The trouble with Charlie Crist
I am in the middle of reading a piece in the New York Times Magazine about the Republican Senate primary race here in Florida between former Speaker of the Florida House Marco Rubio and Governor Charlie Crist. The author describes the race as a duel between ideological purity (represented by Rubio) and pragmatism (represented by Crist). I stopped reading and began writing when I saw this:
Crist says that being “in the arena” imposes a pragmatism on any elected leader. He mentioned his support for the stimulus bill. “There is a significant difference between being a legislator and being the C.E.O. of a state,” he said. “You have a duty to the people.” Crist points out that stimulus funds allowed 20,000 teachers in Florida to keep their jobs. “I could have made a political statement and said, ‘Well, too bad for you, teachers, I’m not going to take that money.’ Well come on, I don’t know what kind of a cold heart is able to do that. But I don’t have a cold heart in my chest.”
Now, that's all well and good Charlie but let me ask your warm heart something. When did it become the obligation of the Federal government (and by extension the taxpayers of the other 49 states) to ensure that Florida's teachers remain employed? Pardon me if I'm wrong, but I thought that was Florida's responsibility and more precisely yours as the duly elected governor of this great state. You see Charlie this is the United STATES of America. Our system is based on a tiered government in which power is distributed among the various tiers so as to prevent its abuse. But you gladly turn over the sovereignty of your own state for a few million bucks. What happens when we federalize EVERY problem facing the states is that there will no longer be any competition among those states and we move toward a superstate with all the inefficiencies that that implies. You see Charlie, ideological purity does matter when the alternative is the destruction of the form of government that has served us well since 1787.
Yet another reason that this blog wholeheartedly endorses Marco Rubio for U.S. Senate.
UPDATE:
From the end of the piece:
Crist said he has not attended any tea parties and that he is not concerned about the hostility his name elicits at them. “I have a job to do,” he said. “When I was elected governor, my job was to look out for the people of Florida, and that’s what I’m doing. When you’re in the cheap seats, it’s easy to take political shots.”
As they say Mr. Governor, "politics ain't beanbag."
Marco Rubio's website is touting this article. I didn't like it. And I especially did not appreciate the two photos of Rubio. The cover one is your typically badly lit photo of a popular Republican, making him look sinister. Just compare it to the NR cover. The inside one is especially poor. Much of the text could have been written by all those msm types that give us advice about how we should appeal to everybody and get along.
I found this article typical of a left wing magazine's point of view.
Crist, like Obama, thought the stimulus would be the miracle elixer that would cure everything. It is the typical big government "throw money at it" solution.
Totally disagree Honey. Rubio looks good in those pictures.
I think the photos are fine. As for the NYT mag's slant, yes it's kind of slanted against Rubio. Do you suppose that that helps or hurts him in a closed GOP primary? The way I see it is if the Times doesn't like him, he must be doing something right. I think most hardcore GOP voters will agree.
My contempt for RINOs is well known here and Crist is especially galling to me. After being no better than a Dem in taxes, he is now trying to pretend he is a conservative because of the pressure Marco is putting on him. I can't wait to pull the lever for Marco.
Let's go Rubio!
"As for the NYT mag's slant, yes it's kind of slanted against Rubio. Do you suppose that that helps or hurts him in a closed GOP primary? The way I see it is if the Times doesn't like him, he must be doing something right. I think most hardcore GOP voters will agree."
In case anyone failed to notice, the article was NOT written by a regular member of the NYT staff.
It was written by Mark Leibovich, a reporter in the Washington bureau of "The Times", the largely conservative newspaper in London owned by News International / Rupert Murdoch, the owner of Fox.
Okay, I'm ready to qualify or retract my earlier comment. The attribution says that he is a writer for "The Times". I thought that meant the English newspaper in London, owned by Murdoch. But maybe not. Does the NYT normally refer to itself as "The Times"? Anyone know?
He's a NYT reporter.
Charlie's in big trouble
http://ow.ly/Vuh5
Crist loses home county straw poll to Rubio
http://bit.ly/7vpTHl
Charlie lost the Pinellas straw poll 106-54. He has won exactly zero straw polls. Time he gets the hint.
Here's the latest from RedState:
Out with the RINOs...
He will have more time for the tanning salon.
Good cripes alrighty! Must be bad weather down there if yunz guys need tanning salons!
It's not a weather thing. Charlie has always been partial to "tan in a can".