The long awaited appearance of Governor Charlie Crist at the Broward Republican Executive Committee finally came to pass last night. In front 
of a crowd of about 300 people (Yes, 300-including press, security and the BREC board) the Governor gave another one of his not-so-memorable speeches. Just another speech, just another day, in the life of the sitting Governor of the state of Florida, right?
For the record, I, your ever humble and lovable correspondent, did not pose for a picture with Governor Crist, as misstated by Chairman of the BREC Chip LaMarca earlier today on the Joyce Kaufmann Show. So to set the record straight, here’s my insta-take on what transpired last night @ the BREC.
Governor Crist began his 20 minute speech bashing the Obama Administration for the out of control spending that has been going on for since January. Come again? Could he be referring to the ‘porkulus’ plan that he endorsed and promoted with our beloved President, Barack Hussein Obama?
The good Governor went on to read the rest of his talking points from the sheet of paper he was reading from. Yes, he was reading from a prepared statement. Funny, but I don’t remember his nemesis, fellow U S Senate candidate Marco Rubio, reading from a prepared speech when he spoke last month in front of the same committee.
But even before Charlie delivered his somewhat uninspiring speech, the Governor mulled over the points in his prepared speech with several people who were offering him advice on what to add or subtract from his remarks in a hotel room a few floors above from where the BREC meeting took place.
As Governor Crist exchanged greetings with well-wishers upon his entrance into the room, I asked him if he would be interested in one-on-one debates with Marco Rubio. He replied, “I don’t know.”
The room was filled with old faces and faces that normally do not attend any of the monthly meetings. Many of the attendees were Crist appointees and long time political allies. There were however, a good number of Rubio supporters in attendance that were instructed to keep a very low profile. One group of people that were noticeably absent were the BREC’s “activists”, as I call them. I was contacted by many of these activists earlier in the day and told that they would rather stay home instead listening to more empty rhetoric from the Governor.
Upon his exit from the room, Governor Crist was asked if he would support the Obama stimulus plan again, he replied “yes, I would do it all over again”. Enough said.
All in all, it was a good night for the Broward GOP, who is trying to regain some face that was lost over this past summer. The Broward GOP did perform very fairly in regards to not showing favoritism to Crist over Rubio as the majority of the Committee board is supporting Governor Crist.
13 Responses to “Scripted Crist speaks at the Broward GOP”
So Sharky, how can te press underestimate Rubio by 50 but overestimate te Guv by 50? You are really chalenged. When did FDLE let you out of the secret room?
BTW, the Guv’s speech was great.
obviously BS as you can tell there was well over 300 there.. over 400.. you obv. have an agenda.. god how i miss objective journalism.
Anyone that stands up to suport Crist, is for the Obama agenda, which is to make the US a welfare socialist state. Crist is a Liberal Democract in Republican clothes.
MSG J. Gary Hunt
US Army
As usual the governor was friendly with his friends
present, standing room only,he spoke very sincere and
to the point on the issues that concern us republicans at present, and that are coming in the
future. Marco Rubio supporters showed an improvement
in their behavior apparently gained with experience
that we all need at one time or another, perhaps focusing on the fact that we need to win the elections
in 2010 instead of arguing towards a primary. Marco
Rubio is a fine candidate at the wrong race who could
have walked steps running for positions building himself to get further than the US senate, a
position that others have earned by first performing in other elected offices . Being the
majority leader in the State House is not a spring board to get elected to the US Senate before having
served as State Senator, Attorney General, or Governor. You don’t make a high jump selling yourself as a super conservative and attaking a fellow Republican on a record that may not be perfect but shows good work in the middle of the
road where you need to be in Florida where Democrats have to also be served. During the worst of times in Florida, with the economy, hurricanes, insurance
companies that want to own the State, and cities and counties that spent when properties were selling at high prices and tax collections were a windfall. After all that ,Charlie Crist managed to balance the budget.
Yes Juan,
The Governor is still as friendly as ever, so what? Ronald McDonald is also very friendly. You talk about attacking fellow Republicans, what do you think Charlie has been doing? Let me restate that, what do you think his minions have been doing for him?
To say that Rubio is in the wrong race at the wrong time is simply ignorant. Juan here is a challenge to you, go lookup Crist’s record and see if you agree with it. Also, learn that reaching across the aisle is what got us in this mess and will continue to be the recipe for failure in future elections. Example: John McCain.
Nobody believes your BS lil Jav. Your such an assclown. I’ve been glad to see that some of your followers have grown a brain and started having a little respect towards the people who show nothing but it to Rubio and his team. You were right about one thing, Rubio’s speech was by far better than Crist’s. Yet that is only my opinion.
Truth hurts, doesn’t it?
Crist’s speach. Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz.
