Florida political pundits have been saying for a few weeks that if Charlie Crist vetoed a Republican backed measure pushed heavily by Jeb Bush to reform Florida public education, it would be a strong sign Charlie Crist would bolt the GOP.
Well, Crist vetoed it. The legislation would have made it easier to remove bad teachers and was heavily opposed by teachers unions. Crist chose to side with teachers unions rather than the parents groups that wanted the new law to improve teacher performance.
Now Crist’s campaign chairman is bolting. Former Senator Connie Mack rode through the storm with Crist and is using the veto of this legislation as his excuse to get out while the getting is good.
I find it hard to believe this of all thing would be the straw that broke Connie’s back. Maybe Crist really is going independent.
Moe Lane
Dan McLaughlin
Dan Spencer
Jeff Emanuel
Neil Stevens
The list of NRSC success stories is a long one! -nt
bk (Diary) Thursday, April 15th at 10:20PM EDT (link)talk about crashing and burning...
jenniferjmilleresq Thursday, April 15th at 10:25PM EDT (link)I guess everyone is thinking he’ll just pull enough (R) votes away from Rubio to put the (D) over the top, but I wouldn’t be so sure he’ll even do that.
R's already hated him
redtillimdead (Diary) Friday, April 16th at 12:35AM EDT (link)This will hurt him even more among a group that only 20% approve of him…in a good poll.
Nancy Pelosi can kiss my asstroturf.
Who are the people who support this guy?
bannedtroll Friday, April 16th at 12:38AM EDT (link)Seriously, has anyone spoken to one or even read so much as a blog post from one of them? If he goes (I), how much money could he raise?
I’m a banned Democrat who came here to promote the idea that Republicans are racists for disliking Barack Obama.
his family, the tanning industry, the MSM -nt
Doc Holliday (Diary) Friday, April 16th at 1:52AM EDT (link)Molon Labe!
He married up...
suzyq Friday, April 16th at 10:01AM EDT (link)his wife has all the cash. I live in FL and people do like him….not conservatives….but those who wish to think of themselves as “moderates”. Ugh.
my fight song:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UqKVXu4Gxyk
The ads just write themselves. (nt)
tdpwells Thursday, April 15th at 10:32PM EDT (link)~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I do not believe that the power and duty of the General
Government ought to be extended to the relief of individual
suffering which is in no manner properly related to the
public service or benefit…to the end that the lesson should
be constantly enforced that though the people support the
Government, the Government should not support the people.
Grover Cleveland (16 February 1887)
standard RINO operating procedure
bannor Thursday, April 15th at 10:35PM EDT (link)If you can’t beat a conservative in the primary run as a spoiler out of spite. Though Crist has been dellusional enough lately he might think he can win this way. So does anyone think Frum already has his article written about how the evil conservatives chased away the noble…er squish?
standard RINO operating procedure
bannor Thursday, April 15th at 10:35PM EDT (link)If you can’t beat a conservative in the primary run as a spoiler out of spite. Though Crist has been dellusional enough lately he might think he can win this way. So does anyone think Frum already has his article written about how the evil conservatives chased away the noble…er squish?
Crist Is A Fool
BigGator5 (Diary) Thursday, April 15th at 10:44PM EDT (link)Let him run, he’ll just be blasted in the general instead of the primary and won’t be able to crawl back to haunt us again in 2012.
Educated (About The Issues Facing Us Today), Dedicated (To Making A Difference), And Highly Motivated (To Getting Things Done)
Looks like its hitting Charlie's fan.
Tbone (Diary) Thursday, April 15th at 11:02PM EDT (link)The Repubs need to either get his commitment to theRepubs in writing or give him the boot now.
Envisioning when all that is Left is the Right.
Don't Forget RBone, During that "Debate" Between
Michael Dugas (Diary) Friday, April 16th at 1:05AM EDT (link)Marco and Crist, Crist was asked over and over by the moderator if he was going to run as an Independent, support the primary winner
etc etc and on video tape he stated he would stay in it as a republican.
He stated how he was such a “proud” Republican and that if he lost the primary he would support the winner. Oh, and he would not run for Gov again if I remember correctly.
Liar Liar Pants on Fire……and People are tired of being lied too.
