An additional motivation to vote for Crist

[Tony_FLADEM]

If Republicans gain a majority Republicans will chair the committees. Do you want Rand Paul in charge of a committee related to the financial well being of Americans? Do you want Sharron Angle in charge of a committee related to health?


That is a possibility if Rubio wins. It's not just about Florida.

[damntexdem]

1. What guarantee is there that Crist wouldn't vote with the Repukes?

[Tony_FLADEM]

5. They kicked him out of the party

It's not 100% guaranteed but voting for Meek is a 100% guarantee that Rubio wins.

Don't just think about Florida, think about the nation.


Do you want Rand Paul Chairman of the Health Education Labor and Pensions Committee (HELP).

Do you want Sharron Angle in charge of the Labor Committee?

This is a possibility if Rubio wins.

[Lucky 13]

18. Being kicked out of a party doesn't change someone's ideology

[Tony_FLADEM]

21. Is Charlie Crist more Conservative that Bill Nelson or Mark Warner?

I would say he is a little less conservative than Bill Nelson.

[Statistical]

32. and likely Warner too.

Christ is rather "moderate". I know that term gets thrown around a lot but for a Republican he wasn't exactly the "reddest of the red".

It is unlikely that as an ex-Republican he would become more conservative.

[Lucky 13]

63. That's a mighty dumbass argument you make.

I didn't say I liked Nelson or Warner. If given a more progressive choice, I wouldn't vote for them either.

But lets drop the hypotheticals, shall we? I'm not comparing Crist to Nelson or Warner. I'm comparing him to Meeks. And in this instance, "OUR CANDIDATE" is more left, progressive, liberal, and more aligned with my views than the piece of shit that has been scraped off the big elephant's foot and discarded.

The only reason Crist isn't a Republican is because of an even bigger piece of shit teabagger. And I won't have my vote, MY CHOICE distilled down to Teabagger vs. Republican. Fuck that.

[Tony_FLADEM]

68. Would you rather have Jim Gilmore or Bill McCollum instead of Nelson and Warner

Sometimes we have to make the best choice with the options before us.

[Lorien]

108. In many cases that's been true

Nelson has been a corporate water boy for all the years I've lived here. Crist was a HUGE improvement over Jeb. I don't vote for labels. They mean nothing. I look at records and probabilities. I've had to hold my nose many, many times to vote for crap candidates so that an even crappier candidate didn't get into office, and I've voted for Dems that were more conservative than Crist.

[Tony_FLADEM]

22. It's not 100% guaranteed

You have to look at other things such as the Chamber of Commerce attacking him, Robert Kennedy Jr. endorsing him, Democrats raising money for him, etc.

[blondeatlast]

2. Should Meek drop out, in your opinion? nt

[Tony_FLADEM]

6. For the good of the nation if I were him, I would endorse Crist.

[blondeatlast]

12. What about the good of your fair state? He's apt to pull in a crucial 13% of the vote for Dems.

That vote is unlikely to vote for Crist, but they could turn the guv's and Grayson's race.

And the repBPublicans know that and are encouraging Meek to drop for that reason.

[Tony_FLADEM]

17. If the people of Florida want someone for governor who stole 1.4 billion from the tax payers and

took the 5th amendment 75 times, it's not worth getting concerned over. If people are that stupid, it's not worth the energy of being concerned over.

As for Grayson, he can run again in 2 years if he were to lose. The redistricting will be less partisan and Florida is going 2 more seats.

If Rubio wins it's for 6 years.

[chimpymustgo]

93. For the good of the nation DEMOCRATS ought to support the DEMOCRAT.

Dammit. This is sickening.

[Freddie Stubbs]

3. What makes you think that Crist won't caucus with the Republicans?

[Tony_FLADEM]

8. Because they kicked him out of the party, as they are other moderate Republicans.

[Freddie Stubbs]

10. DC Republicans love him. He was endorsed by Cornyn in the primary

[Tony_FLADEM]

14. That was before the Tea Party ascended into power over the Republican Party

[Mass]

4. Rand Paul will not chair a committee. Only senior senators chair committee

But I would not like Jim DeMint to chair a committee.

This said, what makes you believe Crist will caucus with the Democrats.

[Tony_FLADEM]

9. Given how powerful the tea party is, they might actually chair major committees.

[Bluenorthwest]

70. No they can not

and they are just Republicans, there is no such thing as the Tea Party, they are Republicans, good God they are nothing new. Republicans. The Tea Party does not exist.

