Charlie Crist to leave GOP

[one...two...tree 2,762]

Huh??

He had no interest in breaking ranks with the Democratic party. He was in touch with his constituents in CT and was popular enough to win the general election. It's not his fault that he was betrayed by his own party who supported a more radical candidate (Ned Lamont) who had no credible chance of carrying the state. Democrats did this to themselves. It was not Joe's doing that things turned out this way. I ask you to think back to Gore-Liebermann 2000 and to Joe's 2004 presidential bid, and ask yourself if he was such a disloyal Democrat at that time. Given the ####### the Democratic party has dished out to Joe in the years since, I think it's a credit to him that he's willing to caucus with them at all.

He's done some things in recent years that tarnished his reputation - most recent was his open threat to hold up health care bill if it had any public option, which contradicted his earlier efforts of wanting to expand Medicare.

[Pinocchio Liberal 268]

He's done some things in recent years that tarnished his reputation - most recent was his open threat to hold up health care bill if it had any public option, which contradicted his earlier efforts of wanting to expand Medicare.

Steve your such a CHILD!

[one...two...tree 2,762]

Which America do you live in Steve?? #######?

I'm merely stating my opinion that a politician who loses in a primary should not be allowed to then run under a different party in the general election, particularly if they are the incumbent. It makes it next to impossible to vote them out.

[scandal 951]

He's done some things in recent years that tarnished his reputation - most recent was his open threat to hold up health care bill if it had any public option, which contradicted his earlier efforts of wanting to expand Medicare.

So Ben Nelson and Mary Landrieu go no-holds-barred into the pork barrel, but Joe is the bad guy? I swear it would serve Harry Reid just right to have Joe bolt the caucus entirely. It's disgraceful how they treat him, and he comes back for more.

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

I'm merely stating my opinion that a politician who loses in a primary should not be allowed to then run under a different party in the general election, particularly if they are the incumbent. It makes it next to impossible to vote them out.

If the general electorate doesn't want them, they're voted out. If the general electorate does, they shouldn't be voted out by a minority fringe of any party. They should still have the opportunity.

[scandal 951]

I'm merely stating my opinion that a politician who loses in a primary should not be allowed to then run under a different party in the general election, particularly if they are the incumbent. It makes it next to impossible to vote them out.

You're entitled to your opinion. Forgive me if I disagree stridently.

Show me where in the Constitution parties or primaries are even mentioned. The only requirements I'm aware of to run for Senate that you must be at least 30 years old, be a citizen for nine years, and live in the state represented. I think Joe qualifies.

[Pinocchio Liberal 268]

If the general electorate doesn't want them, they're voted out. If the general electorate does, they shouldn't be voted out by a minority fringe of any party. They should still have the opportunity.

Fits YOU SO WELL! And all the ILK such as yourselves!

/v/ak8suW-JBzE&hl=en_US&fs=1&"

[one...two...tree 2,762]

If the general electorate doesn't want them, they're voted out. If the general electorate does, they shouldn't be voted out by a minority fringe of any party. They should still have the opportunity.

I'm sorry, but I disagree. Parties have every right to vote for the person they want to sent to Washington...for better or worse. If a fringe group manages to get someone who was a bad choice, the voters will remember that and that party will pay for it.

If Lieberman didn't want to honor the will of Democratic constituents, he should have declared himself an Independent and bowed out of the Primary. Then I'd see no problem having a 3 way race in the general, but not after the Primaries. By doing so, it effectively nullifies the Primaries.

[one...two...tree 2,762]

You're entitled to your opinion. Forgive me if I disagree stridently.

Show me where in the Constitution parties or primaries are even mentioned. The only requirements I'm aware of to run for Senate that you must be at least 30 years old, be a citizen for nine years, and live in the state represented. I think Joe qualifies.

I'm just coming from the idea of fairness. Primaries should count for something or lets do away with them and have general elections with more candidates running under the same party. Just a thought.

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

I'm just coming from the idea of fairness. Primaries should count for something or lets do away with them and have general elections with more candidates running under the same party. Just a thought.

Primaries are nothing more than an internal mechanism for how a party picks its candidate. Primaries have nothing to do with who is allowed to run as an Independent.

[one...two...tree 2,762]

Primaries are nothing more than an internal mechanism for how a party picks its candidate. Primaries have nothing to do with who is allowed to run as an Independent.

Could a candidate who won the Primary for his party decide to then abandon his party run as an Independent?

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

Could a candidate who won the Primary for his party decide to then abandon his party run as an Independent?

Sure. All he/she would have to do is neglect to file his papers for that party on time. Then he won't be on the ballot. But he could still file as an I.

[scandal 951]

Could a candidate who won the Primary for his party decide to then abandon his party run as an Independent?

They cross party lines even after they're seated in Congress! Ever heard of a fella called Arlen Specter, Steve?

Politics is a hardball sport. If you wanna cry about the unfairness of it all, I suggest a non contact pastime. Maybe pat-a-cake.

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

They cross party lines even after they're seated in Congress! Ever heard of a fella called Arlen Specter, Steve?

Politics is a hardball sport. If you wanna cry about the unfairness of it all, I suggest a non contact pastime. Maybe pat-a-cake.

We need to find Steven a green job.

[one...two...tree 2,762]

Sure. All he/she would have to do is neglect to file his papers for that party on time. Then he won't be on the ballot. But he could still file as an I.

I don't know...it just seems unfair to the party they were running under, especially considering the amount of money spent on elections these days.