In His Own Words

Are you going to believe Charlie Crist or your lying eyes?

Mr. Maybe Strikes Again

I can't wait to see just how much of a pretzel Charlie Crist turns himself into trying with his flip flops ahead of the general election lol.

Crist's post-primary troubles began Friday, when he told an Orlando television station that he would have voted for the major health care overhaul passed by Congress, contradicting his previous opposition to the plan. Two hours later, his campaign issued a statement that said he "misspoke."


These kind of clarifications can damage a candidate's credibility in today's fast-paced, round-the-clock news cycle, when every nuance is recorded and scrutinized on the Internet.


Another one came Sunday, after Crist told CNN that he continued to favor a constitutional ban on same-sex marriage but that he's a "live-and-let-live kind of guy." He said, "I think if partners want to have the opportunity to live together, I don't have a problem with that."


Later, his campaign put out a statement that said Crist was reaffirming his support for Florida's ban but that he does not favor adding a similar ban to the U.S. Constitution.


"I am fully supportive of civil unions and will continue to be as a United States senator, but believe marriage is a sacred institution between a man and a woman," the statement added.


Meek's campaign jumped on Crist's support for the state ban and argued that it could jeopardize civil unions. In other words, how could Crist back both? Proponents of the gay marriage ban, which voters approved in 2008, said it would not affect domestic partnerships, but the matter has not been tested in court.


Still another issue on which Crist is taking heat: refunding money to donors unhappy over his exit from the Republican Party four months ago. Crist recently made an exception to his no-refund policy when he heeded a request from ex-state party chairman Jim Greer, who is facing fraud charges.


Crist said Sunday on CNN: "We'll give it back to people who had asked for it." But then he hedged: "People gave money to a good cause, I'm going to spend it on a good cause and that's how I feel about it."


Still, the arm of the Republican Party that oversees Senate races said it wanted to take Crist up on his offer, however tentative.


"We look forward to getting our money back before you change your position again," sneered Rob Jesmer, executive director of the National Republican Senatorial Committee.


Jesmer referenced Crist's flip-flop on offshore oil drilling, which he seemed open to during the 2008 presidential campaign, when John McCain considered him as a running mate amid Republican cries of "Drill baby drill!'' But after the huge gulf oil spill, Crist called for a constitutional ban on coastal exploration.

This guy might literally spontaneously combust durng one of the debates lol

A Mountain Of Evidence

I am not sure there is anyone on the planet that is still not convinced that Charlie Crist isn't lying through his teeth about his earlier support for the stimulus bill but just in case check out this exchange from the Rolling Stone.

But when I interviewed Crist this spring for my piece The GOP Jihad, here’s what he told me he’d have done had he had a darn vote:

Rolling Stone: Just a final question: Had you been in the Senate, would you have voted with the other Republicans for the stimulus package?

Crist: Absolutely.

Like I said before, this isn't likely to affect Republican voters in his primary against Rubio because for them his conformity is a good thing regardless of the hypocrisy it shows. But should he make it out of that primary this will definitely doom his electoral prospects.

Voters kind of expect politicians to lie. What they don't expect is for that politician to try to play them for fools.

The Puppet Speaks

Charlie Crist crony and the newly minted junior Senator for Florida, George LeMieux had his first floor speech as a member of Congress recently. The St. Petersburg Times was not amused.

In Tallahassee, LeMieux, Gov. Charlie Crist's former chief of staff, was credited with helping the governor's populist appeal. But Wednesday, he sacrificed candor in a predictable play to a partisan constituency. He reasonably equated Congress to a family who recklessly relies on credit cards to pay the bills. But he implied the runaway spending stems from Democratic control, ignoring that it began under President George W. Bush.

LeMieux really lost the high ground when he bragged that Crist and the Florida Legislature have cut spending by nearly 10 percent, or $7 billion, to balance the budget. LeMieux's omission: This year's state budget was balanced only because of $5 billion in federal stimulus dollars and $2.2 billion in new taxes and fees. Florida didn't live within its means. In fact, it was more like the spoiled offspring of a wealthy family who called Mom or Dad for a bailout.

