Fla.'s Crist plots political comeback as Democrat

[Omaha Steve]

Source: AP-Excite

By MICHAEL J. MISHAK

ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) - Nearly three years after losing a U.S. Senate campaign and leaving the Florida governor's mansion, Charlie Crist is plotting a political comeback.

The man who once identified himself as a Ronald Reagan Republican is gearing up for another gubernatorial bid as a Barack Obama Democrat.

Crist is emphasizing the bipartisanship that marked his sole term as governor. Democratic officials have embraced Crist. Republicans and some Democrats are questioning his sincerity.

Crist has a record of conflicting positions on key issues.

FULL story at link.


Read more: http://apnews.excite.com/article/20131026/DA9LN85G0.html

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In this Saturday, Sept. 8, 2012 file photo, President Obama, left, talks with former Florida Gov. Charlie Crist at a campaign rally in Seminole, Fla. The man who once identified himself as a Ronald Reagan Republican is gearing up for another gubernatorial bid as a Barack Obama Democrat. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara, File)

[csziggy]

1. Crist's 'partisanship' was a continuation of Jeb Bush's policies

When Florida Democrats were still too demoralized and disorganized to fight them.

The Florida Democratic Party is backing Crist. When I voiced my dismay at that, I was told that if we didn't support Crist, we were giving Rick Scott another term. No real Democrat has stepped forward to run, so Crist is the best the FDC can scrape up.

If Grayson had a chance, I'd want him to run, but he'd too valuable to Florida in the House, and he's too liberal for much of Florida.

While I will be volunteering for the 2014 elections, I WILL NOT volunteer or support Crist for governor of my state. IMO he is still a Jeb Bush shill, no matter what he may try to claim these days.

[UncleTomsEvilBrother]

2. Question, then...

Do you think Jeb Bush was better than Rick Scott is now?

[csziggy]

4. No, they are basically the same

Jeb had slightly better political skills and did not inspire the same over all hatred.

But Jeb dismantled state programs and policies that protected workers, prevented favoritism in state contracts with private companies, and destroyed much of the Florida state government. His stated goal was to make state government "small enough to drown in a bathtub". One of his first acts was to tear apart our formerly great state archives, following in his father's footsteps as a way to prevent records of his term in office being preserved for future study.

While Jeb was in office, many Democratic state workers were too terrified to be active in politics - Jeb had removed the rules that prevented supervisors from firing workers at will for any whim. I know people who had worked for the state for decades and who had been active in party politics who simply kept mum about their views, kept their heads down, and just attempted to keep their jobs long enough to get to their retirement. It was a time of terror for any state worker who had been active and vocal about liberal causes. State workers were purged, and it was far too easy to lose your job a year before retirement.

No one here in Tallahassee was surprised at the 2000 election - and the people who knew what happened were often too dependent on keeping their jobs to say or do anything. That is one reason the demonstrations in Tallahassee were mostly filled with people from out of town - too many locals worked for state government or whose employers survived on contracts with the government.

And that is just the part that I know about from my friends. Crist continued Jeb's policies of cutting government - so has Scott, but Scott was so ignorant he tried to cut things paid for by fees and wanted by business, such as citrus tourism advertising. Scott was an inept business man, and he is an even more inept politician. Jeb was a deft politician, so could get by with many things that should have raised people's ire.

[DonCoquixote]

3. I hear you one hundred percent!

If Florida had a REAL Democratic party, one good for anything but sending Debbie Wasserman-Schultz out to harass liberals and do the GOP dirty work for her "friends." Charlie would be garbage, however, considering the next choice was Alex "make every mistake and throw in the Kitchen" Sink, I have no illusions about my choice, or that Rick Scott needs to get out of here pronto before he does any more permanent damage than he has.

[csziggy]

7. Yeah, Alex Sink is a big disappointment

I tried to volunteer for her campaign - they didn't even have an office in Tallahassee and made no effort to campaign around here. They never contacted me, or any other person I've talked to in Tallahassee!

[secondvariety]

5. "Better Than Scott".

Charlie's campaign slogan. Crist is such a chameleon you never know exactly where he stands.

[Bluenorthwest]

10. I remember where he stood, right next to Sarah Palin chanting 'Drill here, Drill now'.

“I think she’d do a great job. Realize that she really is the only executive that’s running, the only one that has been the head of a government in Alaska, she’s held an exeutive position as a mayor, an executive position as a governor, made those kinds of decisions. Hey I think she’s ready.”

[idwiyo]

6. FFS, that's just sick.

[Orlandodem]

8. I sympathize with FL Dems skeptical if Crist. But if he wins that could help the Party

The money would start pouring in again. Dem interest groups would have someone in their corner. We would have one-third of the government. He could appoint Dems to positions to help us build a stringer bench for the future! He could be governor until 2022 when reapportionment starts again and he could veto Republican gerrymandered maps if they are in the majority by then.

It is critical to get Rick Scott out while we can!

[BumRushDaShow]

9. ^^^THIS^^^

This is something needed here in PA as well - building the back bench for the future. Just like TX is nurturing up-and-comings like the Castro brothers (Julian and Joaquin), where their staff can gain experience in the inner workings of government. Over time, this experience can eventually propel the staffers to statewide office and name-recognition themselves, and the party can continue to expand from there.

[Bluenorthwest]

11. Only in Florida could a person who said Palin was more qualified than Obama be taken

seriously as a Democrat.

[trumad]

12. Crist is a political opportunist.

[PeoViejo]

17. The Crazies get their Confederate Wet Dream by destroying the GOP

In revenge for the Civil War, then bail and become 'Democrats.' Their goal is to destroy the Government of the United States. In order to do that, both Political Parties need to be completely co-opted and reduced to a single Party controlled by them. Their plan is well on its way.

These GOP Turncoats are nothing but a Fifth-Column, sent to co-opt the Democratic Party. They tried it with the DLC and it almost worked, until they were exposed for what they really are.

These Crazies are dead serious and shouldn't be discounted as to what they are willing to do to accomplish their Mission.

[nytemare]

23. I just hope the state legislature could get more blue as well.

I imagine Crist will win. The state legislature has been so red for so long, it needs to change.

[Coyotl]

13. This could become a national trend.

If big business can't rule from the right, expect a lot more of this.

[PeoViejo]

18. The Boys don't care what Party they control the Government from.

When they tried to overthrow FDR, they were 'Democrats.' That attempted coup was an Inside Job.

[Coyotl]

19. That got Truman into the VP slot.

[PeoViejo]

21. The Boys did that to prove they could get anyone elected.

even a Haberdasher.

The alternative was totally unacceptable to them.

[RandiFan1290]

14. LOL...Sorry Charlie

[heaven05]

15. A Ronald Reagan Rethug?

A leopard DOES NOT change his spots. Ronald Reagan was a POS. So Crisco.....?

[silvershadow]

16. I am seeing some acrimony about this. Let me just say that, while most of it is well-deserved, it

also is his "past", and since he seems to be all over the map, maybe he will see the light. I'm going to reserve judgement, but I gladly welcome him to the fold for now anyway. jmho

[msanthrope]

20. I am glad I do not live in Florida. I'd have to plug my nose with wax in the voting booth. nt

[Dopers_Greed]

22. Even though Crist is a DINO

I'd almost rather have anyone else other than Skeletor at this point.

[IrishAyes]

24. Would somebody tell that Creepy Crist we don't want or need another useless blue dog?