wish it did. This is getting critical. Crist is onboard too, I guess, or ignorant. Who knows. Chaos, people.
Aron Goldman Says:
February 27th, 2010 at 2:02 pm
It would be interesting to get an update on these potential general election matchups that were conducted November 16-18, 2009 by Research 2000.

If Charlie Crist were to run as an Independent and the 2010 election for U.S. Senate were held today, for whom would you vote for if the choices were between Kendrick Meek, the Democrat, Marco Rubio, the Republican, and Charlie Crist, an Independent?

•Charlie Crist 32%
•Kendrick Meek 31%
•Marco Rubio 27%

Among Independents

•Charlie Crist 45%
•Kendrick Meek 27%
•Marco Rubio 22%

If Charlie Crist were to switch to the Democratic Party and the 2010 election for U.S. Senate were held today, for whom would you vote for if the choices were between Charlie Crist, the Democrat, and Marco Rubio, the Republican?

•Charlie Crist 45%
•Marco Rubio 34%
Sarah & Mike: Fox Superstars Says:
February 27th, 2010 at 2:03 pm
13. We don’t need third parties to muck elections up, my friend.
Sarah & Mike: Fox Superstars Says:
February 27th, 2010 at 2:05 pm
16, Thanks, Aron.
Tommy Boy Says:
February 27th, 2010 at 2:07 pm
As everyone knows by now, the R2K general election polls represent the best-case scenario for Democrats considering that the sample it uses is designed so that it’s no different than the sample from 2008.
Sarah & Mike: Fox Superstars Says:
February 27th, 2010 at 2:08 pm
15. Liz, he basically said it at the “meeting” Thursday, he’ll do it, and the Dems will pay. Simple.
Jonathan Says:
February 27th, 2010 at 2:13 pm
Even if Crist is thinking about running as an independent (which he very well might), he won’t do it until April. Crist and Rubio both agreed to debate on Fox News Sunday w/ Chris Wallace on March 28th. If Crist turns it around during the debate, then he’ll probably stay in the GOP primary. If he doesn’t, then he’ll probably jump ship to run as an independent. Either way, wait until April, then we’ll see what Charlie does.
Liz Says:
February 27th, 2010 at 2:15 pm
Yeah. Simple, and freaky. ALLLLAHHHHH AKKKKBARRRRR! freaky. This is a grenade thrown at our way of government. The reconciliation move. The man’s a wild card.
Martha Says:
February 27th, 2010 at 2:21 pm
I guess it’s not bothering too many of you, but I believe Rubio’s use of the GOP party credit card for personal expenses is a deal-breaker. It’s unethical, period. I don’t care if he paid it back.

Sometimes, conservatives/Republicans are just a little too eager to look the other way when it comes to ethics violations.
Sarah & Mike: Fox Superstars Says:
February 27th, 2010 at 2:31 pm
Don’t let all the facts get in the way, Charlie Crist supporters.
Kristofer Lorelli Says:
February 27th, 2010 at 2:34 pm
23 – smartest thing said all week!!!
Liz Says:
February 27th, 2010 at 2:36 pm
So Martha, you going to endorse Crist? Good grief. We’re dealing with reality here. Find the holy person to run for office. At this point I’ll take someone with the basic philosiphical understanding and committed to TRYING to be honest. I’ll take that.
Hunter Says:
February 27th, 2010 at 2:50 pm
I like Rubio, but I could easily live with either candidate. Two things bother me though. First, the people that have built up Rubio into this Tea Party hero, when the fact of the matter is that he’s not all that different from the establishment crowd that they’re so eager to demonize. (I imagine there’s a lot of overlap here with the folks supporting a loon like JD Hayworth just so they can stick it to “McAmnesty”.) Secondly, if Rubio’s your guy, great. But what’s the point in actively rooting for Crist to leave the party? That appears to be part of the strategy adopted by Jim Demint, and I can’t help but think it will back-fire down the road… Not so far down the road, even, if it means Crist runs as an Independent, splits the vote, and the Dems pick up the Florida seat.
Dave Says:
February 27th, 2010 at 3:03 pm
Martha,

