FL-Sen. 2010: Crist Makes Break With GOP (RINO attacks Tea Party, conservatives)

The Wall Street Journal ^ | 2010-04-30 | Valerie Bauerlein & Peter Wallsten

[rabscuttle385]

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla.—Florida Gov. Charlie Crist formally launched his bid for a U.S. Senate seat as an independent candidate Thursday evening, abandoning the Republican primary and casting himself as the outsider in a "broken" political system.

Appearing before hundreds of supporters at a waterfront park in his hometown, Mr. Crist said that voters "want someone who is more concerned with standing up for them than standing up for special interest groups or party."

"People have a right to choose," he said in his brief remarks, which were carried live on national cable television. Then, appearing to take aim both at party leaders and the GOP's tea party movement that had criticized him as too liberal, Mr. Crist added: "It's your decision. It's not one club's decision, or another's. Or a club within a club."

Mr. Crist's decision transforms one of the most closely watched U.S. Senate races, and sets up a prominent test of how the GOP remakes itself following major losses over the past four years. The party must determine whether it can retake the majority by nominating candidates with purely conservative views, or whether it should make room for centrists like Mr. Crist, who was a top target of conservative activists for his support of President Barack Obama's economic stimulus plan.

[AuH2ORepublican]

If I recall correctly, Mark Steyn came up with the term “DIABOLO” (”Democrat in All But Official Label Only”) on National Review’s The Corner to describe the execrable Dede Scozzafava, but someone (maybe Levin?) posted on The Corner the suggestion that it be changed to the Spanish “DIABLO” by striking the word “Official.” This link has a screencap of the original post by Steyn on October 21, 2009, and clearly reads “DIABOLO,” but if you click on the included link the post has been changed to read “DIABLO” (perhaps at Steyn’s request).

[Impy]

I don’t see any link. ;>

Anyhow DIABLO is much better.

[AuH2ORepublican]

Oops, here it is: http://dailyradar.com/beltwayblips/story/enough-by-mark-steyn/