Intro to Federalist Papers; section 5;
paragraph 4.
“…dangerous ambition more often lurks behind the specious mask of zeal for the rights of the people than under the zeal for a firm and efficient government.”
Remember: A Citizen on the dole is a Liberal Vote at the Polls.
END ENTITLEMENTS!
Si Vis Pacem, Para Bellum !
Sorry TBone, Late Night/Early A.M. Fingers
Michael Dugas (Diary) Friday, April 16th at 1:17AM EDT (link)Kowalski N/F/T
Intro to Federalist Papers; section 5;
paragraph 4.
“…dangerous ambition more often lurks behind the specious mask of zeal for the rights of the people than under the zeal for a firm and efficient government.”
Remember: A Citizen on the dole is a Liberal Vote at the Polls.
END ENTITLEMENTS!
Si Vis Pacem, Para Bellum !
If Crist goes Indy, the Repubs ought to sue him
Tbone (Diary) Friday, April 16th at 10:05AM EDT (link)for every dime they have given him.
Envisioning when all that is Left is the Right.
Tbone- Do you mean like they did with Scozzafava
Scope (Diary) Friday, April 16th at 10:18AM EDT (link)I also haven’t heard if the Republicans have gotten back their campaign donations from Specter when he switched to a Democrat.
Some things never change.
I see no reason that politicians who switch parties shouldn't be sued
Tbone (Diary) Friday, April 16th at 12:57PM EDT (link)under a class action for misrepresentation.
Envisioning when all that is Left is the Right.
If Crist bolts then I say good riddance
cabanon Thursday, April 15th at 11:13PM EDT (link)But a threeway race gets uncomfortable, saw this poll.
http://www.miamiherald.com/2010/04/15/1580821/poll-charlie-crist-might-win-senate.html
Anyone see any others?
“The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants.”
yep
zr2x4 (Diary) Thursday, April 15th at 11:55PM EDT (link)pretty obvious hes switching,
PPP (Dem firm) looked into it...
Moe Lane (Diary) Thursday, April 15th at 11:56PM EDT (link)…they say that those willing to support an independent bid by Crist are more likely to support Meek than Rubio (40/27) in a head-to-head. They also say that Crist won’t split the GOP*.
http://publicpolicypolling.blogspot.com/2010/04/dems-best-off-if-crist-stays-in-gop.html
*They’re not happy about either, but Tom Jensen is used to that this election cycle. I say that without a sneer; it takes a bit of bravery to tell your regular customers one month out that no, Corzine wasn’t going to win.
The Kim Kardashian of blogging.
Check out my blog at http://moelane.com/.
http://moelane.com/filthy-lucre-filthy-lucre/
http://twitter.com/moelane
My (combined) wish list.
Funny, Rasmussen poll says Rubio wins it walking away in 3-way
disintelligentsia (Diary) Friday, April 16th at 12:37AM EDT (link)I’d take the meek-loving miami herald poll with a large grain of salt. Rasmussen last month had Rubio winning it walking away if Crist runs as an independent.
See: http://bit.ly/cBjZ2m
Rasmussen has it as: Rubio 45, Meeks 25, Crist 22. Crist cannibalizes Meeks’ support, not Rubio’s.
“Our peculiar security is in the possession of a written Constitution. Let us not make it a blank paper by construction.” –Thomas Jefferson to Wilson Nicholas, 1803.
Its a Quinnipiac Poll
cabanon Friday, April 16th at 1:12AM EDT (link)Its was just reported by the Miami Herald. I’m not worried that Meeks might win, I’m worried the Crist might win.
“The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants.”
+1
suzyq Friday, April 16th at 10:07AM EDT (link)me too….that would be terrible!
my fight song:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UqKVXu4Gxyk
I wouldn't be surprised if
Scope (Diary) Friday, April 16th at 10:30AM EDT (link)those in the NRSC aren’t behind this. No matter how bad Crist has done in polling and debates, they still support him over Rubio. Rubio is a threat to their moderate, reach across the aisle positions. If Crist can get in the Senate as an Independent, they get him to play their moderate games. With the move toward conservatives across the country, the R elites like Cornyn et al are worried about the new young whippersnappers taking over their agenda of being Dem Lite.