For what it’s worth, I share your sentiments. The Florida situation is a real mess, and I haven’t figured it out yet. I have problems with both Republicans, and as of right now, I would still vote for either over Meek—but this definitely comes down to a lesser of evils situation.
Aron Goldman Says:
February 27th, 2010 at 3:14 pm
How They Learn (or Don’t Learn)

Yesterday’s big electoral news was a rumor that Charlie Crist might really bolt and run a third-party campaign for the Senate. I agree with those who believe that these sorts of purist primary challenges are important to the future course of the Republican party. Two things. First, one of the possible outcomes here is for the Republicans to marginalize themselves so much that they become a clear minority party for a longish stretch of time. That’s not bad for the Democrats! Second, I think the main way to reverse this is to convince Republicans that it’s electoral poison to nominate extremists (defined, by the way, just as candidates who support policies that are very popular among conservative Republicans but not popular among the rest of the electorate). Bottom line: yes, it is electorally bad for parties to nominate unelectable ideological candidates. No, Republicans aren’t going to stop doing it even if it costs them seats in the 2010 election cycle.

http://andrewsullivan.theatlantic.com/the_daily_dish/2010/02/how-they-learn-or-dont-learn.html
Hunter Says:
February 27th, 2010 at 3:25 pm
#29… Except there’s nothing “unelectable” about Rubio or any of his policies. Also, I would’ve thought liberals were done with the meme about Republicans becoming a long-term minority party.
Hunter Says:
February 27th, 2010 at 3:25 pm
Oh wait, that’s from Sullivan’s blog? That explains everything.
Liz Says:
February 27th, 2010 at 3:52 pm
Naahhh….Crist is squirrelly anyway you cut it. I think the game is this. Keep fresh faces circulating into Congress regularly, and flush out anyone going on a decade or more, because they get worn down and corrupted after a short period of time in that abrasive environment and lose their effectiveness, and their moral bearings. We see it weekly, justabout.
Liz Says:
February 27th, 2010 at 3:54 pm
Rubio is pretty much a career politician too, the thing is he’s still somewhat fresh and trying to be honest. Let’s face it, the standards are really, really low nowadays. I remember when the FBI wouldn’t take new agents with any drug usage, now you can have up to 15 usages or something because the whole nation is drugged I guess.
Liz Says:
February 27th, 2010 at 3:56 pm
The pool is pretty low quality maybe. We’re the pool. How many of you are cheaters on your spouse, perverts, or take home office supplies from work? That’s what we’re seeing here.
Flip Dixon Says:
February 27th, 2010 at 3:57 pm
I think Rubio’s overrated, but Crist has the same plastic wimpiness that Romney displays.

If Crist loses, it’s hard to imagine what he’ll do as a Republican. His only real option would be to run for the US Senate against Nelson, which may be an uphill climb.
Aron Goldman Says:
February 27th, 2010 at 4:22 pm
there’s nothing “unelectable” about Rubio or any of his policies.

Not true.

Marco Rubio joins the Terri Schiavo crowd
February 26, 2010
http://blogs.orlandosentinel.com/news_columnist_mikethomas/2010/02/marco-rubio-joins-the-terri-schiavo-crowd.html

Rubio raises Terri Schiavo case in an attack on Crist
http://thinkprogress.org/2010/02/27/rubio-schiavo/

Poll Watch Flashback: Quinnipiac Florida Survey on Terri Schiavo
April 13, 2005
http://www.quinnipiac.edu/x1297.xml?ReleaseID=673

Do you approve or disapprove of the way the United States Congress handled the case involving Terri Schiavo?

Approve 27%
Disapprove 64%

Do you approve or disapprove of the way Governor Jeb Bush handled the case involving Terri Schiavo?

