Monday, August 31, 2009

Rubio Castigates Crist's pick of LeMieux


From NRO:

Rubio: It's fair to ask questions about Crist pick [NRO Staff]

Florida Republican and U.S. Senate candidate Marco Rubio spoke to NRO about Gov. Charlie Crist’s pick of attorney George LeMieux to serve the remainder of retiring senator Mel Martinez’s term:

George LeMieux is a very successful political operative, as well as a successful and effective lobbyist. Plus, he’s the governor’s best friend, but that’s not the criteria we’re looking for in the next U.S. Senator from Florida. What Republicans want is someone to go to Washington and stand up to the most radical agenda proposed in a long time.

There were some people in consideration that fit the bill in terms of conservative principles, but they weren’t picked. When you’re running for U.S. Senate, like Governor Crist, and you’ve got to pick the U.S. Senator, your choice says a lot about who you are, and what kind of senator you would be.

LeMieux has never been an elected official. He’s a lobbyist and was the governor’s closest advisor when he was deciding on issues like cap-and-trade and the stimulus.

Dan Webster, a Florida House veteran, should have been picked. He understands the legislative process and is consistent and courageous. We would have known where he stands from day number one. There would have been no doubts in anyone’s mind. So, I ask the governor, why George LeMieux over Dan Webster?

I think it’s fair to ask for questions about our new U.S. Senator, about the client list at his firm to where he stands on every issue. It should all be brought into the public record.

Wednesday, August 26, 2009

Marco Rubio Compares Policies with Crist

This is a Herald/Times video of an interview with Florida Senatorial candidate Marco Rubio. Rubio seems to flummox the reporter to the point where he (the reporter) wonders if he will keep his job.

Rubio seems very determined and I am encouraged by his steadfast commitment to his values and the fact that he believes that he is gaining more support every day.

Monday, August 24, 2009

Rubio Continues to Stomp Crist in State Straw Polls

Marco Rubio has scored yet another victory in a county straw poll. Rubio destroyed Gov Charle Crist 23 to 2 in the Bay County REC straw poll.

Rubio has not lost a straw poll yet that I have seen. Some party officals in certain counties are even afraid to conduct a straw poll for fear of the results.

It is unlikely that the committee, with about 300 members, will actually hold a poll vote Monday night. The more likely scenario: Some activists will push to set a date to hold such a vote and others will attempt to quash that -- at least for now.

Results from other straw polls are included in my earlier post here. Rubio won all of them in a big way..

UPDATE: No GOP Straw Vote in Broward County. Click here for the full story.

Video: Marco Rubio says, "Being Like them doesn't work."

Here is video from a "Drive the Discussion" appearance by US Senatorial candidate Marco Rubio.

Part One:


Part Two:


The last few minutes of the video above (part two)defines Rubio's campaign in a lot of ways.

Rubio:
The American people are as great as they have ever been.Now what they need is leader that is worthy of them. What the American people need are leaders worthy of the greatness of our people.

I close by saying this. It is not inevitable that our political process be degraded in this way. It is not inevitable that the scourge of modern politics be leaders that will do or say anything to get elected and manipulate public opinion. That is a choice that we will make or not make. It is not inevitable that America will be permanently diminished. That is a choice that we must make or not make and that is what my campaign will be about. About giving you one of what I hope will be many choices for a new direction for our party and our country...

Saturday, August 22, 2009

Crist Flip Flops on Health Care


Charlie Crist is quickly becoming a candidate that can not seem to find out which way the wind is blowing. He is avoiding debates with his rival Marco Rubio.

The latest indication that Crist is trying to pander to the conservative base is that he has suddenly decided that the Obama health care plan is "cockamamie". That is odd since he endorsed it before it was even proposed.

In February 2009 Crist appeared with President Obama to help him promote the stimulous plan. Crist said:

It's important that we pass a stimulus package. It's important. It is important to do so to help education, to help our infrastructure, and to help HEALTH CARE for those that need it the most. The most vulnerable among us. And let me finish Mr. President by saying that we need to do it in a bipartisan way."... .


Here is the video of that Obama rally and Crist in his own words. The quote above comes from about the 2:50 mark of the video.


Question? How did Crist happen to use the phrase "...the most vulnerable among us.."?
It's a term often used by democrats to promote the Obama health care plan and Crist has been using it since February? HMMMMM????

But now Crist has suddenly changed direction. No doubt he is feeling the heat of the conservative base and is having second thoughts about his past statements. How convenient. He now says that the Obama health care plan is cockamamie.

