Crist worries conservatives

Tribune ^ | 11 August 2006 | Joe Follick

[davidosborne]

TALLAHASSEE -- Republican Tom Gallagher is betting his political life on an appeal to Christian and social conservatives. And at least one of his supporters in those groups say their own future is at stake in Gallagher's quest to be governor.

Gallagher has earned the endorsement of Florida Right to Life, as well as vocal support of most social conservative leaders in the state. His goal: Win the hearts of Republicans most likely to get out and vote on Sept. 5.

[capt. norm]

your silence on the cover-up of the juvenile death, tells us all we need to know. Bulls eye crap.

For one thing, it happened here on Panama City a couple miles from where I live and it was operated by the Bay County Sheriff's office. The cover-up (still not enough evidence there really was one), if it did happen, had to happen here.

Secondly, I don't like Crist either...we have a poor selection.

Third, you continue to ignore and not refute any of the following:

1. The ethics charges which are currently pending against him, with the punishment (censure/fine/impeachment) likely to be given prior to the election.

2. Supporting the sales tax on services (an additional 6% added to all services performed in the state).

3. Supporting the additional 1 cent sales tax for prisons, raising the sales tax to 7% statewide.

4. Supporting AWB, bullet registration, and a ban on gun ownership if you're under 21.

5. Flip flopping (just like Kerry) on abortion, parental consent, vouchers, and tort reform.

6. Repeated (and well documented) cheating on his wife.

7. Admitted drug use while he was a state legislator.

8. Day trading stocks while on public time. And trading stocks of companies that were doing business with the state, at a time he was VOTING on the actual business they had with the state.

9. Using state employees to manage his real estate properties.

10. He's down over 20 points in the polls and was HUGELY outraised by Crist and BOTH Democrats during last reporting period. For whatever reason, his funds have dried up. In fact he only raised $225 in new money last week. That's pathetic!

11. Running negative attack ads (the first Republican to do so) against Jeb Bush in his prior run for Governor. Jeb responded by saying "Gallagher makes Lawton Chiles look conservative" with all of his proposed tax increases.

"Hey, the babes love me...what more could you ask for?"

[capt. norm]

In a day when moral standards are up for grabs, Tom will be a champion for the family.

Quite obviously the good doctor is unaware of "Tomcat" Gallagher's womanizing exploits thast are verl well known.

Moral standards will not be a problem for Gallagher because he seems to have none.

[BykrBayb]

Over the course of several years, our family, our lawyers, and our friends pleaded for help from local, county, and state police and regulatory agencies with constitutional and statutory authority to investigate the many sworn statements of extreme abuse and neglect suffered by our daughter.

Hoping to save my daughter’s life, our family sought the help of Attorney General Charlie Crist. Not only did Charlie Crist refuse our family lawful access to the assets of his office, but he violated his oath of office by actively cooperated with those in positions of political and judicial authority whom denied us legal access to the police and regulatory systems meant to protect the weak. Multiple sworn agents from responsible police and regulatory agencies who found probable cause to investigate allegations of abuse in Terri's judicial and physical care, were ordered to shut down those probes. This heavy-handedness made us powerless.

Information of direct interest to Attorney General Charlie Crist's office was directly delivered to his personal hands, and he refused to properly execute the duties of his office. And it was with deliberate decision that he failed to attend a scheduled Tallahassee meeting with our family. On another occasion, we approached each other by chance. Upon recognizing me, Charlie Crist abruptly stopped and walked away.

That callous action encapsulates Charlie Crist. He walked away from a man whose daughter’s fate he controlled. At that moment, he turned his back on Terri. And he turned his back on the most fundamental duties of his office.

Nothing that Charlie Crist did exonerates anyone else of their own wrong-doing, but neither does their wrong-doing exonerate him. Give people back their lives, and take their fate out of the hands of corrupt politicians.

[mission9]

Your litany of Tom attacks is an embarrassment to fellow Republicans because you really step over the line of Reagan's 11th commandment.

