This Floridian is SICK AND TIRED of Charlie Crist's flirtation with an indy candidacy.
Crist is turning out to be a spoiler and I'm pissed about it. Besides the fact that he will move votes away from Meek, even though he's NOT a democrat and Meek is actually a progressive, his entry into the race as an Indy will mean Meek has to start spending money NOW instead of months from now.
I'm well and truly STEAMED about it.
As a floridian, I appreciate his veto. And I think he seems like a nice enough guy. Great personality. Talented politician, for sure.
But I am SICK AND TIRED of having to call Democratic Senators (cough - Bill Nelson - cough) to urge them to vote YES on Democratic issues. I am not anxious to add Crist to my list of angry calls I must make every day. Meek is 100% predictable, with a flawless progressive voting record. Damnit, for once I want a Senator who I don't have to worry how they will vote on democratic bills! Is that asking too much?
I know Crist is going indie and I'm angrier than a hornet about it.
Let me break this down and tell it like it is:
STRIKE ONE: Crist has great appeal among moderate Dems. Crist entering this race as an indie hurts Meek, plain and simple. I don't care what you heard.
STRIKE TWO: We have 20%+ registered indies here in Florida. Many of them voted for Obama. They tend to be left-leaning moderates. North of Palm Beach county there are tons of registered Dems who are moderates. I know. I LIVE in moderate Dem-land right there between Orlando and Tampa (aka the I-4 corridor).
STRIKE THREE: I'm concerned about how much Democratic teachers all over the state feel they owe Crist as a result of his veto. The truth is that many of them literally are keeping their JOBS and LIVELIHOODS thanks to him.
STRIKE FOUR: I'm also concerned about Meek. He IS a progressive and in some parts of the state, that's going to be a tough sell among Democrats. I'd prefer that he go head to head with bat-shit crazy Rubio where he can be "the lesser of two evils" for voters with left-leaning, moderate tendencies. But with Crist in the race, it blows this all to hell. With Crist playing games with his candidacy, Rubio locks down his already bat-shit crazy committed voters and the race quickly becomes a Crist vs. Meek race. They will compete for the moderate vote. Crist will lock up the few remaining sane republicans in the state, and the battle will be ON for moderate Democrats and indies. And THAT'S what pisses me off the most.
Meek is a DEMOCRAT. Crist is a REPUBLICAN. Period.
But with Crist as an "indie", essentially, Meek has a "primary challenge". Now, his own spotless progressive voting record will be used against him months away from the election to paint him as the "radical leftist candidate" instead of the only sane choice in the race (which would be the case in a direct Rubio/Meek run-off). Now, there will be TWO "sane choices": Crist and Meek. And my fear is that they will split the majority vote - say Crist getting 30% and Meek getting 30% and Rubio marches into the senate with 40% and instantly becomes the 2012 GOP VP candidate of choice.
I am SO angry with Charlie Crist right now, I don't know what to do.
Here's an idea: Kendrick Meek