Charlie Crist now a Democrat

gymfresh

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From just a few minutes ago:

Charlie Crist signs papers to become a Democrat - Florida - MiamiHerald.com

Florida's former Republican governor, who very visibly became an independent during his run for the Senate in 2010, tonight announced at a White House Christmas reception that he is changing his party affiliation formally to Democrat.

This must be one of the highest profile, and oddest, party flips in decades. Is it a sincere reflection of his politics; have the parties moved so far while Crist has stood in place? Or could it be a naked ploy to seek the Democratic nomination to unseat unpopular governor Rick Scott in 2014? Many say Crist is the consummate opportunist.

Whatever the reason for the switch, it will be big news here in Florida.
 

Eric_8

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From just a few minutes ago:

Charlie Crist signs papers to become a Democrat - Florida - MiamiHerald.com

Florida's former Republican governor, who very visibly became an independent during his run for the Senate in 2010, tonight announced at a White House Christmas reception that he is changing his party affiliation formally to Democrat.

This must be one of the highest profile, and oddest, party flips in decades. Is it a sincere reflection of his politics; have the parties moved so far while Crist has stood in place? Or could it be a naked ploy to seek the Democratic nomination to unseat unpopular governor Rick Scott in 2014? Many say Crist is the consummate opportunist.

Whatever the reason for the switch, it will be big news here in Florida.

The optimist will say the former, the realist will say the latter.
 

houtx48

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Scott should have been in the electric chair instead of the Governor's chair. But ol Charley can have hot and cold running boy toys around the Governor's mansion if elected
 

cruztbone

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NO, honey mustard, he is NOT desperate to win. just desperate to get OUT of a party filled with crackpots, paranoid wingnut, right wing trolls and racist, homophobic cretins that now run the GOP. here in Santa Cruz county, CA, our own newly -elected county supervisor, Bruce Mcpherson ( formerly a GOP member of the CA state assemby and CA secretary of state) won by 145 votes as an INDEPENDENT, having renounced the GOP many months ago. He is the only non -Democrat on the 5 member board of supervisors for Santa Cruz county, CA.
why? the same reason as Christ. the GOP is a party of crazy, tin foil hat turds who want an America run exclusively by white males over 50 with money and land. period.
i didnt vote for Mcpherson, but i applaud his choice. i cant vote for Christ, but i applaud his choice as well. they both made a conscientious decision. in addition, Christ is gay. why on earth would he stay part of a party that despises who he is?
honey mustard, your honey is filled with vinegar, and your mustard has gone dry.
 

Hoss

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So, Republican to Independent to Democrat. Guy must be desperate to win.

It's unknown exactly why Crist is making this move. Right now it's speculation on the part of many. However people do honestly shift their political leanings over time and it's not always for political gain. The general population......that is, the voters.....often shift from one party to another. As the Democratic party changes some people move away from it. As the Republican party changes there are those who move from that. Some times people also move from one party to another because of shifts in their own lives.

As far as the o.p. and the comment of doing it as a ploy to unseat a less than popular Rick Scott in 2014, I am kind of lost. If Scott is so unpopular, just about anyone can come in and grab the spot, especially in a place such as Florida. Crist could have remained as an Independent and secured a win if indeed Scott decided to run in 2014.
 

B_Nick8

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Interesting. Although I totally skitched out and read it as Chris Cristie until I opened the thread. That wouldn't surprise me entirely either though as in some ways he seems like one of the few sane Repubs I know, almost a Blue Dog Democrat excepting his stand on marriage equality, one on which I expect him to "evolve" soon. Yeah, gymfresh, how are you?
 

amicus65

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Charlie was one of the few Republicans with whom I have found some common ideological ground over the years. I was an insurance executive in FL when he was Attorney General; he was a pretty good guy back then, predictable, logical, actually did his own homework. Personally he is a great supporter of education (as am I), even though he didn't get much accomplished when he had the job as FL's education czar. I think he's a good egg, and I suspect his change of party is a combination of his personal beliefs and opportunity knocking. I think he really is an issue-by-issue guy, and so, a true independent. He's also kinda hot in person. I'd vote for him.