I've been listening to the Fox News Channel's predictable hostile reaction to Governor Crist (R-FL) deciding to file for the Senate race this fall as an independent. How many times are they going to rerun the same clips of Crist on Fox News Sunday insisting he would run as a Republican and intended to support the GOP candidate in the fall? Of course, he had to say this since he was, at the time, running for the Republican nomination in the race; if he would have been ambivalent, it would killed his chances for the GOP nod. I saw one poll where he closed the gap down to about 12 points; however, more recent polls have continued to show 20 points or more. He had to make a decision; I expected him to make this decision--he couldn't afford to be routed in the August primary, which would have likely killed his political future. I have heard Sean Hannity's very predictable talking points on Crist and completely disagreed with former Bush Administration Press Secretary Dana Perino on Greta's program.
You don't have to go that far back to demonstrate the utter hypocrisy of Fox News Channel and media conservatives, whom heavily promoted the charisma-challenged Conservative Party nominee Doug Hoffman over GOP candidate Didi Scozzafava in the NY-23 special election last year. I know the media conservatives want to point out the manner in which Scozzafava was selected, but the relevant point was that Hoffman had competed for the GOP nod and had agreed to back the eventual GOP nominee.
Let me note that I have some concerns about Crist's political judgment, including his embrace of the Obama stimulus bill, his recent veto of the teaching reform bill (after earlier support), insurance price caps, and his knee-jerk reversal of support of offshore oil and gas exploration after the ongoing oil spill catastrophe. Indeed, I have more in common with Crist's predecessor Jeb Bush, a small-government conservative. I would have much preferred Crist running for reelection and Jeb Bush running for the Senate. In fact, Rubio is widely seen as a Jeb Bush protege.
There is no doubt that the Tea Party is responsible for Rubio's political juggernaut, which has seen nearly a 50-point reversal in the GOP polls. Whereas the anti-incumbency mood and anger about the stimulus bill are consistent with the movement, Crist's fiscal record and his political moderation/independence should also appeal to the movement.
I would tread very carefully on this matter if I'm a Republican senator or party official (do you hear me, Michael Steele?) This in part is an artifact of a closed primary. Second, whereas like all governors, Crist's popularity has dropped during a difficult economy, he's had popularity ratings exceeding Jeb Bush's, and he is a proven political force. If Lowell Weicker and Jesse Ventura can win third-party bid, how viable is one of the most popular political figures in recent Florida history with universal name appeal? He can run a populist campaign--and if the GOP starts attacking Crist and he wins, he could refuse to caucus with them. The fact is that much of the money and commitment of support came after the last 2 elections, when the GOP was reduced to 40 votes and the incumbent Republican senator had resigned, putting the seat up for grabs in a state that just voted for Obama. Crist was the GOP's best hope of retaining the seat. These political endorsements and contributions were part of the reasons Crist agreed to run for the seat. I understand that the party doesn't want to set a precedent here, but in fact the Tea Party mobilizing on behalf of Rubio is at least as troubling. The Republican Party needs to seriously address whether closed primaries in blue or purple states are in its own best interests. By pandering to the right, Rubio is going to have a hard time attracting and keeping independent and moderate voters.
I would not underestimate Crist's chances. The fact is that he has kept the support of over 30% of the Republican votes in the most recent polls--and those are voters whom are unlikely to support Rubio, just like Lieberman carried over most of his support during his independent campaign in 2006. Perino's talking points include the logistics grassroots support of the conventional political parties, money will dry up, he won't get endorsements, etc. I argue that these factors aren't as relevant when you're the incumbent governor with a majority approval rating. I suspect even if the Republicans organize a get-out-the-vote for the ticket, many will split their ticket.
I will continue to support Crist as long as he decides to stay in this race. Why do that when I think he's wrong on a few things? Because I think he is the most viable fiscal conservative in this race and he has broader experience and most likely to bridge the partisan gap in Washington; I see him as a problem solver like myself.
I mentioned recently that he should consider dropping out of the Senate race and announcing a reelection bid as governor. This would put him in good contention to run for Bill Nelson's seat in 2012. The problem here is that Florida forced Crist's hand by having him file months before the primary. There could be a world of change between now and November. If the current query on GOP campaign funds turns ugly, Crist's independence of the scandal could backfire on the GOP.
Mojave Desert Cross Decision: Thumbs Up
The Supreme Court ruled 5-4 in favor of a "policy of accommodation" towards religious symbols; Justice Kennedy, writing for the majority, notes that "the Constitution does not require the eradication of all religious symbols in the public realm", in particular, an 8-foot cross erected by veterans on public land in 1934 in tribute to WWI casualties. You have the predictable, absurd reaction by civil libertarian or overly sensitive non-Christian religious groups, suggesting this constitutes an implicit state sponsorship of Christianity.
I've read several opinions on that point of view ridiculing Justice Kennedy's observation that the use of the cross has alternative, more generic meaning than Christianity. This should be apparently from the very fact of the memorial and what group sponsored it. Were there Jews, Muslims, Buddhists, Hindus, or atheists whom served and died during World War I? No question. Did the cross specifically exclude them from being honored? Of course not. What the civil libertarians point out, e.g., Stars of David on specific Jewish veteran tombstones, is besides the point. It is not unusual in a country that was founded by Christians in various denominations and where Presidents to date have been Christian would use a DEFAULT Christian symbol for purposes of a memorial. In many cases (see, for example, the Commonwealth War Graves Commission), a generic cross is used for the war dead, unless the person was known to be of an alternative faith or an atheist, in which an alternative or no symbol is used on the tombstone. So there is a general versus specific context. This was fairly obvious; the cross was not erected by Christian clerics or churches, but veterans. The cross serves as a general symbol of death; non-Christian critics also forget that Romans executed people other than Jesus on crosses.
Political Cartoon
Gary Markstein is referencing the deteriorating economy in Greece, whose debt has now been downgraded to junk status, with widespread unrest over unpopular federal spending cuts. Spain, Portugal, and Italy also have been it with bond warnings or concerns as nation debt approaches or exceeds GDP. The US is rapidly approaching a similar situation, even before we see the inevitable anti-business growth effects of progressive Democratic punitive tax policies, which will suppress versus accelerate federal revenues, and accelerating spending in health care (made worse as promised Medicare cuts as politicians veer away from unpopular benefit cuts).
Quote of the Day
Pick battles big enough to matter, small enough to win.
Jonathan Kozol
Musical Interlude: The Four Tops
"Indestructible" (extended version) (all-time favorite)
"Reach Out I'll Be There"
"Baby, I Need Your Loving"
"Walk Away, Renée" (1968 remake of The Left Banke classic hit)