We will truely know who are best selection after the primaries are over and the candidate we all select is named. Support by all Republicans will then be necessary to maintain our US Senatorial seat and increase our congressional seats to the degree that we can get rid of the disasterous Speaker of the House Nancy Polise (The wicked witch of the West).I firmly believe that Charlie abondoned our national candidates during the last election just after finding out that he did not have the second positon on the ticket. That could have led to our losing this proud conservative state to the experimental president curently occuping the White House.
The Governor has no inherent right to become our nominee and the direct support by his political appointees, such as the State Republican Party Chairman are meaningless to anyone that thinks for themselves.
Ken Canterbury, CMSgt, USAF (RFet)
Juan & All,
Thank you for having a spirited debate. And Thank you and all others for using your names and standing up without fear. There is nothing to fear but God. If God is for you who can be against you. It seems that People are living in two different realities in the same world. I want to protect our Constitutional Freedoms and defend our ideals. This will be long but Please read all of it. No where in our Constitutions is it a requirement to step from office to office to hold an office. This would be entitlement which is against our Constitutions which guarantee freedoms, liberties and equality.
Based on you argument let me share a real life story with you. It is Nov 4th 2008, for the second time I ran for Levy County Commission District 1 Office. I lost by 2% or 360 votes. Mind you a Republican had never held office here. Nov 5th 2008, two Incumbents including the office I ran for are suspended. Later we learn that the Indictments were signed on Oct. 20th 2008. Interesting don’t you think? After 3 months we finally get interviews for District 3 office. After 4 months we finally get interviews for District 1 Office of which I was included. After 5 months we finally get an appointment to District 3 Office. The nice young lady is a Republican who is now in the history books as the First Republican to hold Levy County Commission Office. Who had never run for County Office by the way. I had ran the last two elections and spent $14,000.00, $12,500.00 was of my own money, not to mention the long hrs of campaigning, I shook an estimated 12,000 hands in a county with a population of 40,000 of which 26,000 are registered to vote. This was a grassroots campaign, Just my wife, son (11 tuned 12 yrs at the time), some friends and me and I only lost by 2% without any help for our state party. Remember, a Republican had never held office here. Was or am I entitled to this historic designation? NO. I wish her success in representing Levy County. Just for info, the incumbent for District 3 Office had an opponent who is a Democrat and ran in the last two elections. This Gentleman was not given an interview. Was he entitled? NO. Would it have been respectful? Yes, but our Constitutions do not guarantee respect. He could have changed his party, in history other People did and have to gain favorable consideration based on the party of the Governor at the time or for the votes.
After this long period of time the LCREC stepped up its efforts to gain my appointment by a vigorous letter, email, fax and phone campaign. There were many who supported my appointment, Democrat & Republican. When asked why the delay? Constantly we were told by The Governors Spokesperson; back ground checks take a long time and there is no time limit. My background check was being completed in January and yes our Constitution does not state a time limit. But regarding elections, the courts have upheld that although the Constitution does not define a time line, they should not be delayed. Our Constitution guarantees we are to be represented. And we should never be without or delayed our Constitutional guarantees, liberties and freedoms and right of representation. Did you know, the Florida Constitution says that the only requirement to be a candidate for this Office is to a qualified elector? And the courts have upheld that what restrictions or qualifications the Constitution places none other can be added. This means that the interview/ background check requirement for appointment to this office is unconstitutional. The qualifications for appointment or election are the same. Before our Constitution was changed and I don’t recall the year, when one failed to qualify for office it would then go to the next person with the highest votes. When one is suspended from office it is a temporary suspension of qualification. This was in place so that certain acts would not void an election unjustly or unduly. A new election would have only been required when there is no one else in that election qualified. Since then it has been changed to Governor Appointment. I ask you to consider this, we have an election process where if someone is serious about the Office, they can qualify to run, spend the money and time to campaign and let the qualified electorate of the People choose who should represent them as is the only form our Constitution allows. By going outside of this for appointment you essentially void the election process for that Office.
After 7 months and no appointment the Spokesperson went as far as to take a pot shot at the three interviewees for District 1 in the Levy County Journal, insinuating we were untrustworthy and uncompassionate and then never apologized. Don’t take my word for it, do a public information request for all communications regarding Terri Witt of the Levy County Journal and Sterling Ivey as well as myself and Sterling Ivey. After 8 months of no appointment, on 7/27/09 the LCREC unanimously voted and planed a rally and petition drive on 8/08/09 for my appointment as well as an online petition http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/levyrepublicans . This petition started being distributed on 7/28/09 by email. On this day we got word the Governor had learned and there was a lot of buzz at party head quarters over this rally. The very next day about lunch time on 07/29/09 Gov. Crist finally made an appointment. It was not the wish of 49% of the voters, the person had not run in the election for this Office, it was against the recommendation and wishes of the LCREC and it was not one of the three interviewed that everyone knew about. Was or am I entitled? NO. How would you have decided? PEOPLE or Politics? Before I go on, the young man appointed, I call friend and he had come to me early on and informed me he was being pushed to apply and wanted to know how I felt. In short I responded that I had worked hard in the election and invested a lot of time and money but I could not and what right did I have to stand in a person’s way for opportunity. He chose not to early on but after considerable pushing he did. I learned of this, only days before his appointment.
