Crist serves lunch but dish hard to digest

Charlie Crist limits himself to a light dinner each day.

But the oh-so-polite governor didn't want to be rude to a corporate citizen like Burger King, which employs roughly 20,000 people in Florida.

So during a visit to the Miami headquarters, Crist took small nibbles of three products coming to a Burger King near you: the "Bourbon Whopper"

"BK fire-grilled ribs" and funnel cake sticks.

"Oh my word, that is delicious. Get it away from me," after taking a bite of the hamburger with the familiar toppings of lettuce, tomato, onions and mayo and an added kick of bacon, pepperjack cheese and Bourbon sauce.

Of the ribs he said, "Unbelievable...that is delicious. Superb." He declared the funnel cake sticks -- which he declined to dip in the icing to save himself a few calories

-- "kind of light and flaky, like a beignet."
He added, "Probably dangerous for my diet to have come here."

Actually it was his second trip to Burger King this month.

A visit on Sept. 2 had to be cut short because his plane was delayed.

So he came back, spending yet another day in South Florida at a time when his schedule is chock full of fundraising events for his Senate campaign.

He's collecting checks in Miami Beach tonight. Download Charlie Crist Invite US Senate "Isn't that convenient?'' Crist quipped.

http://miamiherald.typepad.com/nakedpolitics/2009/09/breaking-news-charlie-crist-eats-lunch.html

But the dish Crist trying to serve that fast food will help Fl. turn around is just plan hard to digest.

Lets face it as an teen a job like this provides gas and money for an date few but managers get full time hours and the lines to fill counter positions long.

Would like to see Crist feed his family and pay bills with this job .

With rent food and utilities going up not to mention the cost of gas to get back and forth

Gov. Charlie Crist promotes low wage Burger King jobs as the way to restart Florida's economy.
``They provide an awful lot of jobs for people in Florida and that's really the point,'' Crist said after meeting with top executives.

``It's the economy, economy, economy, and any time I have the opportunity to visit a great Florida company that's international in scope and that really represents Miami and provides jobs

. . .I'm very grateful.''The Crist explains explains everything that is wrong with Republicans concepts of the economy.

Education and job training offers people the opportunity to move forward. Fast food jobs are the bottom of the economic shithole.

http://pushingrope.blogspot.com/2009/09/charlie-crist-promotes-fast-food-jobs.html

To push the point home .
Gov. Charlie Crist is well past the weekly allowance stage, but he's still getting cash help from Mom and Dad.

The latest e-mail from the Crist for U.S. Senate campaign comes from Crist's parents, Dr. Charles and Nancy Crist.

"We are confident that our son Charlie is the leader Floridians need in Washington," the e-mail states.

"There are only two days left in this fundraising period, and we ask you to join us in supporting the Crist for Senate campaign by visiting http://www.charliecrist.com/ and making a contribution of $10, $25, $50 or even $100."

Dr. Crist touts his son's Cover Florida health care plan, saying that "as a family physician, I am confident that this type of reform will increase the number of Florida families covered by medical insurance, while reducing the taxpayer burden of costly emergency care the uninsured must often seek when a medical emergency arises."

The letter does not mention the fact that only 4,129 people have enrolled since Cover Florida began in March.

An estimated 3,560 Floridians lose health insurance each week.

http://blogs.tampabay.com/buzz/2009/09/crist-enlists-mom-and-dad.html

Read the e-mail here: Download Dear Friends092809

Will G.O.P Rebut Obamas Education Speech?

Full text of Obama's education speech

http://www.denverpost.com/news/ci_9405199

Will G.O.P Rebut Obamas Education Speech?
By Richard Wise

Current Update:On the news Geer has changed his tune about speech ,talks about Obama trying to give lesson plans to teachers.Mrs Bush giving her blessing.
I guess this must mean they don't want to rebut his speech.

Among those who wouldn't discuss the situation, or gave limited comments, were Gov. Charlie Crist, Greer's political patron; Crist's opponent in the U.S. Senate primary, Marco Rubio; and Attorney General Bill McCollum, who's running for governor.

But Rubio couldn't stop himself from tweeting about it."I have no problem with President giving political speech to kids........if his name is REAGAN," he said in one Twitter message.

http://www2.tbo.com/content/2009/sep/09/na-state-gop-chairman-softens-tone/news-politics/

Instead of feigning outrage at the prospect of President Obama addressing school children at the start of the school year, Republicans could simply demand equal time for a rebuttal.

Here's how I imagine GOP Chairman Michael Steele might respond to President Obama's opening-day remarks.

"Good morning, boys and girls. My name is Michael Steele, chairman of the Republican Party – the GOP. You just heard Democrat president Barack Obama speak to you as another school year begins.

We Republicans feel the need to respond to his left-wing propaganda, for the sake of giving you a “fair and balanced” perspective.

What you just heard the president say is plainly outrageous. He told you to work hard this year; to set goals for yourself and strive to meet them; and, above all, to stay in school until you graduate.

Or that's what you think he told you. In fact, this is only one more example of how scheming, conniving Democrats try to manipulate young minds and indoctrinate you into their godless world of socialism.

You don't think you were being manipulated with leftist propaganda?
Welll ... that just shows you how cunning and devious these Democrats really are.

When you think you are not being manipulated, that's when they are manipulating you the most. That's how good they are.

Let's go back and take a hard look at what the president said, point-by-point. We will see how his advice stands up to clear-eyed analysis by real, god-fearing Americans.

Then you can decide for yourselves what you want to do. “We report, you decide,” as they say.
First, the president told you to work hard in school.

“You can't spell success without U,” he said. “The only place you'll find success before work is in the dictionary” ... whatever that means.

Maybe that's true for Democrats and socialists. But they are on the wrong side of history. Look at the great Republican president George W. Bush.

Did he work hard in school? No! Did he work hard as governor of Texas or President of the United States? No! Did he ever work a day in his life?
No! To him, work was a four-letter word. And look where that got him ... he became president of the United States!

Still, this Barack Obama – a man who can't even prove where he was born – isn't the first national leader to encourage his people to work hard.

Seventy years ago, the chancellor of Germany did the same thing.
But he used the phrase, “Arbeit Macht Frei” ... “work makes you free”.