Crist is such damaged goods, I can’t see him winning on any ticket. I wouldn’t get upset about one poll.
This goes to prove once again
Scope (Diary) Friday, April 16th at 10:22AM EDT (link)that the squishey R’s lose to the real deal. If you want Democrat policies, vote for the real thing.
I wouldn't worry about what is written in the Miami Herald
Scope (Diary) Friday, April 16th at 10:37AM EDT (link)it is a left wing rag. The left wing will print glorious articles about what Republican they want to win primaries. It’s always the one that is the weakest, just like McCain. They think it will help the Democrat to win. Don’t let them try to pick the Republican candidate.
Dumb bill.
cwilson (Diary) Thursday, April 15th at 11:19PM EDT (link)While some of the provisions in SB6 were good ones, some were just plain stupid. Like: retroactively setting pay scales for currently-employed teachers without regard to (a) experience (b) education (c) earlier performance.
That’s right: a teacher with 10 years of experience, a Master’s degree, and merit bonus pay based on recent performance under the current rules, would see her salary slashed to the same level as a new grad with a Bachelor’s.
I’m sorry, but that’s just dumb: politically AND pedagogically. We’re gonna encourage good teachers by screwing the ones we’ve already recognized, via the current merit system? We’re going to force the most highly qualified teachers to take a salary cut, but not the less qualified ones? Hit the giant reset button, all salaries shall be equal starting tomorrow, and THEN we’ll try to reward the good teachers.
The ones who don’t quit a leave the state, that is, after this treatment.
I can’t believe I’m saying this, but I think Charlie “The Tanned One” Crist actually did the right thing here — and the FL Republican legislators were wrong… And now I need to go take a shower.
If ye love wealth better than liberty, the tranquility of servitude than the animated contest of freedom — go home from us in peace. We ask not your counsels or arms. Crouch down and lick the hands which feed you. May your chains sit lightly upon you, and may posterity forget that you were our countrymen! –Samuel Adams
Teachers are employees of the state
GregInFla (Diary) Friday, April 16th at 12:17AM EDT (link)and if the state, like any employer, is having a bad year, the employees should take a pay cut to keep the employer alive. That’s how business works. And public employees are working for a company that is having a bad year. And if you don’t like the new pay, you are free to leave and work for the competition. If you are good, they’ll hire you. Teaching jobs are not entitlements.
– A true evolutionist would let endangered species die off. Think about it.
– The sign outside the courthouse said no signs allowed. So I took it down.
– Atlas Shrugged is now on the non-fiction aisle at Amazon.
Sure --- ALL of them...
cwilson (Diary) Friday, April 16th at 12:54AM EDT (link)not just the BEST ones! (Actually, a savvy employer would probably try to retain the best ones, by any means necessary, and FIRE the rotten ones…use the “down year” as an opportunity to trim the dead wood. Maybe even fire a few “extra” low-achievers to improve compensation for the high-achievers…).
Instead, SB6 says “this year sux, so…we going to chop all the best employees’ salaries down to equal the ones paid to the worst employees, and the worst employees face no untoward consequences”.
Didja ever hear the story about the ants and the grasshopper?
If ye love wealth better than liberty, the tranquility of servitude than the animated contest of freedom — go home from us in peace. We ask not your counsels or arms. Crouch down and lick the hands which feed you. May your chains sit lightly upon you, and may posterity forget that you were our countrymen! –Samuel Adams
Give Principals ability to determine salaries
GregInFla (Diary) Friday, April 16th at 1:00AM EDT (link)at the schools. Let schools compete with others. Obama says today that private commercial competition is good for space program, so let’s apply it to the unions’ playgrounds too.
– A true evolutionist would let endangered species die off. Think about it.
– The sign outside the courthouse said no signs allowed. So I took it down.
– Atlas Shrugged is now on the non-fiction aisle at Amazon.
Sounds like you are speaking without thinking.
davesinsanantonio (Diary) Friday, April 16th at 6:22AM EDT (link)No company who is have a rough time will cut all employee pay to the same dollar amount. They may have all employees take a percentage cut, but most will still pay their best performers better money than just an average worker. Of course teaching jobs are not entitlements, but if you slap your best teachers in the face with this kind of nonsense, the best ones will go elsewhere, then what do you have left? When school boards do things that insult and punish good teachers they are not serving their children well.
