Crist vs. GOP

Florida Governor Charlie Crist is facing pressure from GOP leaders to not seek the US Senate seat. Crist, who became governor in 2007, has been under attack from the GOP and conservatives within the past few months for accepting stimulus funds from the Obama administration. Most recently, Crist is under attack for vetoing a "teacher tenure" bill that would have fired teachers and granted raises based on student test scores. Many conservatives and Republican leaders, including former Governor Jeb Bush, supported the bill. Crist's veto was largely supported by teacher's unions.

There is also another factor facing Crist. Republican representative Marco Rubio. Rubio, who was elected in 2000 and served as Florida's Speaker of the House from 2006-2008, is the biggest threat to Crist at the current time. Rubio has gained large support from across nation, including endorsements from Governor Mitt Romney, US House of Representatives Minority Whip Eric Cantor, and other leaders within the Florida government.




From a poll taken by Quinnipiac University on April 15th, Marco Rubio led Charlie Crist by 23%. However, there may be an out for Crist. While many are calling for him to not seek the Senate seat, others are calling for Crist to run as an Independent. Quinnipiac University polls show that Crist would have a slight narrow lead over Rubio if he ran as an Independent. Christ has stated that he is a "proud Republican" and isn't sure about leaving the party. However, as the primary filing comes to a close at the end of April, Crist will have to choose to stay with the GOP or jump ship to become an Independent. Many Republican leaders, including Senator John McCain, said they will not back Crist if he becomes an Independent.


Common Sense- In my opinion, I think Crist should remove himself as a candidate for the Senate seat, as a Republican and as an Independent. If Crist runs as a Republican, most statistics show that he will lose. If he runs as an Independent, Crist runs the risk of splitting the Republican ticket and possibly opening the door the Democrat candidate, Kendrick Meek, who has trailed both Rubio and Crist. I saw Marco Rubio at the Conservative Political Action Conference this past February in Washington D.C. He is a true conservative who represents fiscal responsibility and conservative values. He is a young, fresh face and the type we need for the Republican party. If Crist has any real common sense, he will drop out of the race and throw his support behind Rubio.

Friends, Romans, Countrymen, Lend Me Your Earmarks

$900 million. That's how much Congress spent on earmarks, or state pet projects, last year. Your and mine hard earned money going towards projects such as textile research in North Carolina, tattoo removal in California, and fish management in Alabama. For the 2010 fiscal year, the federal budget included $16.5 billion in state projects. Again, 16.5 billion dollars. The biggest offenders, according to Citizen's Against Government Waste, were Thad Cochran (R- Mississippi) and Daniel Inouye (D- Hawaii). Cochran, the ranking Republican on the Senate Appropriations Committee, had his name on 240 projects totaling $490 million. Inouye, chairman of the Appropriations Committee, had 151 projects totaling $387 million.

Thad Cochran (R- Mississippi)



Daniel Inouye(D- Hawaii)




The good news (if there is any)? Earmarks are down from last year by ten percent. But, earmarks are still fifteen times larger than in 1991. Among some of the pet projects included in this years budget are funding for shrimp/fishing research, potato research, pickle science (excuse me while I laugh), wool research, anti-drug school programs, local museums, and military projects that even the Pentagon rejected. Defense Secretary Robert Gates even spoke out against the large amount of funding the Pentagon received, stating it was "unnecessary".

Some lawmakers are trying to stop earmarks. Republicans in Congress proposed banning earmarks all together but the bill failed. Democrats proposed a bill against earmarks but only banned corporations. Again, the bill failed.

"I think it's a very admirable goal for the GOP to take a complete earmark moratorium. Enforcing it is going to be an issue," said Leslie Paige from Citizens Against Government Waste. "Ultimately," she said, "it's going to be up to taxpayers — if they don't like it, they are going to make those feelings known to Congress.

Common Sense- The amount of money that Congress spends on earmarks is both amazing and disgusting. I don't know where Mr. Cochran and Mr. Inouye think they have the right to ask for such money. Maybe they think they deserve it for serving on the Appropriations Committee. But it is not just them. It is all of our representatives, on both sides of the aisle, that continue to request money for state projects that are, in most cases, absolutely ridiculous. Pickle research? Are you serious? You know things are pretty bad when the Secretary of Defense tells you that the money you are trying to give him is "unnecessary". It's time we tell Congress, Republicans and Democrats, to stop the ridiculous spending on state projects. Please write your representatives and ask them to stop the pork barrel legislation!