# The Florida Senate election **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [June 3, 2010, 2:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-florida-senate-election/541721 "2010-06-03T02:07:05Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2010, 2:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-florida-senate-election/541721/61 "2010-09-17T14:50:22Z")
> [@gonzomax](#): > > I feel sorry for Floridaites. You have 3 bad choices. Everyone of them has used their political power for personal gain to enrich themselves or their relatives. They have ignored their ethics to help big donors. It is sad. Nitpick: We call ourselves “Floridians,” accent on the second syllable. (Which at some point, I don’t know when, won out over “Floridans,” accent on the first syllable. There are some holdovers – there is still a (long-abandoned, now being restored) [Floridan Hotel](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Floridan_Hotel) in downtown Tampa, and the artesian water table is known as the [“Floridan Aquifer.”](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Floridan_Aquifer)) ---
**Author:** ![gonzomax](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e8c25b/32.png) [@gonzomax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gonzomax)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2010, 8:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-florida-senate-election/541721/62 "2010-09-19T20:28:57Z")
> [@BrainGlutton](#): > > Well, leaving that aside for the moment . . . > > One thing we haven’t really discussed in this thread: Who would make the best senator? > > [Marco Rubio.](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marco_Rubio) > > [Charlie Crist.](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charlie_Crist) > > [Kendrick Meek.](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charlie_Crist) Meek has had a relationship with Stackhouse who is on trial for fraud for grand theft and a scheme to defraud. Meek earmarked over 1 mill. to the project. The revitalization project steered another 2.2 mill. Stackhouse’s way. Stackhouse gave Meeks mother a 90 K job with an Escalade and an an office. He has been implicated with Wackenhuf Corrections . While he was employed by them, he was voting on bills that benefited them. He should have recused himself. Rubio was implicated in a Federal Investigation for misuse of Fla. Repub. Party funds. The IRS is investigating him for it. He has been accused of double billing the Repub, Party for 8 flights. While getting 69 K from Florida Int. Inst. he steered 29 mill. their way. While Rubio was a consultant for Jackson Memorial Hosp. , he steered 20 mill.their way. Crist picked Jim Greer to head the Fla. Rep. Party. Greer is facing 6 counts of grand theft and money laundering. Crist still defended him. Greer set up a shell corp. to filter 10 percent on the GOP donations. When Crist was A.G. ,he picked GDX to handle their computer work. The work was outsourced overseas and personal information of over 100,000 employees was exposed. Crist failed to investigate Lou Pearlman who ran a 300 mill dollar investment scheme. He donated 12K to Crist’s campaign. Crist is gay and votes against gay rights and gay marriage. All this was on the internet. They seem to be the kind of politicians we all hate. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2010, 1:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-florida-senate-election/541721/63 "2010-09-27T01:28:40Z")
> [@BrainGlutton](#): > > The Republican nominee almost certainly will be Florida House Speaker [Marco Rubio.](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marco_Rubio) IMO, he’s much too conservative to swing a majority in a “purple” state that went for Obama in 2008. But he doesn’t need a majority – whoever wins this is going to win by a plurality. And [the latest polls](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Florida_Senate_election,_2010#Polling_3) show Rubio leading by a plurality. Rubio 40%, Crist 28%, Meek 23%. **Damn,** we need instant-runoff voting! ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2010, 3:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-florida-senate-election/541721/64 "2010-09-27T03:10:28Z")
First factual question: How does election law in Florida work in the event of a non-majority? Is it plurality wins, or does it go to a (non-instant) runoff? Second factual question: Is it possible at this time for one of the candidates to officially withdraw from the race? Nonfactual question: Is there any realistic chance that Meek might choose to withdraw and endorse Crist, assuming that that’s possible? ---
**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:** [September 27, 2010, 3:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-florida-senate-election/541721/65 "2010-09-27T03:18:21Z")
Chronos, if anything it’ll go the other way. Meek is moving up and Charlie down in the polls. Charlie’s toast. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2010, 6:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-florida-senate-election/541721/66 "2010-09-27T06:25:25Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > First factual question: How does election law in Florida work in the event of a non-majority? Is it plurality wins, or does it go to a (non-instant) runoff? [Runoff elections were abolished in 2005.](http://www.sptimes.com/2005/04/29/State/Senate_writes_obituar.shtml) ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2010, 6:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-florida-senate-election/541721/67 "2010-09-27T18:59:30Z")