That slogan was forged in wrought iron above the gates of Dachau concentration camp. And who was that chancellor of Germany? None other than Adolf Hitler.

That should tell you something about the true character of this man, this “president” Barack Obama.

Now you know what he and his ilk really think of your school, and you and your classmates.

See what I mean?
You can't take anything these Democrat socialists say at face value.

All the time, they say one thing and mean another.
Second, the president told you to set high goals for yourself and strive to meet high standards.

But when Democrats tell you to set high goals and strive to meet them, what they are really trying to do is shift the burden for your success in school to you – and away from the socialist teachers unions they pander to.

Everybody knows that how well you do in school depends on how good your teachers are. Setting goals for you and making you meet them is your teachers' job.
Otherwise, you could just give yourself your own grades.

My advice to you is to just keep doing what you're doing and make your teachers start working for their over-inflated paychecks.

Don't play into the hands of their unions. All they want is more money for less work, but then, isn't that always the way with Democrats?

Third, the president encouraged you to stay in school. Well, of course he would. But ask yourself why. He wants you to stay in school so you can get a job after you graduate, and start paying higher taxes. That's what he really wants.

And what would he do with all those higher taxes, which we believe you should keep in your own pockets? For one thing, he would take over our country's health care system – already the best in the world – and use it to control every aspect of your life.

Yes, I said every aspect of your life, from cradle to grave.

If the Democrats did not succeed in aborting you before you were born – and, mark my words, they would try – then they will get another crack at you when you have to face their death panels. That's pretty scary stuff, and it's up to you and your parents to see that it doesn't happen.

When it comes to staying in school, you can decide for yourselves what's best for you. Remember, Governor Sarah Palin attended five colleges before she finally graduated.

And she needed to complete only 2/3 of a term as Alaska's governor to establish herself as a great Republican.

Indeed, she and that other great American, Vice-President Dick Cheney, dropped out of more colleges that the last five presidents graduated from.

Abraham Lincoln, the founder of our great Party, estimated that he had only two or three years of formal education. And his successor, President Andrew Johnson, did not go to school at all. Even they knew, way back then, just how wrong this president would be.

We think you should do what is best for you. That's the American way, and it's the only way to keep this country the real America we know and love so well.

Everyone knows that to get ahead in America you need only two things: connections and money – preferably, somebody else's money.

If you've got the money, you will make those connections. And if you have the connections, people will want to give you money. Either way, that's what you really want to focus on this year. Because that's what's really important in this world.

Democrats want you to work hard, to set goals, and to stay in school for just one reason: so you can become another one of their socialist tools. Do not fall into their trap.

Thank you for your attention. Have a good year and, as they say back in the ‘hood, “Don't play no freakin' fool,don't be no Democrat tool.”
God bless you, and God bless America. I'm Michael Steele for the Republican Party.

http://www.opednews.com/articles/2/WILL-GOP-REBUT-OBAMA-S-EDU-by-Richard-Wise-090906-71.html

Mel slides out of office in his own slime

This is the worse case of foggy memory
I've seen in all my 2 hours after joining the Tenet board

I guess this would explain his wanting to leave to be with his family.

And Crist's foggy memory and "Why is this not being investigated?"

Now we know why Mel was in such a rush to slide out of office -

The Miami Herald reports that:

"Mel Martinez's office repeatedly intervened in a 2007 legal dispute between the Defense Department and a company owned by a top Republican fundraiser who is now at the center of a campaign-finance investigation, according to records obtained by The Miami Herald.

In a series of phone calls and e-mails, a Martinez aide urged Pentagon contract officers to seek a "fair resolution'' to $14 million in contract claims sought by the International Oil Trading Co., a fuel-supply company co-owned by Harry Sargeant III of Boca Raton.

That being the same one who Coordinated campaign donations to McCain And Crist.

Which McCain returned Crist didn't.

"At one point, Pentagon officials told the senator's office it was 'not appropriate' to discuss any settlements while the company's lawsuit was pending in court, records show.

As Martinez's staffer was lobbying the Pentagon, Sargeant and his wife donated $50,000 to the Republican National Committee -- then headed by Martinez.

At the time, Sargeant was the finance chairman of the Republican Party of Florida. ...Sargeant's company ultimately received $3.2 million from the Defense Department -- settling claims the Pentagon had initially denied entirely.

The Pentagon says Martinez played no role in the settlement. ...Sargeant gained notoriety last year as a fundraiser for Republican presidential candidate John McCain, whose campaign returned $50,000 in suspicious donations solicited by a Sargeant business partner.

In February, an employee of a Sargeant company was indicted on federal charges of funneling illegal contributions to several candidates, including McCain and Florida Gov. Charlie Crist -- a college buddy of Sargeant's.

The employee, Ala'a al-Ali, is accused of using straw donors in California to steer about $55,000 in illegal contributions to candidates.

Get this:
In an interview with The Miami Herald last year, Martinez said he offered only "routine'' assistance to Sargeant's company.

He said his office helped IOTC obtain information, but he did not try to sway the Pentagon's stance in the case.

"I do this for hundreds of people throughout the state of Florida,'' Martinez said last year."Much more here: Records: Martinez aide intervened in dispute between Pentagon, GOP fundraiser".

... and LeMieux slides in"Amid charges of political cronyism and claims he was picked to be the governor's proxy in Washington, there is renewed scrutiny of LeMieux's dealings and those of his law firm, Gunster Yoakley & Stewart:"

• The law firm, chaired by LeMieux, helped foreign workers get visas last fall to help build a high-rise hotel and condos in Miami, depriving dozens of Florida workers of jobs at a time of rising unemployment. ...

• Two weeks before LeMieux left Crist's office, Gunster Yoakley landed a $500,000 contract representing the state Department of Transportation on two matters. ...

• After leaving Crist's office in December 2007, LeMieux earned about $150,000 over a 13-month period as an adviser to state Republican Party chairman Jim Greer, a lucrative sideline that has led some to label LeMieux a "political consultant." He will not discuss what he did to earn that money ...

• For the past 15 years, West Palm Beach-based Gunster Yoakley has represented U.S. Sugar Corp., which for months negotiated with Crist's office to sell much of its land to the state and federal government to clean up polluted runoff in the Everglades. ..."Sen. LeMieux faces scrutiny on his way to Washington".

