My New Hero: Charlie Crist?!? "He just blew Florida for John McCain"
By: Lowell
Published On: 10/28/2008 5:41:20 PM
Yes, I'm talking about Florida's Republican Governor Charlie Crist:
This is a very big deal: Florida Governor Charlie Crist, to the shock and dismay of Florida Republicans, just moved to extend early voting hours, a move likely to widen the Democrats' lead under a program on which the Obama campaign has intensely focused.
"He just blew Florida for John McCain," one plugged in Florida Republican just told me.
[...]
Democrats had urged the extension, which means that votes will be cast 12 hours a day, not eight hours a day.
Now that took cojones, especially for a (former?) close ally of John McCain's. Good job, Governor Crist!
P.S. Crist has also been excellent on the environment and on restoring the rights of ex-felons to vote. Apparently, there still are some Republicans out there with a progressive streak in them. :)
Comments
2 things (Pain - 10/28/2008 5:45:34 PM)
1. He has seen those Melonoma scars up close, and
2. He has also met Sarah Palin.
1 more thing (jsrutstein - 10/28/2008 5:55:00 PM)
He got engaged (to a woman) and McCain still passed him over for VP.
Trying to sink McCain and set himself up for 2012? (faithfull - 10/28/2008 6:02:43 PM)
Rats running from a sinking ship . . . (JPTERP - 10/28/2008 6:13:59 PM)
Every man (and woman) for him or herself.
Between Crist's comments on ACORN and the election voting extension, it's pretty clear that he is effectively saying "f-you" to McCain (even though he'll cut an ad for him this weekend).
e.g. Crist effectively won McCain the nomination with his backing in the late Jan. GOP primary. He was then snubbed for a VP pick who wasn't even marginally qualified.
It's pretty clear that Crist is trying to pull something of a Schwarzenegger and get some distance from the national party. This is a great way to do it, because the politics AND the principle of his position on this issue are in alignment.
Still can't forget that this is a big time politician with his own national political ambitions -- although I suspect Crist probably is more of the George H.W. mold than the George W. mold of Republicans.
He can tell which way the wind is blowing (Johnny Longtorso - 10/28/2008 6:53:01 PM)
Plus he was snubbed by McCain in favor of Palin.
If McCain had picked Crist as his running mate (Lowell - 10/28/2008 7:07:15 PM)
instead of the "diva"/"whack job" (that's what McCain's people are calling her), I bet he'd be a lot closer right now. What WAS he thinking?!?
McCain's people = Romney's people (Johnny Longtorso - 10/28/2008 8:35:31 PM)
Someone's laying the foundation for 2012.
Hell hath no fury... (Craig - 10/28/2008 7:17:25 PM)
...like a running mate candidate scorned. I hear Pawlenty's also been kinda hard on the McCain campaign.
That Palin pick is just looking worse by the day.
Crist Wants To Be Seen As Independent (Lee Diamond - 10/28/2008 11:02:48 PM)
I think that Crist wants to be seen as his own man. Certainly, not someone owned by the Bush crowd. To be fair, he previously staked out his independence on the felon voting issue. By the way, that is a huge issue in VA.
We are in the
19th Century, so we should tip our hats to Crist. Canvassing every day in Danville, I have seen the reality of our retro state up close.
Crist is more independent than the average Republican.