The union's CBA prevent merit-based cuts
JSobieski (Diary) Friday, April 16th at 7:04AM EDT (link)The union sets up a framework where cuts have to be made a certain way.
The union created a framework were an attempt to cut the salary of a bad treach requires cutting the salary of good teaches, and then uses that fact to prevent cuts to any teacher salaries.
I agree with your general point, but you need to look at who set up the framework and why.
Did you know that China has been losing manufacturing jobs since 1995? For the specific data, see Table 1 in the following link: http://www.bls.gov/opub/mlr/2005/07/art2full.pdf
But, notwithstanding a federal NLRB lawsuit
cwilson (Diary) Friday, April 16th at 8:40AM EDT (link)we’re talking about the state government passing a law. We’re NOT talking about a local school board negotiating a contract, The state government is not hogtied by collective bargaining agreements; by passing a law they can override previous agreements (1). So…I’m not sure that your argument is relevant when discussing the merits of *legislation*.
(1) Unless under federal regulations, the union can get the law invalidated by federal lawsuit. However, that’s a practical question for the courts — not necessarily a political question shaping the legislation itself. State legislatures pass legislation all the time that is challenged in federal court — and sometimes, they even win.
If ye love wealth better than liberty, the tranquility of servitude than the animated contest of freedom — go home from us in peace. We ask not your counsels or arms. Crouch down and lick the hands which feed you. May your chains sit lightly upon you, and may posterity forget that you were our countrymen! –Samuel Adams
Well, first, the NLRB has no jurisdiction over public employees,
Achance (Diary) Friday, April 16th at 9:13AM EDT (link)so there is no federal question here. Second, you can file a petition or an unfair labor practice complaint with the NLRB but lawsuits get filed in court. Third, since there is no federal question with teacher pay, you can’t file in federal court unless somebody can find a federal question, e.g., unlawful discrimination, Fair Labor Standards Act, or some such.
I don’t know Floriduh collective bargaining law very well, but it is a RTW state and public employees have very limited bargaining rights. That said, where they do have a contract both the federal and, I think, all states’ constitutions prohibit statutory impairment of a contract. So, where teachers’ wages are set by statute or ordinance, the body that set the wages can change them without so much as a “fare thee well” to the teachers’ union. Where the wages are set by contract, you can’t change the wages until the contract expires, so if you need to save money, you have to lay off teachers rather than cut their pay.
In Vino Veritas
Thanks for that, Achance
cwilson (Diary) Friday, April 16th at 10:12AM EDT (link)…you’re the labor law expert. Because the proposed law cut (some, high-achiever) existing teachers’ salaries, without “waiting for a contract to expire”, then I think we can assume that issues about impairment of contract didn’t apply — and by extension, that the teacher wage scales were *already* being set by statute.
So…a *different* bill could easily have re-jiggered the wage scale differently.
If ye love wealth better than liberty, the tranquility of servitude than the animated contest of freedom — go home from us in peace. We ask not your counsels or arms. Crouch down and lick the hands which feed you. May your chains sit lightly upon you, and may posterity forget that you were our countrymen! –Samuel Adams
Well, individual teachers may have individual contracts,
Achance (Diary) Friday, April 16th at 10:17AM EDT (link)a common practice in which the SD contracts with a teacher for a period of days at a specified salary or wage. So, in this case, that contract also cannot be impaired statutorily, but it may be terminated for lack of funds or lack of work and a new contract may have different terms of service.
In Vino Veritas
I don't buy that at all.
drohan00 (Diary) Friday, April 16th at 5:03PM EDT (link)A Collective Bargaining agreement has two parties to it. And the union clearly has the right to look to its best interests when asked to modify a CBA.
If the Board of Ed. has buyers remorse, they should have had more foresight. The voters in the local communities should have elected different people.
I am not a big time union guy, but if both parties have signed a CBA that prevents cuts in merit-based pay, then the School Board should be the ones getting heat for being chumps, not the local teacher’s union for getting a good deal.
