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You are here: Home / Elections / Election 2012 / For Crist’s Sake

For Crist’s Sake

by Betty Cracker|  November 10, 20128:38 am| 101 Comments

This post is in: Election 2012, Media, Politics, Republican Stupidity, Clown Shoes, General Stupidity

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Comically obvious arch-villain Florida Governor Rick Scott doesn’t understand why you people are so upset about waiting until one o’clock in the morning to cast a ballot and STILL having no official outcome five days later:

“Look, it was a close race. We want to make sure every vote gets counted. Every vote’s important, so I think the secretary did the right thing,” Scott said. “Here’s what people should feel good about: We have a diligent and thorough process, and every vote’s getting counted.”

Here’s what people should feel good about: Even if the Dems tap an Everglades python that has just swallowed a litter of puppies on live TV to run against Scott in 2014, Scott will lose. Here’s what people should feel queasy about: The Florida Democratic Party is dumb enough to blow this opportunity.

Right now, the name being bandied about the most is former GOP Governor Charlie Crist, who got booted out of the Republican primary in favor of Marco Rubio when he ran for US Senate, then switched to independent to take Rubio on and got his ass kicked.

Crist wasn’t an awful governor, and he’s been a stand-up guy for President Obama — ever since Crist realized his former party had turned into a freak show, which just happened to coincide with its rejection of himself. I’m sure he’d be perfectly willing to morph into a Democrat to run against Scott. But in a state where disgust with Republicans is at its highest level in years, maybe we don’t have to settle for a Blue Dog. This ain’t Missouri.

Former Tampa Mayor Pam Iorio, who knows how to handle the clowns at Fox News, was one of the few Supervisors of Elections who didn’t embarrass the state back in 2000. She was an excellent and popular mayor of a key Florida city.

Now she’s speaking out on the still-unfolding 2012 voting debacle. Unlike Crist, Iorio actually is a Democrat. I know it’s crazy, but I’m hoping the Florida Democratic Party will nominate a Democrat to take on Scott.

[X-posted at Rumproast]
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Previous Post: « Late Night Open Thread: Another Disenfranchised Non-Voter Speaks Out
Next Post: Congress Will Remain a Tough Nut »

Reader Interactions

101Comments

  1. 1.

    Baud

    November 10, 2012 at 8:43 am

    But in a state where disgust with Republicans is at its highest level in years, maybe we don’t have to settle for a Blue Dog. This ain’t Missouri.

    I don’t know anything about Florida politics, but it concerns me that you think this. Mitt Romney really should have gotten about 27% of the vote if people voted rationally. Too many of them don’t.

  2. 2.

    Arthur

    November 10, 2012 at 8:45 am

    What’s all this noise about? The twitter machine has thrown a cog over this: http://www.nytimes.com/2012/07/15/magazine/a-message-from-beyond.html?_r=0

  3. 3.

    WereBear

    November 10, 2012 at 8:47 am

    it is a great idea. So help it occur to them!

  4. 4.

    Valdivia

    November 10, 2012 at 8:48 am

    @Arthur:

    people think the second letter is from the lover’s husband.

  5. 5.

    rikyrah

    November 10, 2012 at 8:48 am

    pic an actual DEM

  6. 6.

    Arthur

    November 10, 2012 at 8:49 am

    Maybe I’m just a hopeless optimist, but I just can’t see Florida Dems floating Crist when it’s really time to choose. Perhaps it’s just post-victory high interfering with their higher cognative functions. They’ll get better in a minute.

  7. 7.

    Betty Cracker

    November 10, 2012 at 8:49 am

    @Baud: All you have to know about Florida politics is that Rick Scott is the least popular governor in the US and is widely despised by both Democrats and Republicans statewide. I’m saying it’s an opportunity to elect someone who ISN’T a tool, is all.

  8. 8.

    mai naem

    November 10, 2012 at 8:50 am

    Crist seems like he’s a competent guy. I think he thinks he will get a position in the Obama Admin. Also too, they are talking about Jennifer Granholm for Energy. I thought she may have blown her chances by her DNC appearance. I hope Obama find something for Schweitzer and I think he’s going to give something to Antonio Villaragosa. Oh, I forgot this is about Rick Scott.I cannot get over Floriduhians voting for the guy behind the biggest Medicare fraud ever. I mean we are stupid in Arizona but we have quite a ways to become Floriduh.

