A Raw Deal -- Charlie Crist Tries to get Black Cong Kendrick Meeks to Drop Out of Race

Been around politics and have seen some shady candidates but Charlie Crist may take the cake. Crist goes on the air saying that Kendrick Meeks was going to drop out of the race but changed his mind when supposedly that didn't happen at all. With all the flip flops and story changes which are detailed below, the bottom line seems to be that Crist talked to someone in the White House and may have talked to Clinton about getting Meeks out of the race and endorsing him (Crist). Meeks on the other hand said he is staying in the race and not dropping out.

Who is trustworthy in all of this? Marco Rubio who is the target of both the White House through its surrogates including Clinton and Charlie NO PARTY Crist. Florida voters need to send the DC Democrats and Crist a message that their Senate seat is not for sale.

Why do blacks stay in the Democrat Party is what I would like to know. Can you imagine the uproar if a Republican had tried to do this? It will be on all news stations 24/7. Why is Crist not being called by the media for the scumbag he is or are they finally catching on you cannot believe a word he says.

If former Florida GOP Chair Greer who is under indictment is smart, he will turn on Charlie and tell the truth how Crist used him and aides for his charges so he didn't have to get a card. They have the details of Mrs. Crist trip to Europe that Florida GOP paid the airfare at Charlie's request. How much more money do FL GOP put out to make sure that Crist was pampered.

This also shows that the White House and Clinton were involved in trying to get Sestack out of the race for Arlen Spector in PA. How many other races has that happened?  We expect Harry Reid was also involved in both instances as well. 
When we first said that Charlie Crist will do or say anything to get elected, we were not kidding. He has proven us to be right. What a low life to try and pull this to win a Senate seat and caucus with the Democrats after taking contributions from Republicans which he refused to give back. Crist needs run out of politics for good!

Email from Rubio Campaign:

It's a Raw Deal
We all know Charlie Crist will say or do anything to get elected. But this time he’s sunk to a new low.

In case you haven’t seen the late breaking news, Charlie Crist tried to cut a last second, backroom deal with former President Bill Clinton, in an utterly shameless attempt to pander for Democrat votes.

News reports of exactly what Crist claims happened are as inconsistent and contradictory as Crist himself. What we do know is that Charlie Crist was trying to engineer a secret deal with President Clinton, admits he was talking to the White House about it (even though he won’t say who), and CNN is reporting that as part of the deal, Crist agreed to caucus with the Democrat leadership in the Senate.

It’s all just shameless.

Secret deals, special favors, and political kickbacks. That’s the problem with Washington today, not the answer. Government shouldn’t be picking winners and losers. And typical politicians shouldn’t be cutting backroom deals to hold power at all costs.

Most of us suspected at the last debate when Crist took Meeks aside that he was discussing Meeks dropping out of the race and endorsing him.  Looks like that was the case.  What made Crist so arrogant that he thought that Meeks should drop out and support him -- why didn't he drop out and support Meeks?  Never mind, Charlie doesn't do anything for anyone except himself.  Meek has been on the air this morning blasting Crist.  If there are any Republicans still supporting Charlie, they had better think twice at the person they are thinking of voting for in the Senate race.  Then you have Meeks who supposedly thought about dropping out.

Kendrick Meek reaffirms he's in Senate race to stay, blasts Charlie Crist

Kendrick Meek blames dropout rumors on Gov. Crist

Kendrick Meek wants to be clear: He's staying in the U.S. Senate race, and former President Bill Clinton didn't ask him to leave the race.

Miami Herald
BY BETH REINHARD AND MICHAEL VAN SICKLER
Oct 29, 2010

Making the rounds on several national television network news shows on Friday morning, Democrat Kendrick Meek lashed out at independent Charlie Crist for fueling what he called false rumors that former President Bill Clinton had asked him to drop out of the Senate race.

``[Clinton] didn't ask me to drop out of the race,'' Meek told Fox & Friends. He said that longtime political mentor had asked him last week about ``rumors'' that he might possibly withdraw from the race.

Meek said he told Clinton that he was not going to bow out of the race. ```That's your decision,''' Meek recalled Clinton telling him during a conversation backstage at a rally in Florida.

He then slammed Crist for playing a political trick to damage his bid for the Senate.

``I don't operate like this, and the bottom line is, is that Charlie Crist does,'' Meek said. ``It's mind boggling.''

Meek said that Crist himself had called him during the campaign to urge him to leave the race.

``I told him I'm not getting out of the race,'' he said. ``I don't sellout on the people of Florida.''

Excerpt: Read more: Miami Herald

Now we have Bill Clinton involved in all of this.  Some things never change about Clinton -- he was untrustworthy as President and his word was worth nothing -- looks like that has not changed either.  Then throw in the Obama White House and Crist and you have a whole group of unethical politicians.  The Sestack story with Specter now makes sense.  Pennsylvania voters better think twice about voting for Sestack as well. 

Now we know for sure that Charlie Crist's votes and who he would caucus with were for sale.  He needs to lose the No Party label and become a Democrat to join the unethical Clinton and Obama.

Kendrick Meek Talked With Bill Clinton About Quitting Senate Race
October 28, 2010
Christopher Weber

Rep. Kendrick Meek confirmed Friday that he and Bill Clinton discussed speculation that the Democrat might drop out of the three-way contest for Senate in Florida. But Meek denied reports from Politico and others that the former president pressured him to quit in order to help Republican-turned-independent Gov. Charlie Crist beat GOP nominee Marco Rubio.

"We had a conversation in Orlando. The president and I talked about it," Meek said on MSNBC's 'Morning Joe" Friday. "I told him I'm not going to do it and that's just the bottom line."

Crist revealed in televised interviews that he was aware of the conversation between Meek and Clinton -- and that he also discussed possible withdrawal with Meek and spoke with the White House about it.

Clinton told CNN he and Meek spoke twice about rumors that he might drop out, but the former president said he didn't discuss it with the White House. He also refused to say what advice he gave Meek, a longtime friend for whom he campaigned in Florida.

....

The White House knew about the plan but did not initiate the talks.

"Not being seen as a quitter was more important than stopping someone who was so opposed to what you and your party had stood for," said one Democrat about Meek's decision to stay in.

Republican National Committee Chairman Michael Steele issued a written statement Thursday that said in part: "President Clinton's actions to have Kendrick Meek withdraw from the campaign sends a chilling signal to all voters, but especially African Americans. One can only imagine the response if Republican leadership tried to force out of the race – in the 11th hour – a qualified black candidate like Kendrick Meek."

