Wednesday Open Thread

June 18, 2014 · by The Florida Squeeze · in Website News · 39 Comments

It’s qualifying week! Leave your comments, questions and deep thoughts here.

39 comments

Obamacrat · June 18, 2014 - 1:05 am ·

It is unfortunate that Nan Rich has qualified. The republicans must have paid her filing fee. That or Progressive Choice which is the republicans anyway.

The republicans want this to be a messy primary but like George LeMeiux who was pushed out after qualifying for the US Senate last time as a republican we must keep the pressure on Nan Rich to withdraw from the race.

LikeLike
1. Jeff · June 18, 2014 - 9:58 am ·
  
  Not happening. Why don’t you guys decide to run a campaign based on issues rather than these sorts of attempts at intimidation?
  
  LikeLike
2. Kevin Cerino · June 18, 2014 - 1:49 pm ·
  
  LeMeiux wasn’t pushed out. He withdrew to save himself the embarrassment of losing by such a wide margin.
  
  LikeLike
3. Demodaysi · June 18, 2014 - 5:33 pm ·
  
  The more you push, the more we will push back. Leave Nan alone and focus on helping your candidate. He should not have any concern if he is a stronger candidate as you say he is.
  
  LikeLike
Concerned Democrat · June 18, 2014 - 9:08 am ·

If you look at the state house we have been doing a HORRIBLE JOB of finding viable candidates in the most marginal Republican seats. We are in big big trouble. Crist is going to have to win by 4 to 6 points for us to pick up House seats.

LikeLike
1. Jeff · June 18, 2014 - 9:59 am ·
  
  Worst ever. I like Mark Pafford a good progressive leader but he’s been beyond poor at attracting candidates and has turned the keys of the car back over to party vendors.
  
  LikeLike
  1. stsmith222 · June 18, 2014 - 4:33 pm ·
    
    Isn’t Representative Thurston still the leader?
    
    LikeLike
  2. David · June 20, 2014 - 9:49 am ·
    
    Stsmith222, the incoming leader is responsible for candidate recruitment and fundraising. Thurston ran the 2012 effort, Saunders in 2010, Sands in 2008, etc.
    
    LikeLike
Tom Bryson · June 18, 2014 - 9:20 am ·

Does the Democratic Party really think Charlie Crist can beat Rick Scott or is this another example of sloth on the part of the Party Leadership?

Ex Governor Charlie Crist has always been a soft target for the Scott campaign. His reputation among Republicans as an Obama hugging traitor assures a large turnout for the Governor. The ex Governor’s record of restricting abortion, of being anti gay and pro gun, of giving public money to private schools, appointment of Justices Canady and Polston, sponsorship of the chain gang legislation and having several friends and associates behind bars rightfully creates skepticism among Democrats.

When this or any political contest is turned into a battle of negatives as in Crist V Scott, the outcome is determined by the two GOTV efforts. Crist has a real disadvantage here. Republicans vote, and enmity toward Crist will encourage turnout for Scott.. Democrats have a poor record of voting in off year elections and are rightly skeptical of the Crist epiphany. Additionally there are 1.1 million presumably Democratic votes rejecting Charlie in 2010 as well as hard feelings over Charlie’s destruction of the Meek candidacy.

If Charlie continues to ignore his Democratic opponent and sticks with his refusal to debate, his probable nomination will be seen as unearned and a consequence of the party having it’s thumb on the scale. Democrats understandably resent being taken for granted or told how to vote. Charlie will come up short in November.

LikeLike
1. Joe Kreps · June 20, 2014 - 1:41 pm ·
  
  Very Good assessment.
  
  LikeLike
#avoteforrichisavoteforscott · June 18, 2014 - 9:21 am ·

The progressives living in denial need to smell the roses. Nan Rich is only still in the race because of republican money. She’s been propped up by the GOP.

The call has been made the Democrats not donate to her rogue candidacy. Most of the donors headed this call. Most in our party are very serious about this. If she were out of the race the FDP wouldn’t have to play neutral and we could start the general election now.

Progressive choice and the Republican Party and some of the more conservative Democrats backing this lame candidacy proves what is going on.

And Kartik’s statement to the Sun Sentinel about party establishment figures being hostile to Nan Rich is total hogwash. They’ve been forced to be neutral because of her and the abrasive behavior of her backers starting with two crazy state legislators and going right through all these crazy activist types.