From TBO.comORLANDO - Florida Gov. Charlie Crist called President Barack Obama's proposed health care overhaul "cockamamie" as he and the state Republican Party tried Saturday to get activists charged up for the 2010 election year.


Well which it Governor? "...the most vulnerable among us..." or ...cockamamie..??

The proof of Crist's sudden turn to the right may have come today when he professed that maybe his prayers were answered when he asked God to keep hurricanes away from Florida.

You decide...

Friday, August 21, 2009

Crist Hides from Debate with Rival Marco Rubio


Current Gov. and US Senatorial Candidate Charlie Crist has again slithered out of an opportuntiy to debate Marco Rubio. He's TOO Busy!

It seems as though Crist is relying on name recognition alone to propel him to the Senate. He has refused to appear with Rubio regardless of the venue. Rubio has challenged Crist to debate on several occasions.
--------------------------------------------------------------------
From Miami Herald

Top Fla. candidates to debate without "busy" Crist

By BRENDAN FARRINGTON
AP Political Writer
ORLANDO, Fla. -- Florida Gov. Charlie Crist once again opted to wear his governor's hat instead of appearing with other Senate candidates Friday to talk about his campaign.

Crist appeared at a breakfast during the Florida Association of Realtors annual convention instead of accepting an invitation to a political forum later in the day.

"They invited me to come speak as governor and I wanted to honor their invitation," Crist told reporters. "I've got other stuff to do tonight. I've got a busy job."

There was no official business on the governor's public schedule after 10 a.m. Friday. The forum was scheduled for 5 p.m. Crist did plan to attend Republican Party of Florida events Friday night and Saturday, also in Orlando.

The other two major candidates seeking the seat Sen. Mel Martinez is giving up - Democrat U.S. Rep. Kendrick Meek and Republican former House Speaker Marco Rubio - plan to attend the event.

Also appearing are the two major candidates for governor, Republican Attorney General Bill McCollum and Democrat Chief Financial Officer Alex Sink. The election will be held next year.

Crist's decision is similar to an event last month. He attended the Florida Society of News Editors/Florida Press Association annual conference to give an award to a staff member, but declined to stay for a Senate candidates forum that immediately followed the awards luncheon.

He did briefly mention his Senate campaign during Friday's breakfast, almost as an aside while saying that he used to work for former Sen. Connie Mack.

"The U.S. Senate, by the way, I happen to be running for it and I would like your help," Crist told the real estate agents. "We need to take that Florida common sense away to Washington D.C. now more than ever."

Updated:Marco Rubio Scores a National Review Cover



In its latest edition, National Review has honored me with a cover story about our campaign. I want to share it with you and encourage you to share it widely with your friends and family.

National Review
September 7, 2009 Issue
Rubio Rising: The Florida GOP has a new star
By John J. Miller

Florida governor Charlie Crist is running for the Senate, and he isn't supposed to lose -- let alone lose in the Republican primary. He enjoys a high approval rating, has a history of success among voters, and raises campaign cash with the intensity of a Category 5 hurricane. His main opponent in the GOP primary is Marco Rubio, a 38-year-old Miami native who quotes Snoop Dogg lyrics on his Twitter account. On paper, it looks like a mismatch between an unbeatable juggernaut and a doomed also-ran.

Yet Crist may be vulnerable: He warmly embraced President Obama's stimulus spending and is one of the most liberal politicians in the Republican firmament. Rubio is among the brightest young stars on the right. Their contest could become the sleeper race of 2010.

That would spoil the well-laid plans of many in the GOP establishment. They want the Senate race in Florida to be over before it starts. In May, when Crist declared that he would forgo a second term as governor and aim for the seat of retiring senator Mel Martinez, the National Republican Senatorial Committee waited all of 14 minutes to endorse him. "I never thought I'd see the day when a conservative was the insurgent in a Republican primary," says Rubio. Yet this is precisely what he has become: a heavy underdog who must learn to wage the political version of asymmetric warfare. A recent Mason-Dixon poll gave Crist a big lead over his rival, 51 percent to 23 percent.

The election remains a year away. For a primary, it's late on the calendar: Aug. 24, 2010. That gives Rubio plenty of time to catch up. The details of the Mason-Dixon poll suggest that he'll have a fighting chance. Among Republicans who are familiar with both candidates, Crist's lead slips to statistical insignificance. It's basically a dead heat. "I'm not a kamikaze," says Rubio. "At this time next year, you're going to be analyzing a very different race." For that prediction to come true, conservatives in Florida and around the country will have to turn Rubio's candidacy into a cause.