The Rubio camp also reacted to the Politico report in a statement Thursday.

"Secret deals to trade away principles for power is already the problem in Washington, it's not the solution," Senior Strategist Todd Harris wrote. "This is simply politics as usual which is exactly what voters across the country are emphatically rejecting this election."

Excerpt: Read More at Politics Daily

Heckler Disrupts Florida Senate Debate

Charlie Crist will be remembered as the person in Florida politics who went from the top of the State of Florida as Governor to the trash heap of being called a 'heckler' because he kept trying to talk over Marco Rubio in this morning's debate. Guess Crist doesn't consider his flip flops fair game in a debate. Crist reminds you of a little kid who didn't get their way and is now throwing a temper tantrum.

Moderator did a poor job of keeping control which is typical of a CNN debate. This debate will be remembered for Charlie the Heckler and little else.

Rubio won the debate once again -- this time in spite of Crist not wanting to allow him to speak. This video is priceless and shows what happens when an arrogant person is getting beat. Kind of reminds you of the person in the White House!

Question of the week -- Will Charlie stay in Florida or try to get a job with the Obama Administration?

Heckler Disrupts Florida Senate Debate
October 24, 2010
By Javier Manjarres

Tampa, Florida– The three candidates for the open U.S. Senate seat in Florida squared off again in another debate hosted by CNN and the St. Petersburg Times this Sunday morning. The audience was not lulled to sleep, as there were an abundance of jabs that were thrown around by all three of the candidates- with even a few round-house kicks thrown into the mix.

Much to the surprise of the viewing audience, the debate was crashed by a “heckler” who disrupted the proceedings by showing a lack of respect for the moderators and for Mr. Rubio whom this ‘Heckler’ targeted. I am sure CNN is looking into how this heckler made it past security and into the debate room. “The Heckler’s” chameleon-like disguise was one of a kind and his actions showed that he has obviously mastered the art of deception and has perpetrated this kind of smoke and mirrors trickery before.

This “Heckler”, who actually made it on to the stage, can only be described as Superhero-like, with snow white hair, lean physique, and a very tan complexion. The Heckler has been identified as none other than the candidate ”of the people”, the “ I need your vote, what should I say now” candidate, the “ what do the pollsters think I should do” candidate. The “Heckler” of whom I refer to was none other than Governor Charlie “The Chuckster” Crist.

Excerpt: Read More at

Florida Senate Debate, Oct 19, 2010: Marco Rubio is the Clearcut Winner!

In last night's Florida Senate debate, we heard what we consider to be one of the most biased questions ever put to a candidate by a debate moderator. You would have thought the moderator, Greg Hengler, was reading the question from Charlie Crist Talking Point Papers when he asked Marco Rubio if he was anti-Latino.. Makes us wonder if he was briefed by Crist or his people before the debate. If the moderator was following the lead of Crist, it gave Marco Rubio a chance to respond and inform the moderator that he has always supported LEGAL immigration but the he cannot believe this Country does not enforce the immigration laws we have.




What is with these Democrats who cannot seem to process it in their brains that Republicans want the Immigration Laws enforced like every other Country. We do not and never have opposed LEGAL immigration. We oppose the people who are here illegally in this Country and the lack of the Federal enforcement of current immigration laws.

Fox News Miami has their take on the debate which talks about what Rubio has to do to win on November 2nd. Must admit the part between Meeks and Crist is funny as they go at each other trying to out Democrat the other. We actually feel for Meeks who is the Democrat with Charlie pretending he should have the Democrat nomination. Hopefully Crist will come in 3rd. Is Crist going to work for Obama in January?



UPDATE:  The Associated Press reports that in last night’s debate Charlie Crist bizarrely attempted to reverse his previous embrace of President Obama’s unpopular policies:

Gov. Charlie Crist tried to distance himself from President Barack Obama in a debate Tuesday after months of reaching out to Democrats in his independent bid for Senate… Meek seemed incredulous that Crist would use the strategy of criticizing Obama. Meek has been frustrated that Crist is having some success in his overt outreach to Democratic voters… "I'm just shocked to hear now the new lingo from the governor talking about Obamacare. I wonder if he said that to the president when he was walking with him on the beach," Meek said.

Crist makes Kerry look like he never flip flopped.  Have to love the Meek's reply -- he has him pegged.

Marco Rubio Wins Debate; New Ad "Working Together" Released

Marco Rubio's new ad "Working Together" is a winner. Do the Democrats really want to 'work together' or is it rhetoric that they will tell the Republicans what they are going to do with no input like has happened for the last two years? Our guess is that Obama and the Democrats in Congress have no intention of working with Republicans even when they take over. This group of Democrats led by Obama we would bet will blame Republicans for everything that goes wrong. Obama and/or the Congressional Democrats never take responsibility when something doesn't work -- it is always someone else's fault.




10.19.10 | Rubio Campaign Statement On Winning Tonight’s Debate

Davie, FL – Following today’s U.S. Senate debate presented by Leadership Florida, Rubio for Senate spokesman Alex Burgos released the following statement:

“While Charlie Crist clung to his disproven and blatantly false attacks, Marco Rubio showed once again why he is the only candidate for Floridians who want an alternative to the direction Washington is taking our country. Once again, Charlie Crist put on full display his willingness to say and do anything to win this election and, in some cases, by not saying anything and dodging questions about the serious policy challenges facing America. But Floridians are seeing through him and his false attacks.

“As Marco Rubio said tonight, the road Washington has put us on will rob us of everything that makes America exceptional. This election is about finding the solutions to our nation’s challenges, and Marco Rubio has put forth 80 ideas to move Florida forward. It is time to send a leader to Washington who will stand up to the current agenda and offer a clear alternative, and Marco Rubio is the only candidate who will do this.”

We are still appalled what Majority Leader Harry Reid had to say about Hispanic Republicans last week:

On August 10, Harry Reid said, "I don't know how anyone of Hispanic heritage could be a Republican, okay? Do I need to say more?"

The only good thing about that quote is that it gave Marco Rubio a chance to hit a home run with his reply:

Crist to Rubio: You offend my Hispanicness (HUH?)

From :Ed Morrissey at Hot Air:

How do we know Charlie Crist has fully transformed into a Democrat? He set himself up as the authority on Hispanic authenticity in the debate with Marco Rubio and Kendrick Meek last night on the Tampa Bay Fox affiliate. In fact, Crist goes so far that the other Democrat in the race winds up objecting to the attack after Marco Rubio’s strong rebuttal. Crist attempts to scold Rubio for “turning his back on his Hispanic family,” and then tries to weasel out of it by saying he just read it in a newspaper




NOTE: This is the most remarkable piece of footage and shows how out of touch with reality that Charlie Crist has become as he has gone over the edge completely -- Marco Rubio is the proud son of two Cuban immigrants or doesn't Crist consider Cubans Hispanic? How many more groups is Crist going to offend before the election on November 2nd.

