Behind Crist's Exit From the GOP: The Hand of Jeb Bush?

[babylonsister]

Behind Crist's Exit From the GOP: The Hand of Jeb Bush?
By Tim Padgett / Miami Thursday, Apr. 29, 2010


Four years ago, then Florida governor Jeb Bush stepped onto the state house floor in Tallahassee and presented 34-year-old state representative Marco Rubio, who was being sworn in as the chamber's new speaker, with a golden sword. It was the weapon of a "great conservative warrior" whom Bush called "the mystical Chang," and he urged his fellow conservative Republican to "unleash" it when necessary.

The unusual gift was tongue-in-cheek, but to the gathered Florida pols, it was nothing less than a Confucian designation of Rubio as Bush's conservative heir. So while Jeb Bush has made no formal endorsement in this year's primary contest for Florida's open U.S. Senate seat between Rubio and current governor Charlie Crist, it's fairly obvious to the state's voters whom the Channeler of Chang is backing.

And that's been only one of Crist's many problems. On Thursday, April 29, Crist announced that he's dropping out of the August Republican primary and instead running in the November general election as an independent — or more precisely, say people close to his campaign, as a "no party affiliation" candidate, which means he can retain his Republican Party registration. Now that he has made the much anticipated move, a lingering question will be the extent to which Bush himself, as many Florida political watchers have suggested recently, unleashed the conservative blade on his more moderate successor.

Even Crist supporters are reluctant to blame behind-the-scenes machinations by Jeb for the collapse of Crist's primary campaign — which in most polls has fallen more than 20 points behind Rubio after being ahead by that much this time last year. And there's no doubt that Crist's own mistakes, especially his misreading of Tea Party conservatism, played a large role. But as a top GOP operative close to Bush points out, "Crist forgot that Jeb still defines the Republican Party more than anyone else in Florida. This was Jeb's way of reminding him of that."

more...

http://www.time.com/time/politics/article/0,8599,1985804,00.html

[fasttense]

1. The Hand of Jeb Bush? or The Hand Job of Bush? n/t

[RandomThoughts]

2. Job of Bush? That is actually a big philosophical point.

Some people think being mean is their role in God's plan. And so think they are just doing what they are suppose to. I posted about free will awhile ago, I think if something did need to occur, God might put someone there, but not made to do it, but put someone there that is able to do bad for whatever reason, since they have to be somewhere.

That does not excuse the person from doing bad. That line of logic is used by sociopaths alot to rationalize self gain many times.

I do think he listened to 'voices' but from my opinion, his choices make me question were they came from.

Also justice can be done with love, it does not required, nor is it helpful to hate your opponent, compassion with justice instead of sadism, can actually create better justice. Although it is more difficult for a person since they have to think on weather it is just or not, knowing they will feel some of the hurt in the person that is shown justice through empathy.

[Kokonoe]

3. First and foremost thank G.W.Bush for not blowing up Earth.

It was incredibly hard for him not starting life over and all.

But now Bush is a has been, and he needs to understand nobody cares.

[seafan]

4. It's the epic battle between Jeb Bush and the hard right against moderate Charlie Crist.

Ever since Marco Rubio very quietly registered last year to run for US Senate, I knew in my very bones that Jeb Bush was behind it and would pour tremendous amounts of money into an engineered media campaign to buff up a slick, young clone of himself to push Jeb's hard right conservative agenda to the front of the line.

This was followed by the same type of Jeb Bush-engineered campaign for key ally John Thrasher to muscle his way into the Senate via a special election last fall, and then to batter his way into the Chairmanship of the RPOF 2 months ago.



Behind Crist's Exit From the GOP: The Hand of Jeb Bush?, TIME, April 29, 2010

.....a top GOP operative close to Bush points out, "Crist forgot that Jeb still defines the Republican Party more than anyone else in Florida. This was Jeb's way of reminding him of that."

.....

Just opening your eyes, TIME?






So, when Governor Crist has finally had enough of the radicalized GOP and decides to run as an Independent, Jeb publicly throws his weight around.


From the acid-tongued self-appointed king himself via Twitter:

April 29, 2010

# I am not surprised. This decision is not about policy or principles. It is about what he believes is in his political self-interest. about 15 hours ago via web

Whether it's Jeb Bush's campaign to destroy public education, or changing the state constitution into a religious document, or giving away what remains of the state treasury to Big Business or removing any remaining regulation on Big Developers, the Jeb Bush Agenda is a monstrous insult to the lives of everyday people in Florida. And this is his grand design for the rest of the country as well.