  9. 9.

    aimai

    November 10, 2012 at 8:51 am

    Its crrrrrrrazy, but it just might worrrrrrk. Who am I kidding? It will never happen. A bad candidate with name recognition beats a great candidate with insufficient name recognition every time, at least as far as the powers that be are concerned.

    aimai

  10. 10.

    PeakVT

    November 10, 2012 at 8:53 am

    … maybe we don’t have to settle for a Blue Dog.

    Someone should tell Florida firebaggers there is such a thing as a primary contest. They probably won’t do anything with that knowledge, but you never know.

  11. 11.

    mai naem

    November 10, 2012 at 8:56 am

    @Arthur: I looked up the husband – Scott Broadwell – he’s an interventional radiologist. I don’t see how an interventional radiologist would gain anything from a general unless he’s talking about the money his wife made from the book but the letter doesn’t sound like that kind of help. I am wondering who it really is. A short term duty male government official involved in internantional affairs in some fashion?? The mind boggles.

  12. 12.

    PeakVT

    November 10, 2012 at 8:59 am

    @Arthur: You’re thinking like a rank-and-file Democrat. Florida Democratic insiders probably have a different view.

  13. 13.

    El Cid

    November 10, 2012 at 8:59 am

    But… but… both sides!

  14. 14.

    Elizabelle

    November 10, 2012 at 9:00 am

    I want there to be real iron bars in Rick Scott’s future. He’s a bad one.

    From last thread: did you see that Al Giordano of Narco News has two recent posts up? One with his November 5th prognostications. He’s still got it, from points far south.

    Enjoy.

  15. 15.

    MattF

    November 10, 2012 at 9:01 am

    Nothin’ wrong with a choice between a not-too-bad candidate and a good candidate. Go for it.

  16. 16.

    John S.

    November 10, 2012 at 9:02 am

    then switched to independent to take Rubio on and got his ass kicked.

    Thanks in large part to Kendrick Meek running a horrible vanity campaign to nowhere when it was abundantly clear he could not win. We could have had Crist as an Independent caucusing with Dems in exactly the same way things shook out up in Maine with Angus King.

    Rubio won with 49% of the vote. Crist got 30% and Meek got 20%. If Meek wasn’t in the race, I think Crist would have beaten Rubio in the general election.

    That being said, I do not want to see Crist run for governor as a Democrat. But we had better find someone better to run than the likes of Bill McBride.

  17. 17.

    Robin G.

    November 10, 2012 at 9:04 am

    an Everglades python that has just swallowed a litter of puppies on live TV to run against Scott in 2014

    I want this like burning.

  18. 18.

    WereBear

    November 10, 2012 at 9:08 am

    @Robin G.: Except for the puppies. Not good for them!

  19. 19.

    Mustang Bobby

    November 10, 2012 at 9:10 am

    Being real Democrat in Florida, I wouldn’t trust Charlie Crist to deliver a pizza. He’s an opportunist and shameless about it, and if he runs against Rick Scott, he’ll lose. I don’t think he has a constituency, and the folks up in the northern part of the state (aka South Alabama) won’t go for him at all, even if you discount the rumors about his private life.

    I’d love to see Pam Iorio run, and I hope she does.

  20. 20.

    Ben Grimm

    November 10, 2012 at 9:11 am

    There’s a fundamental problem in Florida, and that’s that there is, functionally, no Democratic party in Florida. None. The remnants that are left are, by and large, holdovers from the old days, and seem to care more about keeping their jobs than getting anyone elected. There’s no functioning organization, no message discipline, no relevancy in the Legislature.

    Whenever a Democrat wins statewide – Obama or Nelson, for example – it’s with their own organization. And the ability to put that organization together needs to be a prime factor. I’m hoping the Obama campaign people in Florida can just take over the local organization, since they actually try to accomplish things, but I’m not holding my breath.

  21. 21.

    PeakVT

    November 10, 2012 at 9:12 am

    BTW, that photoshop job absolutely cracks me up, though I can’t decide which I find funnier – Scott’s expression, or the fact that some architect actually put his name to the design of those buildings.

  22. 22.

    Michael

    November 10, 2012 at 9:13 am

    I generally agree with the sentiment of this post, but its worth noting that when Patrick Leahy switched parties, his voting behavior switched also.

    Crist most likely understands that his supporters will probably change if becomes a full-fledged Dem, and so he might not be as moderate/blue dog-ish as you think.

