# Dope on FL senate election **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [April 20, 2010, 1:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dope-on-fl-senate-election/536703 "2010-04-20T01:56:55Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2010, 5:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dope-on-fl-senate-election/536703/21 "2010-04-20T17:30:31Z")
> [@johnspartan](#): > > “Great Debates” aren’t started with referring to politically active groups by using vulgar sexual slang. :dubious: Go away. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2010, 5:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dope-on-fl-senate-election/536703/22 "2010-04-20T17:34:46Z")
> [@BrainGlutton](#): > > A three-way Senate race! **That** should make this an interesting political year in Florida! (Hard to see how anything else will . . .) I was going to announce my candidacy, but I won’t be 30 in time to take office. :mad: ---
**Author:** ![Simplicio](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c37758/32.png) [@Simplicio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Simplicio)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2010, 5:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dope-on-fl-senate-election/536703/23 "2010-04-20T17:45:09Z")
> [@BrainGlutton](#): > > [Crist says he may run as an independent.](http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/04/19/AR2010041904719.html)) I have trouble believing that he would float the idea of an independent run unless he was pretty certain he was going to do it. Speculating out loud that its a possibility and then not doing it doesn’t really serve any purpose other then to piss off people he might need later if he actually does stay in the GOP. So it looks like the FL race has moved from a forgone to conclusion into one that I’d say any of the three candidates have a pretty solid chance of winning. ---
**Author:** ![Damuri\_Ajashi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/898d66/32.png) [@Damuri\_Ajashi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Damuri_Ajashi)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2010, 5:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dope-on-fl-senate-election/536703/24 "2010-04-20T17:47:21Z")
Here’s my question. Could Crist win the general election if he won the primary? If so then I don’t see any problem with him running as an independent just as there was no problem with Lieberman running as an independent when someone to the left of him beat him in the Democratic primary. These parties think they own the country. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2010, 6:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dope-on-fl-senate-election/536703/25 "2010-04-20T18:17:59Z")
He certainly could. He’s quite popular with Democrats and moderates, especially after [vetoing the education bill last week](http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052702304510004575186280627409178.html). He’s currently polling a couple of points ahead of Rubio and significantly ahead of Kendrick Meeks, the most likely Democratic candidate. ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2010, 6:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dope-on-fl-senate-election/536703/26 "2010-04-20T18:20:48Z")
So what are the chances of Meeks withdrawing in order to keep the seat away from the firebreathers? Would it take Crist agreeing, privately or not, to caucus with the Dems if he won? ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2010, 6:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dope-on-fl-senate-election/536703/27 "2010-04-20T18:31:10Z")
Unlikely. Crist’s not quite a Lieberman yet - he’s not endorsing Democrats for office or anything - so I imagine he’d continue to caucus with the Republicans. That said, I think this primary battle shows that there may no longer be a place for moderate Republicans in the Republican Party, at least in Florida. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2010, 6:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dope-on-fl-senate-election/536703/28 "2010-04-20T18:47:05Z")
> [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](#): > > Unlikely. Crist’s not quite a Lieberman yet - he’s not endorsing Democrats for office or anything - so I imagine he’d continue to caucus with the Republicans. That said, I think this primary battle shows that there may no longer be a place for moderate Republicans in the Republican Party, at least in Florida. Well, the extremist Republicans don’t have enough support here to win general elections. This is a “purple state,” and Rubio is **way** too conservative to win a majority here. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2010, 7:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dope-on-fl-senate-election/536703/29 "2010-04-20T19:10:00Z")
Yes, but that’s not the issue - what is the issue is whether Republican primary voters will recognize that, and so far the answer appears to be no. ---
**Author:** ![Oscalo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/919ad9/32.png) [@Oscalo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oscalo)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2010, 7:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dope-on-fl-senate-election/536703/30 "2010-04-20T19:27:08Z")
> [@johnspartan](#): > > “Great Debates” aren’t started with referring to politically active groups by using vulgar sexual slang. Hey, it’s not our fault that these people get off on teabagging. ---
**Author:** ![Squink](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b5e925/32.png) [@Squink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Squink)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2010, 4:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dope-on-fl-senate-election/536703/31 "2010-04-21T16:09:23Z")
[U.S. attorney, IRS and FBI investigating Florida GOP credit card use](http://www.tampabay.com/news/politics/national/us-attorney-irs-and-fbi-investigating-florida-gop-credit-card-use/1088979) > [@](#): > > the IRS is also looking at the tax records of at least three former party credit card holders — former Florida House Speaker **Marco Rubio** , ex-state party chairman Jim Greer and ex-party executive director Delmar Johnson — to determine whether they misused their party credit cards for personal expenses, according to a source familiar with the preliminary inquiry. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2010, 4:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dope-on-fl-senate-election/536703/32 "2010-04-21T16:36:03Z")
