Crist moves GOP to center, finds friends on left

Bradenton Herald ^ | MARY ELLEN KLAS

[NautiNurse]

TALLAHASSEE - Including unexpected echoes of liberal icon Robert F. Kennedy and former Vice President Al Gore, Gov. Charlie Crist's first state of the state speech had Democrats cheering, Republicans applauding politely and black legislators engaging in call-and-response chants with the new governor.

The Republican governor's 32-minute speech drew on his familiar populist themes of property taxes, crime and education, then embraced a host of Democratic ideas traditionally shunned by Florida's GOP leaders.

He said Florida should invest in research into global warming and stem cells, raise teacher pay, require voting-machine paper trails and pay the full cost of the class-size reductions voters approved four years ago. It was more proof that the Republican governor is not afraid to pull his right-leaning colleagues toward the center.

SNIP

The governor also called for lawmakers to approve $300 million to raise teacher salaries, $26 million to provide more reading coaches in schools and $10 million for computer-based tutoring.

And to raise the profile of all children's issues, Crist recommended the adoption of a long-sought idea by Democratic Sen. Nan Rich of Sunrise: the creation of a Children's Cabinet to coordinate state services for children.

"Our children must be our first priority," Crist said to applause.

SNIP

As he asked whether Florida can be best at educating children, at leading the nation in high-paying job growth and at making life more affordable for working people, black lawmakers began to call back, saying: "Why not?"

"If we do," Crist responded, future generations will "say that this truly was a special time when good men and good women came together to . . . truly make Florida the brightest star in the American sky."

[clintonh8r]

I don't know. (I already know more than I really want to about the guy).

[BlackbirdSST]

Moving to the center is probably the only thing that will help the Republicans on the national stage for the next few years.

Man, you liberals crack me up! Blackbird.

[BradyLS]

Moving to the center is probably the only thing that will help the Republicans on the national stage for the next few years. Crist sounds like he's thinking of the Senate.

These days, a Republican move to the center means they have to start moving to the right.

[T'wit]

The Trolls Rally for Charlie -- see who they are, hear them down in their pit, quote them in their own words, throw them a peanut! :-)

[T'wit]

>> These days, a Republican move to the center means they have to start moving to the right.

:-) :-)

Poor things get disoriented and lost. We'll have to pin little notes to their shirts and blouses so that some kind-hearted grown-up can show them the way.