    Still, if there are good candidates out there, I say go for it. Crist can find a home somewhere in the party if he really wants it, either in the Obama admin or possibly in another shot at the Senate without having to compete with Meeks for the same base of voters.

  23. 23.

    Palli

    November 10, 2012 at 9:15 am

    @Valdivia:
    and the second letter id@Betty Cracker:
    or recall? or impeachment?

  24. 24.

    fuddmain

    November 10, 2012 at 9:17 am

    @John S.:

    That being said, I do not want to see Crist run for governor as a Democrat. But we had better find someone better to run than the likes of Bill McBride.

    Or his wife, Alex Sink, who lost to Scott. Congratulations, you have the distinction of being the only married couple to both run unsuccessfully for governor.

  25. 25.

    Betty Cracker

    November 10, 2012 at 9:19 am

    @PeakVT: Right? The first time I saw those buildings (years after they were built — I almost never get to Tally) I couldn’t stop laughing.

  26. 26.

    Robin G.

    November 10, 2012 at 9:23 am

    @WereBear: It would be so awesome, though. Maybe they can be pretend puppies made of sewn together dead rats or something.

    ETA: My God, I have no idea where that thought came from. I need coffee.

  27. 27.

    fuddmain

    November 10, 2012 at 9:23 am

    @Palli: There’s no mechanism for the people to recall Scott. I believe removing him from office would require the Legislature, which is republican. The legislature, along with Scott, cut early voting days, put a ton of amendments on the ballot, and passed a law requiring the signature on every absentee ballot to be check against the signature on the voter registration.

    So, we have to wait for 2014 or a meteor.

  28. 28.

    Southern Beale

    November 10, 2012 at 9:36 am

    @Arthur:

    My cousin’s husband died suddenly a year ago in July. She still has his voice on the answering machine. Freaks me out when I call but I can understand.

    When my dad died very suddenly and unexpectedly, it was very bizarre to hear his voice on the answering machine. But we didn’t want to erase it. We kept the tape and just put a new one in. Can’t do that with these new digital thingamajigs, tho I suppose you can record the message as it plays on another device like an iPhone so you can have it for personal memories or whatever.

  29. 29.

    Marshall

    November 10, 2012 at 9:37 am

    @PeakVT:

    Who designed that “Capitol Complex?” Dr. Evil? It looks like a bad prop from a good movie.

  30. 30.

    JoyfulA

    November 10, 2012 at 9:38 am

    Ooh, Ashleigh Banfield’s working at CNN now? She’s terrific.

  31. 31.

    Southern Beale

    November 10, 2012 at 9:39 am

    @Arthur:

    Oh wait. I think I read the wrong letter. Your link was referencing the second letter wasn’t it?

    Never mind.

    { crawls away in embarrassment }

  32. 32.

    Violet

    November 10, 2012 at 9:44 am

    @JoyfulA: Banfield has been there for quite some time. She and whoever she’s cohosting with called one of the Kennedys at home at something like 5 a.m., live, on-air. It was ridiculous.

    I hope Florida Dems, at least whoever is left, figures it out and nominate someone good. I hope Obama snaps up Crist and gives him some job in the new administration because I don’t think a former Republican is a real Dem, especially if they only convert to win an election.

  33. 33.

    Suffern ACE

    November 10, 2012 at 9:46 am

    @Ben Grimm: why would anyone join such a party of losers who can’t work together at the local level, let alone the national level.

  34. 34.

    quannlace

    November 10, 2012 at 9:51 am

    All you have to know about Florida politics is that Rick Scott is the least popular governor in the US and is widely despised by both Democrats and Republicans statewide

    Okay, so can anybody explain to me (especially the people who pulled the lever for him) why people voted for him in the first place? Just what was his pitch/appeal?

  35. 35.

    Brachiator

    November 10, 2012 at 9:53 am

    @mai naem:

    and I think he’s going to give something to Antonio Villaragosa.

    A mild thank you and a pat on the back would be more than this clown deserves. The celebrity mayor of Los Angeles is a camera hogging clown who is documented as having spent more time at irrelevant public events than actually governing. It would be sad to see Obama squander an opportunity to get something done by dealing out a political favor to someone who will only be a waste of space.

  36. 36.