Approve 35%
Disapprove 59%

Poll Watch Flashback: Quinnipiac Florida Survey on Terri Schiavo
June 30, 2005
http://www.quinnipiac.edu/x1297.xml?ReleaseID=747

Do you agree or disagree with the decision to remove Terri Schiavo’s feeding tube?

Strongly agree 46%
Somewhat agree 12%
Somewhat disagree 8%
Strongly disagree 24%

Do you agree or disagree with Governor Bush’s order to ask a state prosecutor to investigate whether Michael Schiavo delayed calling 911 when his wife, Terry Schiavo, collapsed in 1990?

Agree 30%
Disagree 59%

Do you believe Governor Bush’s recent actions in the Terry Schiavo case are motivated by sincere conviction or by politics?

Sincere conviction 32%
Motivated by politics 58%

Poll Watch Flashback: Strategic Vision (R) Florida Survey on Terri Schiavo
March 18-20, 2005
http://www.strategicvision.biz/political/florida_schiavo_0322.htm

Do you approve or disapprove of the Congress and President intervening in the Terri Schaivo case?

Support 33%
Oppose 64%

Would you want to be kept alive if you were in a state similar to Terri Schiavo?

Yes 13%
No 81%

Do you support the decision to remove Terri Schiavo’s feeding tube?

Yes 61%
No 30%

Poll by 2 Florida Papers Finds Most Want Feds to Stay Out of Schiavo Case
March 26, 2005
http://www.editorandpublisher.com/eandp/news/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1000855908

A poll conducted for two Florida newspapers shows nearly two out of three Floridians say Congress and President Bush should have stayed out of the battle over Terri Schiavo’s fate.

The poll shows approximately 63% of likely voters in Florida disapproved of the intervention last week by Congress and the president.

The poll was done this week by Maryland-based Research 2000. It was commissioned by the South Florida Sun-Sentinel and the Florida Times-Union.

The poll surveyed 600 likely voters by phone in Florida. The margin of error is plus or minus four percentage points. Among Republicans polled, 56% say they disapproved of the intervention while 41% approved. Among Democrats and independents, 67% and 68% disapproved respectively.

Sixty-two percent questioned Congress and the president’s motives.

Poll Watch Flashback: Pew Research Survey on Terri Schiavo
November 9-27, 2005 (results from July 13-17, 2005 are in parentheses)
http://www.pollingreport.com/news.htm

In March, Congress passed a bill that required the federal courts to hear the case of Terri Schiavo, the brain damaged Florida woman who later died after her feeding tube was removed. Do you believe that Congress did the right thing in getting involved in the case, or do you think Congress should have stayed out of the case?

Did right thing 17% (20%)
Should have stayed out 72% (74%)

Poll Watch Flashback: CNN/USA Today/Gallup Survey on Terri Schiavo
April 1-2, 2005
http://www.pollingreport.com/news.htm

Do you approve or disapprove of Congress’ involvement in the Terri Schiavo case?

Approve 20%
Disapprove 76%

Poll Watch Flashback: ABC News Survey on Terri Schiavo
March 10-13, 2005
http://www.pollingreport.com/news.htm

Terri Schiavo suffered brain damage and has been on life support for 15 years. Doctors say she has no consciousness and her condition is irreversible. Her husband and her parents disagree about whether she would have wanted to be kept alive. Florida courts have sided with the husband and her feeding tube was removed on Friday. What’s your opinion on this case? Do you support or oppose the decision to remove Schiavo’s feeding tube?

Support 63%
Oppose 28%

If you were in this condition, would you want to be kept alive, or not?

Kept alive 8%
Not kept alive 87%

Florida state courts have heard the Schiavo case. Federal courts have said they don’t have jurisdiction because it involves Florida law only. Would you support or oppose a new federal law requiring the federal courts to review the Schiavo case? This probably would mean reinserting the feeding tube until the case goes through the federal courts.

Support 35%
Oppose 60%

Regardless of your preferences in the Schiavo case, do you think it is appropriate or inappropriate for Congress to get involved in this way?