LikeLike
1. Jeff · June 18, 2014 - 10:00 am ·
  
  I didn’t see Kartik’s statement. But based on what I’m hearing he is right.
  
  LikeLike
2. Dave Trotter · June 19, 2014 - 8:29 am ·
  
  Again……
  
  So, those who are helping the lifelong Democrat and are lifelong Democrats themselves are really Republicans while those who are helping the Republican governor are really Democrats?
  
  Back-Assward!
  
  LikeLike
3. Joe Kreps · June 20, 2014 - 1:42 pm ·
  
  Very bad assessment.
  
  LikeLike
Democratic Guy · June 18, 2014 - 9:29 am ·

It is a real shame for our party that Nan Rich qualified. She is working closely with the the Republicans and while this website can make an issue out of equality florida’s endorsement they are not in denial like many other so-called progressives who are just dupes for the GOP.

If Nan Rich were a true Democrat she would stop out of this race and publicly endorse Charlie Crist. Failure to do so only helps Rick Scott.

We must defeat Rick Scott in November but instead if focusing on that we are stuck as a party having to deal with a primary and these nonsensical calls for debates.

LikeLike
1. Tom Bryson · June 18, 2014 - 9:41 am ·
  
  Did anyone ever really think she wasn’t going to qualify?
  
  LikeLike
2. Joe Kreps · June 20, 2014 - 1:45 pm ·
  
  Nan Rich is a Democrat’s Democratic. Trying to tie her to the repubs. is ludacris, and smacks of desperation.
  
  LikeLike
Tom Bryson · June 18, 2014 - 9:42 am ·

January 15, 2016: Today the Florida Democratic party turned out the lights and locked the doors for the final time. In a brief statement, party Chair Allison Tant said “there just weren’t enough Republican defections to keep the party going.

LikeLike
Jack · June 18, 2014 - 9:47 am ·

The idea that Nan Rich supporters are republican dupes is offensive. Is Charlie Crist so scared of debates or a primary?

LikeLike
Jeff · June 18, 2014 - 9:58 am ·

Our party is a mess. That is nothing new but this might be the single worst year yet.

1. They have forced Crist down the throats of all activists and advocacy groups.

2. Since they have pushed Crist they have allienated a large swath of progressives.

3. The House and Senate campaigns are a mess. The House in particular is being poorly run and events are being dictated by the party not the actual caucus. Weak House leadership.

4. Candidate recruitment is worse than ever. I believe when the dust settles on this qualifying week you will see it is the worst effort by the Democrats to find candidates for state legislature and state cabinet offices ever.

5. The developing psychopathy among some here to just echo everything Crist or the FDP want shows how dysfunctional we are.

LikeLike
1. Tom Bryson · June 18, 2014 - 10:47 am ·
  
  Why would any progressive or even moderate Democrat stick their neck out and run knowing the leadership will recruit some big money third way candidate to challenge you?
  
  LikeLike
  1. hancockross · June 18, 2014 - 12:08 pm ·
    
    Welcome to my life. Ross
    
    LikeLike
Joni · June 18, 2014 - 10:04 am ·

Charlie Crist has still failed to say anything that indicates he’s really a progressive. It is amazing he is being given a pass even by this website which is better than most. Still it seems TFS has been given orders to lay off. What happened to the Crist files? Why did you guys stop?????

LikeLike
Opie · June 18, 2014 - 10:05 am ·

We are probably going to lose House seats. It’s painfully obvious how poorly we are doing.

LikeLike
hancockross · June 18, 2014 - 10:18 am ·

Congratulations to the great Sen. Nan Rich for qualifying for the Florida governor’s race. She is a true public servant and deserves our thanks, best wishes and respect. Congratulations as well to Gov. Charlie Crist, who also qualified this week. The people in the state are suffering, and their hopes will be expressed and heard.

LikeLike
Mary · June 18, 2014 - 10:57 am ·

No real effort at building a permanent field presence has been undertaken by this party. This comes after Obama showed us twice how it is done.

Couple that withal this whining and the general nastiness and pettiness of the party and we are really screwed.

LikeLike
Keri · June 18, 2014 - 11:01 am ·

I’m hopeful Crist now that he has a primary for sure will accept debates and talk about progressive principles. He must come out of the primary strong and that means running to the left.