    Schlemizel

    November 10, 2012 at 9:54 am

    Betty – I saw one very memorable race when I lived in FLA. Lawton Chiles/Jeb. Everyone told us Jeb was the dimmest of the Bush kids & he proved it quiet nicely. He picked as his VP a State Senator on the record with anti-Jewish & anti-Hispanic statements which help disguise how poorly run his campaign was. But the cherry on top was his debate performance. Lawton tied him in knots. By the end Jeb was left sputtering with the patented Dan Quayle deer in the headlights look on his face.

    But it was painful being a Democrat there, particularly after having lived in MN where the party had it act together (that has changed now to some extent). Good luck hope you find a good candidate and start taking the state government back from those crooks and thieves.

  37. 37.

    Violet

    November 10, 2012 at 9:55 am

    @quannlace: Didn’t he win in 2010? So Tea Party voters were out in droves and a lot of sane voters stayed home. Then Dem vote was split because Kendrick Meeks ran the completely hapless campaign and Crist ran Independent and took a bunch of votes.

  38. 38.

    Villago Delenda Est

    November 10, 2012 at 9:57 am

    @aimai:

    Well, this one is simple.

    You DO SOMETHING about the name recognition.

    This is pure anecdote, but when I was a junior in high school, I ran for student council, and lost. Not enough people had seen my name before. When I was a senior, I got elected. The difference? I was on the staff of the school paper my senior year, so my name was out there every second week in the school paper…sometimes on the front page.

    Just getting the name out is key. Heck, even Sarah Palin knows this…her campaign for governor of Alaska was mostly about getting her name out there. Lawn signs are basically about getting your name inside people’s heads.

    You can talk about issues all day, but if no one knows your name, your not at Cheers.

  39. 39.

    Davis X. Machina

    November 10, 2012 at 9:58 am

    @quannlace: He had an R after his name, and has more money than God.

    We saw last week that is, all by itself, sufficient for 45-47% of the vote. Throw in a three-way race, in a state capable of producing GOP super-majorities, however transient, in both houses of the legislature., and the rest is just technique.

  40. 40.

    marv

    November 10, 2012 at 9:58 am

    So I’m confused: Is Scott a tool, or the proverbial hard-on-with-ears, or are those just the same thing?

  41. 41.

    Violet

    November 10, 2012 at 9:59 am

    @Brachiator: Yeah, I’m not a big fan on Villaraigosa. He seems like the kind of guy who would in a high profile role and then get taken down with some extramarital affair. Maybe I’m wrong, but he seems sleazy. Let him run for higher office in CA first.

    @Schlemizel: Speaking of Jeb Bush, his son, George P. Bush filed the papers to run for some statewide office in Texas. UGH.

  42. 42.

    dww44

    November 10, 2012 at 9:59 am

    @Ben Grimm: Not a Floridian, but the same is also true of a nearby red state. The Democratic organization was destroyed in 2010 and the party is viewed as an entirely African American run one. The overwhelming majority of elected Dems are AA. I too think its imperative that the Obama GOTV organization morph into the state Dem parties sooner rather than later so as to positively affect the 2014 election. We need to build from the ground up. Before Obama there wasn’t a grassroots effort in the Democratic party at all in the now overwhelmingly Red States. The building of coalitions must begin now.

  43. 43.

    Baud

    November 10, 2012 at 10:00 am

    @Ben Grimm:

    And the ability to put that organization together needs to be a prime factor

    Genius Political success is one percent inspiration, ninety-nine percent perspiration organization.

  44. 44.

    Craigo

    November 10, 2012 at 10:00 am

    @quannlace: It was 2010. Teabaggers came out to vote “because Obama created socialized medicine,” and they figured the best way to get what they wanted was to win elections. Firebaggers stayed home because Obama didn’t do any such thing, and they figured the best way to get what they wanted was to lose elections.

  45. 45.

    Violet

    November 10, 2012 at 10:02 am

    @Villago Delenda Est: Sarah Palin was halfway there, since her husband was a semi-celebrity in the state, being the Iron Dog winner. She capitalized on his name recognition to win statewide office.

  46. 46.

    Emma

    November 10, 2012 at 10:02 am

    @quannlace: He was a republican. That’s all. Guys, you people underestimate (1)the amount of fundie batshit crazy in Florida,(2)how stupid the Democrats can be in Florida, and (3)the entrenched Republican north of Florida.

    This is the state where Carl Hiaasen stopped writing novels because his imagination couldn’t keep up.