Which makes one wonder, yet again -

"Why is this not being investigated?"

http://flapolitics.blogspot.com/2009/09/mel-slides-out-of-office-in-his-own.html

What is Really Scary

Remember kids this not an indoctrination but like good future G.O.P members never admit to any thing even if you get caught doing the same thing your yelling about.


GOP electeds: Greer's cries of 'lies' & 'indoctrination' were fairposted
by ScottMaxwell on Sep 5, 2009 8:32:20 AM


Current Update:
On the news this morning Geer has changed his tune about speech ,talks about Obama trying to give lesson plans to teachers.
Mrs Bush giving her blessing.

Today's column revealed that Florida GOP leader Jim Greer -- the same man who has been all over national TV claiming that President Obama was trying to "indoctrinate" children and screaming that politicians have no business going into schools without talking to parents first -- has himself spent time in schools talking about politics ... without talking to parents first.

His visits certainly weren't scandalous. One was a career day, where Greer talked about what he did as the top GOP leader in the state.

One parent recalled her son talking about the Hillary Clinton jokes Greer told during his visit.

But you know what?

The parent didn't throw a hissyfit, scream "Indoctrination!" -- or threaten to pull her son out of school for the day ... even though she's a Democrat.

She simply told her son to remember that there are always two sides to every story. She also wanted her son to be exposed to different ideas. What a novel concept.

Anyway, Greer has been roundly criticized for his accusations that the president was going to "lie" and "indoctrinate" ... before he even knew what Obama was actually going to say. Even mainstream conservatives -- including the Wall Street Journal and talk-show host Joe Scarborough -- have decried Greer's antics.

(Scarborough just called them "insane.")
And Scarborough had the same question I did:

Are there any mainstream, sensible Republicans left in Florida who are willing to call Greer out on his hyperbolic rhetoric?

So I decided to check, running Greer's statement by four high-profile Republicans.

None responded with criticism for anyone other than Obama.

House Speaker Designate Dean Cannon and Orange County GOP leader Lew Oliver defended Greer's comments.

And congressman John Mica and Charlie Crist didn't respond at all.

For Charlie Crist this normal or he can't remember he signed it.

(Mica's silence may have been intentional.

Charlie's probably waiting for a poll to tell him how he feels.)
You can read Greer's full statement -- titled "Greer Condemns Obama's Attempt to Indoctrinate Students" -- and the reactions from Cannon and Oliver below.

And you can read the full column here.

Greer Condemns Obama’s Attempt to Indoctrinate Students
Tallahassee – Republican Party of Florida Chairman Jim Greer today released the following statement condemning President Obama’s use of taxpayer dollars to indoctrinate America’s children to his socialist agenda.

“As the father of four children, I am absolutely appalled that taxpayer dollars are being used to spread President Obama’s socialist ideology.

The idea that school children across our nation will be forced to watch the President justify his plans for government-run health care, banks, and automobile companies, increasing taxes on those who create jobs, and racking up more debt than any other President, is not only infuriating, but goes against beliefs of the majority of Americans, while bypassing American parents through an invasive abuse of power.

“While I support educating our children to respect both the office of the American President and the value of community service, I do not support using our children as tools to spread liberal propaganda.

The address scheduled for September 8, 2009, does not allow for healthy debate on the President’s agenda, but rather obligates the youngest children in our public school system to agree with our President’s initiatives or be ostracized by their teachers and classmates.

“Public schools can’t teach children to speak out in support of the sanctity of human life or traditional marriage. President Obama and the Democrats wouldn’t dream of allowing prayer in school. Christmas Parties are now Holiday Parties.

G.O.P seem to have narrow view of sanacity of human life.

What about the vets who have lost their life in a war based on lies?

If this is what they call prayer in schools could see why.

http://www.pfo.org/bgothard.htm

But, the Democrats have no problem going against the majority of American people and usurping the rights of parents by sending Pied Piper Obama into the American classroom.

Should students watch President Obama’s back-to-school speech on Tuesday?

But Jim Greer has no issue with members of G.O.P doing it.

The Democrats have clearly lost the battle to maintain control of the message this summer, so now that school is back in session, President Obama has turned to American’s children to spread his liberal lies, indoctrinating American’s youngest children before they have a chance to decide for themselves.”

VIEWS ON THE STATEMENT
DEAN CANNON: "... here's my summary view.

The speech itself is not what I hear people are most concerned about--it’s the federal government-produced study guides and the less than subtle invitation from the Secretary of Education.

People are worried about the all-encompassing, expanding federal government that seems to be creeping into every part of our lives--now even reaching into our elementary schools with “suggested” discussion points for the President’s speech.

My mom worked her whole career in the public school system, and I'm pretty sure that Florida teachers can lead their own discussion without the help of Washington."
LEW OLIVER:

"I have not read the details of what has been proposed but if it is true that the president has asked to have a policy speech specially shown to school kids, that is actually scary.


Additionally, had a republican president asked to do so on such issues as education reform, tax policy, the war, oil drilling, etc.

The screaming would reverberate to the moon and back.

The only statements by political officials that should be distributed through schools are noncontoversial public service announcements.

Never policy advocacy. So yes generally I agree. It's a little scary."

Yes never policy. What is Character first & who developed it ?

Character first, Bill Gothard

That's more than little scary.

Distributed through schools are noncontoversial public service announcements.

Character first is through out the school system all over the U.S.


And with the teaching and prey is controversial.

Lets look a little further.

Huckabee "long-time admirer" of "cult" evangelist Bill Gothard

Sarah Palin, faith-based mayor

State Treasurer David Petersen

Florida child welfare chief Jerry Regier

President Pushes Ahead With Religion Funding

It would seem there was a President pushing character first.

Its even our leagal system.

According to Gothard’s interpretation, first century Roman Centurions were admirable figures of authority who followed their orders without question—the prototypes for the kinds of police officers that CTI instructor Ray Nash, the sheriff of Dorchester County, South Carolina, wants to create in his state and elsewhere.
Nash has conducted “Police Dynamics” training for numerous U.S. and international police departments.

He's now resigned.