Robert Kennedy, Jr. call us "Crackpots" for Supporting Marco Rubio

Robert Kennedy, Jr., has the class of a gnat and Charlie Crist is right down there with him. Hard to believe that Crist was running as a conservative when he started tanking in the polls and then became NO Party, and now has become NO Class with NO Core Values.

If you can help Rubio out in Florida, please visit his website at http://www.marcorubio.com/ and sign up to help!

“Crackpots”.
That’s what Charlie Crist endorser, Robert Kennedy, Jr. said today about Marco Rubio supporters.

Charlie Crist stood by as Kennedy called Rubio a “radical”, a “sock puppet” and declared that Rubio supporters have an “I-can-be-as-stupid-as-I-want vision of this country”.

So what did Charlie do as Kennedy went on to attack YOU, Marco, and like-minded Floridians?

He smiled. This from the same guy who said he was running as an independent to change the tone in Washington. So much for that.

STAND WITH MARCO TO FIGHT BACK AND RECLAIM AMERICA!
Unfortunately, we’re not surprised. Charlie’s pulling out all the stops to save his political career. No phony attack is too low. No national Democrat is too liberal. This from the man who less than 6 months ago was calling himself the “true conservative” and a “Jeb Bush Republican”.

St. Petersburg Times Editorial: Full Accounting Needed At State Board Of Administration (SBA)

The last paragraph of this editorial says it all:

National embarrassment may succeed where old-fashioned accountability hasn't. Just this week, Congress' Financial Crisis Inquiry Commission sought documents aimed at understanding the forces at play when the SBA bought the tainted securities. That should force Crist, McCollum and Sink to provide a full public explanation of what happened inside the SBA in 2007 rather than place all of the blame on Wall Street. Such accounting is long overdue to the people of Florida.

Every resident of the state of Florida needs to read this editorial before voting. To sum it up, the voters dodged a bullet by Republicans electing Rick Scott instead of Bill McCollum as their candidate for Governor, and choosing Marco Rubio early over Charlie Crist which made Crist run as the 'NO PARTY' candidate. That leaves voters with the choice of Alex Sink as the Democrat nominee for Governor which is easily rectified by voting for Rick Scott for Florida Governor and turning out the three -- Crist, McCollum, and Sink who with their risky investments basically have tanked the State of Florida while blaming Wall Street.

The latest revelations cast a far different light on the official version of events offered by the SBA after the securities were given junk status in late 2007, prompting local governments to make a run on the SBA's Local Government Investment Pool. It suggests that SBA trustees — Gov. Charlie Crist, Attorney General Bill McCollum and Chief Financial Officer Alex Sink — either are clueless regarding the facts or are shamefully willing to misrepresent them. Once again the agency, which invests about $140 billion in government assets, has broken faith with Floridians.

Seems every ad that Alex Sink runs sinks herself when she touts her experience as the best answer for Florida especially this time when she uses her role at the SBA as a reason to vote for her. Her role at the SBA is one of the best reasons to vote against her.

Does she have a plan like Rick Scott? Not that we have seen -- her plan seems to be I am honest so you can trust me. With the way she has handled the investments for the State of Florida, would say that trusting Alex Sink to be Governor is like inviting the wolf into the hen house.

St. Petersburg Times Editorial: Full Accounting Needed At State Board Of Administration

FORT LAUDERDALE, FL – The morning after Chief Financial Officer Alex Sink released a campaign advertisement touting her role at the SBA, the St. Petersburg Times published a scathing editorial that raises serious questions about her competence and accountability.

Full Accounting Needed At State Board Of Administration
St. Petersburg Times Editorial

9/25/10

It's possible the Florida State Board of Administration wasn't fully informed by Wall Street brokers three years ago when it cavalierly bought exotic mortgage-related securities just weeks before the credit markets crashed. But newly disclosed e-mails and internal documents show SBA staff members were just as eager to buy the securities as Wall Street was to sell. It was a reckless pursuit of higher returns that disregarded federal regulations, and those SBA staffers involved should have been fired.

(snip)

St. Petersburg Times' Sydney Freedberg reported this week that SBA money managers sought for years to circumvent decades-old federal regulation specifically aimed at protecting less-sophisticated investors, such as local municipalities or school boards, from dabbling in risky, unregistered securities. In 2007, the principal manager of the LGIP, Mike Lombardi, raised the issue again. He repeatedly sought to have the LGIP declared a "qualified institutional buyer" so he could invest its money in mortgage-related securities as he did for the state's pension account.

SBA managers never succeeded in changing the LGIP's classification. Yet Lombardi still invested hundreds of millions of dollars of the LGIP's assets, then $31 billion, in unregistered securities. By November 2007, many of the investments tied to the mortgage industry had been downgraded to junk status, prompting local governments to withdraw $13 billion before the trustees froze the fund.

When an outside consultant months later noted that such buys had violated federal rules as well as the agency's guidelines, the SBA claimed that they were legal under another federal code that would allow the LGIP to purchase the securities as long as they were buying from a "primary issuer." At best, that is exploiting a loophole — and some purchases didn't even qualify under that scenario.

There have been changes at the SBA since this debacle. Executive director Coleman Stipanovich quit under fire. New executive director Ash Williams insists internal controls have been tightened. The Local Government Investment Pool, now called Florida Prime, has moved to an outside money manger, tightened investment guidelines and secured a top rating from Standard & Poor's.

Trustees Crist, McCollum and Sink now meet four times a year solely to discuss the SBA and its operations in public. But that is inadequate for an agency that manages investments totaling nearly twice the state's annual budget. Crist and McCollum have summarily rejected Sink's prudent proposal to expand the SBA board of trustees to include individuals with financial backgrounds who would have more time than busy, statewide elected officials to run herd on the agency.

Besides Stipanovich, no one at SBA has been held to account. Lombardi and his two superiors forfeited annual bonuses but remain in their well-paying posts in Tallahassee. They should have been fired.

Excerpt: Read the editorial online at TampaBay.com

2.5 Million Reasons -- A Message from Crist campaign attacking the NRSC and DC Republicans for funding Rubio

We knew that NO Party Charlie Crist was arrogant, but this even shocks us as he has taken it to a new level. No wonder Crist and Obama are friends -- they are both only about themselves. That must be some conversation as they try to outdo each other for using the word "I."