  47. 47.

    fuddmain

    November 10, 2012 at 10:04 am

    @Violet:

    Didn’t he win in 2010? So Tea Party voters were out in droves and a lot of sane voters stayed home. Then Dem vote was split because Kendrick Meeks ran the completely hapless campaign and Crist ran Independent and took a bunch of votes.

    That was the Senate race that Rubio won. Scott won against Alex Sink (her husband, Bill McBride, lost his governor’s race in 2002). It was close, but the frothing nutters came out and voted him in.

  48. 48.

    PurpleGirl

    November 10, 2012 at 10:04 am

    @Betty Cracker: When I looked at the picture I almost thought it was Albany (NY). But our state complex has two towers sticking up in the air. Nelson Rockefeller loved tall towers. There is nothing distinctive about the buildings.

  49. 49.

    Betty Cracker

    November 10, 2012 at 10:05 am

    @quannlace: Scott squeaked in with less than 50%. He latched onto the Tea Party sham to build a base, and he spent $73M of his personal fortune to paint Alex Sink, the Dem nominee, as a greedy bankster. Sink had been president of Bank of America in FL, and liberal revulsion toward banksters was at a peak back then.

    But Scott accusing someone else of being a greedhead is akin to the late Christopher Hitchens calling the late Amy Winehouse a toss-pot in heaven. Anyhoo, it worked just well enough, thanks primarily to the Tea Party loons and progressive apathy.

    I still harass my Democrat sister-in-law about not showing up to vote in 2010 every time she complains about Scott. But I think most people honestly couldn’t imagine that crooked snake getting elected. I showed up to vote, of course, but I’ll admit I was totally shocked when Scott won. Now even my redneck Republican relatives who voted for Scott hate his guts. He’s a disaster.

  50. 50.

    GregB

    November 10, 2012 at 10:06 am

    @Michael:

    I think you mean Jim Jeffords in Vermont. Pat Leahy has been a Democrat as long as I have been following politics.

  51. 51.

    PaulW

    November 10, 2012 at 10:08 am

    And you’re just pissing on my chances to run as an Independent or Third Party candidate.

    Wartenberg 4 Work 2014!

  52. 52.

    Robin G.

    November 10, 2012 at 10:08 am

    My prediction, by the way, since everyone’s doing it: the GOP 2016 primaries will be a clusterfuck between Christie, Bush, and Walker.

  53. 53.

    Schlemizel

    November 10, 2012 at 10:09 am

    @Arthur:

    Makes me wonder how they connected the letter, from mid July, to the Betraus affair. Some people either have a great memory or an army of elfs. Either way I bet the wingnut esploding heads brigade will be working overtime on this one

  54. 54.

    Baud

    November 10, 2012 at 10:10 am

    @Betty Cracker:

    Any chance Scott could be primaried, if he’s so hated. The GOP has primaried Republicans for less.

  55. 55.

    Robert Sneddon

    November 10, 2012 at 10:10 am

    @Violet: Re: George P. Bush — apparently Texas GOP insiders are referring to him as “47” in the same way his uncle George W. Bush was 43 and his great-uncle GHW Bush was 41.

    I wonder how long it will be before one of of Romney’s kids also starts up a PAC to begin making motions towards political office?

  56. 56.

    fuddmain

    November 10, 2012 at 10:13 am

    @Baud:

    @Betty Cracker: Any chance Scott could be primaried, if he’s so hated. The GOP has primaried Republicans for less.

    I would say that’s very likely. There’s no way the GOP will want to lose the Governorship of a state with 29 electoral votes. Harder to fuck up the vote that way.

  57. 57.

    Davis X. Machina

    November 10, 2012 at 10:13 am

    @Baud: He’s hated, but for all the right reasons. I don’t foresee a primary challenge.

  58. 58.

    GregB

    November 10, 2012 at 10:13 am

    @Robin G.:

    Don’t forget the dreeaaamy Marco Rubio.

  59. 59.

    Raven

    November 10, 2012 at 10:14 am

    Thought I’d share my FB status update:

    “Today is my birthday. We’ll spend the day celebrating the marriage of two wonderful friends. Soon after the celebration they will be moving back to Australia because their union is not recognized by the federal government and Jodi cannot get a green card. Some of my facebook friends apparently think that I’m disrespectful of people like Allen West and other “conservative” politicians. Disrespect doesn’t come close to what I feel for them. I’ll never stop fighting against these forces. Congratulations Katherine and Jodi!”