> [@Squink](#): > > [U.S. attorney, IRS and FBI investigating Florida GOP credit card use](http://www.tampabay.com/news/politics/national/us-attorney-irs-and-fbi-investigating-florida-gop-credit-card-use/1088979) Wingnuts charge the FBI and USAO with politically motivated investigation in 3 . . . 2. . . 1 . . . ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2010, 6:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dope-on-fl-senate-election/536703/33 "2010-04-21T18:40:06Z")
It’s a witch hunt! Obama needs to call off his storm troopers! This is an outrage! What? ---
**Author:** ![Bricker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/977dab/32.png) [@Bricker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bricker)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2010, 7:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dope-on-fl-senate-election/536703/34 "2010-04-21T19:13:37Z")
> [@BrainGlutton](#): > > Wingnuts charge the FBI and USAO with politically motivated investigation in 3 . . . 2. . . 1 . . . I don’t know if, and rather doubt that, the investigation is politically motivated. However, considering that such investigations are supposed to be confidential at that stage, it’s very clear that leaking the news about the investigation is politically motivated. ---
**Author:** ![Squink](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b5e925/32.png) [@Squink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Squink)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2010, 7:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dope-on-fl-senate-election/536703/35 "2010-04-21T19:23:58Z")
> [@Bricker](#): > > However, considering that such investigations are supposed to be confidential at that stage, it’s very clear that leaking the news about the investigation is politically motivated. Not true, some underpayed staffer might’ve very well leaked the story to a reporter for the price of a steak dinner with all the trimmings. Additionally, rumors of corruption have been swirling around [RPOF](http://www.rpof.org/contact.php) for months now. I expect that many federal workers who also read the local papers might have genuine trouble determining the difference between “common knowledge” and “privileged information” as it relates to this latest investigation. ---
**Author:** ![Simplicio](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c37758/32.png) [@Simplicio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Simplicio)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2010, 6:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dope-on-fl-senate-election/536703/36 "2010-04-28T18:50:23Z")
Crist [looks set](http://blogs.tampabay.com/buzz/2010/04/crists-declaration-of-independence-coming-in-st-pete.html) to announce his run as an independent tomorrow. ---
**Author:** ![Zakalwe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zakalwe/32/270_2.png) [@Zakalwe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zakalwe)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2010, 11:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dope-on-fl-senate-election/536703/37 "2010-04-28T23:55:46Z")
> [@jtgain](#): > > he vetoed a forward thinking education bill Hijack, but no he didn’t. He vetoed an education bill that would have gutted public education in Florida. I have no problem with the idea of merit-based pay for teachers, but this was a bad bill. Crist’s biggest problem is that he _wants_ to be moderate, but has created a mixed record for himself by following, not leading. Tangentially related to the OP, he may also be the first more or less generally acknowledged (although not admitted) gay man in US history to hold a governorship. It used to fascinate me that the man who achieved that milestone was Republican, but after reflection, it now seems inevitable. ---
**Author:** ![Simplicio](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c37758/32.png) [@Simplicio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Simplicio)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2010, 12:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dope-on-fl-senate-election/536703/38 "2010-04-29T00:17:57Z")
> [@Zakalwe](#): > > Tangentially related to the OP, he may also be the first more or less generally acknowledged (although not admitted) gay man in US history to hold a governorship. It used to fascinate me that the man who achieved that milestone was Republican, but after reflection, it now seems inevitable. The evidence that he’s gay is pretty thin. And he’s not only not admitting it but actively denies it and is married. Of course that doesn’t mean he’s not gay, but he’s at least pretty deep in the closet, and I think its a pretty big leap to say he’s “generally acknowledged” to be gay. (plus, in two-hundred years has there really not been another governor who was widely rumored to be gay? we’ve had at least one other gay governor in my lifetime, Jim McGreevy, though I don’t know if he was ever considered to be a gay before he was outted and resigned.) ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2010, 12:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dope-on-fl-senate-election/536703/39 "2010-04-29T00:35:02Z")
And, of course, we had President James Buchanan. Historians are pretty sure. Lincoln is controversial, but Buchanan definitely had teh gay. ---
**Author:** ![Zakalwe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zakalwe/32/270_2.png) [@Zakalwe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zakalwe)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2010, 1:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dope-on-fl-senate-election/536703/40 "2010-04-29T01:13:34Z")
> [@Simplicio](#): > > The evidence that he’s gay is pretty thin. And he’s not only not admitting it but actively denies it and is married. > > Of course that doesn’t mean he’s not gay, but he’s at least pretty deep in the closet, and I think its a pretty big leap to say he’s “generally acknowledged” to be gay. Okay, well my location may be tainting my viewpoint. I know of no one in Tallahassee (including many Republicans who voted for him) that doesn’t think he’s gay (and interestingly, few, if any, care - the general attitude seems to be “yeah whatever” - when they have problems with Crist his being gay isn’t the issue). I, personally, have particular reason to think he’s gay, but I don’t expect that to carry weight with anyone else, especially as I cannot discuss how I came by that knowledge (sorry, I know that sounds all “black helicopter” conspiracy theorist, but that’s just how it is). > [@BrainGlutton](#): > > And, of course, we had President James Buchanan. Historians are pretty sure. Lincoln is controversial, but Buchanan definitely had teh gay. Fascinating. Do you have a reasonably brief cite for that? I’d be interested to learn more. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dope-on-fl-senate-election/536703.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dope-on-fl-senate-election/536703.md?page=3)