1. Gallagher was cleared of using his office to profit by "insider" trades. The information he used was public knowledge and the size of the trades, given the size of his portfolio, small. I an glad that Mr. Gallagher is invested in our economy, and I hope you are too. The matter set aside for further inquiry is technical and not material, and may result in a letter of admonishment, but not impeachment. He was acquitted of the major charges, which were circulated by innuendo, and Tom volunteered all innuendo publicly to the commission to clear his name. On every material point, his name is cleared, unless you are a hyperbolic Charlie-bot.

2. The sales tax on services was an early attempt of the Fair Tax concept now promoted by Neal Boortz and Congressman Linder. It would result in less property taxes. Gallagher is not making this a part of his campaign today.

3. When crime and prisons were an issue, Tom promoted the public safety and had a plan to pay for it. No apologies for previous anti-crime public policy.

4. At the time, gang bangers were shooting up Shopping Malls and killing cops and Tom, in conjunction with law enforcement proposed this policy in response. This never became law, and Tom is not proposing it today. The adoption of similar laws in Colorado, helped to catch the black market dealer who sold guns to the Columbine Killers. Do you support the rights of the Columbine killers to get guns. Oh, I thought not. Just like you, Tom supports your right to carry a gun in your auto without harassment from your employer. Charlie does not, but you are willing to support him anyway, and conduct a smear campaign anyway.

5. In a long career of Public Policy, different policies are often offered and changed. As to his former pro-life stance, it is amazing what having a child will do. And Tom has, with the urging of his wife, broadened his spiritual life, by accepting Christ as his personal savior. Tom has always supported tort reform. Charlie is a lawyer. Tom now supports vouchers because he found that they work. As to school class sizes, how will Charlie put in effect this boondoggle without a rise in taxes or failing to enact property tax reform?

6. Tom's private life was an embarrassment, Tom has apologized for the behavior. Charlie is a sinner too, why is he not apologizing? Why is not Charlie airing his dirty linen in public? Do you think he is Charlie Christ or something? Divorce is never pretty, and that is why it is such a scandal. Tom has endured the violation of the 11th commandment by Charlie's supporters and not made an issue of Charlie's private life. The newspapers are preparing to take Charlie down a peg or two after their success at smearing Tom, which you as a Charlie supporter are aiding and abetting.

7. Sorry to be the one to tell you this, but drug abuse was so rampant in Florida in the 1970s that what Tom has admitted to was considered "square". This did not occur while he was a state legislator. Charlie, too, has admitted smoking pot. Even William F. Buckley tried it. Charlie could not have lived any life at all through this period without similar contacts with drugs and drug users. So much for your smear.

8. This is a repeat of the ethics non-violations, of which Tom Gallagher brought to the ethics commission's attention himself. I know day-traders, friends of mine are day traders, they earn a honest living in our capital society. Tom is not a day trader, unless your definition of a day trader includes being aware of your portfolio, and managing it from time to time. Coca Cola does a lot of business with the state, are you saying he should put is Coke stock in a blind trust?

9. Tom hired a friend, who worked for the State to manage some properties in Tallahassee. It is hard to find anybody in Tallahassee who has an IQ above room temperature that does not work for the state. This employee mad the mistake of driving a State truck while conducting his moonlighting. He did so without Tom's knowledge or approval, and when the matter came to light, the employee lost his part-time job.

10. Charlie has the attorneys, the RINOS, the liberals, the gamblers, the developers and sold out former conservatives, to give him money. Monies are not votes. That is what this election is about.

11. Tom may have run ads about some JEB policies, but he never conducted a smear campaign in tandem with the newspapers of the type that you promote and that I have just responded to.

Thank you for the opportunity to set the matters straight. But the truth is, Charlie is making a major swing to the left. He has broken with Jeb on:

1. the class size amendment.
2. abortion waiting period.
3. Offshore energy production.
4. The expansion of gambling.
5. The right to carry a gun to work.
6. Embryonic stem cell research.
7. The obligation to defend life even when the public cries for euthanasia.