Dane Eagle, Finance Director, for Charlie Crist used to be his 'campaign travel aide' who he met at a campaign event in 2006. Eagel in his mid 20's  has been with Crist since then and now has taken over Finance Director duties for a statewide Senate race.  Know a lot of College Republicans who have graduated over the years and not one of them would ever send out an email like this but then they wouldn't work for a turncoat who left the Republican Party when polls turned against them like Crist.  Seems Crist and his staff have that 'entitlement' mentality like the Obama group from Chicago.  Everything is owed them without having to work.

How could anyone explain this email where Eagle/Crist attack the NRSC for supporting the legitimate candidate Marco Rubio in the Senate race? Did this person along with Crist think that the NRSC should have stayed out of the race or keep supporting Charlie even though he went NO Party? This is the same NRSC who got a lot of grief from people like us for endorsing Crist in the Republican primary and sending him money when Rubio was in the race. As it turned out Republicans in Florida did not want Charlie Crist for their Senator and polls tanked him so he became NO Party Charlie. It takes an over abundance of chutzpah to attacked the NRSC when NO Party Charlie never returned their donations from NRSC members and fellow Republicans when he was asked after he left the Republican Party.

Only Greer the indicted former head of FL GOP got his money back -- wonder why he was so quick to give his good buddy the money back?  The same good buddy who has been indicted and will be testifying about mismanagement of money by FL GOP.  Maybe Greer is going to explain that $20M Florida GOP spent on Charlie's Governor's race in 2006.  So much yet to be uncovered -- was NO Party Charlie afraid Greer is going to spill it all to stay out of jail?
Crist is running his campaign on money that was given to him because he was a Republican. Now Charlie wants us to think he is beholding to no one? Give us a break as he has begged Reid and Obama to support him in his run and throw Meeks overboard. Crist has no loyalty to anyone but himself.  From this email from Eagle we are learning he is seems to be very jealous of Rubio getting help from the NRSC and Republicans which is all the more reason to donate to Rubio and help him defeat NO Party Charlie.

Crist and McCollum have a lot in common -- more than we thought -- both seem to be mad because Republicans chose their candidates and it wasn't them.

From: Dane Eagle, Charlie Crist for U.S. Senate
Sent: Wednesday, September 01, 2010 12:23 PM
To:
Subject: 2.5 Million Reasons - A Message from Dane

2.5 Million Reasons - A Message from Dane

I'm not sure if you saw the news this morning, but Washington Republicans have dumped $2.5 million dollars into Marco Rubio's campaign coffers. That's just another 2.5 million reasons why Marco Rubio will be a lockstep vote for the political party bosses and Washington special interests that got America into this mess in the first place.

The Rubio campaign has already spent millions of dollars distorting the Governor's record, and make no mistake, there's more to come -- more of the same old cynical, attack politics that our opponents would bring to the United States Senate if they were elected.

We need to fight back.

Contribute today to help combat the Washington attack ads and let Floridians know that Charlie Crist will be an independent voice in the Senate, not a pawn of party bosses.

When Charlie Crist gets to Washington, he will fight for good jobs, to protect Social Security for our seniors, and to rebuild our economy. Now, we need to fight for him.

Thank you,

Dane Eagle Finance Director

When we received the email from the Rubio campaign, we had to read it twice as we didn't believe the Crist campaign could be so dumb but they are as witnessed by the above email that came with the Rubio email below. Been around politics for years and the email from Eagle for NO Party Charlie probably ranks as the most out of touch except for Democrat emails that we have seen.

Why would anyone believe what NO Party Charlie has to say after he has flip flopped so much since leaving the Republican Party? Is he going to endorse Sink or vote for her for Governor? It would make sense since the two good friends, Crist and McCollum, are more attuned with liberal politicians than conservatives.  After all, the two seem to want to get back at Republicans for not wanting the two of them who in their minds are superior in every way.  How close are Crist and McCollum?  Did McCollum as Attorney General cover up for Crist on the GOP fundraising scandal?  Truth will eventually come out.

Dear xxxx

We knew it was coming, but even we were surprised to see the “political amnesia” in the strange fundraising e-mail below from the Crist campaign.

First, Charlie Crist refuses to debate after a week of head spinning flip-flops on Obama-care, a gay marriage ban and even the serious question of which party he will caucus with.

But most surprising is today’s attempt to deceive their donors on the reality of how Charlie Crist got to where he is today. You see, he’s trying to raise money by attacking the National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC) for supporting the rightful GOP nominee, Marco Rubio. Ironically, when Charlie dropped out of the GOP because he believed it was his only chance of winning, he left holding on to thousands of dollars worth of NRSC donations. Despite repeated requests for their money back, the Crist campaign is keeping it, along with the millions of dollars hard working GOP donors gave him when they thought they were supporting a Republican candidate.

All this makes the fundraising appeal from Charlie Crist all the more amazing. After all, this is the same man who misspent party dollars for a helicopter to fly his luggage! The same man who won the 2006 Governor’s race with over $20 million of Republican Party of Florida support. The same man who believes only his indicted former hand-picked state party chairman is worthy of a refund.

We know Charlie Crist is a career political opportunist, so nothing should surprise us anymore. Unfortunately, by breaking earlier promises to return the funds he raised as a GOP candidate, he still has a cash advantage and we must remain diligent in our efforts to fund our campaign.

Crist used a helicopter to fly his luggage? No wonder he is such good friends with Obama -- sounds like something he would do.

Marco Rubio delivers Weekly Republican Address

NO PARTY Charlie Crist cannot decide whether he is for or against Obamacare -- took him two hours to change from for to against yesterday which wasn't his first flip flop on the issue -- try three before this. That is the biggest difference we see between Marco Rubio and NO Party Charlie -- Marco is a conservative and  stands opposed to the Obama agenda.  He is against Obamacare, bailouts, stimulus and the rest of the runaway spending of the Democrats. NO PARTY Charlie is not sure of where he stands on the issues as he flip flops like John Kerry and seems to have ZERO core values like his good friend Obama.

There is a clear cut choice for the Florida Senate.  For all those voters who are fed up with the deficit spending in DC and the march against our freedoms by Obama and the Democrats -- that is Marco Rubio. If you want a flip flopper that doesn't have a clue who he would caucus with, then your candidate is NO PARTY Charlie. If you want a progressive liberal Democrat then by all means vote for Meeks!

Charlie Crist: "Who Cares!"

