Let’s add a bit more to the Charlie Crist files this morning. It’s important to start building this narrative now so that if Crist does run for President, we’ll have a plethora of pre-existing research at our finger tips to show why Crist would be a terrible Presidential nominee, let alone a terrible Senate candidate in Florida.
Crist has, yet again, picked another liberal favorite for the Florida Supreme Court.
Crist is expected to announce his selection of Circuit Judge James Perry of Sanford, well-placed sources say, to replace retiring Justice Charles Wells.
Perry, the first black judge in Central Florida’s 18th Circuit, is the pick of civil rights leaders and trial lawyers who admired his rise out of the Jim Crow South. But he is not the favorite of the NRA and tort reform advocates and social conservatives, who had hoped for a more conservative-leaning judge who has a record on the criminal bench.
Crist picked an anti-gun, pro-abortion liberal for the Florida Supreme Court. And it’s not the first time. Remember that when it comes time to consider Crist on another ballot.
KnightsofMalta
Dan Spencer
Moe Lane
Steve Maley
Dan McLaughlin
Caleb Howe
What's Wrong With Crist For Senate
Swamp_Yankee (Diary) Wednesday, March 11th at 11:05AM EST (link)I dont think Crist has a real shot at the nomination for President. I dont like him, but I think he’s okay for a Senat seat. Polls show him unbeatable in the Senate race. Even Kos concedes this.
We need to retain that seat and saving resources by running someone who scares away the competition helps too. Crist will be as reliable as Martinez. HE may actually be an uprgrade. Of course he’s not perfect, but Obama did carry Florida. Florida is no shoe-in for Republicans in 2010.
Could all this backfire. We crush a Republicans who can win for a “real” conservative who cant win and the Dems gain another seat. Didnt we do this in New Mexico in 2008.
Unless we have nobody better
E Pluribus Unum (Diary) Wednesday, March 11th at 11:10AM EST (link)How many times to we have to elect squishes in the Senate, only to have them go up to DC and – gasp – act like squishes, and abandon the party every time we desperately need every vote?
Kill the Terrorists
Protect the Borders
Punch the Hippies h/t IMAO
EPU
Steph C (Diary) Wednesday, March 11th at 11:18AM EST (link)I think this is part of the problem. When we say “unless we have nobody better” we never get anybody better because the Party knows we’ll accept less. I think it’s time to make clear that we’re not going to accept less.
I said this before McCain won the primary but sometimes, I felt like I was the only one saying so. In reality, I know I wasn’t but… you get the idea.
“[I]f the public are bound to yield obedience to laws to which they cannot give their approbation, they are slaves to those who make such laws and enforce them.” –Candidus in the Boston Gazette, 1772
Hillbilly Politics
True that - I think we're moving outside the party structure
E Pluribus Unum (Diary) Wednesday, March 11th at 11:30AM EST (link)When Pat Toomey agreed last week to go ahead and primary Arlen Sphincter, I can tell you a couple of things. One, the GOP establishment hated it, and two, Toomey probably received literally tens of thousands of emails and other contacts from regular people like you and me, begging him to run.
I think conservatives have decided the RNC and official channels are no longer useful and are going outside channels to get conservative candidates into play.
And it’s about dang time.
Kill the Terrorists
Protect the Borders
Punch the Hippies h/t IMAO
We just need to find some Freds
Steph C (Diary) Wednesday, March 11th at 11:38AM EST (link)who will fight to get the job. I think Fred did, sort of, but more for us than for himself, if that makes sense, but he didn’t fight hard enough to get it.
“[I]f the public are bound to yield obedience to laws to which they cannot give their approbation, they are slaves to those who make such laws and enforce them.” –Candidus in the Boston Gazette, 1772
Hillbilly Politics
We Only Need Every Vote Because We Run People Who Can't Win
Swamp_Yankee (Diary) Wednesday, March 11th at 11:27AM EST (link)I know the rah, rah, rah – clean out all the RINO attitude is popular, but sometiems it is impractical.