In addition, Tom represents important conservative principles which YOU support but Charlie does not. Such as the enforcement of the borders and not granting amnesty to immigration lawbreakers. Such as the production of energy in Gulf of Mexico sector 181. Such as the prevention of developers from using the KELO decision to take your home. Such as gun rights. Such as the jailing of cops who beat juvenile detainees to death. Your claim that there is no evidence of a cover-up ignores the efforts of the coroner to blame the death on "sickle cell anemia." Would you call it a cover-up if he had claimed the child died from choking on watermelon?

[capt. norm]

Of all the stretches and falsehood in your reply, this is the most glaring:"which you as a Charlie supporter are aiding and abetting".

I do not support Crist and have said so on this very thread. You seem to need me to be a Crist supporter so you can make me a "straw man".

The wheels are coming off Gallagher's campaign all by itself, especially in the fund-raising dept. Crist certainly wouldn't need me or anyone else....all he has to do is allow Gallagher's campaign to self-destruct and stand clear of the flying debris.

Tom Gallagher broke the eleveth commandment while running against Jeb Bush for governor. He was a pioneer, so to speak, in trashing other Republicans.

The other issues, like trading in stocks of companies that had issues he was voting on and drug abuse, you skate all around it and 'cut & paste' like a lawyer.

It's fun watching Gallagher supporters get all wierd as his campaign flames out.

[capt. norm]

Some interesting quotes:

"A telling bon mot about the campaign that captures the Crist advantage is the observation made by a Republican holding very high public office in Florida to the effect that the Gallagher campaign is a campaign without a candidate and the Crist campaign is a candidate without a campaign".

"A Gallagher turn out operation would be of doubtful efficacy unless there is a hitherto unsuspected army of Republican primary voters out there who do not believe their taxes and insurances rates are high enough".

These are the words of Mac Stipanovich, a well known Republican strategist, campaign operative and lobbyist. Stipanovich, who was Florida executive director for Reagan-Bush ’84, directed both Bob Martinez campaigns for governor, serving as his chief of staff. He also was senior advisor to the Jeb Bush gubernatorial campaign in 1994, and Katherine Harris’ secretary of state campaign in 1998.

[capt. norm]

Your claim that there is no evidence of a cover-up ignores the efforts of the coroner to blame the death on "sickle cell anemia."

You are doing a "Murtha" convicting before trial.

It happened here, locally, and there is much more to know about it than you seem to have been able to learn and yet you convict without trial.

Your Gallagher promotion, like his campaign, is pretty thin soup.

[Unicorn]

BTTT

[mission9]

Other than attacking Tom while you profess impartiality, the only weird thing here is your spelling. In defense of Murtha, he never beat a defenseless boy to death, then and tried to cover it up. What do you know about this death that you are not telling us? Where you the videographer? If you or I had done to that boy what I saw on that tape, we would be in shackles. If this were a John Grisham novel, the next step would be to find out what the perpetrators have on the AG to keep him from doing his job.

[Guenevere]

Well, for goodness sakes, even, or especially in light of what you just posted about him, WHY would you still vote for him?

I'm a longtime Floridian....30 years...and I WILL NOT be voting for him.

[capt. norm]

No matter how this campaign concludes, we're going to have to vote in November, for someone who, for a lot of us, wasn't even our third or fourth choice.

Two losers don't make a winner. I'm gonna have to buy one of those nose plugs like some swimmers use to go in the booth and vote for the least of two evils and help stop the Democratic Party's rush to try and fill the void created by these two candidates.

Out of all the excellent Republicans we have in this state, how did we end up with these two losers?

[capt. norm]

In defense of Murtha, he never beat a defenseless boy to death, then and tried to cover it up.

...and Crist did? Give me a break.

You have obviously swallowed the liberal media's take on this, hook, line and sinker. You can't believe everything you read in the newspapers.

I live here and I realize that you have to rely on the MSM for your info from a remote location to where it all happened, so I'm not faulting you...just your sources.

This has nothing to do with either campaign unless you're so desperate that you have to do an "It's Bush's fault" kind of approach.

There aren't too many more straws out there to grasp and I don't think your approach is working.

[BykrBayb]

[tenthirteen]

Local cases are prosecuted at the district level by the local DA...