Marco Antonio Rubio was born in 1971, the son of Cuban exiles. His father worked late nights as a bartender. His mother was a hotel maid and a stock clerk at Kmart. They lived in Miami, moved to Las Vegas for a few years, and finally returned to Florida. "I gained an interest in politics and history from my uncle, who would read books and newspapers out loud to us," says Rubio. As with many boys, sports were a priority. He played defensive back for his high-school football team. He says he has a recurring dream -- a "nightmare," he calls it -- about a playoff game in 1987: "We should have won, but the referees called back a play, we missed a field goal, and our team lost."

Rubio was talented enough to earn a scholarship to Tarkio College in Missouri. After a year, he left the gridiron and transferred to the University of Florida. Then came law school at the University of Miami. He remains an avid football fan and keeps fit playing in a competitive flag-football league. "Don't disturb him during Miami Dolphins games," warns a former colleague. "He doesn't just watch them -- he studies them." Rubio's devotion to the Dolphins is a family affair: His wife is a former team cheerleader. They have four children.

Early on, Rubio began to dabble in politics. He interned for Republican congresswoman Ileana Ros-Lehtinen and later coordinated the Dole-Kemp campaign in Miami-Dade County. "That was a tough assignment, but Marco was passionate," says Al Cardenas, a former chair of the Florida GOP. "He had good people skills and helped the volunteers keep their spirits up. That's when I first thought he might be going places."

In 1998, at the age of 26, Rubio stepped into public life: He won a race to serve on the West Miami city commission. The next year, a spot opened in the state legislature. Rubio declared his candidacy in the special election and finished second in the Republican primary. This led to a runoff, and a lot of hustling: He walked neighborhoods, knocked on doors, and raised enough money to broadcast a few radio ads. In the end, he pulled off a minor upset, winning by 64 votes. It was the last time he faced a difficult race. The district was safe for Republicans, and voters sent him back to Tallahassee four times. Last year, term limits prevented him from running again.

As a young legislator, Rubio caught the eye of his elders. "He's got all the tools," says Jeb Bush, the former governor. "He's charismatic and has the right principles." Rubio compiled a conservative voting record and started to climb the GOP's leadership ladder, eventually becoming speaker of the House. The capitol's veterans occasionally mistook him for an aide: Lt. Gov. Toni Jennings once marched into his office, handed him a stack of papers, and asked him to make copies. At the time, Rubio was majority leader. "I did make the copies," he says. For the most part, however, his youth was an asset. "I watched him grow up in the House," says Lindsay Harrington, a former speaker pro tem. "He has an amazing ability to deliver a message -- when he gives a speech, you can hear a pin drop."

That's what observers say about Rubio, over and over again: He's a first-rate communicator. "He has a gift," says Larry Cretul, the current House speaker. "People love listening to him." He certainly has a flair for one-liners. Cap-and-trade legislation, he says, "will do nothing but make America one of the cleanest Third World economies." He urges the GOP to avoid ethnic pandering, and dismisses concerns that opposition to the Supreme Court nomination of Sonia Sotomayor would hurt Republicans among Hispanics: "We don't need more mariachi bands at the rallies."

Thanks to YouTube, Rubio's farewell address last year probably has been seen by more viewers than any other speech in the history of the Florida statehouse. That may sound like faint praise, and Rubio's clip doesn't compete with web sensations such as Susan Boyle or Obama Girl. But he's gone about as viral as any state legislator can hope to go without setting his pants on fire. More recently, he has taken advantage of Twitter. He comments on everything from the state of his campaign to how long it takes his wife to get ready for a night out.

Behind the rhetoric and panache, there's substance. When Rubio became speaker, he unveiled a plan to develop "100 innovative ideas for Florida's future." He and other officials traveled the state, holding "idea-raisers" with voters. The stated goal was to find ways to improve life in Florida without unduly increasing the size of government. The result was a conservative legislative agenda, released on the web and as a short book. Judging from the recommendations Rubio adopted, it would seem that everybody in Florida was an intern at the Heritage Foundation. Fifty-seven of the proposals were passed, many of them small-bore. The most ambitious was No. 96, which called for capping or eliminating the state property tax and replacing it with a revenue-neutral sales-tax hike. "We couldn't get Crist or the state senators to go along with it -- they didn't want to be bold," says Rubio. "That was probably my biggest disappointment as speaker. Florida could be in a much stronger position today." In his bid for the Senate, tax reform remains his No. 1 talking point.