[Tony_FLADEM]

71. Don't discount anything if the Tea Party senate candidates win

They will set the agenda.

[Bluenorthwest]

94. How? There are rules and so forth. These are just Repulicans

there is not a third actual Party called Tea. They are Republicans, plain and simple. The same people whose superstars failed in 2008, our very last election.
You spout baseless nonsense. They will not have a Senate majority, we will. No matter what foolishness Florida engages in this cycle, the rest of us will maintain our majority without you. Florida has been a political train wreck many cycles in a row. Your posts make it more clear why that is. Much 'belief' and fear in place of facts and action.
This is not the first time we have run against Republicans. Rubio is a Republican. Not some magic new thing from Planet Tea. A Republican. Like Nixon. Bush. Same old thing.

[Tony_FLADEM]

102. They tea party candidates are more conservative than past Republican candidates.

If they win it will be taken as a mandate in implement extreme policies. Ensuring Rubio wins increases the likelyhood that the Republicans gain a majority.

I rather have a 50-50 Senate with Crist than a 51-49 Senate with Rubio if that is what it comes down to.

[valerief]

7. How is Crist not a Republican? He's as Republican as Lieberman. A rose by any other name... n/t

[Tony_FLADEM]

11. Lieberman voted to give Democrats the senate majority in the last congress

I don't like Lieberman, but that's better than nothing.

[Freddie Stubbs]

15. But Crist won't even promise to do that

He just gives ambiguous platitudes about "caucusing with the people of Florida."

[Tony_FLADEM]

20. If he promises to do that, independents will not vote for him.

Look at other things such as the Chamber of Commerce spending money on attack ads as evidence.

[myrna minx]

35. So, via telepathy or double secret communication, you've

gleaned that Crist will caucus with the Dems. ok.

[Tony_FLADEM]

43. I'm not 100% certain he will caucus with the Dems

but given that:

The Chamber of Commerce is attacking him

Democrats are raising money for him

He has moved in a policy direction that Democrats favor


The evidence points to him caucusing with the Democrats.

[valerief]

38. A lot have already voted for him with their early mail-in ballots. nt

[gateley]

13. From what I've heard about Crist, if the votes come from Dems, then damn it, he'll be a Dem!

I think he wants to win more than further any particular agenda.

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

16. Well, at least he's not a (EEK!) Green!

If he were, then endorsing him would be disallowed here.

[myrna minx]

48. I can't believe that boosting a Republican over a Dem is ok here. n/t

[Tony_FLADEM]

49. It's not boosting a Republican over a Democrat

It's being realistic and wanting the Democrats to maintain power, and wanting Rand Paul, Sharron Angle and other crazies to have as little influence as possible over policy making.

[blondeatlast]

52. Your own post 17 contradicts that argument. since you will likely edit that one as well;

Ive copie dit here for posterity:

17. If the people of Florida want someone for governor who stole 1.4 billion from the tax payers and
took the 5th amendment 75 times, it's not worth getting concerned over. If people are that stupid, it's not worth the energy of being concerned over.

As for Grayson, he can run again in 2 years if he were to lose. The redistricting will be less partisan and Florida is going 2 more seats.

If Rubio wins it's for 6 years.

[Tony_FLADEM]

55. That's not contradicing any argument

I'm not so sure what is so controversial about post # 17.


If Meek stays in the race it might help Sink and Grayson. This is true.

However, Sink shouldn't even need any help. The fact that someone who stole 1.7 billion from Medicare even has a chance to win, shows how ridiculous half the voters in Florida are.

If these people want to be insane and vote for Scott, what I'm I supposed to do?


I love Alan Grayson and I wish he were my Congressman. However, in the event he were to lose, he can run in a more Democratic District next time. His Congressional District is very Conservative.

Not sure what is so controversial about that.

And I'm not editing any posts.

[blondeatlast]

57. At last count you've edited your OP thrice--all because you're sorry arguments were

picked apart by sharp Democrats.

[Tony_FLADEM]

58. I haven't edited any posts. You're just making that up

[blondeatlast]

59. The evidence speaks for itself. But go right ahead, fellow

human being.

Bless your heart.

[Tony_FLADEM]

60. I'm just making the best decision to help the Democrats stay in power

I'm not 100% absolutely certain Crist will caucus with the Democrats.

