# Mel Martinez (R-FL) resigns. Why? **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [August 7, 2009, 4:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mel-martinez-r-fl-resigns-why/505655 "2009-08-07T16:31:55Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 16\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Simplicio](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c37758/32.png) [@Simplicio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Simplicio)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2009, 5:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mel-martinez-r-fl-resigns-why/505655/21 "2009-08-08T17:17:02Z")
> [@Death\_of\_Rats](#): > > I think Mel reallly and truly screwed Crist with this. He just went from an alomst sure thing to a race to the finish because anything he does to keep himself in the race can be turned on him by opponents from both sides of the aisle. Eh, I don’t think it will be too much of a problem for Crist. Pretty much everyone expects him to appoint a stand-in, then run himself next year. No doubt his opponents will try and make hay out of it, but I doubt they’ll get much mileage out of it. Appointing buddies to serve out the rest of the term and then step down in these situations has been pretty standard and non-controversial in the past, so unless he chooses someone that really alienates GOP primary voters I doubt he’ll take much damage from it. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2009, 5:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mel-martinez-r-fl-resigns-why/505655/22 "2009-08-08T17:45:29Z")
> [@Death\_of\_Rats](#): > > I think Mel reallly and truly screwed Crist with this. He just went from an alomst sure thing to a race to the finish because anything he does to keep himself in the race can be turned on him by opponents from both sides of the aisle. This doesn’t do Crist any favors, but it’s not that big of a deal. I’m sure he can find somebody relatively unobjectionable. My understanding is that if Crist wins the primary he’s pretty close to a shoe-in. ---
**Author:** ![joebuck20](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/74df32/32.png) [@joebuck20](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/joebuck20)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2009, 6:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mel-martinez-r-fl-resigns-why/505655/23 "2009-08-08T18:36:22Z")
Maybe he’s gay. ---
**Author:** ![Thin\_Ice](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/aeb1de/32.png) [@Thin\_Ice](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thin_Ice)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2009, 6:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mel-martinez-r-fl-resigns-why/505655/24 "2009-08-08T18:48:41Z")
Jeez, CC, I was just pointing out to ITR that you didn’t say what he thought you said. Now I wish I hadn’t. ---
**Author:** ![Saint\_Cad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saint_cad/32/18907_2.png) [@Saint\_Cad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saint_Cad)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2009, 6:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mel-martinez-r-fl-resigns-why/505655/25 "2009-08-08T18:59:38Z")
> [@Marley23](#): > > Martinez had already announced he was not running for re-election. I don’t know why he quit, overall, he seemed to find national electoral politics a frustrating experience, so maybe he decided he didn’t feel like playing out the string for another year and a half. I knew he was in trouble when he hired Palin as his political advisor 😛 ---
**Author:** ![Captain\_Carrot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f0a364/32.png) [@Captain\_Carrot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Captain_Carrot)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2009, 7:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mel-martinez-r-fl-resigns-why/505655/26 "2009-08-08T19:28:23Z")
> [@Thin\_Ice](#): > > Jeez, CC, I was just pointing out to ITR that you didn’t say what he thought you said. Now I wish I hadn’t. Why? My reply wasn’t attacking you in any way, simply explaining my reasoning. I quoted you because you did bring up a valid point: he might actually want to spend more time with his family. I doubt that’s the reason, because it’s exceedingly odd, but it is possible. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2009, 7:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mel-martinez-r-fl-resigns-why/505655/27 "2009-08-08T19:44:44Z")
> [@Saint\_Cad](#): > > I knew he was in trouble when he hired Palin as his political advisor 😛 😉 The difference here is that I don’t think Martinez resigned because he’s outgrown the Senate and wants a promotion. Given the fact that he was head of the RNC for about 10 minutes and it didn’t go well, I expect he’s not very happy with his colleagues. ---