LikeLike
The Hornets Nest · June 18, 2014 - 11:05 am ·

I would not be surprised to Maria Sachs loses in spite of her big win last time. She’s never become popular the residency issue is still alive and well and the fact is it will be a Republican year.

LikeLike
It's 2014 not 2006 · June 18, 2014 - 11:06 am ·

Come on guys!Democrats who do not support Charlie Crist are only helping Rick Scott.

What makes Rich a better Democrat than Crist? Simply because she was registered as a Democrat earlier?

Let us look at the here and now. This website likes to live in the past, obsessing about history and Lawton Chiles, etc. That’s the ancient past.

Right now Charlie is as good a Democrat as anyone. If not for him Obama would not have been elected or reelected. He has proven his commitment to the party.

Nan Rich was hardly a titan as a state legislator. She can claim she is cut from the same mold as this website by trotting out Buddy MacKay but she never led on anything other than issues which are not hot button ones. You can also ask the trial lawyers what they think of her and her voting record. Let us not forget she also supported Stand Your Ground.

Oh did the hero worship just fade DUMMIES when that is pointed out.

She is now openly courting Republican $$$

WTF do you think Progressive Choice is?

She is getting more $$$ too than just that stupid organization.

This is a battle for the soul of the Democratic Party between real Democrats like us led by Charlie Crist, phony ones aligned with the Republicans like Nan Rich and some of her more prominent supporters and those in a fantasy land of the past like dumb ass Kartik Krishnaiyer.

Will the real Democrats win? Those that put Obama in office? Or will the RPOF backed candidate win? Will Kartik Krishnaiyer and Justin Snyder use this website to continue to push a hard edged Marco Rubio like foreign policy while attacking Crist supporters and giving a forum for Nan Rich’s backers many whom are well meaning and do not know what those of us on the inside know … she is a REPUBLICAN PLANT right now.

LikeLike
#avoteforrichisavoteforscott · June 18, 2014 - 11:40 am ·

I want to clarify a point or two I made earlier. Nobody is saying that all the activists a lot of them females who given so much for the Democratic cause are dupes for the Republicans. I do want to say is Nan Rich and many of those working on her campaign and a state legislator or two backing her no full well what they are doing. They are doing this in order to help the Republicans out of some pettiness bitterness or simply a desire to gain influence with the Scott administration.

I did not mean to insult the activists. If we begin the new blog not squeezed people will know who is behind this candidacy and the agenda of those people.

This particular blog has been given every opportunity to expose this. They’ve been given information about the group progressive choice and other Nan Ruch backers and have chosen not to publish it. We will be looking to publish it elsewhere.

LikeLike
Obamacrat · June 18, 2014 - 12:27 pm ·

What’s the agenda behind the Rich candidacy? I bet if many of the hard working volunteers of the party knew they’d be on Crist/Obama team as well.

If you love Pres. Obama you must vote for Charlie Crist.

LikeLike
1. Tom Bryson · June 20, 2014 - 10:33 am ·
  
  When was their ever a Crist/Obama team? Did I miss President Obama’s endorsement of Charlie Crist?
  
  LikeLike
  1. David · June 20, 2014 - 12:59 pm ·
    
    Probably referring to the fact that Crist’s campaign team is basically OFA 6.0
    
    LikeLike
  2. Tom Bryson · June 20, 2014 - 5:45 pm ·
    
    Ditto that for Nan. Many OFA folks are supporting Senator Rich.
    
    LikeLike
A voice of reason · June 18, 2014 - 1:03 pm ·

Crist’s people are so angry and defensive. Why? He’s going to win the primary people.

LikeLike
Jester · June 18, 2014 - 1:23 pm ·

You know this site is not liberal when it comes to foreign-policy that much is obvious.

For some reason the writers here don’t seem to realize what George W. Bush did to American prestige and American ability abroad.

LikeLike
Terry · June 18, 2014 - 5:16 pm ·

The way Crist ppl react to Nan Rich you’d think she was some sort of huge threat.

LikeLike
Cheryl · June 18, 2014 - 9:23 pm ·

The candidate recruitment here in Pinellas has been about as poor as it gets.

LikeLike
Joe Kreps · June 20, 2014 - 1:58 pm ·

Wow. Charlie’s people are sweating a river. What are they going to do when Nan and her supporters step it up a notch. Tom Bryson you can handle these hacks by yourself. Your’re right on the money. Double entendre.

LikeLike