Just remember that whenever LeMieux's lips are moving its really Crist's voice that you are hearing. If you think that Crist will bring any kind of change to the "Party of No" in the Senate you are sadly mistaken. All you have to do for the next 16 months is take note of what his hand picked seat warmer says and you will see all you need to know about how Crist would govern as a Senator.

The choice here is clear. You can have Crist as your Senator serving his party rather than his constituents in petty partisan games, or you can have a strong advocate for Florida with Congressman Kendrick Meek. I report, you decide...

Charlie Crist Hopes His CRS Is Contagious

Evidently Charlie Crist has a severe case of CRS, Can't Remember Shit. And he is REALLY hoping that not only his base but also general election voters will come down with the same ailment.

There was a time not so long ago when Gov. Charlie Crist (R) and President Obama saw eye-to-eye on economic policy. But that was before Crist announced his bid for Senate.

Crist's first radio ads slam Obama over his plan to, as Crist says in the script, "spend our way into prosperity." The popular Florida governor once (literally) embraced the stimulus package and the Obama plan to, well, spend America back into prosperity. But a summer of attacks from the right, led by former state House Speaker Marco Rubio, appear to have brought that bipartisan spirit to an end.

The pair of radio spots are actually running in the very same market where Crist's stimulus-support summit with Obama took place back in February. The rally took place as other GOP governors that, like Crist, were considered on the short list for 2012 presidential runs were fighting the stimulus plan and even promising to refuse the funds. Crist bucked the trend and welcomed the money, a move seen by readers of political tea leaves as an attempt to appeal to a moderate national base.

LMAOOOOO This is getting increasingly comical from that guy. Its also another sign of why I think all these predictions of a Republican resurgence next year are totally bogus. The early polling totally discounts just how far to the right most Republicans will have to run next year just to win a primary. So far to the right in fact that they totally discredit themselves and any prior "bipartisan" stance they have ever taken. Its the same reason why John McCain was able to win the Republican nomination for President only by denouncing some of his best bipartisan work. And while that might work in a primary, people don't forget that kind of blatant pandering in general elections. Charlie Crist was at least the second most prominent Republican elected official in the country to publicly back President Obama on the stimulus and it really was and is a good move. But because his base is full now the fringe of America and because Crist never met an issue he wouldn't willingly flip on if the political winds shifted, this is what you end up with. Classic memory hole stuff in those ads.

The people of Florida are a lot smarter than this and they for damn sure deserve better. Agree or disagree with him on policy issues, Kendrick Meek is going to stand for what he believes it. That is the TRUE sign of leadership and that is what we need in our next junior Senator representing we the people.

Time To Step Aside

Cross posted at Attackerman

Did somebody slip Harry Reid a cup of courage? Or did he see some new polling data? Honestly I could care less either way because at least he is now on the right side of the GITMO issue.

From Ambinder:

Reid taped a segment of Ralston's program, Face to Face:

Reid, who has been criticized for his contradictory positions on Guantanamo Bay, said some prisoners will be put in maximum security prisons on U.S. soil, emphasizing the safety of those facilities:

"A maximum security prison in the United States, there has never been a single escape."

JR: "You think eventually the plan is going to be to put them in maximum security prisons here in this country, correct?"

"I think some. Keep in mind, Jon, there's so many different issues. There's no question that a number of these people who are there are not guilty of anything. The Uighurs, these are a group of Muslim Chinese who are guilty of nothing. They were arrested, put in there. They are there. They are doing nothing. We're going to have to find someplace to put them. We can't send them back to China. Should they go into a maximum security prison? Probably not."

The problem of course is that this is almost a complete 180 degree turn from what Harry Reid had to say just a week ago. And now according to a Rasmussen Poll* released to day public opinion has wildly shifted against closing GITMO and or housing detainees in American supermax jails. Words are powerful things, especially words that end up getting twisted by the other side into talking points for political gain. But even worse when you instead just repeat talking points the other side has already put out.