Appropriate 20%
Inappropriate 70%
Tommy Boy Says:
February 27th, 2010 at 4:40 pm
Aron,

We just had a guy get elected by 17 points despite the fact that he wrote a thesis in his late 30s that could plausibly be read as supportive of the idea that women should stay in the kitchen.

I don’t think you recognize how little voters care about the social conservativism of our candidates in terms of voting against them because of their social views. Sure, they may disagree with them but they won’t vote against them on those grounds. In fact, it seems that there really is no negative to pursuing even unpopular social views if voters that disagree with you on the social views won’t vote against you on those grounds.

Nearly every poll shows Rubio up a greater margin against Meek than Crist. If that’s changed, it’s because of this dust-up over his credit card, not social issues.
Aron Goldman Says:
February 27th, 2010 at 5:23 pm
TB,

The difference is that McDonnell distanced himself from that deplorable 20-year-old thesis.

Rubio, by attacking Crist over the Schiavo incident (which remains fresh in Floridians’ minds), is defending deeply unpopular government intervention in what the majority of even Republicans perceive as a private, end-of-life decision.
Kavon W. Nikrad Says:
February 27th, 2010 at 6:20 pm
Aron,

I will give you a thousand bucks if Kendrick Meek beats Marco Rubio in November.
Aron Goldman Says:
February 27th, 2010 at 6:35 pm
Kavon,

The offer is much appreciated, but I have no reason to believe that Meek could beat either Rubio or Crist.
Tommy Boy Says:
February 27th, 2010 at 6:41 pm
#40 Then why are you disagreeing with the notion that “nothing makes Rubio unelectable” if you are also conceding that you have no reason to believe that Meek could beat Rubio?
Aron Goldman Says:
February 27th, 2010 at 7:19 pm
Because Rubio has to get past Crist in either a primary or three-way general election; and if Charlie is willing to challenge Marco on his support for Congressional intervention in the Schiavo affair, it would seriously harm Rubio among moderate Republicans, and likely kill him among Independents. It’s an intra-party debate I strongly welcome.

Although I voted against Kerry in ’04 on foreign policy grounds, I wanted nothing to do with the GOP by 2005, after their intrusion into the Schiavos’ end-of-life situation. If the theocratic wing of the party were to once again wield such influence, I would re-register as an Independent in a heartbeat.
Sarah & Mike: Fox Superstars Says:
February 27th, 2010 at 7:49 pm
A little problem with religious politicians, Aron?
Aron Goldman Says:
February 27th, 2010 at 7:55 pm
Religious politicians? No. Politicians who bring their religion (or others’) into the political arena? Absolutely.
Right Says:
February 27th, 2010 at 8:05 pm
42, I wanted nothing to do with the GOP by 2005, after their intrusion into the Schiavos’ end-of-life situation.

Aron, switch parties now. Obviously you’re a single-issue voter. No one here believes you’re a conservative. But I guess an Andrew Sullivan-acolyte like you would like the attention whoring for a little more before you stomp out crying about the theocratic Republican party that somehow never arrives in any of the places Republicans have run for decades.
Hunter Says:
February 27th, 2010 at 8:06 pm
Terri Schiavo isn’t going to keep Rubio from winning any elections.
Tommy Boy Says:
February 27th, 2010 at 8:14 pm
Because Rubio has to get past Crist in either a primary

The race is pretty clearly over from any reasonable analysis of the primary. If it isn’t, it’ll be because Rubio got his hand in the cookie jar with his credit card, not because of this issue. Crist himself is a net negative in terms of his approval among Republicans according to Scott Rasmussen.

three-way general election

I’ll concede that Crist could very well win as an indy but the poll you cite is dated (not to mention R2K has struggled with its general election polling though I don’t see anything wrong with its primary polling because the sampling won’t be an issue with the latter). Fabrizio, who admittedly is not neutral, found the following earlier this month.

http://miamiherald.typepad.com/files/2-10-fl-sw—crists-quandary.pdf

Rubio (R) 31%
Crist (I) 26%
Meeks (D) 24%
Aron Goldman Says:
February 27th, 2010 at 8:15 pm
No one here believes you’re a conservative.