Charlie Crist in his own words giving his opinion on the very serious question of who he’ll caucus with? His response: “who cares!”. We would guess that the people of Florida definitely care who he caucus' with. Guess you might say that Crist is starting to lose it after the latest poll showing Rubio 10 points ahead came out.

Governor Crist (NO PARTY-FL) supports Obama and the Building of the Islamic Mosque at Ground Zero

"Florida voters will be offered a stark contrast in November" is probably the understatement of the year. Charlie Crist once again has shown he will stand with Obama on any issue. This time is it the Islamic Mosque being built near Ground Zero. We are not shocked as Crist has been playing up to Obama as his hero for over a year. We all remember the hug that drove Crist numbers down against Rubio. Crist didn't learn a thing following that except his numbers tanked against Rubio and he went NO PARTY.

Marco Rubio, Charlie Crist Disagree Over Ground Zero Mosque
August 15, 2010

On Saturday, Gov. Charlie Crist of Florida said he agreed with President Barack Obama's support of building an Islamic center and mosque near ground zero.

Although the mosque is planned for New York City, Crist's pronouncement has political implications in Florida.

As CNN's senior White House correspondent Ed Henry Tweeted, "Crist backing president on mosque is a reminder it's likely he will caucus with Dems if elected to Senate as independent."

In response to Crist's comments, U.S. Senate candidate Marco Rubio released a statement Saturday, saying,

We are a nation founded on strong principles of religious freedom. However, we cannot be blind to the pain 9/11 caused our nation and the families of the victims. It is divisive and disrespectful to build a mosque next to the site where 3,000 innocent people were murdered at the hands of Islamic extremism. I strongly disagree with President Obama and Charlie Crist.

Clearly Florida voters will be offered a stark contrast in November.

Source: Politics Daily

Is Charlie Crist Unethical Using Bill Signings for Campaign Fundraising? You betcha!

While typing in the labels for this post, it shows very clearly why Crist and Obama get along so well as they share the same arrogance, no ethics, no core values, and use their position to campaign on the taxpayer's money.

The fact that Crist wants the Senate Dems to endorse him instead of the Democrat candidate shows that Crist is not only a prima donna but has a total lack of understanding what loyalty means. Meeks has been a lifelong Democrat but because Crist is now No Party he expects Reid and Obama to throw Meeks overboard for him. If that is not arrogance nothing is.

What makes the Democrats think that Crist won't flip flop again? Anyone who trusts Charlie Crist needs to let me know as we have some swamp land in Arizona for sale!

08.03.10 AP Looks At Crist’s Use Of Taxpayer Money For Little More Than Campaign Events
Just a week after Marco outlined his 12 simple ways to cut government spending, The Associated Press posts a lengthy article about Crist wasting taxpayer money on ceremonial bill signings, a practice he has taken to new levels and often mixes with campaign events. In some cases, “campaign fundraisers were held in the same area where bill signings were earlier that day” thereby “reducing travel costs for his campaign.” All this leads to the question, is Charlie Crist campaigning on the taxpayers’ dime?

“Crist has made frequent use of the legally unnecessary events”: It’s not unusual for Florida governors to hold such ceremonial bill signings on important or popular measures. But Crist has made frequent use of the legally unnecessary events, which usually happen weeks or even months after the official signing. An Associated Press analysis found Crist has held about 90 ceremonial signings during his nearly four years in office, while his predecessor, Republican Jeb Bush, held about 65 during eight years. – The Associated Press

'The People'

Rubio Weighs in on Obama's Incompetence (BP Oil Spill)

When Javier reminds Rubio that Crist has spoken approvingly of Obama’s response, Rubio says, “He’s the only man in Florida” who is. Rubio also says that Governor Crist has a political motivation in praising Obama’s efforts, in attempting to convince Obama supporters to vote for Crist in November. That will almost certainly be a declining constituency.

Charlie Crist latest veto to destroy property-insurance market in Florida

Charlie Crist, current Governor of Florida, who is now running for the United States Senate as a No Party affiliation has done it again -- he vetoed a bill that would have required every property-insurance company doing business in Florida to have the money in reserve to pay off the claims. Shame on the legislature for wanting to ensure that all insurance companies had the money to pay off claims before selling property-insurance policies in Florida. (sarcasm)

This is unfathomable that Crist would veto this bill he worked on with the legislature but since he became Governor, Charlie Crist has been out to destroy the property-insurance market in Florida. "Why?" and "What is in it for Charlie" are questions asked by many Floridians.

Charlie Crist's veto ensures we'll face insurance woes

June 03, 2010By Mike Thomas, COMMENTARY

Charlie Crist has put the finishing touches on his four-year campaign to destroy the property-insurance market in Florida.

And just in time for what is expected to be a wham-bam hurricane season.

Crist vetoed a bill that would have required all these strip-mall insurance companies setting up shop in Florida to have enough money to pay claims.

We learn more about the Crist veto from the Orlando Sentinel that makes this veto even more disgusting. With a huge hurricane season predicted, this veto could have a large impact as many of these strip mall insurance operations have no money to pay off in good times. Where are they going to get the money if there is a bad hurricane season?

Crist vetoed a bill that would have required all these strip-mall insurance companies setting up shop in Florida to have enough money to pay claims.

They are so thinly bankrolled that they have been losing money and going belly-up even without hurricanes. We live in the riskiest state in the nation with the most under-capitalized insurance market in the nation.

If the winds huff and puff and blow your house down, your insurer may or may not be able to make good on your policy.

This could leave you scrambling for a bailout from a bankrupt state, which itself will be scrambling for a bailout from a bankrupt federal government that will be scrambling for a bailout from the Chinese.

Crist, a candidate for U.S. Senate, is gambling this will not happen before the November election so people won't understand the consequences of his actions before voting.

The punch line is that Crist's office worked with legislators on the bill. His insurance commissioner endorsed it, as did the state's insurance consumer advocate.

But then Charlie went rogue, dumped the Republican Party and began using his veto pen as a campaign prop.

Instead of tightening up insurance regulations which Charlie Crist worked with the Florida Legislature to do with this bill, the opposite has happened since the Crist veto. Regulations on these strip mall insurance companies have now been relaxed. How much did these strip mall companies donate to the Charlie Crist's Senate campaign? When these strip mall insurance companies cannot pay off homeowner claims when a hurricane hits Florida, then voters need to remember that their current Governor is responsible by vetoing a bill that would have required them to have reserves on hand to pay off claims.