We are on the verge of complete disaster; a socialist majority that could last generations. What I wouldnt do to have Norm Coleman seated; John Sununu seated; and Heather Wilson seated. Just to sop this train.
We ar not going to get 95% ACU conservatives everywhere.
As a general itmus test, I think we should run people as conservative or more conservative than there constituency. It makes no sense to run a Crist in Kansas. But Florida is not Kanas. Crist is generally representative of Florida.
I know there are guys like McCollum who want the seat. But he is toast. This is not a pick up where we can take a shot. This a retention that we desperately need. Crist is a shoe-in. We just cant afford to lose a Florida seat when our numbers are stretched so thin to begin with.
We ar not going to get 95% ACU conservatives everywhere.
Steph C (Diary) Wednesday, March 11th at 11:36AM EST (link)No, we’re not but the RNC really isn’t even trying to sell conservatism to the nation. They’re just trying to win elections and it doesn’t matter who expands government and restricts our civil rights at that point. If we sell conservatism, we’ll get conservative candidates.
No, not all the 95% kind but enough to make a difference.
“[I]f the public are bound to yield obedience to laws to which they cannot give their approbation, they are slaves to those who make such laws and enforce them.” –Candidus in the Boston Gazette, 1772
Hillbilly Politics
That's A Different Story
Swamp_Yankee (Diary) Wednesday, March 11th at 11:48AM EST (link)Stategy versus tactics. That’s a battle for the RNC. I’m more concerned about throwing winning Republicans under the bus in this desperate time. Plus, our cnadidates should all be lined up a year from now. There is little time toedcuate the public and groom some unknown conservative in waiting.
http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2009/1/30/115114/466
We will have momentum, but the numbers are still against us. We have five open seats to protect. The Dems have none. There is an issue of resources here too. People like Portman, Bond and Gregg are going to need plenty of help. We cant afford to wage full scale battles on every home field game.
We need to protect our seats and take the fight to the enemy; Arkansas, Nevada and Conn.
In the end, Crist is probably better than Martinez and even Martinez voted with the Whip during Obama’s term.
the swing zone
George Neitz (Diary) Wednesday, March 11th at 12:11PM EST (link)It is apparent to most of in the “swing zone ” of the I4 corridor that Charlie is very very popular while I don’t care for him the alternative is a Harry Reid style lefty.
I would rather have some one who will vote with us 60-70% of the time than one who would vote 100% against everything we (conservatives) hold dear.
“Socialism only works
in two places:
Heaven where they don’t
need it and hell where they already have it.”
-Ronald Reagan
Can Tolerate Him As A Senator
DavidSage (Diary) Wednesday, March 11th at 12:32PM EST (link)I’m not a fan of Crist, and he has absolutely no shot at being the Republican nominee for President, but as a Senate candidate, it makes a lot of sense. He’s a shoo-in to win, that’s the biggest reason.
Florida is a purple state that seems to be turning bluer. I can understand having a litmus test for a candidate’s conservatism in deep red states, but with Florida, I can settle for a moderate Republican.
He’ll be conservative “enough” on the big issues, like universal health care, card check, major tax increases, etc. He’ll probably be more “liberal” on some social issues. If Crist is delusional enough to think he can win the Republican nomination, expect him to suddenly become a reliable conservative Republican vote in the Senate until 2012.
Just having enough Senators to filibuster some of Obama’s outrageous agenda is a victory for Conservatism in of itself.
Another vote against social democracy
settingsun (Diary) Wednesday, March 11th at 2:16PM EST (link)Agreed. Charlie Crist would be a reliable vote against creeping social democracy. Given the audaciousness of the Obama agenda, we cannot afford the risk of electing another 100% supporter of that agenda where we can help it.
Charlie Crist's Head on a Plate!
settingsun (Diary) Wednesday, March 11th at 2:09PM EST (link)Wow, someone sure does seem to want a scalp? By all means, let’s take what could be an easy Senate hold and put it back in play for the Democrats.
Based on your litmus tests do you also believe the Senate Republicans’ new earmark champion Richard Shelby should be primaried?
