Charlie Crist to run for Senate as an independent

[Earth Bound Misfit]

Source: Wa Po

Florida Gov. Charlie Crist announced this afternoon he will run for the Senate as an independent, breaking with the Republican party and setting up a three-way battle in the fall fraught with national political implications.

"Our political system is broken," said Crist at a rally in St. Petersburg. "I believe in democracy and the right to choose."

Crist repeatedly cast his decision as in the best interests of Floridians, saying at one point that the easiest course for him would be to run for re-election as governor but that people across the state had urged him to pursue an independent Senate bid.

In the immediate aftermath of Crist's announcement, his communications director Andrea Saul and press secretary Amanda Hennenberg quit. "It has been an honor to work for Governor Crist, and I wish him all of the best," said Saul.

Read more: http://voices.washingtonpost.com/thefix/senate/charlie-crist-to-run-for-senat.html

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ETA: Gotta love Menendez' comment:

Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee Chairman Bob Menendez (N.J.) described Crist and Rubio as the "two latest casualties of a divided Republican Party cannibalizing itself."

No surprise, but still welcome news.

[Gman]

1. Not unexpected for party purity reasons

the teabaggers are turning out to be to the GOP what the Greens were in 2000 to the Democrats. All the more reason we need to stay united and back the president.

[depakid]

4. Good analysis- except for the fact that the Republicratic policies the Dems enacted

were utter failures- and resulted in precisely the same disasters that progressives predicted.

[Commie Pinko Dirtbag]

2. This should be fun. -nt

[Angry Dragon]

3. I guess not everyone believes in him...........

[bc3000]

5. I am mentioned in the article!

"people across the state had urged him to pursue an independent Senate bid."

I was one of those people! I sent him am email after he vetoed Bill 6 to let him know I was a democrat that would vote for him if he ran as an independent. I'm glad he listened and that we now have a chance to defeat Rubio.

[Rozlee]

6. I hope now you'll send him another email saying "psych!" and vote for the Democrat.

:evilgrin:

[bc3000]

8. Hell no! The democrat is a conserva-dem

How are we ever going to get good candidates if we loyally vote for party insiders who care nothing about progressive causes?

Kendrick Meek is interested in a different kind of voter:

[Dr.Phool]

13. I wonder if Karen Thurman will endorse Crist. Again.

There was a video on DU a couple of years ago (shot by a friend of mine), with Thurman speaking at a DEC event, and saying that we should support Governor Christ, because he's a good Democrat.

I had to hold my nose really tight in 2006 to vote for Jim Davis, Meeks fellow New Democrat. I couldn't stand the man.

I also sent Crist an e-mail also urging him to go Indy.

[bc3000]

9. And don't tell me Meek will support President Obama

Because he already hasn't:

Democratic U.S. Rep. and Senate candidate Kendrick Meek criticized the Obama administration’s response to Israel’s decision to build 1,600 homes in a disputed area of East Jerusalem.

Vice President Joe Biden, who was visiting Israel at the time of the announcement, and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton have blasted the plan, straining relations with America’s strongest ally in the Middle East.

^ that's the same week they punked Biden by the way

http://www.postonpolitics.com/2010/03/democrat-meek-criticizes-obama-administrations-undiplomatic-language-to-israel/

[Rozlee]

10. Did some googling. Eating crow. You guys are right.

But, there are no good progressives. Still, to me, Rubio does seem like the worst of the worst.

[DCBob]

12. That's interesting and disturbing..

Crist may be more an Obama-nut than Meek.

[Dappleganger]

22. THIS.

Is why I vote for progressive values and not the party in FL.

Some clown on another thread is convinced that if you're a dem you HAD to support Meek or the African Americans would never vote for the democratic party again! Good Lord above.

I don't want to vote for a half-Dem just because there's a 'D' next to their name. We've got a plethora of those swamp critters down here in FL, we don't need anymore.

What we need are more Alan Graysons!

[Dr.Phool]

24. Lots more Alan Graysons.

And a few John Russells thrown in to boot.

[glowing]

29. You do realize where the Dem votes come from in FL, right? From all those

grannies/ gramps that are retired, from NY, and Jewish.. do you understand the dynamics of pulling support for the vote in FL... there are so many groups that you need behind you. That was why the statement was made... not that he necesarily agrees or doesn't.. and most likely a staffer wrote it and sent it to print.

[proud patriot]

7. Thanks

for your suggestion . I hope this opens the seat up for the Dem Candidate .

[DCBob]

11. I believe Crist is going to win and also going to caucus with the Dems.

The GOPers are already lining up to throw him under the bus and by the time this nasty campaign is over he will despise the Republican party. The teabaggers just gave a Senate seat to the Democrats. Thanks!

[Cha]

14. I read around here that

the White House is going to support Meeks and Meeks doesn't support the Prez?

[DCBob]

15. Well I guess they have to.. Meek (no 's') is the real Democrat..

However, I have a feeling as this campaign proceeds and Meek is lost in the shuffle.. there may be a "deal". Just speculating, but Crist(I) could be very good for Democrats and the WH and the leadership knows it.

[Cha]

16. I hear ya. I was just

wondering what kind of a Dem Kendrick Meek is..if he should win..would he be an asset?

[DCBob]

17. Any Democrat would be an asset if the alternative is Rubio..

I am just thinking Crist(I) might actually be more of an asset in the sense his defection may cause major havoc in the GOP/teabagger clan.

[Dr.Phool]

21. A member of the "New Democrat Coalition".

Which equals an old republican conservative-moderate.

I will NOT vote for Meek, or any other Blue Dog, or DLC piece of shit.

I talked to a friend of mine this morning. She's the State Democratic Committee Woman for her district. Also a former candidate for State Senate. She founded state-funded kindergarten in New Hampshire, and spent 20 years in their state legislature. She told me that a lot of Democrats are planning to vote for Crist. And, they are ALL DEC members! That alone tells you how much support Meeks has.

Say hello to Senator Crist.

[Dappleganger]

23. That's very similar to what I'm hearing...

in our area (NE FL) as well.

Thanks for that extra info. ;)

[Cha]

27. See..that's what I was wondering..I couldn't get a

handle on him, but I thought I remembered "new democrat" and wondered what the heck that meant.

Interesting politics down there in Florida..once again.

[Zynx]

18. Given that Crist is not that liberal, it is bizarre he is being run out of the party.

That tells you how far this crap has gone.

[DCBob]

19. Crist didnt pass the teabaggers purity test...

This situation will likely cause tremendous chaos within the GOP. Cant wait to see how it plays out.

[mvd]

28. The Republican Party is so extremes that even the conservatives are driven out

Seems there is only room for radicals.

[Arkana]

26. He hugged President Obama and accepted stimulus money.

That makes Crist a filthy, filthy traitor in the eyes of the teabaggers.

[FreeJG]

20. Meek cannot win statewide Hello Senator Crist!!

I asked him to run as an indy too!

[Arkana]

25. I hate the phrase "Our political system is broken."

I'm tired of hearing politicians diss politics to get a gig.

You know what? Partisan politics is a GOOD thing. It allows us to see the true differences between two sets of ideas and encourages us to decide which one we believe in, rather than amalgamating them all into one mushy middle ground.

Just ONCE I would love to hear a Senate or Presidential candidate say "I'm not going to pursue bipartisanship actively if I win--because if I win it means the people will have chosen my agenda and my set of ideals over my opponent's."

[Commie Pinko Dirtbag]

30. I understood it as being about the rules of the game, which make life impossible...

...for 3rd and 4th parties.

Other countries have better-thought-out rules, which lead to better representativeness.