Bill Gothard's IBLP Sued for Prison Programs

Secular’ Character Training Institute is working to build evangelist Bill Gothard’s vision of a First-Century Kingdom of God—one city, one state, one school board, one police force and one mind at a time.

Gov. Bush encouraging religious groups to provide government services

Crist Foggy on the Gambling Compact

A WPLG reporter in Miami was stunned/skeptical over Gov. Charlie Crist's inability to answer questions about the gaming compact.

Local 10's Roger Lohse blogs:

Me: "So if the state gave the airport a permit, would the Seminoles still be required to pay?

"Crist: "I'd have to review that to find out for you."

Me: "You don't know the answer to that?

"Crist: "Not offhand, no.

"Me: "But you signed the contract with the Seminoles

."Crist: "That's right and I'll look into that detail for you."

Excuse me?

The governor can't recite a major clause in a contract that he negotiated and signed -- one that could cost taxpayers, by his own estimate, $6.8 billion over the next 20 years. That seems hard to believe.

At this remark I wonder if the reason he could not recite the clase that he negotiated and signed might be it was the same way he signed letter to indorse an hate movie to the rest of Fl.

Read Here

http://blogs.tampabay.com/buzz/2009/09/charlie-crist-foggy-on-those-gambling-compact-details.html

Or is there another reason or would care to explain these facts ?

Some how I think these items would be foggy too.

Amid charges of political cronyism and claims he was picked to be the governor's proxy in Washington, there is renewed scrutiny of LeMieux's dealings and those of his law firm, Gunster Yoakley & Stewart:

• The law firm, chaired by LeMieux, helped foreign workers get visas last fall to help build a high-rise hotel and condos in Miami, depriving dozens of Florida workers of jobs at a time of rising unemployment.

Other questions that don't follow. Read Here

CBS4 News in Miami first reported the law firm's efforts, which included persuading the U.S. State Department that the Mexican workers had special skills that Americans didn't. Neither LeMieux nor the firm would discuss what involvement if any LeMieux had in arranging the visas.

So much for being transparent.

• While serving as Crist's chief of staff in 2007,

LeMieux helped secretly negotiate a lucrative gambling agreement with the Seminole Tribe of Florida that was struck down by the Florida Supreme Court as unconstitutional, and has triggered a debate over the expansion of gambling in Florida.

So much for the rights of people in Fl.

LeMieux recently helped negotiate a second compact that the Legislature will consider this fall. He has said the compact will contribute more money to Florida schools and will limit future expansion of gambling.

• Two weeks before LeMieux left Crist's office, Gunster Yoakley landed a $500,000 contract representing the state Department of Transportation on two matters.

DOT general counsel Alexis Yarbrough, who signed the contract on Dec. 20, 2007, is the wife of Shane Strum, a deputy chief of staff who reported to LeMieux when he worked for Crist. LeMieux said he played no role in his firm's hiring;

DOT has said the firm has special expertise in arcane railroad law. The firm did work for DOT before LeMieux returned there.

• After leaving Crist's office in December 2007, LeMieux earned about $150,000 over a 13-month period as an adviser to state Republican Party chairman Jim Greer, a lucrative sideline that has led some to label LeMieux a "political consultant.

" He will not discuss what he did to earn that money, which was paid from the party's federal account to his firm, MTC Strategies (named after his sons Max, Taylor, and Chase).

• For the past 15 years, West Palm Beach-based Gunster Yoakley has represented U.S. Sugar Corp., which for months negotiated with Crist's office to sell much of its land to the state and federal government to clean up polluted runoff in the Everglades.

Ended up being sold for much more than its really value. Read Here

LeMieux said he avoided any involvement in the U.S. Sual while working for Crist or afterward. The state's chief negotiator was Eric Eikenberg, a LeMieux protege who succeeded him as chief of staff.

To date, he has declined to release a full list of his law firm's clients, citing attorney-client privilege, but has said he will fully comply with Senate disclosure laws. "I have 30 days to file it. I will comply with whatever the law requires," LeMieux said.

Crist said he was not concerned about questions of LeMieux's business dealings.
"I know of his personal integrity, his professional integrity,

" Crist said. "And I'm comfortable that."

I'm sure that he is. Read here

http://www.tampabay.com/news/politics/stateroundup/sen-lemieux-faces-scrutiny-on-his-way-to-washington/1033873

Time for the Public Board of Education

Or just wait till Charlie done with gambling with the school system.
Pushing more of what the lotto was suppose to have done.

Lake Property Appraiser: Charlie Crist lied to voters
by Aaron Deslatte on Sep 2, 2009 9:27:48 AM

TALLAHASSEE -- Lake County Property Appraiser Ed Havill takes Gov. Charlie Crist to the woodshed today in the Sentinel for his appointment of former chief-of-staff George LeMieux to the U.S. Senate, along with the laundry list of complaints conservatives have been lobbing for a while.


Havill writes in a harshly worded op-ed that he has switched his party registration from Republican to no party affiliation thanks to Crist's moves:

"Crist went through the public motions of pretending to consider various others to fill the seat vacated by Mel Martinez.

By choosing his 2006 political campaign manager, George LeMieux, the governor decisively demonstrated two things:

"He is only interested in what's best for Charlie Crist, and he has utter contempt for what's best for Floridians.

"As the property appraiser for Lake County for 33 years, three areas in particular have troubled me.

"Crist lied to homeowners of this state when he said that property taxes would "drop like a rock," as he elbowed Amendment 1 through the Florida Legislature, and subsequently put it on the ballot.

"Today property taxes, licenses, fees and service charges have placed financially strapped Floridians in a worse situation than they were in when Crist was elected."

http://blogs.orlandosentinel.com/news_politics/2009/09/lake-property-appraiser-charlie-crist-lied-to-voters.html

Linking this artical.

Parlor games swirl around Crist's U.S. Senate pickposted by Aaron Deslatte on Aug 26, 2009 6:43:01 PMBy Josh Hafenbrack,

Tallahassee BureauTALLAHASSEE -- University of North Florida President John Delaney is picking up steam as a potential darkhorse pick on Gov. Charlie Crist's candidate list for the U.S. Senate, sayeth members of Tallahassee's chattering class.

A sure sign that he's gaining consideration:people backing other candidates are getting nervous.
There's even an anonymous Web site hammering Delaney for his policies as Jacksonville mayor (1995-2003).