Sen. Richard Shelby, R-Ala. — $114,484,250
http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2009/03/10/raw-data-earmarking-senators-billion-spending/
Aaron, Librep, Achance and Kyle have demonstrated that the answer IS NO.
Rod_Patrick (Diary) Wednesday, March 11th at 2:54PM EST (link)Earmark is not simply a question answerable by YES or NO. Factors for consideration:
1. Need to separate cost of federal program from state projects. State – Union agreements also play a critical role.
2. Quality, relevance of the project vs. needs of the constituents being answered by the earmark, e.g., check out earmarks for teen parties and political gimmicks.
3. State inefficiencies, present and past, in addressing fiscal balance of the state.
4. Dynamics between State Administration, the Fed Senator, and the constituents.
5. Fiscal conditions of the Fed (national budget deficit).
6. State-to-state equitability of distribution.
In my viewpoint Fiscal conservatism /responsibility does not necessary mean ZERO earmark.
But of course, this is the ideal that we should hold on to.
The one really good thing about earmarks
Achance (Diary) Wednesday, March 11th at 3:08PM EST (link)is they keep the most populus part of a state from sucking up all the federal money, especially transportation money. That’s what earned so much of your ire towards Sen. Stevens and Rep. Young; had they not earmarked projects in the various transportation bills, every dime of federal money would have gone to Anchorage and the Mat-Su valley, whose residents couldn’t care less if Southeast Alaska has ferries or bridges or if the Bush has airports. It was bad enough as it was; Anchorage was gilding the gold leaf and begging for more while we in Juneau were having to do local improvment districts to pave roads right in the heart of the town. The federal delegation had to run Statewide so they needed supporters all over the State. State politicians only care about their district or the trade they can make to get something for their district. Here most governors have made at least some attempt to take a statewide view except the current governor seems to think statewide is the Mat-Su valley, or the parts of it she can see from her house.
In Vino Veritas
Here is Mr. Proud Alaskan again.
Rod_Patrick (Diary) Wednesday, March 11th at 3:30PM EST (link)He he! I’m just kidding.
Yeah. I admit. I’ve guilty of being too “harsh” to Sen. Stevens and Rep. Young. And I fully understand your issue against “current governor” now. Same thing that I understand some reluctance on the part of “her” in allowing more earmarks than necessary. I pray that we can find a “middle” on this issue.
It’s really hard to make conclusion/position “ex-ante”. That’s me talking. But in the end, the outcome of these earmarks should be judged according to their outcomes (ex-parte).
What I’ve learned mostly from this debate is this: Don’t make an rushed conclusion. Conservatives should not repeat Glen Beck’s TV skit against the Rs with earmarks. The fight of Michelle Malkin and the rest wrt earmark should be also need fully qualifications.
Sadly for you bro, It’s just “me” …. talking. Oh, I forgot. Aaron and Kyle also have “almost” similar views. In fact, I cheated,. ehem, borrowed mostly from Aaron’s posts.
So, we’re still cool, Senator Achance.
oops
Rod_Patrick (Diary) Wednesday, March 11th at 3:38PM EST (link)ex-post not ex-parte. stupid me. sorry for other typos.
I think we need a clear statement on earmarks.
settingsun (Diary) Wednesday, March 11th at 3:31PM EST (link)Fair enough. But I don’t quite see how we can reclaim the mantle of fiscal discipline if we don’t make an unequivocal statement about earmarks (given how earmarks were used against us). This post is claiming Charlie Crist is DOA as a senate candidate because he’s gone rogue on the stimulus and on a judicial appointment. Yet Shelby, Cochran and others are given a free pass on an issue that will help undermine our entire message against the Dems fiscal irresponsibility.
I think the case against Crist
Rod_Patrick (Diary) Wednesday, March 11th at 3:42PM EST (link)is not heavily on earmarks. It’s more on social issues.
Electing a pro-abortion judge IS A VERY DANGEROUS precedent on the viewpoint of many social conservatives.