The longer Harry Reid is installed as Majority Leader, the more likely Democrats will pull defeat from the jaws of victory IMHO. I know he is supposedly shaking in his boots because of some yet to be established reelection challenge he will be facing from Republicans. But if he can't pull his head out of his ass long enough to realize how much he will hurt the effort to close GITMO by parroting Republican talking points, then he needs to be replaced immediately. As it stands its going to be hard to get this story back in the box and public opinion back on our side when it comes to closing GITMO and I have absolutely no confidence that Harry Reid is the person who can make that happen. You combine that with his aversion to taking the GOP on when it gives even the slightest hint of a filibuster and you have the recipe for EPIC FAIL

I think what is most appalling about Harry Reid's flip flop on GITMO is that there was reporting earlier today that he opposed President Obama last week on the issue just so he wouldn't be seen as a "liberal" back in Nevada. Now I am not the type of person who thinks we need litmus tests for Democrats. I am a pragmatic person and I understand that Barney Frank probably couldn't win a Senate race in Nebraska and that Dennis Kucinich probably couldn't win state wide in North Carolina. So there has to be some diversity there if we want to dominate elections nationwide.

HOWEVER I do believe that at its core the Democratic Party should hold to liberal and progressive policies. It has to mean something to be a member of a political party and even more so to be an elected official of a party. Otherwise why have a party in the first place? So basically the Majority Leader of a party that should be proud of its liberal and progressive fundamentals is instead running from the characterization. How does that make sense? When was the last time a Republican ran from the charge of being too conservative? Hell they will turn around and tell you that instead they aren't conservative enough. But here is Harry Reid offering up the weak sauce just so he doesn't look liberal.

What a joke.

But I have to say that its not just Reid. We have to take note that Reid had a easier time getting over Democratic votes to go against funding the closing of GITMO than he did to get votes for the stimulus bill and than he probably will to get votes for universal healthcare. But Harry Reid is still the ringleader.

I don't envy Harry Reid's position but I am not concerned with sob stories either. I am concerned with getting shit done and right now Harry Reid is doing more hurting than helping on that front if you ask me. So maybe its time to call for him to step down and allow some new blood to take over. I am partial to Dick Durbin because he seems like a straight shooter who is just tough enough to intimidate Republicans and who has been around just long enough to garner the respect of the Democratic Caucus. But I am open to suggestions. Who else should be up for Harry Reid's position and why? Whom do you think could push through progressive policies in the Senate? And who do you think would be strong enough to stand up to President Obama when we really need them to and not just for political posturing?


*Normally I would never ever in a gazillion years link to a Rasmussen Poll because they are wingnutted out on a regular basis with polling questions that would make FoxNews blush. However this time the questions seemed legit so I felt that there was a least some measure of legitimacy attached to their numbers.

Bu Bu But You Said That Was SOCIALISM!!!

Remember Douglas Holtz-Eakin, John McCain's dickish chief economic advisor? Well perhaps you might recall what he said about then Senator Obama's plan to allow the Bush tax cuts expire for those making more that $250,000 socialism. Funny how when there is no more campaign and he has to rebuild his credibility as an economist that he is now singing a different tune.

Though economist Douglas Holtz-Eakin spent the 2008 presidential campaign advising Sen. John McCain to defend the Bush-era tax cuts, he now thinks they should be allowed to expire on Dec. 31, 2010 due to "the prospect of an Argentina-style fiscal meltdown."

Said Holtz-Eakin: "If you ask: 'Who pays the taxes?', it's the first step toward not having the answer be: 'Our kids.'"

At what point will the Republican base wake up and realize they are being lied to just so Republican politicians can stay or get into office? I hope its soon but I am not holding my breath.

(h/t Thinkprogress)

John McCain: World Class Flip Flopper

Remember back when he was running for Preznit and John McCain didn't want anybody linking him to Rush Limbaugh? I guess they must have tongue kissed and made up.



Your GOP, the party with no balls!