But I am 100% certain that if Crist and Meek split the vote, an extremeist will have won with a minority of the vote.

Wanting to prevent that isn't really controversial.

[blondeatlast]

61. So, the governor and House races mean nothing to you.

What a lovely life you have...

[Tony_FLADEM]

67. They do mean something to me

However, if people want to elect someone who stole 1.4 billion from Medicare, it's their problem not mine. And these people deserve everything they get.

Alan Grayson is in a conservative district. In the event he loses, he can run again in a district that will not be gerrymandered.

[blondeatlast]

73. You want the Dem governor to lose and couldn't care less about the

one of the most progressive Democrats in the House.

What a way to promote your state and your party! :puke:

[Tony_FLADEM]

101. As I said in other posts, Rick Scott shouldn't even be running for governor

If people want to vote for him, people deserve everything they get. It's not worth me being concerned over.

There are not many African Americans in Grayson's district so he doesn't need Meek on the ballot in order to win. He can run again in 2 years if he loses and can be a Congressman for the next 20 years.

[donco6]

89. Well, you obviously have, it says so right on your OP. n/t

[Tony_FLADEM]

103. I might have edited 1 post to correct spelling. I havent edited all of them.

[donco6]

105. No one said you edited all of them. Just the OP. Multiple times.

There's really no need to lie about it. It is what it is.

[Ozymanithrax]

19. Charlie Crist has refsued to comit to which party he would caucaus with...

So, if it is close, he will be for sale to the highest bidder. Since he has been a life long Republican, we already know where his loyalties are.

[Tony_FLADEM]

24. If he commits to caucusing with the Democrats independents won't vote for him

In the remote possibility he caucused with the Repukes, it would be better than Rubio.

[valerief]

39. A whore's a whore. (Hear that, Whitman?). nt

[Ozymanithrax]

96. Crist is gong to split the Democratic vote and win it for Rubio...

It wouldn't have worked better if the Repukes planned it.

And should he be elected, people will wish he were a good progressive like Joe Lieberman.

[myrna minx]

23. More republican love on DU.

I can't wait to hear about all of the other republicans we should vote for down the line.

[Tony_FLADEM]

25. I can't stand the Republican Party

I'm voting for Crist to help the Democrats.

[blondeatlast]

27. All the while advocating for the Dem to drop out of the race, risking the downticket vote.

:puke:

[myrna minx]

31. Ah - so voting for a Republican who hasn't said that he'd caucus

with the Democrats, all the while demanding the DEMOCRAT drop out is to *help* the Democrats. HooKay.

[Tony_FLADEM]

36. If he says he is caucusing with the Democrats he ceases being an independent

and will have difficulty voting this year.

[myrna minx]

41. You've divined this how exactly? Lemon juice notes?

Secret meetings? This thread is ridiculous. Unrec.

[Tony_FLADEM]

44. The things that have happend.

[blondeatlast]

45. Do tell. nt

[Tony_FLADEM]

47. The Chamber of Commerce is attacking him

as they have other Democrats.

Democrats have raised money for him.

Robert Kennedy Jr. has endorsed him.

[blondeatlast]

54. Linky to the CoC attacks? nt

[Tony_FLADEM]

56. I've seen them on television.

I'll try to find them on youtube.

[blondeatlast]

26. Post 17 is likely to curl your short ones.

You might need to shower twice today after reading it.

[myrna minx]

28. NO kidding. I can't believe this is allowed here. n/t

[AndrewP]

69. Yep. If Democrats would support Democrats, maybe the Democrat could win

[Tony_FLADEM]

72. Yes, Democrats should supports Democrats

However, when independents are not supporting Democrats in a given year, and there is an extremeist running as the (R), you might need to look at other options.

[blondeatlast]

76. You also want Sink to lose and couldn't care less if Grayson's defeated.

I don't call that support, not at all.

[Tony_FLADEM]

100. I don't want Sink to lose

If people want to vote for someone that stole 1.4 billion from the taxpayers, there isn't much I can say or do about that and it isn't worth it anyway.

I don't want Grayson to lose, but I realize he is in a conservative district. If he loses he can run again in a better district. Besides, there are not that many African Americans in Grayson's district so I don't think he needs Meek on the ballot in order to win.

[Tony_FLADEM]

29. I'm just being realistic

If people want a crook to be their governor why should I waste my energy over people that stupid?

I love Alan Grayson but he might be in a district that is too Republican for him to win.