Charlie Crist on Friday chose his friend and top political adviser, George LeMieux, to fill the Senate seat a gambling buddy. I guess it was in the cards.

During that period, Delaney, a lawyer, pushed something called the Better Jacksonville Plan, which increased the sales tax a half-cent in order to make infrastructure improvements around the city.That could be a problem for Crist.

An anti-tax and pro-gun record are the governor's few remaining ties to his party's base. (And Crist signed a $1 billion tobacco tax increase this year, breaking a no-new-taxes pledge he'd signed before becoming governor.

More recently, Delaney supported current Jacksonville Mayor John Peyton's plan to increase the city's property tax rate by 12 percent -- a move that would undermine some of the property tax cuts regularly touted by Crist.

The Jacksonville City Council Finance Committee rejected the idea.

Here's the lead to a clip from the Florida Times-Union on the $2.2 billion sales tax campaign, led by Delaney when he was mayor in 2000:

If you live in Duval County, expect Mayor John Delaney to show up this summer at a town meeting, club event or fish fry near you with a simple message:

Trust me with your money. I've earned it.From now until county voters decide the future of his $ 2.2 billion Better Jacksonville Plan, Delaney will bank on a carefully built image as a thrifty administrator to help him coax voters into backing a historic proposal to fix Jacksonville's growing pains by raising sales taxes.

"I don't need any more money to pay for the day-to-day operations of city government.

Don't need a red nickel," the mayor promised when he visited a dinner meeting of Jacksonville dentists last week.Instead, he said the tax hike he proposed Monday would pay for construction projects to widen roads, replace outdated public buildings downtown and fix drainage problems City Hall could never afford to fix.

Only one problem with this Charlie Crist came out that his smart use of stimulas money while other states just used it for re paving projects to be use to widen highways .

"Don't need a red nickel," So just where is the tax hike money going to be used for?"

This is a product you buy for that increase," he said. "It's not some bureaucracy.

It's a product."

http://blogs.orlandosentinel.com/news_politics/2009/08/parlor-games-swirl-around-crists-us-senate-pick.html

But It's a Party Card

BUT MY CARD CAN'T BE REFUSED

IT'S A PARTY CARD


GOP Credit Card ControversyAugust 25th, 2009 by Whitney Ray
The IRS is being asked anonymously to investigate members of the Republican Party of Florida who used party issued credit cards to spend 3.6 million dollars.

If members didn’t reimburse the party for personal purchases or pay taxes on the spending, the IRS could seek charges. As Whitney Ray tells us, Republican Cabinet members deny any involvement with the scandal.

In just 18 months, 3.6 million dollars in charges were racked up on credit cards given to members of the Republican Party of Florida. Former House Speaker Ray Sansom charged 173,000 dollars on his card.

No one is claiming the rest of the bill, with includes a 4,000 dollar charge to a cigar store, 13,000 dollars for limousines in New York, and 20,000 dollars to a London hotel.

There was also 9,000 dollars charged at this Tallahassee seafood restaurant.”

Since the spending was revealed, Senators Jeff Atwater and Mike Haridopolos canceled their cards. Party Chairman Jim Greer cut his in two, but he isn’t revealing who had the cards.

Lieutenant Governor Jeff Kottkamp denies ever using a party card. So does Governor Charlie Crist.


Gov. Charlie Crist blew off a question to investigate Sansom.


“It’s not necessary. Who needs it? It’s a waste of money. We’ve got to save people’s money. That’s why I’ve never had a party card,” said Crist.


Attorney General Bill McCollum also denies having ever owned a card. State Republican Party Chairman Jim Greer cancelled all the cards, but isn’t answering questions about who had the cards and which purchases are valid and which need reimbursement.

McCollum told a Panhandle resident he did not have the jurisdiction to investigate.


After the St. Petersburg Times reported McCollum's email, the Attorney General suddenly put his investigative powers into action.




http://www.flanews.com/?p=7028

Crist's A-Team

"(Two years ago / In 2006), a cracked group of politicians & lobbyist unit was investigated by the courts for some crimes but they could not prove.

These men promptly released into the public Fl. underground.

Today, still not wanted by most of the public , they survive as politicians of fortune.

If you have a problem, if you have lots of cash you can donate and if you can find them, when not on vacation. And they may get around to fix.. Maybe you can hire Crist's A-Team."

Governor Charlie Crist's former Chief of Staff George LeMieux has made millions since leaving state government. Now LeMieux's business dealings are likely to become the focus of Democratic attacks on U.S. Senate candidate Charlie Crist.

Huge State contracts with LeMieux's law-firm, awarded at the time LeMieux left the governor's office and which LeMieux claims he had nothing to do with, will be the focus of FOIA requests.

LeMieux's role in the negotiating a gambling compact with the Seminole Indian Tribe which granted the Indians card-games not allowed by state law, and subsequent contributions to the Republican Party of Florida from the Indians.

The Seminoles seem really happy with Crist and RPOF. The Seminole Tribe (since 1996) has donated nearly $912,000 to the state party, with 71 percent of that money coming in since Crist took over state party fundraising once he won the 2006 Republican primary.

Who paid for LeMieux's accompanying Crist on his European Trade Mission and what kind of largesse LeMieux got from the RPOF are both likely to become public now that Tallahassee State's Attorney Willie Meggs is getting access to the GOP party records in the House Speaker Ray Sansom investigation.

Republican Party Chairman Jim Greer, whose party disclosure reports to the Secretary of State hide more than they reveal, will be in the cross-hairs as well....Also worrisome to the Crist camp are conversations LeMieux had with indicted viatical scamster Joel Steinger of Mutual Benefits while Steinger was wearing a wire for the Feds.

We now know that Ex-Florida House Speaker Ray Sansom ran up at least $170,000 in inappropriate charges on his Republican Party of Florida American Express card including a lavish European vacation for himself and his family, expensive out-of State restaurants and even the New York City Apple store.

RPOF Chairman Jim Greer has been privy to the itemized American Express bills and was clearly aware of the Speaker's spending spree - yet he said and did nothing.