  60. 60.

    Baud

    November 10, 2012 at 10:19 am

    @Raven:

    Succinct and powerful. Great update.

    If I did Facebook, I think all of my status updates would be “Fuck you.” Which I guess is why I don’t do Facebook.

  61. 61.

    Schlemizel

    November 10, 2012 at 10:19 am

    @Violet:

    Yeah, given that Pee is one of the “brown ones” I assume the goopers will flock to him as a way to get the Latino vote. Maybe only the VP job in ’16 but still his name will be dragged up as proof the GOP does not really hate the Hispanics

  62. 62.

    Raven

    November 10, 2012 at 10:21 am

    @Baud: I left off “I went in the Army 46 years ago today”!

  63. 63.

    Schlemizel

    November 10, 2012 at 10:24 am

    @Raven: Very nice! Congrats to them & also to you for that post

  64. 64.

    The Moar You Know

    November 10, 2012 at 10:25 am

    We just got rid of Lieberman. I’d prefer to avoid helping to elect another one in Florida if possible.

  65. 65.

    Baud

    November 10, 2012 at 10:28 am

    @Raven:

    Happy Anniversary

  66. 66.

    Schlemizel

    November 10, 2012 at 10:29 am

    @Craigo:
    I wish we could put this tale to rest. The “firebaggers” did not stay home in 10 any more than the general population. Turn out for Dems in 10 was pretty normal for off year elections.

    It does not help our cause to remain bitter about what happened. What we need to do is get people to understand how important those off years are. This pissing on each others legs, firebagger/obot, bullshit has gotten tedious, is not helpful and make the goopers smile

  67. 67.

    Michael

    November 10, 2012 at 10:31 am

    @GregB: Yep. Need coffee.

  68. 68.

    Bill Murray

    November 10, 2012 at 10:32 am

    @Craigo: Democratic turnout in 2010 was bog standard off year election level. That would seem to imply the people that didn’t come out were the ones that only cared about the President

  69. 69.

    Villago Delenda Est

    November 10, 2012 at 10:32 am

    @Schlemizel:

    If the teatards get their way, the GOP will continue to alienate Asians, Latinos, and Muslims with a fervor.

    The deserting coward and Turdblossom KNEW that getting the Latino vote was key to a permanent Rethugican majority. The teatards have sabotaged that effort, and set it back decades, perhaps permanently. Rubio will not help, and I doubt if one of “the brown ones” of the Bush Crime Family will help much, either.

  70. 70.

    Baud

    November 10, 2012 at 10:35 am

    @Schlemizel:

    I agree that the problem isn’t that “firebaggers” stayed home. It’s that — at least on Kos, where I was — they went to war with Democrats for the two years leading up to 2010.

    As far as putting the past behind us, I’m happy to do so with anyone who wants to move forward together. However, we still have people — I recall the Stoller pieces highlighted here — who continued to attack Obama up to election night. We can’t work with people (hopefully a diminishing minority) like that.

  71. 71.

    Betty Cracker

    November 10, 2012 at 10:35 am

    @The Moar You Know: There’s been entirely too little celebration of the impending departure of Lieberman. The day after the new Congress is sworn in, I’m going to call Lieberman’s former office 20 times and ask to leave a message for Senator Lieberman just to hear the sweet, sweet music of, “Senator Lieberman has retired.” Good fucking riddance to that mewling douchenozzle.

  72. 72.

    WereBear

    November 10, 2012 at 10:36 am

    @Betty Cracker: he spent $73M of his personal fortune

    He MUST feel he can make it back by being governor. Doesn’t anyone get that?

  73. 73.

    Baud

    November 10, 2012 at 10:39 am

    @Betty Cracker:

    There’s been entirely too little celebration of the impending departure of Lieberman.

    Agreed

  74. 74.

    Betty Cracker

    November 10, 2012 at 10:39 am

    @Robert Sneddon: Maybe I’m too optimistic about the public’s intelligence, but unless Pee changes his last name, it has got to be a drag on his chances. I will go out on a limb and predict that no Bush will get near the White House, at least not in the next 40 years.

  75. 75.

    Robin G.

    November 10, 2012 at 10:41 am

    @GregB: Nah. He’ll be VP.

  76. 76.

