For those DUers who are supporting Crist in Florida I have one question to ask you....

[LynneSin]

how stupid will you feel if after Crist is elected he sides with the republcians with leadership.

I mean geez, for all the bitching I do about non-dem progressive candidates at least you know they'll go to DU and side with the Dems (like Bernie Sanders, who the dems were smart and didn't even bother to support a democratic candidate in his race).

Sure Crist could go to DC and side with the democrats but since he won't confess he's basically playing both sides and clearly will pick the team that will give him the best offers in DC.

Go Meeks Go!!!

[dmallind]

1. I'm not in FL but here's how I would approach this

I would support and donate to Meeks. even volunteer if I could, right up to November. If the poll numbers get to within even vague striking distance, say within twice the MOE, I'd vote for him. If It's still something like 39-36-20 with the Dem as the 20 then pragmatism has to rule and vote Crist to at least have a vaguely sane Republican and possible independent instead of a certifiable RW loon.

I would not campaign for or send money to or otherwise help Crist at any time, but I'd sure as hell vote for him if he's the only one who can stop Rubio at the wire.

[JustAnotherGen]

13. I am giving to meeks tonight

You don't have to be in a state to give to a candidate. I've helped Rob Miller and Tarryl Clarke in this way.

[dmallind]

25. Understood - more looking at overall strategy as if I lived there

I may send him a bit too. Might save money for more likely winners though as I am not sure $$ is his biggest issue or obstacle.

[zipplewrath]

2. It's the Gore/Nader problem

I can't stand Crist. Truth is, regardless of party, the man is something of a loose cannon in general. He can't see beyond 3 weeks on any issue. He is so about the "current political winds", and I mean the winds "this very moment". Even if he decided to caucus with democrats, it would be a very mixed blessing. And Charlie is all about Charlie, and he has his eyes on the White House.

But then you get to late October, and Meeks is polling at 25%, and Crist and Rubio are polling at 35% each and you start to ask youself whether there is anyway to pull 10% off of Crist. Because if you can't, it becomes the "would you rather have Gore, or Bush" question.

I'm sending cash to Meeks, and Sink. I'm probably gonna send cash to that guy in Alaska, cause I don't think he's gonna get much love from the DSCC or the DNC, much less any of the other alphabets. But I'm NOT looking forward to November and you'd understand if you saw the decisions I have to make in the local "nonpartisan" races.

[MineralMan]

3. Well, I'm well-known as a pragmatist, but my pragmatism doesn't

extend so far that I'd ever vote for a Republican, even one who changed his party to Independent because he could win his primary. Once a Republican...always an obstructionist.

[Edweird]

10. Funny how 'pragmatism' isn't so hot when it isn't *your* flavor of 'pragmatism', huh?

[MineralMan]

22. Not funny at all. People who vote for Republicans instead of

Democrats are no sort of Democrat at all. There is a Democratic candidate in that Senate race. If you vote for a Republican, you're going to get a Republican. If you expect other results from your vote, you will be disappointed. Surely we've learned that much.

Pragmatic Democrats vote for Democrats. That's why you call them Democrats. People who vote for Republicans are Republicans. It is that freaking simple. Pragmatism has limits.

[Edweird]

23. Oh now, don't be modest. You post 234245245 times a day about how swell 'pragmatism' is.

Maybe a lot of people got your 'lesser of two evils' message and decided that Crist was the 'pragmatic' choice compared to Rubio. Eat it and smile.

[MineralMan]

26. I've also posted many, many times that voting for a Republican

is a serious error, in every case. I won't eat it. I've been very clear that electing Democrats to office is the only way we can move forward. Sometimes that means voting for a weak Democrat who has some ideas we don't like. That's the pragmatism. Charlie Crist is a Republican. He will always be a Republican. Voting for him is the act of a Republican.

You're welcome to insult me at your pleasure. Rolls right off.

[Edweird]

31. I've not insulted you, only pointed out the truth. It's telling that you confuse them, though.

Remember the insurance 'reform'? Remember how I and others pointed out that it was far RW policy? I even provided quotes from and links to the muppet Newt Gingrich touting essentially exactly what we got. I was told that no matter how bad the policy was, as long as some republicans didn't like it it was a 'win' for Obama. That was 'pragmatism'.
Well, now you're getting a politician that will be disliked by republicans. RW or not, as long as some republicans don't like it, it's a 'win' for Obama by the 'pragmatic' rules.