Why? Because Greer's spending on himself and his family makes Samson's expenditures look small-time. Greer has used the RPOF as his personal piggybank, spending donor's money on 5-star resorts, spa services, highly rated restaurants, green fees, luxury jet aircraft, limousines , sporting equipment, $800 bottles of wine, sports tickets and worse.

Former Party Chairmen Tom Slade and Al Cardenas flew commercial and drove themselves in low-budget rental cars when on Party business.

Reimbursement for meals was limited to real Party business, not taking the wifey out for a night on the town.

Both Chairmen presided over the growth and electoral success of the state GOP.

Governor Charlie Crist, who talks endlessly about transparency, has been aware of Greer's wild and inappropriate spending as it was an issue when Greer ran for re-election to his party post.

When news leaked of one wild and expensive weekend Greer spent at the Breakers in Palm Beach, where the cost of his room service alone could have elected a Republican to Congress, Greer said it was all a mistake - and sadly, the Governor did nothing.

Meanwhile, Greer continues to resist any attempt by party funders to see the actual American Express Bills, perpetuating the cover-up of the misuse of party funds. Read Here

Having lost the State for the McCain-Palin ticket (with left-over funds in the RPOF Federal account) Jim Greer is the first Republican State Chairman since 1964 to preside over the loss of the State by the GOP in a Presidential year, not to mention the loss of a Congressional seat.

The Mutual Benefits scandal will take down more Florida politicians who the company approached to stem the federal investigation that ultimately brought the company down. LeMieux may be the biggest fish. More Mutual Benefits news…

http://blogs.tampabay.com/buzz/2009/07/roger-stone-vs-george-lemieux.html

Ray Sansom, former speaker of the house in Florida was recently indicted by a Leon County grand jury on felony charges of perjury and misuse of office.

Part of the reason for that was six million dollars that Sansom diverted to North Florida State College for an "educational building" that turned out to be an airplane hangar.

During budget season, it missed Crist completely and was approved by the governor.Fast forward a few months and it has now been discovered that Sansom has racked up over $200,000 in credit card charges billed to the Republican Party of Florida.Charges include baby sitting services, purchases from Best Buy, and hotel charges in Nashville, New York, and Chicago.

Kind of sound like something you heard before maybe?

What is ironic is that some of that $200,000 was for airline tickets for Sansom's family and sightseeing tours in Europe while Sansom and family were ironically traveling with Governor Charlie Crist.

Hmmmm......On Friday, August 21 Governor Charlie Crist had the audacity to say that officials need to be frugal with other people's money.

http://www.examiner.com/x-16781-Tallahassee-Conservative-Examiner~y2009m8d22-Charlie-Crist-covering-his-tracks-on-Ray-Sansom-issue

Is God protecting the G.O.P

Or Crist protecting his own with his Almighty Winds

It would seem I remember another who asked God to intervene during a Democratic convention that did not work out so well.

Hurricane slams Republican National Convention, flooding the streets of Minneapolis/St. Paul with rivers of savage hypocrisy as levees of evangelical denial and sexual confusion overflow into the streets, leaving stunned party members scrambling in vain for shaky moral high ground.

As to protecting Fl.Seems like Crist has forgotten the flooding caused by last year's Tropical Storm Fay some of the heaviest rain Fl's ever had.
Hit Florida four times — a record — killing six Floridians.

Being Mr.Crist wants to use biblical content to bring him into the light.

Going to the Western Wall and inserting a note with a prayer. It read, “Dear God, please protect our Florida from storms and other difficulties.

Lets see unemployment high, greater number of home fore closer, No money to maintain our schools or pay teachers.

I might add other events that have taken place within the state of Fl.

Which the floods an natural event one could say caused by God.

The event of which I speak is the increasing number of pythons which was cause by the flooding in which Mr. Crist has taken no steps to fix.

Following the logic that Mr. Crist trying to bring to lite could God be punishing that of an state being mainly G.O.P.

The python is an snake just as another evil snake in the Garden of Eden.

Not to mention mold created by flood waters and Mosquitoes that bring sickness.

I think this is just a cynical attempt by Crist to encourage the faithful among us to view him as God’s chosen one so that they will support his bid for Senator next year .

If another storm hits after Crist has driven out the insurance & has nothing to fix flooding issues the people of Fl.may like to make sure he's closer to God or maybe another well none character.

The Associated Press
ORLANDO, Fla. -- Could it be divine intervention that's kept Florida safe from hurricanes since Gov. Charlie Crist took office?

Crist says he's not taking credit, but did tell a group of real estate agents Friday that he's had prayer notes put in the Western Wall in Jerusalem each year and no major storms have hit Florida.

He's not taking credit for the Foreclosure , problem in Fl. either.

Crist said each of the notes read, "Dear God, please protect our Florida from storms and other difficulties. Charlie."

The first time he personally put the note in during a 2007 trade mission to Israel. Last year, he gave the note to Sen. Nan Rich to be placed in the wall.

This year he gave a note to a friend .

He told the group, "Knock on wood. I would ask you all to say a prayer."

http://www.miamiherald.com/news/florida/AP/story/1196490.html

An interesting side note this was it was Pat Robertson proclaimed God would smit Fl. for their stands on gay rights one of them has to be wrong.

Might it be Pat Roberson or one like Christ trying to ponder their vote?

In 1985, Pat Robertson prayed away Hurricane Gloria which was headed for the Virginia coast.

He claimed that his success in steering the Hurricane away from Virginia was an important factor in his decision to run for president in 1988.

He said,

"It was extremely important because I felt, interestingly enough, that if I couldn’t move a hurricane, I could hardly move a nation"

I’m really not sure how Robertson could claim this as a victory over the Hurricane.

Even though there was no official landfall over Virginia, this was a major storm that brushed the coast, resulting in over $5.5 million (1985 dollars) in damage to southeastern Virginia.

Official landfall of the storm came further north, on Long Island, causing even more damage.

Overall, the storm caused $900 million (1985 dollars) in property damage and killed eight people.

(see Hurricane Gloria at Wikipedia for more storm details.)

You would think if Robertson could turn the storm away from Virginia he could have also turned it harmlessly out to sea.

Maybe that would have been asking too much.

Now we get to Florida and governor Charlie Crist.

He recently claimed that god is protecting Florida from hurricanes because he has prayer notes placed in the western wall each year .

I hope his connection with God is better than Robertson’s.

