This week on the open thread we’d love to hear readers suggestions for who should be Charlie Crist’s running mate for Lieutenant Governor. Under the current state law, Governor Crist can wait until just after the primary to make his choice. The old state law which was changed in the mid 1990s dictated that all Gubernatorial candidates selected their running mates before qualifying for the primary.
Wednesday Open Thread: LG Choices
Florida History Podcast
The Florida Squeeze 
If I were him I’d consider someone from Broward in the hopes of driving up Dem votes there.
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Nan Rich will be the democratic candidate. How about state senator Darren Soto for LG?
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^^^ la la land.
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Jeff Kottkamp.
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Val Demings
Alvin Brown
Chris Smith
Dan Gelber
Rick Kreisman
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Alvin Brown would leave one of the most powerful positions in the state to be LG? Say what?
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Darren Soto
Val Demings
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Can’t imagine anyone eager to be FL’s next Lt. Governor, considering the utter fiasco Rick Scott accomplished with his pandering pick of an obscure Republican state rep. from Jax! This is a ho-hum non-position, with no official duties. Her replacement was an equal pander to gain Hispanic votes, of a south Florida Hispanic. Does this guy Scott have no shame? And do we all recall Jeb’s Lt. waiting until Jeb had “won” his second term, only to bolt and get himself installed as head of FIU, a plum position. It sure pays to know folks in high places, huh? A typical Republican bait-and-switch. When are the voters of FL going to demand an honest-to-goodness national talent search of academic leaders without political ties to fill these university positions, instead of the tired old politically-motivated fix as was attempted in appointing Thrasher (involved in past scandals) who has no bona fides or credentials in education whatsoever! We need a housecleaning of these political cronies in November, for the betterment of all and a turnaround in the way this state is run, or we will continue to see FL’s ratings in everything from education to environmental quality slide!
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FAU actually not FIU! 🙂 Point well taken through.
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Also should point out Crist’s choice of Kottkamp in 2006 wasn’t exactly inspired. Many thought it was a joke when announced until the press conference actually happened. Certainly it was a bad rumor, right?
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Demings sounds good
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Let’s hope Nan Rich is making this choice not Crist.
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and i hope i win the powerball, which is more likely to happen. 🙂
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Sorry to ask a question that is off topic, but what is going on with the verdict in the redistricting case? I thought it would be handed down by now. Did I miss something? What could be taking so long?
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Bob Butterworth
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A Hispanic or Black female is his only choice.
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If it’s Charlie then it definitely needs to be a strong progressive woman from South Florida. Nan would be good, if the fight wasn’t getting so bitter. Hispanic or Af-Am is extra points: Annette Taddeo, Barbara Sharief?
If it’s Nan, then it should be someone from i-4. A Hispanic like Darren Soto would be great, or Af-Am like Val Demmings (but let’s hope she doesn’t quit on us in October).
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There is no one from Broward. Chris Smith would make a lot of sense, but Alcee Hastings will block it. Darren Soto cast some bad votes this session and he’s too much of a lightweight IMHO. Val Demings lost one race and then quit another mysteriously. I don’t think she gets a look. Too bad Nan said no to Charlie for this position (as well as DCF Secretary.) Maybe she’ll change her mind after the primary (although if she gets less than 30%, she won’t get a look)
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Val Demings should certainly be near or at the top of Crist’s his short list.
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I heard her speak Saturday at the Diplomat Hotel, and she was fantastic.
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If it’s Charlie then it has to be a strong progressive woman from South Florida. Nan Rich would be an ideal choice, but the campaign is becoming to bitter. Bonus points if it’s Hispanic or Black: Annette Taddeo or Barbara Shareief would fit the bill.
If it’s Nan, then it should be someone from the i-4 corridor. A Hispanic like Darren Soto or an African American like Val Demmings makes a lot of sense.
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As long as Nan Rich isn’t on the ticket I’m happy. Her supporters have done nothing but agitate. The candidate herself is angry, tired and annoying.
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And the horse you rode in on.
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Nothing could be further from the truth.
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progressive women i talked to last month who know her personally feel that way and support crist, so maybe it’s very close to the truth.
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If Hillary and Obama could work together after 2008, so can Charlie and Nan Rich.
They don’t have to become best buddies but they need to acknowledge each other’s strengths and work together, evincing the civility without which our nation’s demise is being hastened. However, they need to come to an agreement about a real role for her, one which will propel Florida forward and one in which she will earn her $125,000.
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Condescending anyone?
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Nan Rich offers nothing to a prospective ticket. She has no business running for governor and as this two years have demonstrated she has no political basd no support beyond angry malcontents and no charisma on the stump. She would be a total waste.
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B.D. Poe a brilliant lifelong Democrat who has served the party well.
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Nan is 3 times smarter than Chicken Charlie. When Charlie loses he will be offered the ambassadorship to Cuba.
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We don’t have an ambassadorship to Cuba. We don’t have diplomatic relations with Cuba.
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Picky picky.
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my cat is 5 times smarter than joe. stand up joe. oh, you are.
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From Daily Kos Elections Morning Digest July 10 2014:
“In a poll taken before the Fourth of July holiday, SurveyUSA finds GOP Gov. Rick Scott leading Democrat Charlie Crist 45-43, up a bit from his 42-41 edge just a week earlier. That actually ties Scott with his highest vote share ever: A few other polls have placed him at 45, but never higher, and all of those were from Republican pollsters or conservative outfits”.
In light of recent polling, perhaps Charlie should put his Republican DNA to work and tap Allen West for the LG spot.
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Allen West, one of the most extreme right wing members of the Tea Party, as the Democratic LG choice. That is just crazy talk .
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I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again … Bob Butterworth for LG ’14!
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Nan Rich said she would support Crist as the party’s nominee if she loses next month’s primary. My respect for her just went way up!
Read more here: http://www.miamiherald.com/2014/07/11/4230653/democrat-nan-rich-calls-on-charlie.html#storylink=cpy
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Alex Sink.
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