But unions insist that all teachers are the same
GregInFla (Diary) Friday, April 16th at 9:12AM EDT (link)and thus are equally compensated after considering years i service and education/certification. They refuse to believe that some are better teachers than others. The company I work for anticipated less growth this year and suspended raises (which are all given at same time) for six months. And it is a good company. This is same as giving all the same “cut”. It is done.
– A true evolutionist would let endangered species die off. Think about it.
– The sign outside the courthouse said no signs allowed. So I took it down.
– Atlas Shrugged is now on the non-fiction aisle at Amazon.
But the proposed law
cwilson (Diary) Friday, April 16th at 10:18AM EDT (link)eliminated THAT, as well. 10 years of experience, just out of college: no difference. Same salary. Five consecutive years in an ‘A’ school, and individually recognized as a merit teacher vs. a ‘D’ school and lackluster performance reviews: same salary, no difference. (At least, to start with; they planned to push a big red RESET button. Year after next, then they’d kick in with student-performance-based merit increases. But all that good work you’ve already done for the past five years? Doesn’t count anymore. Reset button, remember?)
Dumb dumb dumb dumb dumb. That is NOT the way to attract and keep qualified, motivated, GOOD teachers.
FWIW, *my* central FL company also hit us with a six month raise freeze. Could we work for the same company?
If ye love wealth better than liberty, the tranquility of servitude than the animated contest of freedom — go home from us in peace. We ask not your counsels or arms. Crouch down and lick the hands which feed you. May your chains sit lightly upon you, and may posterity forget that you were our countrymen! –Samuel Adams
Where would these good teachers go?
GregInFla (Diary) Friday, April 16th at 7:37PM EDT (link)If you are a public school teacher, you get paid the same amount regardless of which school you teach at. How can poor schools attract better teachers without competing for them using higher salaries? Union agreements are a significant reason that poor schools do not get better. They preclude competing for teachers, just like other rules preclude competing for students.
As for employer, could be. And this employer did pay cuts once before as well.
– A true evolutionist would let endangered species die off. Think about it.
– The sign outside the courthouse said no signs allowed. So I took it down.
– Atlas Shrugged is now on the non-fiction aisle at Amazon.
Merit Pay etc
chabsentia Friday, April 16th at 4:11PM EDT (link)So just because a Teacher has 10 years experience and a Masters degree etc then that makes them a qualified teacher? How do you know that the present system didnt reward a mediocre teacher? I live in Duval County in Florida and have voted if Florida since 1980. I voted in 2000 and there were 13,000 votes thrown out in Duval Counrty which was more than all three Counties combined that were challenged, it was nonsense taht evey vote counted or they would have challenged here. The majority of the votes were thrown out because not only were there many candidates for President but the were double spaced on the ballot and it confused the voters who were uninformed, They were too stupid to cast a ballot and checkd more than one choice.
If Crist had problems with a portion of the Bill then he could have informed the State Legislature ti see if something could be worked out and if his objection was fair etc. Crist is a RINO and vetoed the Bill because he wanted the support of the Teachers unions in his run for the Senate unlike Cristy in N.J. who stood up to the Unions ans where a head of one of the Teachers unions said publicly that he wished for his death,
um........
zr2x4 (Diary) Thursday, April 15th at 11:53PM EDT (link)The governor would get 32 percent of the vote, compared to Rubio’s 30 percent and Meek’s 24 percent, the survey found.
looks like Crist would win if he went independent
Can't We Quit It With the Eeyore Routine?
IJB Friday, April 16th at 12:26AM EDT (link)One poll (and I’ll note at least one other poll on this 3-way race showed a completely different result), 7 months out, and you’re ready to declare this one over?!
Pul-eeze…
One poll
redtillimdead (Diary) Friday, April 16th at 12:37AM EDT (link)2 points apart is a statistical TIE when you include the MoE. The other 2 recent polls of the 3 way have shown Rubio in the lead, by much larger than 2 points
Nancy Pelosi can kiss my asstroturf.
Crist must have been bought by Obama
Adjoran (Diary) Friday, April 16th at 2:16AM EDT (link)Since running as an independent just because he can’t win the primary means he’ll never run as a Republican again, or get a job from Republican administrations.