> [@](#): > > Chronos, if anything it’ll go the other way. Meek is moving up and Charlie down in the polls. Charlie’s toast. OK, but if Crist drops out, it’s not clear which way his supporters would move. I think it’s a fairly safe bet, though, that if Meek were to drop out, his supporters wouldn’t be going to Rubio. ---
**Author:** ![foolsguinea](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/foolsguinea/32/14751_2.png) [@foolsguinea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/foolsguinea)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2010, 7:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-florida-senate-election/541721/68 "2010-09-27T19:38:51Z")
> [@BrainGlutton](#): > > [Runoff elections were abolished in 2005.](http://www.sptimes.com/2005/04/29/State/Senate_writes_obituar.shtml) For general elections, or just for primaries? ---
**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:** [September 27, 2010, 8:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-florida-senate-election/541721/69 "2010-09-27T20:13:25Z")
Both. ---
**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:** [September 28, 2010, 11:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-florida-senate-election/541721/70 "2010-09-28T11:58:50Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > OK, but if Crist drops out, it’s not clear which way his supporters would move. I think it’s a fairly safe bet, though, that if Meek were to drop out, his supporters wouldn’t be going to Rubio. Yeah, that’s about right, but the Democrats will never drop out completely in favor of Charlie (unless by some miracle he committed to becoming a Democrat after election - but I don’t see that happening). Their best bet at this point is to trash _Charlie_ (not Marco) and focus on a get-out-the-vote effort. However, at this point, I think the Dems are pretty much giving up on the Senate and trying to win a few state spots (Governor/AG/etc). The Dems should also be pushing hard for Amendments 5 and 6 (redistricting) since that’s the only hope they have for breaking the Republican stranglehold on the Legislature. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2010, 1:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-florida-senate-election/541721/71 "2010-09-28T13:16:30Z")
> [@Zakalwe](#): > > The Dems should also be pushing hard for Amendments 5 and 6 (redistricting) since that’s the only hope they have for breaking the Republican stranglehold on the Legislature. [See thread.](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=575770) ---
**Author:** ![NetTrekker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nettrekker/32/2909_2.png) [@NetTrekker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NetTrekker)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2010, 10:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-florida-senate-election/541721/72 "2010-09-28T22:48:24Z")
I wouldn’t vote for any of them due to ideological differences, but I have to admit that Rubio is an impressive person, to be head of the Fla. legislature in his 30’s and now leading the senate race. ---
**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:** [September 28, 2010, 11:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-florida-senate-election/541721/73 "2010-09-28T23:35:47Z")
> [@NetTrekker](#): > > I wouldn’t vote for any of them due to ideological differences, but I have to admit that Rubio is an impressive person, to be head of the Fla. legislature in his 30’s and now leading the senate race. Yeah. Impressive. Too bad he did it by sucking Jeb Bush’s dick and sticking his tongue up the ass of moronic voters. He left a legacy of fiscal mismanagement that will take decades to undo (particularly if Scott wins and comes in to cleave what little flesh is left on state government’s bones). My fondest hope is for a Cat 5 to slam South Florida (or Tampa) and bankrupt the State. Then we MIGHT see some actual reporting on the damage done by the Republicans. Hmmm…the above might be ambivalent. I don’t like Rubio. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2010, 11:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-florida-senate-election/541721/74 "2010-09-28T23:40:44Z")
> [@Zakalwe](#): > > My fondest hope is for a Cat 5 to slam South Florida (or Tampa) and bankrupt the State. Then we MIGHT see some actual reporting on the damage done by the Republicans. Errr, pardon me, but wouldn’t Orlando be a better choice? Or, just a few miles west of Orlando? ---
**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:** [September 29, 2010, 12:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-florida-senate-election/541721/75 "2010-09-29T00:12:01Z")
> [@BrainGlutton](#): > > Errr, pardon me, but wouldn’t Orlando be a better choice? Or, just a few miles west of Orlando? Why? A Cat 5 wouldn’t be a Cat 5 by the time it hit Orlando. The point is to hit at the point to cause maximum property damage. Property damage that will have to be covered by our “insurance” company, Citizens. We are essentially self-insured and thanks to people like Rubio have nowhere near the reserves or income to cover it. ---