He beat the Republican Rick Keller in 2008 because of ethical issues. If he were to lose, which I hope he doesn't he can run again in a better district.

[Bluenorthwest]

91. People that stupid. That is how I see those who fall for the Crist

Twist, the shill shell game, the Third Party Monte. Only Republicans and idiots would want a Palin endorsing right winger over an actual Democrat.
You seem to have many Democrats you have issues with. But you love Charlie Crist. Walks like a duck, they say, it is a duck. Votes like a duck, it is also a duck.

[valerief]

99. Love for repubs by repubs, I'd guess. nt

[Lucky 13]

30. This is absurd.

Jesus Christ, man, I'm not supporting a conservative over a liberal dem. I don't care what your argument is.

And I'm not buying the "vote for this conservative douchebag or fear the consequences" bullshit.

No, I vote for the best person for the job and the candidate whose views align most closely to my own. The rest is noise.

[The Northerner]

34. +1

Crist is a repuke and will ALWAYS be a anti-choice, reagan-loving repuke, no matter what disguises he wears.

[Tony_FLADEM]

40. You have to help babies and their mothers after the child is born. That's why people

who want fewer abortions should be Democrats. There is more to the pro-choice/anti-choice argument.

[JustAnotherGen]

33. This sort of assumes

That every other Senate Seat is going to a Republican. I don't think that's the case. I think we are vulnerable in the house but not in the Senate by a long chance.


Again - outside observer on this . . .

[Tony_FLADEM]

42. You have to be realistic and assume the senate is in play.

[Name removed]

37. Deleted message

Sub-thread removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Dappleganger]

46. Un'reccd for spinelessness.

[Lucky 13]

62. Un'reccd for douchebaggery

[ellenfl]

50. crist is a republican. if you vote for him, you are voting for

a repub. he will not caucus with dems. if he was going to he would have said as much. the fact that he is just in this for himself should also disqualify him. i agree with meek and i WILL vote for him. anyone who does not, but allows rubio to win because they wasted their vote on crist, deserves what s/he gets . . . crist caucusing with the republicans. after all, look at all the teabag candidates who have been embraced by the repubs once they beat the repub establishment candidates.

ellen fl

[Tony_FLADEM]

53. As I said before it's not 100% gauranteed he will caucus with the Dems

but if you look at all the evidence it's more likely than not that he will.

I am 100% certain Kendrick Meek is going to come in 3rd place. The Teabag candidates are more conservative than Crist, and they were not shunned by the party originally as was Crist.

[spanone]

65. 100% guarantee & 100% certainty....let's go to vegas

[blondeatlast]

51. How many times are you going to edit your posts? nt

[spanone]

64. democrats should vote for an independent who may vote with republicans?

[blondeatlast]

66. Why, of course! What could POSSIBLY be the danger inherent in that?

For the wittically challenged, this post is 100% pure, unadulterated :sarcasm:

[Bluenorthwest]

74. A Democrat is a person who votes for Democrats

Crist is the opponent of my Party, the Democratic Party. Your post is baseless, this notion that first year Senators wopuld chair committees is silly. Not how it works. Ignorance is not your friend. Believe in things you do not understand and you suffer.
Crist endorsed Palin, drilling here and now, and said that Palin was more experienced and qualified than Barack Obama to be President. And you are promoting that garbage, a Palinite?
If it walks like a pug, and votes like a pug, it is most likely a pug. Democrats vote for Democrats.

[blondeatlast]

78. He also is advocating against Sink and Grayson.

Read through the thread.

[Dappleganger]

79. I read through the entire thread

and now need a fucking drink.

Jesus, THIS is why democrats in FL lose! :eyes: :puke:

[blondeatlast]

82. I knew when I saw you post in AtA that we had the same question!

This kind of "advocacy" we don't need.

[Dappleganger]

84. Agreed.

But the answer which was given was the one which was expected, unfortunately. :eyes:

[blondeatlast]

86. IMHO, the "drop out" issue should be a no-brainer.

I was more than disappointed.

[MadHound]

75. And if you elect Crist, you're going to be electing a Republican, who will caucus with the 'Pugs

And we'll still be screwed.

The only way to get a Democratic majority is to actually vote for the only Democrat in the race, Meeks. Anything else is simply supporting a 'Pug.

Have you no shame.

[blondeatlast]

92. Considering he openly advocates for Sink to lose and Grayson

to pretty much do the same, no, he doesn't.