Guess what, Norm...I don't know where you live, but the local DA in Florida is known as the State's Attorney. I believe the Attorney General handles a lot of civil cases affecting Florida, as well.

[capt. norm]

My neighbor, former State's Attorney (as the District attorney is called in this state) is locally elected and has a definite judicial within which he and his prosecutors operate and are not under the thumb of the Attorney General unless they have misbehaved.

Local rule applies here unless it is abused.

If you have any more questions, he's still up and watching TV and I can go ask him.

Don't let the term "state's attorney" lead you too far astray.

[mission9]

You were just responded to, in the manner that you asked for, point by point ELEVEN Items. Now you can thank me by doing me the courtesy of responding to Crist's left leanings and departure from the course JEB has steered for us these last seven and one half years; where do you stand on these seven points? AS to Mac Steponabitch, if you think that I am impressed by you bringing into the discussion someone who has a college level vocabulary, and speaks in "wise" tautologies, I would be more impressed if you answered my points. Otherwise I assume that you have fled the field, and agree with my assertions. You can tell your mummy that you got a whuppin' from the bullies in a wood shed called "FREEREPUBLIC."

[mission9]

Thank you very much, Elvis has left the building.

[claymore3]

His divorce was 30 years ago - he admitted he was wrong, get over it. From the tag next to your name, it seems like you are a single issue voter - I am most likely wasting my time writing this.
Crist refuses to take a stand on ANYTHING and that is not a leader and that is not someone Florida needs right now.

JEB BUSH---TOM GALLAGHER---CHARLIE CRIST

BUSINESS EXPERIENCE

-Jeb Bush is a businessman with a strong business background.
-Tom Gallagher is a businessman with a strong business background.
-Charlie Crist is a lawyer who points to a medical malpractice case where he sued doctors as the biggest case he ever tried.

SUPPORTING CONSTITUTIONAL REFORM TO SAVE TAXPAYER DOLLARS

-In 2004, Jeb Bush joined with Tom Gallagher in supporting an effort to repeal the bullet train amendment, saving taxpayers billions of dollars.
-Jeb Bush led several efforts to modify the class-size amendment, which was approved in 2002. Jeb Bush has repeatedly said implementing the class-size amendment will lead to “massive tax increases”.
-Tom Gallagher successfully led the effort to repeal the bullet train amendment and saved taxpayers billions of dollars.
-Tom Gallagher is the only candidate for Governor still standing with Jeb Bush in support of modifying the class-size amendment.
-Charlie Crist was absent on the bullet-train.
-Charlie Crist has joined Rod Smith and Jim Davis in embracing the class-size amendment, which he admits will require “an exorbitant” cost but has yet to say what taxes he will raise or what programs he will cut to meet the $25 billion dollar program.

DEFENDING TRADITIONAL FAMILY VALUES IN FLORIDA

-Jeb Bush has consistently opposed efforts to repeal Florida’s ban on Gay Adoption
Jeb Bush is opposed to gay marriage and civil unions.
-Tom Gallagher is opposed to gay adoption and has announced a plan to increase the number of adoptions to traditional families consisting of one mother and one father.
-Tom Gallagher was the first Republican leader to endorse the Marriage Protection Amendment which includes protection of marriage from redefinition by alternative names, including gay civil unions.
-Charlie Crist recently appeared on a “progressive” radio program in Miami and announced he is open to the idea of gay adoption.
-During the same interview, Charlie Crist said gay civil unions are “fine.”

REDUCING THE NUMBER OF ABORTIONS IN FLORIDA

-Jeb Bush is pro-life.
-In 2004, Jeb Bush supported a constitutional amendment requiring parental notification for minors who seek abortions.
-Jeb Bush has been a leader on life issues, fighting for laws and programs to reduce the number of abortions including advocating for parental notification and the creation of Crisis Pregnancy Centers.
-Tom Gallagher is pro-life.
-In 2004, Tom Gallagher joined Governor Bush in supporting a parental notification amendment.
-In 2003, Tom Gallagher made the motion on the Cabinet to approve “Choose Life” license plate and as a state representative, had a 100% pro-life voting record.
-Tom Gallagher has proposed a 24-hour waiting period for women who seek abortion.
-Charlie Crist voted pro-choice.
-In 2004, Charlie Crist did not lend his name in support of a parental notification amendment.
-Charlie Crist is the only Republican candidate for Governor with a pro-choice voting record and no record of leadership on pro-life issues.
-Charlie Crist opposes a 24-hour waiting period.