A social conservative? Hell no! Only a moron would think such a thing. I am well to the right of most Republicans, however, on economic and foreign policy issues.
Sarah & Mike: Fox Superstars Says:
February 27th, 2010 at 8:32 pm
Hence the war against social conservatives here at Race.
Tommy Boy Says:
February 27th, 2010 at 8:34 pm
Aron,

I’d be interested to learn where our prospective ’12 candidates stand on schiavo (including the longer shots such as Ryan, Brown, Daniels, and co). Do you have a compilation available?
TexMilan Says:
February 27th, 2010 at 8:38 pm
48

On foreign policy issues you are conservative?

You mean like Reagan, looking strictly for USA interests.
I’m sure(hope) you are not one of those delusional,
chicken hawks neocons.

Little “Napoleons” always looking for the next,poor,
helpless and defenseless country to bomb,bomb and “conker”,
for democracy and their own good,of course.
Aron Goldman Says:
February 27th, 2010 at 8:56 pm
You mean like Reagan

Yes, peace through strength.
Aron Goldman Says:
February 27th, 2010 at 9:14 pm
TB,

In a televised presidential debate Thursday night, Giuliani suggested the Schiavo controversy should have been left to the courts.

“The family was in dispute. That’s what we have courts for. And the better place to decide that in a much more, I think in a much fairer and even in a deeper way, is in front of a court, ” he said at the first GOP presidential debate at the Ronald Reagan library in California.

In April, Giuliani had explained his position this way: Noting that the controversy had been through the court system for years, he said the 2005 congressional intervention, “was appropriate to make every effort to give her a chance to stay alive. … My general view is, you should do everything you can to keep somebody alive unless they have expressed a strong interest in not having very, very special things done, extraordinary things done.”

Giuliani’s campaign spokesman, Elliott Bundy, on Friday tried to clarify Giuliani’s apparent contradictions on Schiavo: “Last night Mayor Giuliani said that ideally these types of difficult issues are best left up to families and when there are disputes, it is a matter for the courts to decide. As he said in Florida in April, there are sometimes extraordinary circumstances where the intentions of the person in question are not clear. The Schiavo case was one of those very special circumstances.”

“Anybody hurts themselves by being inconsistent on this particular subject, ” said state Rep. Dennis Baxley, an Ocala Republican who led the state legislative efforts to keep Schiavo alive in 2005. “In retrospect, it’s not popular to be associated with it, but when you’re in the middle of it, you don’t deal with whether it’s popular, you have to deal with whether it’s right.”

“Mr. Giuliani needs to figure out what he really believes about these important issues of privacy and the rule of law, ” said Derek Newton, a Democratic consultant and spokesman for Terripac, the political committee started by Terri Schiavo’s husband. “But if he believes what he said last – that this issue is a legal one and not a political one – he is squarely in tune with most Americans, and we applaud him.”

In the Republican presidential race, Baxley is supporting Mitt Romney, who recently surprised political observers by saying in Tampa Bay that the Schiavo matter should have been resolved in the courts, seemingly putting him at odds with Jeb Bush.

On Thursday night, though, Romney suggested then-Gov. Bush was right to intervene, but not Congress.

“In the case here, the courts decided what they thought was the right thing to do. And then I think Jeb Bush and the Florida Legislature did the right thing by saying, ‘We’ve got a concern.’ They looked over the shoulder of the court. But I think the decision of Congress to get involved was a mistake, ” the former Massachusetts governor said.

Arizona Sen. John McCain said lawmakers were moved by the pictures of Schiavo, but “in retrospect, we should have taken some more time, looked at it more carefully, and probably we acted too hastily.”