**Author:** ![Sam\_Stone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Sam\_Stone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sam_Stone)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2010, 12:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-florida-senate-election/541721/76 "2010-09-29T00:46:40Z")
For those of you who Floridians who think Rubio would be a disaster, tell me what you think of Jeb Bush’s time as Governor? Was he a disaster? If so, how? From what I’ve read, Bush was actually a pretty good Governor, and enjoyed high popularity for much of his time in office. He was the only Republican Governor to ever win re-election in Florida, I believe, and he won re-election in a landslide. He only left because he was term-limited out. So if Bush was okay, how would Rubio be different? Is he more Conservative than Bush? Dumber? What exactly is his big flaw that would make him such a disaster? ---
**Author:** ![Ludovic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ab992/32.png) [@Ludovic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludovic)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2010, 1:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-florida-senate-election/541721/77 "2010-09-29T01:19:40Z")
> [@Sam\_Stone](#): > > So if Bush was okay, how would Rubio be different? Is he more Conservative than Bush? Dumber? What exactly is his big flaw that would make him such a disaster? Did Bush criticize Crist for taking stimulus funds _as governor_? It’s one thing to be against the stimulus, but a Governor is not doing right by the people of his state for throwing away money from the federal government, unless the projects are so insane that they won’t be bring any benefit to the citizens other than the jobs. If Bush did not, then Rubio is either more conservative or dumber, or both. ---
**Author:** ![Simplicio](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c37758/32.png) [@Simplicio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Simplicio)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2010, 1:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-florida-senate-election/541721/78 "2010-09-29T01:32:49Z")
> [@Sam\_Stone](#): > > For those of you who Floridians who think Rubio would be a disaster, tell me what you think of Jeb Bush’s time as Governor? Was he a disaster? If so, how? > > From what I’ve read, Bush was actually a pretty good Governor, and enjoyed high popularity for much of his time in office. He was the only Republican Governor to ever win re-election in Florida, I believe, and he won re-election in a landslide. He only left because he was term-limited out. > > So if Bush was okay, how would Rubio be different? Is he more Conservative than Bush? Dumber? What exactly is his big flaw that would make him such a disaster? Senator != Governor. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2010, 1:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-florida-senate-election/541721/79 "2010-09-29T01:42:33Z")
> [@Zakalwe](#): > > > [@BrainGlutton](#): > > > > Errr, pardon me, but wouldn’t Orlando be a better choice? Or, just a few miles west of Orlando? > > Why? A Cat 5 wouldn’t be a Cat 5 by the time it hit Orlando. I know, I know . . . It’s sour grapes, really. I’ve always nursed a grudge against Disney for choosing Orange/Osceola over Hillsborough for just that reason. Not that I’d want to visit the Magic Kingdom that often, but if its mere proximity did all that for a tiny town like Orlando (was in 1965), just think what it could have done for Tampa . . . ---
**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:** [September 29, 2010, 1:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-florida-senate-election/541721/80 "2010-09-29T01:49:37Z")
> [@Sam\_Stone](#): > > For those of you who Floridians who think Rubio would be a disaster, tell me what you think of Jeb Bush’s time as Governor? Was he a disaster? If so, how? > > From what I’ve read, Bush was actually a pretty good Governor, and enjoyed high popularity for much of his time in office. He was the only Republican Governor to ever win re-election in Florida, I believe, and he won re-election in a landslide. He only left because he was term-limited out. > > So if Bush was okay, how would Rubio be different? Is he more Conservative than Bush? Dumber? What exactly is his big flaw that would make him such a disaster? Disaster. Bush privatized critical state government services and actually spent MORE to do it (not one of the ‘cost savings’ touted by Republicans has ever materialized - the fact is that the State now pays more for stuff it used to do itself cheaper) and politicized the selection of judges (against 30 years of precedent). Against that he has…what exactly? Being popular? Sure, he cut taxes. The fact that people now want the services those taxes paid for and the State can no longer afford to provide them isn’t HIS problem. Bush was only term limited out my ass. He knew exactly when to cut and run. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-florida-senate-election/541721.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-florida-senate-election/541721.md?page=5)