Why won't Crist appoint a Miami city commissioner?

Has criticism of his appointment of George LeMieux to the U.S. Senate made the governor appointment-shy? Charlie Crist said Friday he's likely to defer naming a commissioner to one of Miami's two vacant seats -- potentially sending the city into further tumult and bringing a costly election.The governor said he was ``not currently'' planning to appoint a replacement city commissioner and that the commission would have to choose replacements.``I think that's going to be the result,'' said Crist, who left the door slightly ajar, adding that his decision wasn't ``finalized yet.'' City Manager Pete Hernandez is desperately trying to avoid a likely low-turnout election that would cost the financially-strapped city over $500,000.

Full story here.  

Some pointers for Crist's new image maker

Remember when Al Gore's advisors told him to wear more earth tones in the 2000 campaign, hoping that a cozy brown cardigan would make him more likable? In that spirit, what advice would you give the new communications director for Gov. Charlie Crist's U.S. Senate campaign, Andrea Saul?

My memo to Saul -- if all else fails, hire Heather Locklear -- is here.

The other conservative alternative to Charlie Crist

Got a call today from Bob Smith, the former New Hampshire senator who lost a 2002 Republican primary to John Sununu, retired to Sarasota, and has been trying to get back into politics ever since. Over the summer, he jumped into the U.S. Senate race against Gov. Charlie Crist and former House Speaker Marco Rubio.

"I think the race is open,'' said Smith, who's been making the rounds of Republican clubs and conservative talk shows. "There's a perception that Rubio is the only alternative to Crist, but now we're beginning to get our message out that we are in this thing and I am a serious candidate.''

But with less than $10,000 in the bank, Smith has a lot to prove. He's accustomed to competing in a state with a population roughly equal to Palm Beach County.

"It's a grassroots campaign,'' Smith said. "Frankly I'm the best qualified person in terms of background and experience...I have an 18-year record on the right to bear arms, the right to life, cutting taxes and spending, opposing amnesty and a strong national defense."

Smith took a few shots at Rubio's claim to be the true conservative in the race. He said he never spent his office allowance while in Congress, alluding to the $2 million more that Rubio spent on salaries as House speaker. He also emphasized his ferevent opposition to amnesty for illegal immigrants, while Rubio let half a dozen anti-illegal immigration bills languish in the House on his watch.

"Where does the rhetoric and the record match?'' Smith asked. "You have to be able to back it up.''

Young Republicans to Crist and Rubio: Let's debate!

The Biscayne Bay Young Republicans and the FIU College Republicans are inviting both campaigns to debate December 17 at Florida International University.

They say Michael Putney, political editor at Miami's WPLG and host of This Week in South Florida, has agreed to moderate the proposed debate. Invitations have been sent to both campaigns.

"We hope that these invitations will be welcomed with open arms by both campaigns," said FIU College Republicans president Nick Autiello. "This is a genuine opportunity to not just debate the issues of today, but to discuss the future. This is an opportunity that doesn't come along very often."

 

Rubio to Fasano: Get me Crist!

More on the Marco Rubio-Charlie Crist-Mike Fasano tiff:

Dear Senator Fasano:

Thank you for your letter regarding Governor Crist’s strong support for the Obama Stimulus. Or should we say his former support for the Obama Stimulus? Or is he supporting it again today? Regardless, thank you for your letter.

Erin Isaac's replacement?

Gov. Charlie Crist might have no need to replace outgoing spokeswoman, Erin Isaac. It looks like he has the Tallahassee Democrat already posting his press releases as if they're "Breaking News" stories.

Consider the "Breaking News" piece with the headline "Crist addresses first meeting of BOE and BOG." It appears to be a word-for-word reprint of a 1:11 p.m. email from Crist's press shop bearing the headline: "Governor Crist Addresses Historic First Joint Meeting of State Board of Education and Board of Governors." Ok, so it's not word for word. They shortened the headline, and they dropped the "Dr." and middle initial of the education commissioner. But they didn't change much else. And the paper takes credit for the "story" by saying it's a "Democrat Staff Report."

Wow. Democrat staffers work in the administration of a Republican governor. Talk about privatization.

Anyway, here's the text of the "Breaking News" story, er, press release from the governor's office/Tallahassee Democrat:

In 'Dear Marco' letter, does Sen. Fasano change stimulus tune?

So state Sen. Mike Fasano didn't like the federal stimulus package before he liked it?

In a letter to former House Speaker Marco Rubio that we posted earlier, Fasano notes that the federal stimulus package was needed in Florida "to protect our seniors, protect our school children, and keep from adding to our struggling resident's tax burden."

Good points.

But would the Sen. Mike Fasano of February agree with the Sen. Mike Fasano of November? In February, our St. Pete Times colleague Adam Smith asked Fasano "Bottom line, do you support Congress passing that stimulus package."

Fasano: "No I do not."

Link to the clip is here.

More Sink-McCollum fingerpointing over Rothstein

 

This photo comes from an Alex Sink press release titled "Why is this man smiling?" It's the Democrat's retort, of sorts, to Republican Bill McCollum's bashing of Sink for taking money from accused Ponzi schemer Scott Rothstein and then suggesting they had some "deal." Sink has vowed to give up Rothstein campaign contributions. McCollum never got any Rothstein cash, according to state records.

In hitting her opponent over Rothstein, Sink is entering RPOF hypocrisy territory (more here on that). But hey, we're already in say-anything mode, so why not?

While the McCollum-Sink picture's kinda interesting, it pales in comparison to the photo of Gov. Charlie Crist's 52nd birthday cake. Rothstein paid $52k to sponsor it. Other special interests forked over a mere $5,200 each to sponsor a candle. Here's the photo and blog on all that.

Sen. Fasano to 'Marco': You are woefully unable...

In a letter taking U.S. Sen. candidate and fellow Republican Marco Rubio to task, State Sen. Mike Fasano of New Port Richey is doing something that few Republicans can and are willing to do: Make a compelling case that Florida needed the stimulus money sent by Washington Democrats.

Fasano, responding to this Herald/Times story, calls the former House speaker by his first name only and calls Rubio's bluff: Give a 'concrete' answer as to how to balance a budget without stimulus money in a time of record deficits. Rubio's response to date: I don't have the budget in front of me.

To be clear: Fasano is a Gov. Charlie Crist supporter and was never a huge fan of Rubio when the West Miami lawmaker was House Speaker in 07-08. Here's the letter:

Rubio web ad hits Crist as a Clinton-Kerry clone

The season of the political web ads rolls on in the Republican race for U.S. Senate. A day after Gov. Charlie Crist's supporters attacked former House Speaker Marco Rubio as Spanish-speaking buddy of the Dems, Rubio's campaign (not his surrogates) hit back with a 30-second web hit titled "Great Moments in Political Whoppers and Flip Floppery."

At issue: Crist's deception that he didn't really endorse the stimulus package that he stumped for with Barack Obama in February. To drive the point home, Rubio tries to make Crist a Bill Clinton John Kerry clone. The ad plays a clip of Clinton denying something (it's the Lewinksy thing) and John Kerry with his now-infamous "voted for it before I voted against it" reasoning.

Looks like we have a long 10 months to go.