Now where I am going next is not a personal attack on anyone. I am only questioning the integrity of the process that is unconstitutional to begin with. After learning of his appointment it was stated he was a Republican. Many questioned because he had run as a Democrat for another Commission Office in 06. After research it was leaned that his questionnaire for appointment had been submitted from out of state on 6/22/09. The questionnaire states in full block letters and underlined MUST BE COMPLETED IN FULL answer none or n/a where appropriate. The party affiliation was left blank. After inquiring with the Supervisor of Elections, his voter registration was changed the day of or after his questionnaire submittal, I don’t recall exactly. The day of his appointment he called later in the day and we had a short heart to heart. During that I questioned why the change in his voting party? He replied with some reasonable logic. I then asked, had he been asked to change? And he replied; yes, he had got a call from Tallahassee and was asked if he would be willing because Governor Crist did not want to appoint another Democrat. Again not a personal attack but in my opinion it leaves room to question pay to play, political favors, inside politics or whatever else you want to call it. Don’t take mine or anyone else’s words for any of my story, Google it and do public information requests and you decide for yourself.
I had intended to write more on Constitutional issues in our state and locally and talk about the budget and taxes. But Thanks Giving is upon us. I leave with food for thought. You are partially right; Our Governor is to serve all no matter what party. The when and how to serve got lost long before the who.
The Governor as well as other Constitutional Office holders take an oath or affirm that they will uphold the Constitution of the State of Florida and the Constitution of the USA so help them God. This a contract not to be taken lightly between the Office Holder and All The People its Constitution represents, under penalty or reward of Almighty God. The Office holder gains the permission to serve using all power given to that office within the Constitution(s) and we gain the continued protection of our rights, liberties and freedoms and to be secure in them equally with out respect of party or any other qualification. Our Governor is the Head of our State; He is the head protector for us of our Constitutions. When it a constitutional issue you serve all constitutionally.
Our elections are a party system. When you take the party designation you commit to serving the People of that party by upholding its ideals without breaking the Constitutions. This is a contract between the successful candidate of a primary election and the people of the party of whom they represent, with penalty or reward from the party’s people’s votes. The candidate of the party for General Election agrees to serve the people of the party and their ideals without trade or surrender within Constitutional limits, and the people of the party agrees to give its votes to the party candidate in a General Election in attempting to secure its ideals. Our Governor is the head of their party; he is our head protector of our ideals. When it’s an ideal issue you serve the people of your party.
The only way to be successful at party ideals is to agree on the ideals first and stand for and with them not matter the vote. The parties have been so pre occupied by just wanting to get the letter in the office that our ideals have been traded and surrendered so much across the isle that we no longer can tell who is who or what we stand for. You serve All People constitutionally and you serve the party’s peoples on ideals without breaking the Constitution.
By the way I am Thankful to God I live in a country where we have the freedom of speech to express our views and address our representatives with our ideas concerns and grievances without fear of punishment or loss of life. I Thank God for our Constitutions and the men and women and their families, who have fought and are fighting, who have gave and are giving today, lives as they are still defending today these guarantees, freedoms, liberties and ideals. God bless yall for you unselfish acts. I’ll continue to defend them to the best of my ability and availability and not just lip service on the home front so that what you are fighting or have faught for will not be in vain. Thank You.
In closing defend our Constitutions. When pigs have their living quarters defined over People, something is wrong, very wrong. We must define and defend or we will destruct.
Thanks for your time.
PEOPLE not politics
DEAR JUAN SELAYA, JUST BECAUSE EVERYONE AT SE REPUBLICAN CLUB DOSENT SUPPORT YOU ANY MORE DOSENT MEAN YOU HAVE TO SLEEP WITH THE ENEMY!YOU WERE A RUBIO SUPPORTER BEFORE. SOOOO MANY PEOPLE LOST RESPECT FOR YOU. YOU SOLD YOUR SOUL TO THE DEVIL! AND YOUR FULL OF SH..! WHAT A PHONY YOU ARE.
Let me get this straight, Charlie, our Florida Political Star, cannot fill a room with 400 people, yet Sarah can have thousands waiting in line for hours.
Is it just the smile and the handshake or could there be something more?
Charlie is more willing to take Advice from Bob Graham than Jeb Bush, or Tom Gallagher.
Charlie has no intention of accepting advice and consent from any Republican Club in Florida.
Charlie will do what is best for Charlie, and we little people who take out the trash will just have to accept it all in the name of party unity, and the big tent.
I do not need to even call Mr. Graham to know what his advice is. My advice to Mr. Graham is the same as my advice to Charlie… Get in touch with our wonderful fishing and beaches – take a long walk off a short pier.
The citizens of Gardner, KS are currently working to recall two members of their City Council. The recall is tied up in the courts at the moment, but it should go to a vote in March of 2010.