Kansas Sen. Sam Brownback said Congress was right to intervene.

http://www.sptimes.com/2007/05/05/news_pf/State/Giuliani_flips_on_Sch.shtml
Hunter Says:
February 27th, 2010 at 10:01 pm
And look how far Giuliani went.
Aron Goldman Says:
February 28th, 2010 at 1:36 am
Extending liberty and opportunity remain key to its beliefs
By PAUL RYAN
Feb. 11, 2007
http://www.jsonline.com/news/opinion/29331109.html

Following Republicans’ resounding defeat in November’s elections, pundits may be tempted to write the obituary of modern conservatism.

This conclusion would be well-founded if Republicans had actually governed as conservatives. Too often, we did not.

In my observation, voters deliver the most stinging rebuke when they detect hypocrisy. When candidates run for office, they explain their positions, offering a spoken contract to their would-be employers.

If elected, they are morally obliged to make good on the contract. But if an incumbent breaks the contract by working against its underlying principles, then comes the rightful rebuke.

This is why Republicans lost elections across the country. Consider three cases in point: overspending, corruption and the Terri Schiavo controversy.

To a lesser extent, the Schiavo dispute was perceived by the public as another betrayal of conservative principles. Technically, this was a case about court jurisdiction, which is relevant for Congress to consider.

Nonetheless, it was perceived as the ultimate big-government intrusion into a family affair.

These violations of conservative ideals combined with an unpopular war to form a toxic voter climate for Republicans. While Republicans tried in vain to reclaim their fiscal conservatism, Democrats in swing districts ran as conservatives.

However, here’s what Ryan had to say back on March 22, 2005 in the Cap Times & Wisconsin State Journal
http://brewcitybrawler.typepad.com/brew_city_brawler/2007/02/what_is_it_with.html

About 2 p.m. Sunday, U.S. Rep. Paul Ryan, R-Janesville, learned he’d need to fly to Washington, D.C., for an emergency House debate on Terri Schiavo, the brain-damaged Florida woman whose feeding tube was removed Friday on a state judge’s order.

Ryan cut short an archery lesson with his nephew and gave up grilling dinner for his family to catch the last flight out of Milwaukee’s Mitchell International Airport.

“Any inconvenience in my life paled in comparison to the issue that was before us,” Ryan said Monday. “This is a matter of life or death. There’s no higher principle that we’re involved in.”

“We are simply asserting Terri Schiavo’s constitutionally protected right to life,” Ryan said. “This is an area where the Constitution delegates the power to Congress. It is certainly in our purview to do what we did.”

Ryan said Congress is not inserting itself into a family matter.

“This was not a private bill,” he said. “This is giving her access to the federal court system, much like mass murderers get.”

Ryan called Schiavo “a healthy, disabled woman without a living will and with a serious dispute between her parents and her husband.” She is not terminally ill, he said.

“She is not in a coma, she is healthy and does not need machines to keep her alive, other than to feed her,” Ryan said. “To end her life is to starve her to death.”

Also in the 3/22/05 Journal Sentinel:

Ryan disputed the notion that Schiavo was being kept alive by extraordinary means.

“She is brain damaged and needs help taking in food and drink,” he said. “Her life is precious and her rights and her parents’ rights should be respected.”

Back when the Schiavo case was raging, Ryan said it was a matter of her “right to life” — and voted accordingly. Now it’s a “case about court jurisdiction.”

What changed? Oh yeah! The public turned against the Republicans over the Schiavo matter.

Isn’t it weird how Paul didn’t talk about how he voted or why he did in the Shiavo case?

Paul, you forgot one reason why Republicans got their asses handed to them last year. They claim to be a party of virtue that adheres to eternal, fixed values (fiscal, moral and otherwise) and demonize their opponents as amoral sinners.

When in fact modern Republicans have proven themselves to be hypocrites who are not above rewriting history — even in an era of online databases.
Aron Goldman Says:
February 28th, 2010 at 2:28 am
May 19, 2007
Huckabee on Ron Paul, Schiavo and cat funds
http://blogs.tampabay.com/buzz/2007/05/huckabee_on_ron.html

Buzz caught up with former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee in Orlando today. We watched a bit of the Fox”s repeat of the last GOP debate together and Huckabee shared what was going through his mind listening to Paul Paul: “The Republicans are supposed to have a big tent. But this is Bozo’s bigtop, and there’s the side show. Good God, give us a break.”