If not, Florida is going to be in trouble very soon.


Even if it has been a couple of years since Florida was hit by a hurricane, that would seem to indicate that the time is coming for another one.

Maybe this year.

The problem with Crist’s proclamation that Florida is protected is that people could die because of this.


If he really thinks that his state is protected from storms, how much planning is he going to do?


How quick will he be to mobilize rescue efforts when a storm actually hits?


If he takes these actions, he is publicly doubting that his prayers will be answered.

If he remains confident in his faith and a storm hits, Florida will be unprepared and people will die as a result.

I’ll go ahead and predict now that if Florida remains safe from storms for the next year or two, we’ll see Charlie Crist make a run for the White House.

But I don’t think this will happen.


Storms hit Florida every year. A major one is due before long, I just hope that sensible people are in charge of the preparations.

http://makenolaws.com/?p=364

Did Charlie Crist’s prayer kill a 7-year-old girl?

Crist's "Sweet" Deal on U.S. Sugar Expressway

Governor Charlie Crist and his "sweet" deal with U.S. Sugar.


It is wonderful to see the "People's Governor" running out on the people. He only wants to serve one term so he can do better work for the people. That just amazes me.

Just think what good he has done with the water district. Buying land from the sugar companies, which really want to get rid of the land. Sugar doesn't make money anymore, since imports have killed the industry.


The people will pay once it's incorporated into the budget, where it will be buried.


Best of all, if we don't complete the full purchase from the sugar barons, they will get $50 million for doing nothing but making fools of the people.


This is so the governor will get the deal no matter what and look like he helped the environment.


Just think paying $7,500 an acre? Maybe now that is overpriced. Who is checking on the assessor? The same people who let houses sell for $500,000 and $600,000 when they were only worth $200,000?


But to add to this the money push for could have been better applied to fixing the issues of Inaccurate drainage of flood waters.


Also the direct case of Python problem.
Some snakes never shad their skin

I'm glad this governor will only serve one term. Maybe we can find someone who really cares about Florida


http://weblogs.sun-sentinel.com/news/opinion/theslant/blog/2009/05/good_riddance_governor_charlie.html


U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis released a graph of the economic growth of all 50 states. Florida ranks in the lowest tier for growth. Last month, Florida's unemployment was at 12.2 percent. The state's unemployment is higher than the national average of 9.5 percent.


Which brings up an interesting question.


Why Isn't Crist Spending Stimulas Money ???


Maybe waiting for his Sweet Deal with U.S Sugar to go through. Will be interesting to see projects in this area start.


Charle Crist just a little help from his friends


Add to this Crist's push with the horrible idea of of private companies owning toll roads.



Florida was considering privatizing roads to pay for new construction. The St. Petersburg Times editorial board pointed out the state could borrow money and run tolls cheaper than outsourcing to private contractors.


Alligator Alley or Charle's Tail End for Fl.

The last pieces of the puzzle may well be his selection to fill a senate seat.
With his connections to sugar interest.

Jim Smith: That whole lobbyist question. Is the People's Governor really eager to appoint one of Florida's top lobbyists, whose clients include a bunch of health care and financial institutions, as well as tobacco and sugar interests?

But may also answer the question as to why Crist pushing his
Gov. Charlie Crist touts Cover Florida healthcare plan as ...

MiamiHerald.comCharlie Crist says his health-insurance idea should be a national model, even though it's done little to help Florida's uninsured.

Just some back information. Here

Gambling with Crist

Because he will hold them and very good at folding and leaving the state as Governor.

With many wary of his plan to expand gambling in Florida to generate more money for the state's budget and memory's of the promotion of the lotto suppose to beef up the funding already on hand for the states school system. The nagging questions is where did the money go it was suppose to beef up?

With the lotto sales growing in the state how is the school system now so deeply in the red?

Crist didn't make his pitch directly to the Riverside Elementary Community School teachers or students. He made it to a troop of television cameras.

Back in South Florida, the school's principal, Sharon López, said she didn't know the governor was coming to talk about gambling -- only that he wanted to see the school.

''It will put more money into education for this hard-working principal and, more importantly than that, for the children " Again a review of past issues Straight, Inc,

You no the one the X Govenor was on the board to Review here 3rd artical from the top.

Straight, Incorporated, Surviving Straight, Inc.In Their Own Words

"He said when the federal stimulus money runs out in two years, ``when we want the gambling revenue, we'd end up with squat.''

To my way of thinking the funding there was is now gone. Again where did it go?

The biggest endorsement on campus for Crist's proposal came from the president of the United Teachers of Dade, Karen Aronowitz, who has been battling for teacher raises for months. ''I'm for anything that will enhance revenue for education,'' she said.

2009 Legislative Lobbyist by Principal

United Teachers of Dade Karen Aronowitz Karyn Cunningham Fedrick C. Ingram Jason Joseph Arthur Leichner Joseph Minor.

Crist's pitch recalled the 2003 campaign by slot-machine proponents, who used school funding as a selling point for a constitutional amendment paving the way for gambling referendums in Miami-Dade and Broward.

http://www.miamiherald.com/news/florida/story/1015049.html

And my last point to be made was it not Governor Crist that had the stand to lower propert taxs?

Not only did that not happen but now it seems hes trying to pass the buck about raising them .

See link here.

"Death Panels"

Did you see his face when the panel dropped??

Sarah Palin, embracing the fanatical, loony conspiracy theory that Pres. Obama is organizing "death panels" to come to kill her infant son.

Well on first reaction to this tiny bit of wisdom .

Was it not than Governor Plain that said the evil reporters and bloggers involving her family in politics and they are off limits.

Except for photo ops of course.

But she came out on stage with flashes from cameras that her daughter was with child out of wedlock . Showing just saying no still working for all other teens.

Proudly stating her son enlisting in the service and going to war . I guess going by bus.

One based on lies and scare tactics maybe facing killing someone aka you no life.

Which being pro life shows the narrow view of life shes promoting

Than followed by this news.

Palin's "Death Panel" for the Elderly in Alaska

By now, most of us have heard Sarah Palin's "death panel" comment on her Facebook page.

But what we may not know is that, during her tenure as governor, an important program for in-home elder care became an actual "death panel" for over 250 vulnerable Alaskans.