Just the most recent examples of this devious character in action:


Jeb Bush:

1.) Coming out against the Arizona immigration law: “I don’t think this is the proper approach,” he said. “It’s difficult for me to imagine how you’re going to enforce this law. It places a significant burden on local law enforcement and you have civil liberties issues that are significant as well.”

2.) On Charlie Crist’s support of President Obama’s stimulus plan: ”Unforgivable”

3.) On Charlie Crist vetoing a Republican-backed education bill: “By taking this action, Governor Crist has jeopardized the ability of Florida to build on the progress of the last decade which includes raising student achievement across the board, narrowing the achievement gap for poor and minority students, and improving graduation rates.”

4.) On Sarah Palin running for President: “I don’t know what her deal is. My belief is in 2010 and 2012 public leaders need to have intellectual curiosity. The world is really an amazing place but it is very complex, it is very fast moving. If you think you’ve got it all figured out, the minute you start thinking that is the first day of your demise.”

5.) On repealing the Democratic health-care bill: “This is a major overreach. Certainly, in the policy arena, it’s a major overreach, but it also could easily be an overreach in terms of the law. And I think people who are opposed to this passionately ought to use every resource at their disposal, both advocating repeal of it — but that’s going to take, as we know, three or four years, perhaps, and maybe too late — and also the legal avenue. I think that’s the right approach.”

Mark Krikorian at NRO on April 27, 2010:

Jeb Bush Was for Local Enforcement Before He Was Against It

A friend on the Hill reminds me that, despite his recent comment that immigration should be exclusively a federal issue, then-governor of Florida Jeb Bush signed the first-ever agreement with the federal government under the 287(g) program, which trains state and local police to enforce immigration law. But then, in 2002 he was up for re-election, so maybe his stance was just boob bait for bubba.

Again, from the TIME article above:

.....

Crist billed himself as the pragmatic, big-tent Republican many felt the party needed after its disastrous losses in 2006 and 2008. From putting hurricane insurance under greater state control to making it easier for ex-convicts to regain voting rights, he's rolled back a chunk of Bush's conservative legacy. Bush had been one of Florida's most popular governors for making the state's government more efficient and its dismal public schools more accountable. But Crist won higher voter-approval ratings than even Bush had.

.....

Governor Charlie Crist undid a large chunk of Jeb's carefully orchestrated, Big Business-friendly policies that Jeb had carefully cemented into place between 1999 and 2007.

And for challenging a vindictive and autocratic ex-governor with the Bush name, Charlie Crist would have to pay.


The Jeb Bush faction of the radical right conservatives represents the most ideologically rigid, autocratic, theocratic and dictatorial mind-set of those who seek total domination over the people, resources and government power that they so love to denigrate.

To permit these people to hold positions of power in this country, we are locking ourselves into chains of our demise.

[Name removed]

5. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[seafan]

6. The meanness and hatred aimed at Governor Crist show no signs of abating.

...

But as a top GOP operative close to Bush points out, "Crist forgot that Jeb still defines the Republican Party more than anyone else in Florida. This was Jeb's way of reminding him of that."

.....

For their part, Crist backers say his independent run could itself alter the political climate — especially since recent polls show Crist ahead in a three-way November race that includes likely Democratic candidate Kendrick Meek. Crist all but fired his first volley as an indie two weeks ago when he vetoed a merit-teacher-pay education bill Bush had championed. Because Florida tends to be a largely centrist state at the end of the day, "the doctrinaire conservatives may have overplayed their own hand," says veteran Florida GOP lobbyist Mac Stipanovich. "Their group isn't as large in this state as they'd like you to think." Even with the mysterious warrior Chang on their side.

April 30, 2010

Crist poll shows him in lead

A poll commissioned before Charlie Crist announced he would become an independent showed him winning a three way race for U.S. Senate.

If the election for United States Senate were being held today, for whom would you vote if the candidates were: Marco Rubio, Republican, Kendrick Meek, Democrat or Charlie Crist, no party affiliation.

* Crist: 36
* Rubio: 28
* Meek: 23

Are you satisfied or dissatisfied with a two party political system?

* Satisfied: 41
* Dissatisfied: 54

The survey of 800 people was conducted April 26-27 by http://pos.org/">Public Opinion Strategies. Margin of error +/- 3.4.

Florida Governor Charlie Crist points into the crowd before announcing that he will run as an independent for U.S. Senate during a news conference in St. Petersburg, Florida April 29, 2010.
Scott Audette / Reuters