Major insurance companies have been pulling out of Florida due to the number of hurricane insurance claims with more 'fly by night' companies taking their place with essentially no reserve to pay claims. Some have gone bankrupt without a hurricane so Florida homeowners need to be very careful where they buy their insurance.

Charlie Crist in order to score points with the strip mall insurance industry has put the residents of Florida at risk if a major hurricane does hit by this veto. At least he no longer is a Republican because his actions are more like a Democrat. Crist has no core values and goes with who donates the most money. Vetoing a bill he originally wanted says it all. This latest by Crist putting property owners at risk if a hurricane hits, may be one of the lowest things that Crist has done yet.

Charlie Crist would make a horrible Senator but then he is a friend of Barrack Hussein Obama so that should tell us all we need to know. Crist scammed voters for years saying he was a conservative but now the true Crist comes out of the closet -- he is no Republican conservative -- he is an opportunist. The only Republican Conservative in the race is former Speaker of the Florida House, Marco Rubio, who had Crist pegged as not being a conservative from Day One. Rubio has been proven correct.

A friendly reminder of where Charlie Crist stands:

FL property insurance: turning a blind eye is not reform
by Michelle Minton
June 15, 2010

While deregulation is always a good thing, we shouldn’t be fooled into believing that the recent news that Florida’s office of insurance regulation has “relaxed their standards of solvency” is anything akin to deregulation or reform. Insurance companies, property owners, and taxpayers remain in a situation as precarious as a beachfront home in the middle of hurricane season.

Insurance companies in the state of Florida will now be allowed to continue operating despite having a level of funds that previously would have had their license to operate revoked. What this means is an insurance company that by industry standards (you know, the standards that actually reflect the reality of a situation) doesn’t have enough money to pay their customers in the event of a reasonably likely hurricane season, is perfectly fine by the new standards of the Floridian government.

This news comes on the heels of a veto vote by governor, Charlie Crist on a measure that would have allowed insurers to charge higher rates (a measure he worked on and supported prior to his separation with the Republican party). Allowing insurance companies to charge the rates they want would have allowed them to rebuild their underfunded coffers–the one thing that would actually represent a real step toward reforming Florida’s insurance market.

So, while it is great that the state won’t step in and shut down companies, insurers in Florida are no less prepared to weather a bad hurricane season and just as likely to find themselves needing state assistance to pay claims after a storm. And because the state has an underfunded catastrophe fund the very likely event of a bad hurricane season could send the state of Florida begging for money from the federal government and every taxpayer in the country to pay for beach homeowners who have been paying too little for insurance for too many years.

Source: Open Market.org

Breaking News: Charlie Crist to run as a No Party Candidate for US Senate frrom FL

Less than 30 days ago, these comments were made:

Quote of the day
"To put these rumors to rest once and for all, as we have said countless times before, Gov. Crist is running for the United States Senate as a Republican. He will not run as an Independent or as a No Party Affiliation.

"The governor is proud of his conservative credentials and stands firmly behind the principles of limited government and more personal freedom, the bedrock values of the Republican Party. He is proud to be a member of the party of Abraham Lincoln, Teddy Roosevelt and Ronald Reagan.

"This should completely and utterly put to rest any of the unfounded rumors coming from the Rubio campaign that Gov. Crist would run as anything other than the Republican that he is."

Eric Eikenberg, Charlie Crist's campaign manager. April 8, 2010

Now today, 29 April 2010, which is 21 days later to be exact, Charlie Crist is doing exactly what the Rubio campaign said he was going to do -- leave the Republican Party where he is way behind in the polls to run No-Party. Have no clue what the difference between No Party and Independent is. You could say he was standing on principle but Crist has no principles as Mark Thornberry of the American Specatator explained in the sidebar of this site.

Crist is all about Crist and will stick his finger in the wind to see which way it is blowing and the group that praises him the most like teachers will get his support.

Crist was late to his Press Announcement but what is new?

Crist was elected as a Republican Governor, and we want to know why he is allowed to stay as Governor to campaign at taxpayer expense. His security detail will be with him at the events even though he has chosen to leave the GOP. The Republican Party of Florida has not changed their stance on issues, it is Crist who played up to Obama and Democrats who is finally outing himself as a liberal.

Now we have to hear how he is a man of the people when he lives in a $4M+ condo on an exclusive island off Miami-Dade County. Not going to fly this time!

His campaign has released they are going to pro-rate the return of contributions which we have never heard of before. He should give 100% of the contribution back if requested by the donor.

Charlie Crist to run for FL Senate seat as No Party -- Contacted White House for Support!

These two articles were posted on our sister site, Voices from the Heartland as we have been supporting Marco Rubio for the FL US Senate seat from day one. We supported Crist during the 2006 general election but supported his challenger Tom Gallagher in the primary. We knew that Crist was not conservative no matter how much he tried to convince people he was in 2006 and was a dirty campaigner for the way he treated his fellow Republican Gallagher.

This afternoon around 5:00 p.m. (edt) Crist will make the announcement in St. Petersberg he is running as no party in time to make all the local news in Florida so now the whole state can see they have a Governor they elected as a Republican who is officially no party. The Governor's Association needs to kick him out immediately upon his going No Party. Now the General Election campaign starts at 5:00 tonight against Meeks and Crist. Crist should have run as a Democrat after trying to contact the White House.

From Voices from the Heartland:

We have heard of dumb moves by politicians but this might just rank at the top of the list. Any Republican still considering voting for Crist will never vote for him now. Don't imagine most Florida independents will vote for him either. Maybe he should have used his wife as his consultant for this important decision since she comes from NJ/NY and changes are that she is a liberal Democrat because her advice to call the White House sure sounds like that. No Republican consultant would even think of telling him that, but then he has none left.

Wanting to Obama to back him over the Democrat Meeks shows total desperation and tells us that Marco Rubio will be the next Senator from FL. All of us need to give whatever we can and help in any way possible to ensure a Rubio win!

Crist learns the value of reciprocity in Obama WH
APRIL 29, 2010
ED MORRISSEY

A year ago, when Barack Obama needed some bipartisan cover for the Porkulus package that got written without any Republican input, he headed down to Florida and got Charlie Crist to appear on stage to give him a boost. Now, Charlie Crist wants to dump the GOP and run as an independent, with an announcement expected later today, and he needs a big boost to get taken seriously by Sunshine State voters. According to Marc Ambinder, Crist tried calling his friends in the Obama White House — who refused to take his call:

Here first: Charlie Crist, soon to be independent Senate candidate from Florida, tried to reach White House chief of staff Emanuel through intermediates. WH refuses to take the call. Dems plan big talent/money blitz for Kendrick Meek. BTW: Obama’s approval rating in FL is in high 40s, per internal Dem polling.