The America I know and love is not one in which my parents or my baby with Down Syndrome will have to stand in front of Obama’s "death panel" so his bureaucrats can decide, based on a subjective judgment of their "level of productivity in society," whether they are worthy of health care.

Such a system is downright evil.

But as the Anchorage Daily News reported this last July, the situation in the state's Medicare- and Medicaid-funded in-home elder care program became so bad that the federal government had to step in and force Alaska to make necessary improvements.

In one 2 1/2 year stretch, 227 adults already getting services died while waiting for a nurse to reassess their needs. Another 27 died waiting for their initial assessment, to see if they qualified for help.

The feds had been tipped off to the systemic problems by doctors and other health care providers, who found the state unresponsive when confronted with their incompetence.

No other state faced comparable problems.

This follows the additional info ops no updates

Than to wrap up theres this GOP senator behind Palin's "death panels"

U.S. Rep. Virginia Fox (R-N.C.) also recently accused the Democrats' health care reform plan of putting seniors "to death."

But there is nothing resembling the alleged "death panel" in the health care reform plan.

A spokesperson for Palin told ABC News that the former governor was referring to a section promoting advance care planning that appears on page 425 of the House Democrats' bill

Advance care planning includes living wills and durable powers of attorney that allow individuals to make clear their wishes for end-of-life care, whatever they may be.And as it turns out, the cause of advance planning has been championed especially strongly by a pro-life Republican -- U.S. Sen. Johnny Isakson of Georgia.Isakson (photo above) is a member of Senate Health committee that played a key role in shaping the health care reform legislation.

He successfully offered an amendment in committee that allows funds for a government-funded program that provides in-home services to people with disabilities to be used for advance care planning, according to the national Hospice and Palliative Care Organization.

Isakson has been promoting advance care planning for years.

In 2007, for example, he co-sponsored two bills to encourage such planning -- the Medicare End-of-Life Care Planning Actand the Advance Planning and Compassionate Care Act.

In 2005, Isakson joined with state lawmakers to publicly sign a personal "Directive for Final Health Care" to encourage Georgians to discuss their personal wishes for end-of-life care.

He cited the controversial case of Terry Schiavo -- a Florida woman who lived for several years in a persistent vegetative state before her husband had her disconnected from a feeding tube -- to illustrate the importance of advance planning.

"I believe it is every person's right and responsibility to make sure their loved ones are prepared to make decisions on their behalf by discussing and documenting their wishes," Isakson said at the time.

"It is my sincere hope that all Georgians will join me in following the lead of the Georgia General Assembly's Resolution and make their final wishes known."Isakson is a pro-life politician who opposes abortion as well as stem cell research entailing the destruction of human embryos.

But all right with the life's of vets being killed in war based on lies.

So far Isakson has remained silent publicly on the "death panel" brouhaha. Facing South called his press office for comment today but no one was available.

Meanwhile, another prominent Georgia Republican has rushed to Palin's defense: Former U.S. House Speaker Newt Gingrich told ABC's "This Week" that people are being asked "to trust turning power over to the government

when there are clearly people in America who believe in establishing euthanasia, including selective standards."

But other at least one Georgia politician has tried to distance himself from Palin, with Congressman Jack Kingston (R-Ga.) telling Bill Maher that her "death panel" allegation was "a scare tactic."

Why do Evangelicals and Pentecostals oppose Health Care Reform?

Related posting here G.O.P. Principles

That like Bush using Fox Net work reporting they had indeed found weapons of mass distruction as "scare tactic"

On Fox News Channel (3/23/03), the headline banners were already rolling: "HUGE CHEMICAL WEAPONS FACTORY FOUND IN SO IRAQ.... REPORTS: 30 IRAQIS SURRENDER AT CHEM WEAPONS PLANT.... COAL TROOPS HOLDING IRAQI IN CHARGE OF CHEM WEAPONS." The Jerusalem Post, whose embedded reporter helped break the story along with a Fox correspondent, announced in a front-page headline (3/24/03), "U.S. Troops Capture First Chemical Plant."

So went the weapons hunt. On numerous occasions, the discovery of a stash of illegal Iraqi arms was loudly announced--often accompanied by an orgy of triumphalist off-the-cuff punditry--only to be deflated inconspicuously, and in a lower tone of voice, until the next false alarm was sounded.

In one episode, embedded NPR reporter John Burnett (4/7/03) recounted the big news he'd learned from a "top military official": "the first solid confirmed existence of chemical weapons by the Iraqi army." According to Burnett, an army unit near Baghdad had discovered "20 BM-21 medium-range rockets with warheads containing sarin nerve gas and mustard gas."

True believersSome of the more gung-ho media weren't discouraged at all by the constant false alarms.

According to Rush Limbaugh's website (4/7/03), "

We're discovering WMDs all over Iraq.... You know it killed NPR to report that the 101st Airborne found a stockpile of up to 20 rockets tipped with sarin and mustard gas....

Our troops have found dozens of barrels of chemicals in an agricultural facility 30 miles northwest of Baghdad."

"The discovery of these weapons of mass destruction doesn't surprise me," Limbaugh explained on his radio show (4/7/03).

"The only part of it that surprises me is that we discovered them in Iraq."

If U.S. forces were to look in Syria, he proposed, they would probably find an additional "huge cache" of smuggled weaponry.

They only thing that surprises me that Fox news and Rush Limbaugh still aloud to broad cast. But I guess Huckabee working for Fox net work handles that part. Other here

On April 11, a Fox News report, still posted to the network's website as late as July,announced: "Weapons-Grade Plutonium Possibly Found at Iraqi Nuke Complex."

FOXNews.com - Report: No Iraq WMDs Made After '91 - Politics ...

Sourced to an embedded reporter from the right-wing Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, the story was soon debunked by U.S. officials (AP, 4/15/03).

Fox didn't mention that the "massive" underground facility "discovered" beneath a military compound had actually been subject to continuous on-site U.N. monitoring for years.

Instead, the network featured a soundbite from "former Iraqi scientist" George Gazi, who declared: "I think this demonstrates the failure of the U.N. weapons inspections and demonstrates that our guys are going to find the weapons of mass destruction."

So where did Palin get that bad information?

(This story originally appeared at Facing South.)