checkpoint charlie
JohnIf you believed the partisan, bile-filled spin job of the caricature that a Republican governor, following in John Ellis Bush’s footsteps (I refuse to call the former governor by his nickname any more), it was to be more of the same in Tallahassee from the top down: pomposity, secrecy, “do as I say, not as I do” and worse. Charlie Crist was made out to be a hard-right political figure because there is no middle ground in politics right now.
I’m not sure you can believe that caricature any more.
All hasn’t been perfect for the new governor but there has been a pleasant bit of difference in his governing style. You may sit well to the left or well to the right of Crist politically but the governor remains approachable as well as populist instead of pompous.
What’s your take on Charlie Crist’s first five months in office? Cast your vote in our Sticks of Fire poll:
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May 10th, 2007 at 4:41 pm
When they showed the Governer of Florida on the Today show this morning - I was actually surprised not to see Jeb’s face and it took me a second to remember what happened. That has to be an indication of something right?
May 10th, 2007 at 5:30 pm
I’ve been pleased that he has reached across the aisle to tap some democrats for his appointments, showing he’s above the polarized blue vs. red divisiveness I’m so tired of. His choice of Tom Pelham for head of the DCA (which overlooks our Comprehensive Plans) is a breath of fresh air for those of us concerned about growth management. But what really won me over was when he announced he would veto the bill that threatened to gut our EPC - Hillsborough County’s local wetlands watchdog. That sucked the wind right out of that evil scheme’s sails.
May 10th, 2007 at 5:43 pm
wow, on first reading i thought we were about to find some common ground, john. And maybe we are. First of all, I was involved in the campaign and don’t remember any caricaturing being done. I DO remember some HUGE ASS building covering illegal signs and a plane circling over jim davis’ campaign head quarters. I don’t like this whole populist spin, it’s dangerous. Too close to one-partying america. yknow. As well, I kinda like charlie. But, it may well be that he’s just a ‘better version’. He hasn’t done much. Appeared with citizen plants for a tax cut that never happened. Those were republicans out there that he joined, yknow… THEN they/he managed to pass the gambling law but not kidcare and tax and insuranc and yada yada fricking yada ….
I am not prepared to ‘like’ a governor because he’s ‘not that asshole jeb’ sorry.
On the other hand, I’m pulling for charlie. I really am. I want him to do well. Florida needs him to. He tripped up on the felon rights, as well. He could have just signed an executive order. at this point, nothing has changed for these people. aclu reports that they call and call and no news. Also if he signs that fricking shutter law, i’m gonna laugh my ass off. yeah, put a shutter on it; that’ll keep the hurricane out. whatevaaaa.
good idea but he hasn’t shown any substance yet. I’m willing to give him time but when he didn’t just sign an exec order like jebby did on sept 7, 2001 I began to see the light dim.
COME ON CHARLIE. Florida needs you to be real, man.