Rubio's efforts on the campaign trail are starting to pay off. This summer, he has won lopsided victories in straw polls conducted by GOP executive committees. In June, Pasco County Republicans favored Rubio by a vote of 73 to 9. In July, Rubio trounced Crist in Lee County (60 to 11) and Highland County (75 to 1). Technically, these tallies are meaningless. Yet they express a growing disillusionment with Crist at the party's core. The governor's global-warming alarmism has unsettled conservatives for a long time. Then there's his appointment of a liberal to the state supreme court, his approval of a state budget that raises cigarette taxes, and his hug of Obama at a political event in support of the president's spending plans. On August 12, Republicans in Palm Beach County held a vote to censure Crist. The measure failed, but only because the final vote was a tie. In this environment, Rubio begins to look like an attractive alternative.

The Republican case for Crist is simple and pragmatic: He'll win the seat, hands down, at a time when the GOP can't afford to take any chances. The number of Republicans in the U.S. Senate has dwindled to 40. Six incumbents have announced plans to retire, most of them in states where Democrats can be expected to compete. It's possible that Republicans will make gains next year in congressional races and the states but actually lose ground in the Senate. The fear is that Rubio will become a slightly more successful version of Pat Toomey, the former Pennsylvania congressman who electrified conservatives and nearly stole the GOP nomination from then-Republican Arlen Specter in 2004. Many think that giving the party's nod to Crist at least would remove a question mark from the political map. Rubio has a ready retort: "I can't beat Kendrick Meek?" he asks, in reference to the left-wing congressman who is the likely Democratic nominee.

Rubio has heard suggestions, in public and private, that he should seek a different office. He might run for state attorney general, for instance. Or he could be tapped as a candidate for lieutenant governor. Another opportunity to run for the Senate will present itself in 2012, when the current term of Democratic senator Bill Nelson expires. But Rubio says he won't budge: "I'm in this race to win. Many of the things that make America unique are threatened by politicians in Washington, D.C. We're going to make irreversible decisions over the next four to six years. I want to be a part of correcting the course."

Several factors may work to Rubio's advantage. The primary is closed, which means that only registered Republicans can participate. Turnout probably will be low, which increases the importance of conservative activists. Rubio also has started to attract national attention. Sen. Jim DeMint of South Carolina and former presidential candidate Mike Huckabee have en¬dorsed him. Interestingly, Jeb Bush has remained quiet, fueling speculation that he might back Rubio if the race is close next summer. His son, Jeb Bush Jr., is a confirmed Rubio supporter. That Rubio is of Cuban ancestry doesn't hurt, either. "Finding Latino stars in the Republican party is a big deal," says Mike Murphy, a GOP political consultant and Rubio donor. "I don't want to pigeonhole him -- I'd like him if he was Scandinavian -- but it's a plus."

The biggest challenge for Rubio will be money. In the second quarter of this year, Crist amassed $4.3 million. Rubio managed about one-twelfth of that amount: $340,000. This low figure has caused some to question his discipline. A shake-up of his campaign staff this summer raised doubts, too. Rubio clearly enjoys the performance aspect of politics. To win, however, he'll also need to devote hours and hours of each day to the drudgery of fundraising: making cold calls, asking strangers for money, and receiving far more rejections than checks. This is the only way he'll gain the resources to put ads on television, which is the only way to compete in a large state with as many media markets as Florida.

Donate Online

The good news is that Rubio doesn't have to match Crist dollar for dollar. But he does need to hit a certain mark -- enough to lift his name into the consciousness of most Florida Republicans. It can probably be done for about $5 million, give or take. Primaries are famously fluid, with lots of last-minute deciders. Candidates such as Rubio can close hard and fast in the final two or three weeks, but only if they spend a long time preparing to make the most of their opportunity.

Rubio may want to think of his task as a football game: He'll need to play from behind, hanging in there against a stronger opponent for a full four quarters and hoping to put himself in position for a game-winning kick as time runs out. Then the nightmare will belong to Charlie Crist.

Used with permission of National Review, 215 Lexington Avenue, New York, NY 10016 and www.nationalreview.com

Thursday, August 20, 2009

Video:Marco's Story.A short film about Marco Rubio

Here is an outstanding video featuring Florida Senatorial candidate Marco Rubio. The video is featured at Redstate.com and presented by David Thompson


Marco's Story from David Thompson on Vimeo.