SUPPORTING TORT REFORM TO DEFEND DOCTORS AND SMALL BUSINESS

-In 2003, Jeb Bush fought for medical liability reform and workers compensation insurance reform – going so far as to call multiple special sessions to accomplish real tort reform.
-In 2004, Jeb Bush supported Amendment 3, a constitutional amendment limiting lawyers’ fees in medical malpractice cases.
-In 2004, Tom Gallagher joined with Jeb Bush and supported Amendment 3 limiting lawyers’ fees in medical malpractice cases.
-Tom Gallagher joined with Governor Jeb Bush and has a strong record of tort reform. He served on the Governor’s Workers Compensation Reform Task Force.
-Charlie Crist did not stand with Jeb Bush or Republicans in support of tort reform in 2003.
-In 2004, Charlie Crist did not lend his name in support of Amendment 3.

PROTECTING FLORIDA FROM EXPANDED GAMBLING

-Jeb Bush is strongly opposed to the expansion of gambling.
-In 2004, Jeb Bush led Republican leaders in opposition of amendments to expand slot-machine gambling in Miami-Dade and Broward Counties.
-In 2005, Jeb Bush supported repeal of the Broward Slots Amendment.
-Tom Gallagher is strongly opposed to the expansion of gambling.
-In 2004, Gallagher joined with Jeb Bush in opposition to amendments to expand slot-machine gambling in Miami-Dade and Broward Counties.
-In 2005, Tom Gallagher voiced his support for a repeal of the Broward Slots Amendment
-Charlie Crist has no record of leadership in opposition of the expansion of gambling.
-In 2004, Charlie did not join Jeb Bush and Tom Gallagher in opposition of slot-machine gambling.
-In 2005, Charlie Crist refused to intervene in the implementation of the Broward Slots Amendment and later said he would follow the will of the people.

DELIVERING INSURANCE RELIEF AND REFORM

-Jeb Bush has stated that without the Florida Catastrophe Fund “private insurance in Florida would not exist.”
-Jeb Bush called Citizens Property Insurance a vital institution and does not favor its elimination.
-Jeb Bush signed into law a $1-billion dollar insurance relief and storm proofing incentives package.
-Tom Gallagher led the effort to create the Florida Catastrophe Fund in 1992.
-Tom Gallagher agrees with Jeb Bush, and while he has been a vocal critic of Citizens, he has also led reform efforts.
-Tom Gallagher led the effort to provide $1 billion in insurance relief and storm proofing incentives.
-Charlie Crist says he will “scrap” Citizens if elected Governor.
-As a cabinet member, Charlie Crist has recklessly called for the dissolution of the insurer of last resort.
-Charlie Crist opposed the efforts of Jeb Bush and Tom Gallagher to return $715 million in insurance rate-relief for homeowners.

PROTECTING FLORIDA FROM EXPANDED OIL DRILLING

-In 2005 and 2006, Jeb Bush led an effort to secure a permanent moratorium on oil-drilling off Florida’s shores.
-In 2005 and 2006, Tom Gallagher publicly supported Jeb Bush in that effort.
-In 2005 and 2006, Charlie Crist opposed Governor Jeb Bush and sided with Democratic Congressman and candidate for the Democratic nomination for Governor Jim Davis.
Political Advertisement Paid for and Approved by Tom Gallagher, Republican for Governor

[capt. norm]

Have fun in your world and "party on, dude".

Your paradise has another (posessive) word that comes before it in it's title.

I think your tenacity, in light of what's happening, is commendable but misplaced.

I'm just an observer.

[capt. norm]

By the way, that's a great list of carefully edited stuff but Why isn't it working?

Why did Gallagher only take in $225 in new campaign donations last week?