I think the moderators need to deal with it now; it's gone over the top.

[Tony_FLADEM]

104. You can keep saying I advocate for Sink and Grayson to lose but it doesn't make it so

My concern over the governor race is with the people that vote for Rick Scott. If they are dumb enough to vote for him it's not worth me being concerned over. I'm voting for Alex Sink and so if everyone else in my family.

There are few African Americans in Grayson's district, so I don't see what Meek has anything to do with that congressional race. In the event he is not reelected, he can run again in 2 years in a district that is not gerrymandered and be a congressman for the next 20 years. I hope he is my Congressman in fact.

[derby378]

77. NO.

If you're going to support a Democratic vision for America, you don't do it by voting for a Repuke.

[Dappleganger]

80. Well said.

[blondeatlast]

81. Good Tony is also okay with a Sink and Grayson loss.

I need some fresh air. :banghead:

[Bluenorthwest]

83. Florida is being played by a very simple use of a 'stooge'

The Republicans basically ran two candidates, and told you to fear the one and embrace the other. So you did. Crist is Rubio's stooge, this is a game being played on Florida Democrats, known as the 'marks'.
The Crist supporters seem to be people who would vote for Limbaugh to prevent Beck from winning a seat, all the while refusing to support the Democrat for a moment. Anti Meek posts on DU go back months and months. These people wanted to vote for Crist from the start. They rejected Meek from the day he won the Democratic nomination.

[Dappleganger]

85. Bingo!

Playahs gettin' played.

[Bluenorthwest]

87. Marks being picked off by well oiled cons

playing the long game. These Crist voters could be distracted by a puppet show and some chocolate milk apparently, not exactly shrewd people. From here, they just look stupid, there is no other word for it. Like a video from 'America's Dumbest Voters'.
Thanks for being the kind of Democrat who votes for Democrats, which is the only kind.

[Dappleganger]

90. What they don't see

is what damage is done to the FL democratic party if a legit Dem candidate is urged to drop out of the race for no other reason than the 3rd party spoiler is successfully spoiling. In one election cycle the state which once went for president Obama completely neuters their democratic party for the next 20 years.

This state is very important for presidential elections--you cut them off at the knees now and NO ONE will throw their vote in the hat for a dem for awhile.

[blondeatlast]

88. BINGO x 2! We need to watch this stuff because it will be repeated many times over

in other states.

The GOP is anti-american, simple as that.

[Lorien]

109. A guy from Oregon is in no position to make that call

I've lived in Florida for 22 years. Crist is to the left of many Dems that I've voted for over two decades. Anyone who lives here and has really paid attention knows this to be true. Rubio is a RW nutcase and would be a nightmare for our State.

[Lorien]

95. After eight years of Jeb Bush, Crist was certainly a relief for Florida

He's pretty moderate. I'm really watching the polls here; Meeks showing in Central Florida has been very poor so far. His campaign just hasn't taken off. Christ is honestly less conservative than many "blue dog" Dems, especially on environmental issues. He also wants to ban electronic voting in the State and return to paper ballots. We could do far worse than Crist...Rubio worse, which is just scary.

[blondeatlast]

97. Should Meek drop out, in your opinion? nt

[Lorien]

107. It's his right to keep running no matter how far behind in the polls he is

I would have more peace of mind about the future of my State if he did drop out, but I won't say that he should. Unless he suddenly outpaces Crist in the polls I'll vote for Crist. I figure that I've had to vote for the lesser of evils in most of the past elections. This one is no different. Nelson has been a real disappointment more often than not, so I don't think that Crist would be significantly worse.

[littlewolf]

98. ok I do not have a horse in this race ... I am not from FL

but why would I vote for someone that became a Dem when it became clear that he would not
get the nomination as a Rep. Lets see someone else tried that ... hmm who was it ...
someone from PA ... oh yeah Spector .... and he still voted with the rep more then the Dems ...
naaa I think I would support the Dem candidate .... I know what I am getting .... a real Dem ....

[Lorien]

106. No, you'll be getting a teabagger

because the Centrist has got a shot against him while the Meek does not. I AM from Florida, and Crist is to the left of many Dems on several issues. I look at actions, not labels. Rubio would be a fucking disaster for my State. Crist has been a decent Governor, so I'm sure he'd be OK as a Senator. This isn't a sports game. The outcome has real implications for those of us who live here.