Wednesday, August 19, 2009

Rubio vs Crist:Latest Poll Results for Florida Senate Race



Rasmussen has released their first polling results for the 2010 Florida Senate race between Marco Rubio and current Gov. Charlie Crist.

Although Crist currently leads by a wide margin, it's worth noting the "unsure" category of the poll.

Crist's unsure rating is 1%. Rubio's is a whopping 28%. This shows that Crist may have garnered all of the support that he likely to get whereas Rubio has a lot to gain.

When people start to evaluate Crist's more moderate positions on major issues and compare them to Rubio's overwhelmingly more conservative approach, it's just a matter of time before Rubio's numbers will begin to rise.

Crist is afraid to debate Rubio on the issues. Rubio has challenged Crist and has not received a response.

From Rasmussenreports.com

I’m going to read you a short list of people in the News. For each, please let me know if you have a very favorable, somewhat favorable, somewhat unfavorable, or very unfavorable impression

First….Charlie Crist
31% Very favorable
44% Somewhat favorable
17% Somewhat unfavorable
6% Very unfavorable
1% Not sure

Next…Marco Rubio
18% Very favorable
35% Somewhat favorable
14% Somewhat unfavorable
5% Very unfavorable
28% Not sure

Saturday, August 8, 2009

Full Video:Marco Rubio says "Nationalize this Race"

Below is full video of Marco Rubio's speech at the the Red State gathering in Georgia. Rubio wows the crowd with his conservative message.

One of the main points that Rubio stresses is that Conservatives should never deny their principles just to gain support. That,in my opinion, is the message of the future of the conservative movement. A recent poll showed that a majority of voters consider themselves "conservative". Now they just need to vote this one in to office.

Marco Rubio from David Thompson on Vimeo.

Wednesday, August 5, 2009

Video:Barbara Boxer: Well Dressed Right Wing Surrogates Attend Protests to Obama's Plans

Here are some pics of the "well dressed" people at the Jacksonville Tea Party(video below):







Senator Barbara Boxer claims that protestors are too well dressed to be "regular citzens".



Elitism has Found a NEW LOW!

Monday, August 3, 2009

Is Crist Losing Ground to a Rubio Surge-Crist Censured in Volusia County

From Sun Sentinel.com
Florida Gov. Charlie Crist censured in his own state.
By Jack Furnari

In a move sure to strike fear in the hearts of the current regime in charge of the Republican Party of Florida, the Volusia County Republican Executive Committee passed a motion by voice vote Saturday morning censuring Republican Gov. Charlie Crist.

The Volusia motion ends with a wink and a nod to the Republican Party of Palm Beach County's own battle over censuring Crist. In what might be perceived as a plea for solidarity from Palm Beach County REC members, the resolution says: "Governor Crist's appointment of Democrats to boards is not limited to Volusia County. He also appointed Democrat Pricilla Taylor to the Palm Beach Board of County Commissioners; and he appointed Democrat Carrie Hill to the Palm Beach County School Board."

Back in April, the PBC Republican Party voted 66-24 to table a Crist censure motion introduced by REC member Steven Ledewitz until August. Now that August is here, the Board of Directors of the Republican Party of Palm Beach County, in anticipation of the motion being introduced again at the upcoming Aug. 12 meeting, recently voted 9-0 to oppose any motion to censure Crist.

Disclosure: As a member of the Board of Directors of the Republican Party of Palm Beach County, I voted, along with the rest of the board, against the local motion to censure Gov. Crist.

In an e-mail sent to grass-roots conservative activists across the state, former Palm Beach County resident and current Volusia County REC member Sally Stewart wrote: "This is the first step toward taking back our government. We need counties throughout the state to send a message that we don't like business as usual.... Our elected officials pander for our votes and when they gain office, turn their backs on us and do the bidding of the big-money lobbyists and special interests."


Click here to read the full article that spells out the reasons for the censure vote.

Rubio is gaining momentum and I think Crist is starting to feel the heat.

Saturday, August 1, 2009

Video:Marco Rubio Stands Up for Conservatism

Marco Rubio spells out his conservative philosophy during the question and answer session of the Faith and Family Values Republican Club Meeting. My thanks to John Tracy for providing access to the video recorded by Tony Masella.

I am only posting three of the videos available at the link above because I believe they may best illustrate the values that Marco Rubio holds.

Notice that this is a true "Town Hall Meeting" and no TELEPROMPTER was needed.

Rubio covers many important topics during this event and it is well worth the time to view the videos to learn what his opinion is on many important subjects that are of concern to conservatives.