Excerpt: Read more at hotair.com

_____

It is about time that Senator Cornyn at NRSC laid out the facts -- never should have endorsed Crist as many of us wrote to tell him. Don't get involved in an open, contested primary -- simple as that. Cannot believe Cornyn said his endorsement as Chair of NRSC didn't help Crist so why did he do it. Crist was already starting to feel the heat of the race when Greer, the former disgraced FL GOP Chair, was twisting arms for endorsements for Crist. It was payback for Crist naming him as the GOP Chair.

Cannot believe Cornyn gave him $10,000 from his PAC. Love it that Crist will have to refund the money. Crist has no choice but to refund any money he has received to run for Senate. This is going to be going on for some time with requests for refunds flooding Charlie Crist.

Club for Growth will be contacting donors like they did for Specter where they were about to get $1.2M refunded. Maybe Crist should have listened to Specter who this week said he could probably have done more good as a Republican than switching. Seems he doesn't like being a Democrat.

GOP Senator: Crist 'irreparably' damaging himself as Independent
By Sean J. Miller - 04/29/10 10:47 AM ET

Florida Gov. Charlie Crist is “irreparably” damaging himself by choosing to run as an Independent for the Senate, according to the chairman of the National Republican Senatorial Committee.

Crist, a Florida Republican, is expected to withdraw from the race for the GOP Senate nomination and announce his Independent candidacy during a press conference Thursday evening in St. Petersburg.

Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas) said Thursday that Republicans encouraged Crist to either stay in the GOP primary or drop out and run again in 2012 against Sen. Bill Nelson (D-Fla.).

“Staying in the primary and dropping out and running in ’12 are preferable, much more preferable, than running as Independent,” Cornyn said Thursday at a breakfast sponsored by the Christian Science Monitor.

“His future electoral prospects are irreparably damaged by his deciding now to run as an Independent.”

Cornyn admitted he hasn’t been able to speak with the governor directly about his decision. “I’ve played a lot of phone tag with him,” Cornyn said. “I’ve sort of given up out of frustration.

“But I know that message has been communicated, both by my staff and by other people close to the governor,” Cornyn said. “He’s a smart guy he can see what his choices are.”

Should the governor switch his party affiliation, “it will end our support and we will throw our support enthusiastically behind the Republican nominee, Marco Rubio,” Cornyn said.

Cornyn wouldn’t quantify the amount of money Crist would have to refund if he launches an Independent bid. But he did say he would request Crist return the $10,000 his leadership PAC donated.

After Crist’s announcement, the primary is effectively over and Cornyn said the committee’s focus will turn to the Democrat in the race, Rep. Kendrick Meek (D-Fla.).
“Once we get by this drama of today, it’s going to be in essence a general election campaign and people are going to begin focusing on Kendrick Meek. A guy who voted for half-a-trillion-dollar cuts in Medicare, which Florida’s senior population may take a dim view of,” Cornyn said.

Cornyn said he initially tried to recruit former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush (R) to run for Senate before moving to recruit Crist.

“When Jeb Bush told me he wasn’t going to run, I looked around for the most popular Republican in the state, and it was pretty clear who that was,” he said.

“At the time we made the endorsement, Gov. Crist was one of the most popular governors in America. It’s been a breathtaking change of circumstance to see him now contemplating this course.”

Cornyn admitted the National Republican Senatorial Committee’s endorsement of Crist didn’t help his campaign.

“In this political environment, it’s not necessarily helpful for candidates running in states to have the national party chairman endorse them,” Cornyn noted. “That’s been a learning experience.”

Source: The Hill

Gov Crist (R-FL) is following in the steps of Flip Flopper Sen Kerry (D-MA)

UPDATE: Crist just digs the hole deeper and deeper. We wonder if his flip flop again had to to with the comments of the White House Press Secretary Gibbs:

At the White House, Robert Gibbs, the press secretary, seemed to indicate you can’t take back a hug. Asked whether Mr. Crist had seemed to endorse the package, the spokesman said: “I think he was very supportive of the legislation and supportive of the benefits that it would have and has had for the state of Florida in seeing positive economic growth,” Gibbs said. “I would say yes, yes.”

Crist is showing more and more that he cannot be trusted to say what he means and stick to it which is something the US Senate does not need as there are enough Democrats a few Republicans already. Crist is looking more and more like a Democrat-lite.

Crist says he still supports stimulus concept, if not bill (digging a hole deeper alert)
The South Florida Business Journal
2009-11-06 Michael Hinman

Florida Gov. Charlie Crist says he is not flip-flopping when it comes to support of the federal stimulus package championed by Democrats, saying his comments earlier this week to CNN’s Wolf Blitzer were more about the actual stimulus legislation passed by Congress, and not the effort itself.

“I think the question posed to me was, ‘Did you endorse this specific bill?’” Crist told reporters Friday after speaking to the National Governors Association Center for Best Practices policy institute in Tampa. “And I said, ‘No, I didn’t,’ but the concept I thought, and still believe, was important, necessary and it helped Florida.”

Crist told Blitzer earlier in the week that he did not endorse the bill and didn’t “even have a vote on the darned thing. But, I understood that it was going to pass, and I wanted to be able to utilize it for the benefit of my fellow Floridians.”
So much benefit, in fact, that Crist appeared with President Barack Obama at a Florida rally in February – pictures of which that have been used by some conservative Web sites to try to paint Crist as being apart from Republican philosophy as he prepares for a primary run for a U.S. Senate seat.

Excerpt: Read more at southflorida.bizjournals.com

*****
How ironic that the candidate in 2010 that resembles John Kerry and his being for something before he was against is Republican Florida Governor Charlie Crist who is running for US Senate in 2010. Kerry has been lengendary over the years with his flip flops from the Iraq War to recently Cap and Trade and a host of other issues. There was a reason that flip flops were used for Kerry in 2004.

Now it looks like that Crist is the heir apparent to the Kerry flip flops being for the stimulus and Obama before being against the stimulus for political purposes. The worst part is Crist thinks that everyone forgets his support of the Obama stimulus along with his welcoming him to Florida earlier this year. Just a little reminder picture in case you forgot.


Floridians have an opportunity to send a tax cutter (Rubio) to the US Senate or send a flip flopper (Crist) who will most likely support the Obama agenda after elected. Like the Kerry campaign, Crist is already doing dirty tricks to win. Not going to work as voters in Florida are taking notice of flip flopping Crist and are turning to Rubio. This should serve as a warning to Democrats who want to raise taxes and spend like there is no tomorrow -- American voters are tired of big spenders and flip floppers on issues.

