Tag: Republicans
Crist: Republicans Only Concerned with “Regrettable Glory” of Party Ideology
Florida Gov. Charlie Crist has called a special session of the legislature to consider a constitutional ban on offshore oil drilling. Republicans are crying “foul,” citing the fact that there are already statutes that determine how close drilling can be to Florida’s shores.
“I think it’s completely unnecessary,” said Rep. Matt Hudson, R-Naples, in a view expressed by others. “There’s absolutely no reason we have to go and create a law for something that’s already unlawful.”
Crist: Republicans have “completely lost their way.”
What Hudson is saying is that there is no need to add something to the state constitution that’s already been dealt with by statute. Kind of like adding an amendment to the Florida constitution banning same-sex marriage when there’s already a law against it. Obviously there’s no need for that, right?
Hudson didn’t think so in 2008, when he and almost every other Republican politician in Florida, including then GOP-er Gov. Crist, publicly endorsed Amendment 2, a Republican initiative to make same-sex marriage double-triple-really-really-quadriple illegal in Florida.
Florida’s Dropping Unemployment Rate Should Benefit Democrats But It Won’t
An announcement that Florida’s jobless rate, among the highest in the nation, fell for the third straight month should be good news for Florida’s elected officials. But for those running for the next office, what’s good for the state can be bad for campaigns.
Speculation is whether the news benefits Democrats, who share party affiliation with Pres. Obama, or Republicans, who have done less than nothing to facilitate a recovery, unless you consider holding your breath and stomping your feet, “facilitating.” But Florida’s Gov. Charlie Crist is neither fish nor fowl thanks to a recent move to “No Party Affiliation,” making him the true beneficiary of the drop from the March high of 12.3 percent to June’s still high but better 11.4.
The awkwardness of their positions was evident in the reactions from Crist’s rivals for the Florida Senate seat. If things are going badly, it must be the governor’s fault. If they’re going well…hmmm.
The winner is… Gov. Charlie Crist, NPA
“There are clear signs that we’re moving from recession to recovery, but growth is fragile and much more work needs to be done,” Meek said on Friday.
Republican candidate Marco Rubio has harped on the loss of jobs in Florida while lambasting efforts by President Obama and Governor Charlie Crist, an independent candidate for the Senate, to stimulate the economy.
If the rate continues to drop, Crist looks better and better. All the heat he took from Republicans for accepting federal stimulus funding will seem more like what it was — blustering and posturing at the expense of residents who need work. If the rate even holds steady, Crist can still take credit for moving the needle. Rubio has less to criticize (although a lack of facts hasn’t stopped a Republican from being critical yet), and Meek will be stuck with his, “good but could be better” line.
Verbatim
Bristol believes in redemption and forgiveness to a degree most of us struggle to put in practice in our daily lives.
Sarah and Todd Palin’s ghost-writers, in a statement on the announced re-betrothal of Bristol Palin and Levi Johnston. Bristol’s statement was slightly different: “We got engaged two weeks ago. It felt right, even though we don’t have the approval of our parents.”
Verbatim
I personally don’t have standing to bring litigation in court. But I support conservative legal organizations and others who would bring that to court. I think that is the valid and most possibly effective grounds to do it. I know all the information I’ve been able to get my hands on through the media…But obviously with the mainstream media as a filter, that’s not a whole lot.
Sen. David Vitter (R-La.), confirming that he is a birther and supports lawsuits demanding Pres. Obama produce his birth certificate yet again. Vitter’s comments on Sunday prompted an announcement on Monday from former Louisiana Supreme Court justice Chet Traylor that he will challenge Vitter in a Republican primary. Traylor said he’s long considered a run, but calls from within the GOP during the past two weeks urging him to do so caused him to act.
Verbatim
Candy, here’s the problem, in order to have a partnership, you have to have people who are willing to be partners. I think we need bipartisanship in this country but we can’t order it. They need to be willing to participate and I hope voters send a message to Republicans on this score.