**Author:** ![BobLibDem](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/boblibdem/32/3149_2.png) [@BobLibDem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobLibDem)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2009, 8:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mel-martinez-r-fl-resigns-why/505655/28 "2009-08-08T20:54:41Z")
I seriously doubt there is any scandal here. I think he just got sick of the job, and perhaps is a bit ashamed of the direction his party has headed. There are some Republicans with honor, and it must sicken them to see the whackos in control of the party. ---
**Author:** ![Squink](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b5e925/32.png) [@Squink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Squink)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2009, 9:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mel-martinez-r-fl-resigns-why/505655/29 "2009-08-08T21:12:03Z")
Isn’t hispanic approval of the Republican party down to like 3% after the Sotomayor debacle? ISTM, Martinez might just not want to fight a hopeless battle anymore. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2009, 9:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mel-martinez-r-fl-resigns-why/505655/30 "2009-08-08T21:14:45Z")
> [@kaylasdad99](#): > > Well, Crist does want the job. Maybe he’ll appoint himself. 😃 He wants it in the next election but he’s already said he won’t appoint himself for the remainder of Martinez’ term. The pundits expect he’ll appoint some prominent retired Pub, such as ex-Senator Bob (not Mel) Martinez. ---
**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:** [August 8, 2009, 9:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mel-martinez-r-fl-resigns-why/505655/31 "2009-08-08T21:54:06Z")
> [@BrainGlutton](#): > > He wants it in the next election but he’s already said he won’t appoint himself for the remainder of Martinez’ term. The pundits expect he’ll appoint some prominent retired Pub, such as ex-Senator Bob (not Mel) Martinez. Nah, he’ll appoint Jim Smith. Bob is a little too wild-card. He might decide he likes the job (though he’d be a shitty Senator). Jim has been bandied about as a gubernatorial candidate so it’s less likely he’d go for the long term play in the Senate at this point. A term or two in the Mansion and then he can take Nelson’s seat. ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2009, 1:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mel-martinez-r-fl-resigns-why/505655/32 "2009-08-09T01:13:52Z")
> [@BrainGlutton](#): > > > [@](#): > > > > Originally Posted by **kaylasdad99** > > Well, Crist does want the job. Maybe he’ll appoint himself. 😃 > > He wants it in the next election but he’s already said he won’t appoint himself for the remainder of Martinez’ term. The pundits expect he’ll appoint some prominent retired Pub, such as ex-Senator Bob (not Mel) Martinez. Hmm. I noticed that Martinez said his resignation is effective as soon as a replacement is selected and accepts the position. Maybe Crist will just refuse to make a selection, and _force_ him to fill out his term. :D:D ---
**Author:** ![ShibbOleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/848f3c/32.png) [@ShibbOleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ShibbOleth)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2009, 1:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mel-martinez-r-fl-resigns-why/505655/33 "2009-08-10T13:49:15Z")
If Crist had balls and a sense of humor he’d appoint Marco Rubio. ---
**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:** [August 10, 2009, 2:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mel-martinez-r-fl-resigns-why/505655/34 "2009-08-10T14:01:29Z")
Oh, you guys. It’s a _favor_ to Crist- while everyone is discussing Martinez’ resignation, Crist can quietly come out of the closet. Oh, and I’ve been offered the job. I’ll let you know what I decide. ---
**Author:** ![UltraVires](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/ecccb3/32.png) [@UltraVires](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UltraVires)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2009, 2:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mel-martinez-r-fl-resigns-why/505655/35 "2009-08-10T14:19:24Z")
> [@strqwert44](#): > > when you’re (you being a Senator/Rep) in the minority party in Congress it pretty much sucks…you’re basically riding shot gun while the other party is driving. > > As a lame duck, Mel probably got tired of sitting on Capitol Hill while wielding no real power. > > source: friends who are Dem. staffers on the Hill. I think it is this. If you are stepping down in a year and a half anyways, do you want to spend that time consistently losing and getting outvoted? ---
**Author:** ![Fuzzy\_Dunlop](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/848f3c/32.png) [@Fuzzy\_Dunlop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fuzzy_Dunlop)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2009, 2:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mel-martinez-r-fl-resigns-why/505655/36 "2009-08-10T14:37:26Z")
> [@Ravenman](#): > > I hear his resignation speech is in the works: > > [Cite.](http://community.adn.com/adn/node/142176) Well I thought this was just hilarious. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mel-martinez-r-fl-resigns-why/505655.md?page=1)