Obama has promised him something, similar to the Sestak bribe attempt. The Preening Peacock President has no respect for the law at all.
Interesting thought
suzyq Friday, April 16th at 10:49AM EDT (link)He did seem to enjoy that hug
my fight song:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UqKVXu4Gxyk
When did pariahism become in fashion?
CowboyUp4419 (Diary) Friday, April 16th at 3:57AM EDT (link)If Crist is responsible for one single nickel that could have been spent in Illinois or California being sent instead to Florida in defense of what would otherwise have been a safe seat then he should be unceremoniously drummed out of the party. If what’s said about his desire to seek even higher office is true then he can’t reasonably expect to do it outside the framework of one of the major parties and I doubt even the Democrats would have him. An independent run for the Senate is beyond stupid. He’s a political corpse even if he wins; campaigns are financed and run from an active support base and Crist’s would be marginally politically engaged moderates who, I would suspect, don’t send a lot of money to politicians nor do they do a lot of volunteer work. He’ll be a lame duck the day he takes office and gone after the next time he has to face the voters.
If he had any brains he’d cut his losses and see if Rubio, Bill McCollum and Jeb Bush will support him against Bill Nelson in 2012. If…….
The problem isn't Charlie Crist per se. it is national GOP leadership not caring what Republican voters want. nt
mikerazar (Diary) Friday, April 16th at 9:46AM EDT (link)We have a nation to save, people.
mikerazar- 5
Scope (Diary) Friday, April 16th at 11:00AM EDT (link)They really don’t care what the people want. That has been shown in the candidates they have chosen to annoint, such as Crist and Fiorina and McCain. The crop of new conservative Republicans have promised to not fall on their swords, and to push their moderate agendas. The new conservatives will stand up and fight with backbones, where the old idiots have buckled at their knees. They are a threat to the R elites in Wash. The only way the Republican party will ever gain seats in Wash., and keep them, is if they start standing with the people, and regaining the core values that the elites have thrown out.
Poor Judgement
awunsch Friday, April 16th at 2:20PM EDT (link)again on the part of Gov Crist. After taking the wrong side of the issues on the Fox News Sunday show featuring himself and Marco Rubio, he now demonstrates a serious lack of leadership and executive ability as a governor. His veto was made without any explanation as to why he did so and he left his party out to dry instead of providing guidelines as to what he would or would not do regarding SB6. He apparently uses the wind as his guide as to what to support or not support. If he were to run as an independent against Meeks and Rubio, he better hope that Rubio wins or find a different state to live in. No one likes this kind of politicial tripe. If he is serious about holding office again, he would be best served to acknowledge that he misread the current political environment and either give it his best shot in the republican primary against Rubio or graciously bow out and support Rubio.
Poor Judgement
awunsch Friday, April 16th at 2:20PM EDT (link)again on the part of Gov Crist. After taking the wrong side of the issues on the Fox News Sunday show featuring himself and Marco Rubio, he now demonstrates a serious lack of leadership and executive ability as a governor. His veto was made without any explanation as to why he did so and he left his party out to dry instead of providing guidelines as to what he would or would not do regarding SB6. He apparently uses the wind as his guide as to what to support or not support. If he were to run as an independent against Meeks and Rubio, he better hope that Rubio wins or find a different state to live in. No one likes this kind of politicial tripe. If he is serious about holding office again, he would be best served to acknowledge that he misread the current political environment and either give it his best shot in the republican primary against Rubio or graciously bow out and support Rubio.
Research
graduateresearch (Diary) Friday, April 16th at 3:09PM EDT (link)My name is Natalie Hopkins-Best. I am a graduate student at the University of Minnesota, and I am conducting research for my master’s thesis. As a mass communications student, I am very interested in the way that people use news blogs as a form of their news intake. I would greatly appreciate you taking a few minutes of your time to complete an online survey that should take no more than 15 minutes. If you have any questions or concerns, do not hesitate to contact me. Please follow this link to begin: http://www.zoomerang.com/Survey/WEB22AGLALXAPU
Thank you sincerely,
Natalie Hopkins-Best
School of Journalism and Mass Communication
University of Minnesota
111 Murphy Hall
206 Church Street SE
Minneapolis, MN 55402
hopki129@umn.edu