Posted on 08/07/2009 1:07:01 PM PDT by La Enchiladita
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Senator Mel Martinez, a native Cuban and a former chairman of the Republican Party, stunned supporters on Friday by informing them that he plans to resign from Congress, party aides said.
Martinez, 62, who earlier said he would not run for a second Senate term next year, scheduled a news conference in Orlando, Florida, at 3 p.m. EDT to make an announcement.
In a letter to "friends," a copy of which was obtained by Reuters from a supporter of the senator, Martinez said he planned to step down after a replacement is named.
"My priorities have always been my faith, my family and my country and at this stage in my life, and after nearly 12 years of public service in Florida and Washington, it's time I return to Florida and my family," Martinez wrote.
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(Excerpt) Read more at reuters.com ...
Well, he’s a big ole RINO. Anything is possible.
Probably Charlie Crist wants to appoint himself to the seat to ensure it remains in RINO hands and he has the power of incumbency heading into 2010.
Another RINO bites the dust!
Don’t let the border fence hit you on the way out...oh wait there IS NO border fence. good riddance
Appoint Marco Rubio!!!
If he doesn’t appoint himself, he will just have one more primary challenger in ‘10 (unless he appoints a “caretaker.”)
Can Charlie appoint himself while he is yet Governor?
What are the laws in Fla. when a Senator resigns? Is the the position just replaced by an appointment of the Govenor until the next election (2010) or is there a specific time period a special election has to be held?
yes, but he won’t. not with a vote on immigration coming up this fall. if crist voted for illegal amnesty, he’d lose the primary. if crist voted against amnesty, he’d lose the general. nobody wants to be on the record for that vote. my money says jeb gets appointed, votes in favor of amnesty, then doesn’t run for re-election.
Please, if there’s a God, let it be Collins & Snowe next!!
I read that Charlie already said he will not appoint himself. Whoever he appoints will be a place-holder until the usual election time next year. Hmmm, who could it be? Is Jeb out of politics for good?
Crist has said he won’t appoint himself.
I doubt that Charlie would trust Jeb to merely be a place holder...I know who he can pick...Roland Burris...just have him move to Florida...and excellent place holder, except he’s expressed interest in the job is Senator Smith..he was a senator up in New England and a conservative...but he’s indicated he might run for Martinez’ seat. We know it wont be Rubio...
So Charlie? whatcha going to do?
The problem with that is they would be replaced by hard left Kucinich type moonbats.
Someone mentioned Katherine Harris on another thread, but the FL Republican power structure basically killed her political career, no?
Thank You Karl Rove. Telling Katharine Harris she wasn’t allowed to run for this seat, at a time when she could have won, seems really smart now. /s
I can’t believe people on the left thought he was some kind of modern Machiavelli at one point.
Good point. It seems like this move hurts Crist no matter how responds. He isn't going to appoint Rubio. It would look totally self-serving if he appoints himself (even if legal) or resigns with the deal that his Lt. Governor appoint him to the seat. Unless he appoints a total non-entity, anyone else immediately becomes a third candidate in the Republican primary next year.
Somehow, I wonder if Martinez doesn't like Crist much and did this to put him into an impossible position.
Yaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaayyyyyyyyy!!!!!!!! ANOTHER RINO gone and an opportunity for Florida to elect a REAL Conservative!!!
How 'bout it gators . . . . . are you up to the challenge????
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