— Senior White House Advisor David Axelrod, talking to CNN’s Candy Crowley
Worst Political Ad, or So Bad It’s Viral?
Move over Dale Peterson, Florida is offering what could be the worst political ad ever. In fact, some on Twitter are calling it Florida’s Demon Sheep video. My state representative, who appears to be running unopposed for all intents and purposes, has posted this truly awful video to his YouTube channel. The spot appears to be done by his son, Scott. And if you somehow missed it in the course of the video, it’s about Mike Weinstein, Florida Dist. 19 Representative, a moderate Republican who bucked the GOP herd and voted against the impossibly bad education reform bill which Gov. Charlie Crist vetoed just before going rogue, i.e., No Party Affiliation. I don’t dislike Weinstein, but if I did, suffice it to say this video would not help me change my view.
Republican Pundits Come Out Strongly in Favor of Apologizing to BP
Now there can be no doubt whose side they are on:
PAT BUCHANAN: “Barton made a very courageous statement in my judgment. … To have anyone stand up and even indirectly defend [BP] and say that they were a victim of a shakedown shows some political courage.”
INGRAHAM: “I think Joe Barton, before he apologized, had a legitimate point.”
NAPOLITANO: “That is a classic shakedown. The threat to do something that you don’t have the authority to do. ”
KILMEADE: “One Congressman calling the BP compensation fund a ’shakedown,’ but does he have a point?”
GINGRICH: “The president is directly engaged in extorting money from a company.”
VARNEY: “It is Hugo Chavez-like, is it not? To seize a private company’s assets.”
Poll: Democrats on Track to Lose Control of House – Get Used to It Now: ‘Speaker Boehner’
But now a new poll of specific House battleground districts conducted by Democrat Stan Greenberg and Republican Glen Bolger for NPR suggests that Republicans are well within strking distance of regaining control of the House:
For this poll, Bolger and Greenberg chose the districts where incumbents are considered the most vulnerable, and, in the case of open seats, the ones most likely to switch party control in November. Sixty are currently held by Democrats — many of whom won these seats even when voters in the same district preferred Republican John McCain for president in 2008. The other 10 districts are the flip side — held by Republicans in the House, even though their voters went for Barack Obama in 2008.
These are this year’s swing seats — the political terrain where the battle for control of the House of Representatives will be won or lost. In this battleground, voters are choosing Republicans over Democrats 49 percent to 41 percent.
Another dire indicator for Democrats is that Pres. Obama is unpopular in the battleground districts, where his disapproval rate is 54-40, according to the pollsters.
Separately, here’s yet more evidence that MSNBC’s White House correspondent Chuck Todd is fully in the bag for the GOP this year. He promoted this NPR poll showing Dems in trouble on his aptly named “Rundown” show this morning, while ignoring the PPI poll results showing improvement in Dem chances.
Breaking News from Florida: Crist Vetoes Ultrasound Bill
The Friday afternoon news dump, wherein someone tries to hide their major, super important news in the hustle and bustle and happy hours of a dawning weekend, was the tool of choice as Florida Gov. Charlie Crist (NPA) announced his veto of a horrifically bad piece of Republican legislation.
Known as the “ultrasound bill,” the law would have required women seeking an abortion to first pay for and obtain an ultrasound test, in which they would either have to view the embryo or listen to a doctor describe it. Tests range from several hundred dollars to $1,500, and would effectively block the abortion option for many, if not most, women.
In his veto statement, Crist, who earlier this week signaled his intention by removing harsh anti-abortion language from his campaign web site, acknowledged a woman’s right to decide.
…personal views should not result in laws that unwisely expand the role of government and coerce people to obtain medical tests or procedures that are not medically necessary…There are many medical or fiscal barriers that could be placed upon a woman in order to prevent her from following through on her constitutionally protected decision to end a pregnancy. However, such measures do not change hearts, which is the only true and effective way to ensure that a new life coming into the world is loved, cherished, and receives the care that is deserved.