Asked about a national catastrophic fund to ease the property insurance crisis in Florida and other states, he was receptive but said he’d have to see the detail. Rebuilding people’s beach homes doesn’t appeal to him, but “I come from a state that’s prone to tornadoes and floods. I understand how devastating it can be, so I’m very sympathetic.”

On governmental intervention in the Terri Schiavo case: “I had no problem with the state getting involved because it’s one of their citizens. but I wasn’t sure how the federal government had a role in all that.”
Aron Goldman Says:
February 28th, 2010 at 2:30 am
Hypocrisy and the Ordeal of Terri Schiavo
by Rep. Ron Paul, MD
http://www.lewrockwell.com/paul/paul243.html
Tommy Boy Says:
February 28th, 2010 at 2:35 am
Aron,

How do you think Crist could reconcile switching to indy now after he explicitly repudiated the idea? I actually think he could have gotten away with it had he stayed quiet. Now that he has gone on record multiple times rejecting the idea, I have a tough time seeing him convincing the electorate that he did it for genuine reasons (e.g., any concerns he had with the party moving too far to the right) but rather for purely political survival reasons.
Aron Goldman Says:
February 28th, 2010 at 1:03 pm
Crist running as an independent – and other scribbles from the U.S. Senate campaign trail
http://www.postonpolitics.com/2010/02/crist-running-as-an-independent-%e2%80%93-and-other-scribbles-from-the-us-senate-campaign-trail/#more-15058

1. No, Gov. Charlie Crist is not giving up his Republican registration. But it’s pretty clear now that he’s decided to promote the independent streak that won him national attention as he built a bipartisan image his first year in office.

2. Speaking of Crist’s first year: With his final State of the State coming on Tuesday, here’s a timely look-back at our coverage of his 2007 speech, when he called for more environmental preservation and a voting paper trail and included a quote from Robert Kennedy:

“For him to get up there and do what he did today, he said: ‘I’m my own man,’ that was a strong message,” said Sen. Victor Crist, R-Temple Terrace, who is not related to the governor. “When he gave his final quote from Robert Kennedy, that was bold, and I watched Speaker Rubio’s face, and I turned to the two House members on either side of me, and I said, ‘Oh-oh.’ “

House Speaker Marco Rubio said Crist’s style has helped improve the tone in Tallahassee. “By far the most optimistic first day of session in the eight I’ve been a part of,” said Rubio, R-West Miami. “I think there is a general tone of cooperation.”

3. By portraying himself as an independent Republican (someone who loves guns, hates taxes and can work across the aisle), Crist is hoping to steal some of the sizzle of Rubio’s image as the anti-establishment candidate. In Broward County, Crist tried to use Rubio’s campaign against him:

“I was decent to the President of the United States and they condemned me for it. Are you kidding me? That’s wrong for them to do that. You’re supposed to respect the office. I will never apologize,” he said.

4. Rubio supporters will say Crist’s rhetoric ignores the real message of Rubio’s nine months of campaigning, which is less about hugging Obama and more about Crist embracing the stimulus plan Republicans were fighting in Washington.

But if Crist wasn’t concerned about national Republicans last year, he’s not this year either. Asked about this disconnect, he pointed to all the other Republican governors who also took stimulus money to prop up their state budgets. “Maybe I was just a little more honest about it,” he said in an interview.

5. Calling himself a “pragmatic conservative” and a “common sense conservative,” Crist seems to be taking a general election approach to the primary. It’s an interesting tactic, particularly in a tea-flavored primary electorate. But right now Crist is 18 points down, so he might not have much to lose. Crist talking to The Post editorial board on Friday:

“I am the governor of all of the people of this state. I have a duty to represent them in a way that I believe comports with what they want, with the kind of decency I think they deserve. That’s why I do what I do and that’s why I act why I act. And if that’s out of favor or out of fashion, that’s okay.”