    The Moar You Know

    November 10, 2012 at 10:42 am

    A mild thank you and a pat on the back would be more than this clown deserves. The celebrity mayor of Los Angeles is a camera hogging clown who is documented as having spent more time at irrelevant public events than actually governing. It would be sad to see Obama squander an opportunity to get something done by dealing out a political favor to someone who will only be a waste of space.

    @Brachiator: Seconded. I live in the next big city south and have been watching this self-aggrandizing jerk for years. Don’t ever get between him and a camera, your life’s at stake.

  77. 77.

    Violet

    November 10, 2012 at 10:49 am

    @Schlemizel: @Bill Murray: If turnout in 2010 was at normal levels for an off year, then that’s an opportunity to improve. My hope is that President Obama and his crew recognize that improving Dem representation in Congress is the best way to create an environment that will help get more done. And that he asks people to come out and vote in 2014. If he asks people to help, and puts the power of OFA behind that, it might actually increase the number of people voting.

  78. 78.

    Tripod

    November 10, 2012 at 10:49 am

    @Schlemizel:

    Looking at Jill Stein’s performance, I’d say they stayed home in 2012. Or, more likely, they were never more than a handful of internet loudmouths and trolls.

  79. 79.

    Craigo

    November 10, 2012 at 10:53 am

    @Schlemizel: “Turnout for Dems was normal for midterm elections.”

    Wrong. DRI was 34-38-29 in 2010. 38-36-26 in 2006, 38-39-23 in 2002.

    And in case you didn’t notice, midterm election turnout sucks for Democrats even in good cycles. That’s the fucking point.

  80. 80.

    Schlemizel

    November 10, 2012 at 10:53 am

    @Villago Delenda Est:

    From your lips to His noodley appendage!

    I think we are going to see some mad scrambling to find ‘brown’ candidates. Mostly I think they will work as well as the current crop of black ones did. But given the money & dedication of those doofuses they may eventually get it right.

    One big help is that if they try to make nice with the Latinos they are going to piss off the teabaggers. I hope they fail on both ends – get no help from Latinos & alienate the baggers

  81. 81.

    SiubhanDuinne

    November 10, 2012 at 10:54 am

    @Raven: Happy birthday, Raven! And congratulations to the newlyweds!

  82. 82.

    Tripod

    November 10, 2012 at 10:56 am

    @Betty Cracker:

    Our facile political press will continue to float the next Bush president like they still track the Kennedys. None of them will ever be president, but it gives Peggy Noonan something to talk about over cocktail weenies.

  83. 83.

    Craigo

    November 10, 2012 at 10:56 am

    @Bill Murray:
    Wrong. DRI was 34-38-29 in 2010. 38-36-26 in 2006, 38-39-23 in 2002, 37-35-29 in 1998.

    And in case you didn’t notice, midterm election turnout sucks for Democrats even in good cycles. That’s the fucking point.

  84. 84.

    Schlemizel

    November 10, 2012 at 10:56 am

    @Craigo:

    Part of my point was that normal down turn in off years – thats the key we need

  85. 85.

    Or something like that.Suffern Ace

    November 10, 2012 at 10:57 am

    @Craigo: Do percentages vote? I think turnout was normal when you look at the number and mix of the types of voters.

  86. 86.

    Craigo

    November 10, 2012 at 10:59 am

    @Schlemizel: And my point is that a substantial portion of Democrats can’t be bothered to fucking vote in midterms. So, I agree.

  87. 87.

    Craigo

    November 10, 2012 at 11:01 am

    @ Or something like that.Suffern Ace: “Do percentages vote?”

    What the hell does that even mean?

    “I think turnout was normal when you look at the number and mix of the types of voters.”

    I just showed you the mix. 34% Democratic is not normal.

  88. 88.

    Shawn in ShowMe

    November 10, 2012 at 11:02 am

    @Robin G.:

    Why would Rubio settle for a VP spot? Unless the President dies or you’re CIA, that office is not a path to the presidency. Demographics are breaking Rubio’s way and he’s young enough to bide his time.

    In 8 years, Rubio should be THE major player in the party. The Dems at some point will commit a strategic error that can be exploited — every party does — and he will be in a position to capitalize.

  89. 89.

    scav

    November 10, 2012 at 11:06 am

    @Robert Sneddon:

    Re: George P. Bush—apparently Texas GOP insiders are referring to him as “47”

    Bummer of a tattoo you got there.