[flamingdem]

4. Congressman Kendrick Meek, the Diaz-Balart clone - he is against Obama, oportunista !

http://thehavananote.com/2010/08/fuel_for_the_travel_fire.html

--- snip
Below are annotated highlights from a very important story about Presidential action on people-to-people travel in today's New York Times by Ginger Thompson.

It makes clear why anyone who wants to improve US relations with Cuba should be engaging with and supporting the White House.

The President will be in Miami tomorrow. Will he announce the new policy there? How would that play for Congressman Kendrick Meek, the Diaz-Balart clone whose campaign for the Senate Obama is ostensibly supporting, although the Democrats may actually prefer Charlie Crist?

[flamingdem]

7. Meek is NOT progressive. He's against sending $ to Cubans just like right wing Miami Cubans

He goes against Obama and for sure is getting his pockets lined for this ANTI-HUMANITARIAN position.

Plus, he's against our constitutional right to travel to Cuba.

[PBS Poll-435]

15. One issue does not a progressive make

Look at his track record across the entire spectrum of political policies.

[Taverner]

5. I would like to know who he plans to caucus with

If the Dems, then I'm behind him 100%

[Edweird]

6. dupe

[Edweird]

8. It's amusing that all the NON Florida residents are suddenly experts on Florida.

Let he who is without republicans cast the first asparagus.

[flamingdem]

9. The anti-Obama bunch sees a chance to create havoc.

They could care less if Rubio wins.

Others are idealistic about Meek, the dem, for some good reasons, or distrusting of Crist but they have to be smart on the reality of this campaign.

[LynneSin]

11. I've lived with Rick Santorum as my senator

and will probably have another republican senator again after this election.

[Edweird]

14. Rubio is our Santorum.

[DemocratSinceBirth]

30. Respectfully, The OP Has As Much Insight Into Florida Politics As I Have Into Delaware Politics

Which is none...

Meek can not win. There is no path to victory for him.

[NightWatcher]

12. if it's between Crist and Rubio who'd you vote for?

Let's say its a week before the election and the numbers are:

Rubio:35%
Crist:34%
Meek:25%
Unk: +/- 6%

Who'd you vote for, Meek? or vote AGAINST the dangerous Tea Bagger and for Crist?

[PBS Poll-435]

17. MEEK

His name is Kendrick Meek.


:banghead:

[NightWatcher]

19. so you'd let Rubio waltz into office?

[PBS Poll-435]

21. I don't have a vote in Florida. But I would let the campaign season kick into full gear

Now that the Primary is over.


And if I were a resident of Florida, I would still vote for the Democrat if a week before the election the polls were that bad.


Crist's support is falling. Check out the recent polls. The idea that the only way to keep a Teabagger out of office is to vote for a conventional Republican that couldn't win the Republican primary is insane.

[Bitwit1234]

16. Meek probably has no chance to take the seat.

So like one of the other posters, if he is far down I would vote for Crist. Some of his policies he has done so far are not bad. And after the shafting the republicans gave him do you think for one minute he would side with them. Heck I wouldn't.

[Kurt_and_Hunter]

18. I would not feel stupid

No more than I would feel stupid for wanting Scott Brown in the Senate rather than Michelle Bachman if those were the choices.

Meek is, in fact, not going to win. Like, for real.

Crist would, in fact, cast several votes differently than Rubio would.

[VMI Dem]

20. Have to be pragmatic.

[Statistical]

24. Simple would you fold in a poker game and lose $10K or go all in and lose everything.

I am not in FL but if faced with a similiar situation I would support the Democratic candidate up to election day.

Now on election day if he/she is down but within reason I would vote for him (going all in on a possibly winning hand).

On the other hand if on election day he/she is down 10%, 15%, 25% it would be foolish to vote on principal and end up losing everything. Crist is cutting your losses. It is still a loss and it will sting but it is a lot better than an off the chart teabagger.

[kickysnana]

27. I assume they are following Obama's lead triangulating and several chess moves ahead. n/t

:sarcasm: :sarcasm:

[Marr]

28. About as dumb as anyone who supported Lieberman should feel, I guess.

[ellenfl]

29. his name is MEEK not MEEKS . . and i will be voting for him again. eom