6. Nice timing for Crist’s first official campaign swing through South Florida, eh?

Rubio’s hometown paper fronts the leaked state party American Express card flap on Thursday, he’s in West Palm Beach for an editorial board meeting on Friday and he makes gets South Florida television crews on Saturday after news Rubio double-billed taxpayers and the party for $3,000 in airfare.

7. About those plane tickets: Rubio said it was a clerical error that he will repay. But didn’t he cash the reimbursement checks? He was asked Saturday why he didn’t realize the mistake when he received two checks.

“I didn’t realize what card was used to pay for it,” Rubio said. “That’s the problem. It was all done through a travel agent, so ultimately staff and the office prepares the form. And they just didn’t do the comparison.”

8. Crist is using questions about the tickets to shift the debate from who is more conservative to who is more electable.

“This race is not about right vs. left, it’s about right vs. wrong. And you deserve right,” he said in Broward County. “If we nominate someone who nobody can trust, then what’s going to happen to him in November? They’re going to lose. They’re going to go down.”

9. Oh yeah, there is another race in November. That reminds me – both Democratic U.S. Senate candidates were at the Christian Family Coalition forum on Saturday.

10. Former Mayor Maurice Ferre ran down his Catholic credentials while U.S. Rep. Kendrick Meek jumped right into the abortion issue, saying he was pro-choice but should be given credit for showing up to speak to the pro-life group.

“I am running to be your senator. I’m not running to be your pastor. I’m not running to be your rabbi or whatever the case may be,” Meek said. “I stand up for everyone in this state. Everyone. That’s the reason I’m here.”

11. Not only did Meek tailor his comments to accommodate the unlikely Jew in the Christian forum audience, but he also made sure to speak to potential supporters of Obama’s health care reform. “I have health care,” he said. “The question is do you have health care? And what am I going to do about it? Am I going to say, ‘Let free enterprise take care of your health care needs?’”

“Yes,” someone in the front row answered.

12. Ready for the everyman narratives this year? Test your skills and match the candidate to the story:

A.) The son of Cuban immigrants who worked bars and hotels so he could someday become Florida House speaker.

B.) The grandson of the thrifty Pennslyvania shoe-shiner who put seven kids through school, including one named Charlie Crist Sr.

C.) The son of a single mother who worked as a luggage carrier and state trooper.

“No one in this race has lifted over 300 bags like I have,” Meek said.

Crist a bit later: “Kendrick, I will tell you this, when I was in law school, I didn’t pick up bags at the airport. But I waited on people at the country club. I served people their water. I parked their cars.”

13. Rubio was introduced at the forum by his buddy, Rep. David Rivera, R-Miami. Ladies and gentleman, the Honorable David Rivera.

14. If Florida Republican Party Chairman John Thrasher considers the media the enemy, Rubio just likes to mess with it.

When a preacher asked everyone in the hall to join hands for the closing prayer on Saturday, Rubio smiled and nodded a few times at the nearby gaggle of a dozen or so South Florida reporters, urging us to hold each other’s hands . Didn’t happen, much to Rubio’s disappointment.
Aron Goldman Says:
February 28th, 2010 at 1:16 pm
Election year adds twist to legislative session
http://www.palmbeachpost.com/news/state/election-year-adds-twist-to-legislative-session-299457.html

Gov. Charlie Crist wants tax cuts for businesses and consumers, Senate President Jeff Atwater is making government spending more transparent and Sen. Dave Aronberg wants tighter rules for pain management clinics to help ensure they aren’t run as pill mills.

And each of the issues will make nice talking points as Crist runs for Senate, Atwater runs for chief financial officer and Aronberg runs for attorney general.

Crist acknowledge the election year will probably inject politics in the process, but he wishes it didn’t.

“Instead of worrying about an election, and the next election, we need to worry about the next generation. That’s what our focus should be as public servants. That’s a very different role than that of a candidate,” Crist said. “There will be some in this election cycle who are candidates and candidates only and some of us who are public servants.”