For the Presence of a Fan, a Debate Hung in Limbo

Are we really going to debate about a fan? Or are we going to talk about education and the environment and the future of our state? I mean, really.

— Former Florida Gov. Charlie Crist (D) as he stood alone on stage at Broward College on live TV waiting to start a gubernatorial debate, while Florida Gov. Rick Scott (R) refused to take the stage Wednesday night because Crist insisted on using a fan to keep cool, the Miami Herald reports.>/h2.

Republican Crist Used Against Democrat Crist

Hi, this is Charlie Crist calling to set the record straight. I’m pro-life. I oppose amnesty for illegal immigrants, I support traditional marriage, and I have never supported a new tax or big spending program.

— The voice of Charlie Crist, in a mysterious recorded call Democrats across Florida heard over the weekend that seemed to be attacking likely Democratic Florida gubernatorial candidate Charlie Crist. As the Miami Herald noted, “Not exactly your standard Democratic primary platform. But the voice in the robocall really is Crist’s and so were the positions he stressed. But it was Charlie Crist circa 2006 — not 2014.”

Legalizing Gay Marriage Would ‘Impose Significant Public Harm’ on Florida [UPDATED]

Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi jogging in her undies.
She’s a cute little button-nosed blue-eyed blonde, but don’t be fooled by the packaging. Pam Bondi, Florida’s (or should I say Rick Scott’s) attorney general has asserted in court papers that recognizing same-sex marriages performed in other states would “impose significant public harm.”

Bondi’s assertion is in response to eight gay couples who were married in other states, but whose unions are illegal in Florida, who have filed a discrimination suit in federal court. Florida’s legal leader suggests the judge toss the suit.

Bondi’s reasons for objecting to the suit:

Bondi’s office says the state has a legitimate interest in defining a marriage as between a man and woman because Florida’s voters adopted an amendment in 2008 that banned same-sex marriages.

The filing also says same-sex marriage recognition would create significant problems for the state’s pension and health insurance programs.

Equality Florida responded to reports of Bondi’s legal argument this way:

[…]

Crist Holds Lead Over Scott in Florida Governor Race

46% to 38%

Margin by which Charlie Crist (D) is leading Gov. Rick Scott (R) in the governor’s race, according to a new Quinnipiac poll in Florida. Pollster Peter Brown: “The best number in this poll for Crist — and the biggest problem for Scott — is that a majority of Florida voters say the current governor does not deserve a second term in Tallahassee. Voters also give Crist a higher job approval for when he ran the state than any approval rating Scott has received in his three years on the job.”

Jesus, Crist!

Response to an Orlando Sentinel poll asking whether Floridians would vote for Rick Scott or Charlie Crist for governor if the election were held today. Among those listed for whom people would also vote instead of Scott were all the Looney Tunes and Disney characters, the Cookie Monster, Casey Anthony, former Pres. Bill “Big Dog” Clinton, former Gov. Lawton Chiles (deceased), “anyone,” a stick, a rock, a ham sandwich, and a broken egg.