Graphics for Headline Surfer / DAYTONA BEACH -- Right or wrong, Charlie Crist is vilified by the Republican Party of Florida for the ills of the Sunshine State during his tenure as governor from 2007-2011.
There's a graphic the Florida GOP has put out in social media with Crist's image on it, withe statistics on the state's economy, prompting Volusia County GOP Chair Tony Ledbetter to write on Facebook, "This is Charlie Crist’s record. Does he really think Florida needs this again?"
At this point, I haven't decided yet whether to endorse Republican Gov. Rick Scott or Charlie Crist, the former Republican governor, who turned "Independent" in his failed run for the US Senate seat won by Marco Rubio in 2012, and now running as a Democrat.
But I have to scoff at GOPers who say Crist was a terrible governor responsible for all that was bad with Florida's economy as governor, from 2007-2011. If that were the case, then how about President George W. Bush. He was a Republican, wasn't he?
Hello, people, the country was mired in the worst recession in half a century. Would Rick Scott had fared any better? Doubtful.
It's easy to spout numbers without putting things in perspective, but that's the way politics and political parties work, which is why the voters are so turned off.
This is from Wikipedia describing the Great Recession: The Great Recession is a term used to describe the general economic decline observed in world markets around the end of the first decade of the 21st century. The exact scale and timing of the recession is debated but in any case varied from country to country. In terms of overall impact the IMF concluded that it was likely the worst global recession since World War II. The recession is often associated with the U.S. subprime mortgage crisis and financial crisis of 2007–08.
In fact, near the end of 2007 and the beginning of 2008, a gallon of gasoline was more than $5 at the pump. How soon we forget. But it's election year, and the major parties expect us to blindly follow their ideologies.
Certainly, then-Gov. Crist bore responsibility in part for his handling of the economy in Florida just like then-President Bush in his second term in office. But for Republicans to blame it all on Crist now is nothing more than revisionist history and partisan politics at its worst. And it's no wonder the voters are are staying away when it comes to voting as demonstrated in the Aug. 26 primary that saw a 20 percent turnout in Central Florida.
Jim Oddie, a political consultant from Wilbur-by-the-Sea, says despite the choices at the poll, that's no excuse not to vote.
"They get 'turned off' because they expect politics to be cookies and milk," Oddie said. "Time to grow up. Pull up your pants and put on your boots and be a citizen. No one ever promised you (or me or anyone) a rose garden. Being a citizen requires some effort."
Jim Oddie, a political consultant from Wilbur-by-the-Sea, says despite the choices at the poll, that's no excuse not to vote.
"They get 'turned off' because they expect politics to be cookies and milk," Oddie said. "Time to grow up. Pull up your pants and put on your boots and be a citizen. No one ever promised you (or me or anyone) a rose garden. Being a citizen requires some effort."
Lisa Dunbar of Daytona Beach takes a different approach in the choice for governor: "Unfortunately both choices are terrible for the voters of Florida because both are mired in a flawed system. We work hard for what we have and what we expect in return for our tax dollars is simple.
Dunbar continued, "Adequate public schools that will teach fundamentals instead of how to pass a standardized test, proactive steps to protect our environment, decent infrastructure and accountability from public servants across the spectrum. If we improve the quality of life on these fronts then we will be a more desirable place for economic growth."