Republicans heading for a bloodbath in Florida

[AllentownJake]

-- The Republican fratricide in the Nov. 3 special election in upstate New York may prove just an opening round of an even more spectacular bloodbath in Florida in 2010.

In New York, Republican feuding lost the party a seat in the House of Representatives. At stake in Florida is not only a senatorship -- but very possibly Republican hopes for 2012 as well.

The battle in Florida pits Gov. Charlie Crist against former Speaker of the Florida House Marco Rubio. Both men claim to be conservative, pro-life, tax cutters. On the issues, they would seem to agree far more than they disagree.

But on one issue they have disagreed passionately: President Obama's fiscal stimulus. Squeezed by his state's desperate fiscal condition, Crist endorsed and campaigned for the Obama stimulus. Inspired by his conservative ideology, Rubio opposed stimulus.

http://www.cnn.com/2009/OPINION/11/15/frum.gop.florida.crist.rubio.battle/

[whoneedstickets]

1. Democratic experience with the big tent....

The GOP seems unable to deal with the concept of ideological diversity within its party and looks like it will host a war during the primary season. For all the problems inherent in having Blue Dogs, DLC, and Kucinich/Naderites in the party we have an advantage when it comes to dealing with schism. If we can stay unified we can watch gleefully from the sideline as they self-destruct.

[AlinPA]

5. The real test for them is: will they win that election? I'm don't know, but FL

is still a strongly republican.

[msongs]

6. kucinich/naderits? nice slam tho they are not the same. are you the rubio equivalent in dems? nt

[whoneedstickets]

9. Perhaps a few of us aren't as adept at handling schism as others....

[Hekate]

2. Couldn't happen to a nicer bunch of people, those Florida Republicans, after what they did in 2000.

[tekisui]

3. Love it. I hope they take it nation wide.

[damntexdem]

4. Not a bloodbath -- just a rather sanguine cleansing.

LOL! Couldn't happen to a more-deserving party.

[onethatcares]

7. lately charlie smiles alot has been running into difficulties

something about his wife (?) having to use the state plane, somethings about the stimulus. something about Obama. One thing for sure, charlie has been on the government teat all his life. It's time for him to get a real job and maybe a real tan too.

With all these idiots trying to out conservative each other, it's a crazy world.

Now if they'd only get serious about cutting home owner insurance rates, both of them would win in landslides.

Gaud, I'm hating this state, there's not a Democrat running for anything that I can support anymore.

[zbdent]

8. cut the Medicare $$$ going to Florida ...

and say it was on Republican orders ...

Florida would turn blue instantly ...