Gov. Charlie Crist backpedals on stimulus

Gov. Charlie Crist, a U.S. Senate candidate, has been trying to distance himself from President Barack Obama and the federal stimulus package.

BY AARON SHAROCKMAN
St. Petersburg Times

Facing a potentially bruising Republican primary for the U.S. Senate, Gov. Charlie Crist continues to run from any assertion that he is linked to President Barack Obama.

Last week Crist told reporters he didn't know Obama was traveling in Florida. On Wednesday, Crist told a national television audience he didn't endorse the $787 billion federal stimulus bill pushed by Obama and passed by Congress in February.

``I didn't endorse it,'' Crist told CNN host Wolf Blitzer. ``I - you know, I didn't even have a vote on the darned thing. But I understood that it was going to pass and I wanted to be able to utilize it for the benefit of my fellow Floridians.''
This, from the same man who skipped a Florida Cabinet meeting to campaign with Obama for the stimulus in Fort Myers in February? Who went on national talk shows and across the state selling the plan?

As the interview continued, Crist got on a roll.

``You know, unfortunately, the president thinks that everything we need to do for every problem that comes along is spend more money and that's just wrong,'' he said.
``Frankly, enough is enough. And I know that the people understand that. And I understand it. And I understand it because I'm the grandson of a Greek immigrant who came to this country with nothing, really taught me the value of a dollar, because his first job in America, in Altoona, Pa., was shining shoes for a living for $5 a month.''

Crist's comments about the stimulus startled conservatives, Democrats, and frankly, us, who all remember things differently.

The conservative Club for Growth responded Thursday with an online television ad, criticizing Crist's support for the stimulus plan. And the Democratic National Committee blasted Crist's comments to reporters across the country.

HISTORY'S CONTRADICTION

Let's go back to earlier this year, to see what Crist had to say then.

From Hardball with Chris Matthews on Feb. 3: Speaking of the stimulus, Crist said, ``It's going to help [Floridians'] children. It's going to help their traffic situation. It's going to help produce more jobs here in the Sunshine State. That's a perspective that I have to have as, in essence, the CEO of Florida. And that's why I support it.''

From Time on Feb. 10: ``I see this package as a pragmatic, common sense opportunity to move forward. I didn't campaign for Obama, we don't agree on everything, but he's my president, and my job is to help Florida stay in the black.''

From Meet the Press on Feb. 22: Q: Why would you buck your own party, which did not vote for this plan in Congress, as you know, to support the stimulus?

Crist: ``It's not a matter of bucking the party, it's a matter of helping the people. I mean, I really view it as an issue of what can I do that's best for the people of Florida? We've got almost 20 million people that live in the Sunshine State now. I think my obligation is in essence the CEO of the state, to do everything I can to help us get through this tough economy. Certainly this stimulus package, about $12.2 billion to Florida, will help Florida an awful lot.''

And that's just a sampling. But then there's the rally in Fort Myers on Feb. 10. Crist skipped a Florida Cabinet meeting and a lunch with former Gov. Jeb Bush to tout the stimulus bill in person. If you've forgotten, there's photos and video to jog your memory.

Excerpt: Read more at Miami Herald

Compare Crist to Senate candidate and Former Speaker of the FL House, Marco Rubio. When Rubio took over as speaker he made a bold move because the property tax situation in FL was out of hand so he wanted property taxes abolished except in 30 rural counties where it would crush their budget.

Interesting that Crist sat on the sidelines in the debate and although the plan was eventually shelved, Rubio was given credit for the fact that the spotlight was shown on the outrageous property taxes people are paying in FL. Today home prices have tanked all over FL and in some areas home owners are seeing some relief in property taxes but in other areas nothing has changed.

We are posting this article from 2007 to show you that Rubio isn't afraid to stand up and be counted while Crist flip flops. We have to wonder how much then Governor Crist did to help tank this plan without it ever going to a vote of the people.

Speaker pushes for change
By ALEX LEARY
Published March 31, 2007

TALLAHASSEE - For House Speaker Marco Rubio, it was a rallying cry to abolish property taxes. But he sounded a little desperate.

Support for his plan to eliminate property taxes on primary homes and raise the sales tax was eroding fast, and Rubio was trying to salvage his signature issue.

"If this House doesn't put out bold ideas, no one will," he told his fellow Republicans.

For 15 minutes Tuesday, the 35-year-old House speaker from Miami issued an unmistakable challenge: "We will be judged on this session by what we do or fail to do on this issue."

Ignore the naysayers on editorial pages and the woe-is-me refrain from city and county commissioners, Rubio said, reading from prepared notes in a departure from his normal off-the-cuff style.

Rubio did not need to say what many already knew. It is he, more than anyone, who will be judged by the outcome of the property tax debate.

By striking fast with an ambitious plan, Rubio eclipsed Gov. Charlie Crist and the Senate as the face of change for Florida's tax system.

Now, as Rubio's plan encounters silence from a skeptical Senate and only polite encouragement from Crist, the speaker faces criticism that he reached too far, too fast.

"The risk of going for a home run is nothing happens," said Rep. Carl Domino, R-Jupiter, who opposes the Rubio plan because it would raise sales taxes by 2.5 cents per dollar. "I didn't get elected to vote for a tax increase."

The second youngest speaker in modern history, Rubio opened the 2007 session as the hotshot, second only to Crist in star power. Rubio was the guy with all the potential and a book brimming with ideas.

When he announced his property tax plan, he called it the most significant tax cut in Florida history, even as it included giving Florida the highest sales tax in the nation.

The frenetic pace at which the plan proceeded signaled Rubio intended to dominate the debate. The same morning he unveiled it, a House committee considered the legislation.

One of the few people who objected was a Polk County commissioner who just happened to be in Tallahassee.

Six weeks later, the plan lies in limbo, hobbled by relentless criticism. It has gone through several mutations, making it easier for Senate Republicans to criticize, even though they have yet to unveil their own plan.

Thirty rural counties were excluded from the plan's proposed tax rollback because House leaders were convinced it would crush their budgets. Hospital districts were spared, too.

Then, with county officials clamoring for more of a voice in the debate, Rubio announced the biggest change yet: Voters in each of Florida's 67 counties would decide how much more sales tax they would pay, and the beneficiaries would only be homeowners - not business owners, snowbirds or renters.

At that moment, the tepid Democratic support for Rubio's plan vanished.

Excerpt: See Full Article at: St. Petersburg Times Archives