Wednesday Open Thread

July 2, 2014 · by The Florida Squeeze · in Website News · 13 Comments

You know the drill. Leave your comments on any topic.

13 comments

Terry · July 2, 2014 - 8:11 am ·

What is the plan for the democrats to take advantage of changing demographics and turn people out in midterms?

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Buffalo · July 2, 2014 - 8:57 am ·

Given the fact that the Republican Legislature passed everything Rick Scott criticizes Charlie Crist about, when will the Democrats get aggressive and make incumbent lawmakers hurt every time the governor makes a charge. Turn their strength into a weakness by using the governor’s criticism of the GOP legislative record as a weapon in mail pieces.

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Roger · July 2, 2014 - 10:09 am ·

What’s the thought process behind Crist’s NASCAR sponsorship? WTF is the point!!!!????

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1. Mark Lynn · July 2, 2014 - 10:42 am ·
  
  I believe Bob Graham tried something similar while running for prez in 04.
  
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2. Joe Kreps · July 2, 2014 - 10:53 am ·
  
  He is going after the ignorant redneck voter. His base. LOL Actually he is attempting to solidify my new title for him, THE GREAT PANDERER.
  
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A voice of reason · July 2, 2014 - 11:36 am ·

I am disappointed to see the tone if the obviously party backed blog attacking this site.

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Chris Wilson · July 2, 2014 - 2:10 pm ·

If Nan Rich was as horrible a minority leader as she was – and she was a horrible leader whose election year failures led to a record low of just 12 Democrats in the 40-member 2010-12 Florida Senate – why would anyone even consider supporting her for governor? Her stump speeches mirror her floor speeches in their whining, condescending tones. Nan, life is “not fair” and Charlie Crist is going to win the Democratic primary. If life were fair, Paula Dockery would not have had to drop out of her primary against Rick Scott. Follow in her footsteps and for the sake of Floridians and Democrats who DESPERATELT NEED Rick Scott defeated, get out of the race and support the guy who can actually beat him. The same guy who you PRAISED for vetoing each of Senate Bill 6 and the ultrasound abortion bill when he was a Republican. The guy who has ALWAYS stood up for the people. The guy that ALL traditional Democratic institutions – unions, trial lawyers, environmentalists & Lesbian & Gay voters have thrown themselves – behind. Charlie Crist.

This is over for you. Please do not make it over for those of us who so need to defeat Rick Scott and to safeguard the Rule of Law with a Supreme Court that he does not pack.

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1. Dan · July 2, 2014 - 4:19 pm ·
  
  I agree. She was a horrible minority leader. Make countless errors in the races and always hired females. She is into shameless self promotion and at this point is wallowing in self pity. Her insistence on running is damaging to the party and only helps Rick Scott.
  
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  1. stsmith222 · July 2, 2014 - 6:29 pm ·
    
    “and always hired females.” Nice.
    
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2. Tom Bryson · July 3, 2014 - 11:59 am ·
  
  Chris, you could be right about Charlie winning the Democratic primary, we will get the answer in August. Everyone in our party agrees Rick Scott needs to go. What is unwarranted is the premise that Charlie is the only one that can do that job or that he is the one with the best chance of success.
  
  I fully understand the importance of winning and the necessity for pragmatism in politics, I find our current circumstances humiliating. How did we ever get ourselves in such desperate straits that we must rely on a recycled Republican to represent our party for the highest office in the State. Ideology is the mother of politics and the two parties have two very different mothers. What do you say about a man who has abandoned his mother? Charlie’s mother is very displeased and anxious to whip his ass with the willow switch as soon as she gets the chance. Call that Charlie’s first problem.
  
  Charlie comes to our party as a homeless unemployed orphan. We Democrats of course are all about homeless orphans and especially when the orphan possesses a brand new term as Governor of Florida. The prospect is irresistible. Drop what you’re doing our problem is solved. After all Charlie is certainly entitled to his final term, isn’t he? Charlie will go back to the Governor’s mansion and the evil Rick Scott will be erased from the lexicon of Florida politics forever. We’ll turn back the clock and things will be just like they were before Charlie abandoned his incumbency. It is the birth of a myth, a myth skillfully propagated by the Crist campaign. But having the Party leadership choose the nominee isn’t something we Democrats do and barring some special magic, the candidate Charlie will need to endure a primary. Call that Charlie’s second problem.
  
  Charlie has a lot more money than his primary opponent. Charlie has the majesty of former Governor in his pocket. Charlie knows all the progressive talking points by heart. But if Charlie is to win in November, he needs the support of Democrats. This support will not be bestowed on him from on high and it can’t be purchased at Nordstrom. It must be earned. Alex Sink was a candidate with a proven track record as a Democrat. She lost to Rick Scott by 61,000 votes. Charlie will need to rally the Democrats if he is to win. Unfortunately, by ignoring the primary and his opponent, he not only disrespects our hospitality but squanders an opportunity to deal with his problem number three.
  
  So Chris, if Charlie wins the primary as you suggest, November will hold no real choice for voters. Democrats will vote for Charlie because they don’t like Rick and Republicans will vote for Rick because they don’t like Charlie. This because the Democratic party has traded away its principals and values for a mythological victory in November. The silver lining for Democrats is that every day that Charlie continues his empty campaign, his primary win becomes less certain. Democrats could end up with a real candidate and voters could have a real choice after all.
  
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LFS · July 2, 2014 - 4:50 pm ·

Rich must drop out. This primary and all the negative energy created by her supporters is going to cost us the election.

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1. Tom Bryson · July 3, 2014 - 12:06 pm ·
  
  That’s the way. Set up the excuse for failure well before you need it. If Charlie looses it will be Charlie’s fault. He is running a lousy campaign.
  
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Joe Kreps · July 2, 2014 - 5:39 pm ·

The only place Nan is going is to the Governors mansion. Are any of you good Democrats aware that Charlie appointed the two most conservative judges of the Supreme Court. I wonder how much money he will accept to appoint 4 more.

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