  90. 90.

    Craigo

    November 10, 2012 at 11:09 am

    I find it hard to believe that Hispanics are going to be wooed by tokenism. In fact, I’m insulted on their behalf.

  91. 91.

    Or something like that.Suffern Ace

    November 10, 2012 at 11:10 am

    @Craigo: No. But you’re looking at the mix of all voters, not the percentage of the voters of a party that votes. More republicans voted so the share of republicans went up. That doesn’t mean that the percentage of registered democrats who voted vs those who stayed home changed significantly.

  92. 92.

    Shawn in ShowMe

    November 10, 2012 at 11:12 am

    @Craigo:

    Condi and Clarence are tokens. If you actually wield power within the party, you’re something more than a token.

  93. 93.

    shortstop

    November 10, 2012 at 11:22 am

    Phone’s running outa juice so I haven’t read the thread, but just want to warmly congratulate Betty on this awesome win. Purged voter rolls, oppressive anti-voter reg policies, draconian cuts in early voting hours, understaffed polling places on election day, attempts at a voter ID law…nothing could stop you fine people. You overcame it all to our everlasting admiration and thanks! Just because we didn’t need FL doesn’t mean we didn’t want to stick it to these assholes but good.

    Now I’m going to call my stepmom-in-law in The Villages, ostensibly to catch up but really to subtly torment her.

  94. 94.

    espierce

    November 10, 2012 at 11:29 am

    Florida made some progress in the election by turning out some of the more rabid tea partiers and the Republicans no longer have a super majority in the state legislature. Their not so subtle plan to stack the State Supreme Court was also turned back at the ballot box.

    Scott and the tea partiers tried to suppress votes prior to the election with their purges but were partially thwarted by the courts They restricted early voting, but Floridians were having none of that shit; people were still voting in Dade County after the election had already been called.

    Fuck Rick Scott and the republicans. Iorio is a fine choice and if she can raise her name recognition through this voting scandal, she may be the one to kick Scott’s narrow white ass to the curb.

  95. 95.

    Ben

    November 10, 2012 at 1:08 pm

    I’ve been down in FL working on a Congressional race in which Crist came through and campaigned for us. He’s the most popular politician in the state and the GOP hates his guts. Although I understand about having a “real” Democrat taking down Scott why not nominate Crist?

  96. 96.

    lou

    November 10, 2012 at 1:12 pm

    @Marshall: It’s a common joke in Florida that it’s the largest phallic symbol in the country and pretty reflective of the state legislature.

    I don’t miss Fla politics, though as a DC resident, I do miss having federal representation.

  97. 97.

    trollhattan

    November 10, 2012 at 1:25 pm

    @PeakVT: Architect’s name is Seymour Butts. You might could look it up.

  98. 98.

    Betty Cracker

    November 10, 2012 at 1:43 pm

    @shortstop: Thanks! I had my doubts but am damn glad we pulled it off.

  99. 99.

    Betty Cracker

    November 10, 2012 at 1:47 pm

    @Ben: If we have to settle for Crist to keep the Repubs out, so be it. I just think we have an opportunity to do better (i.e., more progressive, albeit incrementally) this time around and still win. We’ll see how it shakes out. I’ll support whichever Dem gets the nomination, of course.

  100. 100.

    Sawgrass Stan

    November 10, 2012 at 2:31 pm

    Sorry, Betty, I don’t agree…. except when I do.
    Crist got rid of the ban on ex-felons voting pretty early in his term, and managed to stay popular even after the Crash. Once the Fox Tea Mob congealed and nominated Rubio, he was a shoo-in, unless Meeks had listened to Bill Clinton and dropped out. Crist would have won in a squeaker (probably) and left Rubio crying in the wilderness for two years (and yes, Nelson 2012.)
    But look at the slate that progressives let go down the tubes in 2010! Alex Sink, and DAN GELBER, beaten by Lex Luthor and a right-wing Barbie doll. If progressives hadn’t sat on their hands because of unrequited love, the Dems would have won it. I’m going to campaign– hard — for anyone who can wreck this damn Republican clown car.

  101. 101.

    lol

    November 10, 2012 at 6:21 pm

    @Betty Cracker:

    Sink’s campaign also had a media consultant who thought the way to beat Scott was to blanket the airwaves indiscriminately. Scott did that too, of course, but he actually had the money to do it while Sink did not.

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