Charlie Crist: Joe Lieberman Inspired My Independent Run

Last week, when the whole world was anticipating Florida Governor Charlie Crist's jump to an independent run for the Florida Senate seat, the reliably on-the-button Dam Amira of NYMag's Daily Intel blog characterized the move as "pulling a Lieberman"Crist told the National Review that it was Connecticut Senator Joe Lieberman who provided him with the inspirado:

Florida Gov. Charlie Crist tells National Review Online that a conversation with Sen. Joe Lieberman (I., Conn.) helped to convince him to run for U.S. Senate as an independent. "[Lieberman] told me that [going independent] is the most liberating thing," Crist says. "He was right. I'm much happier now, to be perfectly candid."

Crist went on to tell the National Review that he plans no retreat from being a fiscal conservative, and, in addition, came out against Arizona's new immigration law, calling it "wrong."

As far as the campaign Crist intends to wage as an Independent, Crist insisted that he plans on being a "happy warrior" running a "positive campaign." Of course, one wonders how happy and positive Crist can be, knowing that his former friend, George LeMieux, whom Crist sent to Washington to personally warm that Senate seat, came out against his independent run:

"I'm saddened by it, but that's part of the deal in politics. You have to rise above it. I don't have ill will toward a soul."

Oh! So, we're not talking about a full embrace of Liebermanism, then.

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Comments

[paget67]

05:54 PM on 06/02/2010

Gov. Crist I thought better of you. I applauded your decision to run as an independent. However, now that you say it was LIEberman who convinced you to do so really scares me. Please, please, please, don't follow his advice. He's an idiot. I know. I live in CT!

[Clevelandinwi]

07:09 AM on 05/05/2010

Governor Crist - inspired by joeyLIEberman? WOW! Now, I'm really scared!

[Thelightbringer]

10:32 AM on 05/04/2010

check this video out... its amazing.... and if u like share cuz it only has a couple hundred views http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LtICrdq8nQ8

Viva La Revolution

[tmf945]

08:23 AM on 05/04/2010

FYI....eBay reports Crist's portrait now at $4750.00...all the trolls here hurry and get your bid in before Palin takes your money.

[planetmondo]

07:00 AM on 05/04/2010

Sorry Charley ....you picked the wrong role model

[melton244]

01:46 AM on 05/04/2010

Gov. Christ , if Lieberman was your Idol, you are doomed. Picking Mickey Mouse would have actually been a better choice.

[Clevelandinwi]

07:10 AM on 05/05/2010

Stop degrading Mickey!!

[profco]

12:52 AM on 05/04/2010

Not Bernie Sanders?

[IrishLover]

11:47 PM on 05/03/2010

Republican strategy the moment The President beat Hillary..
Plan A
1 - step up attacks about association of him having ter.ror.rists pals
2 - step up attacks of the (IST'S) ..marx ..social and so on
3 - use the term ''radical'' in every sentence every minute of every hour of every day
4 - slash and burn the economy as much possible
5 - LIE (entailing all of the above)

Republican strategy the moment The President took office
Plan B
1- step up attacks that he was soft on ter.ror.rists
2- Step up attacks that the Governement is taking over everything
3 - Complain that too much money is being spent ignoring the recent history or reasons why
4- hold up ALL procedures and votes and installation of department heads (PARALYZING GOVT.)
5 - LIE (for all of the above )

Republican strategy now and beyond
Plan C
1- say NO
2- welcome Joe Lieberman
3 - promise blue dog democrats ANYTHING to break with the President and split the party for a victory in Novemeber - take power -and claim to solve everything

Continuing the cycle of h8 and a two tier society with the backing of a right leaning SCOTUS...

Come November will be Progressives' chance to stop it.

Regards,
An Irish Lad.-

[TeeLolly]

11:03 PM on 05/03/2010

... and to think I once had a more or less favorable (as favorable as it gets for a Republican, anyway) opinion of Crist.

[jussaying]

07:33 PM on 05/03/2010

Florida----think about it. Do you want a Senator that admires Joe Liberman? On the other hand, do you want a Senator that thinks he is entitled to use donations to support a lifestyle he cannot afford. I haven't heard anything horrible about the Democratic candidate. What a great campaign slogan.....vote for me! I'm not horrible

[soisay]

10:21 PM on 05/03/2010

Kendrick Meek has no significant primary challenger and was saving his funds and efforts until after the Crist vs Rubio firefight to begin his fall campaign against the last one standing (Nov is still SIX MONTHS AWAY!). Obviously, Crist running as an independent has upset that plan, but six months is plenty of time to introduce himself and his policies to the voters.

[profco]

12:54 AM on 05/04/2010

Meek may indeed inherit the earth.

[melton244]

01:49 AM on 05/04/2010

I have met Meeks before, I think he could do a great job. He is known in S. FL, but will need to start some advertising.

[Littlewords]

06:56 PM on 05/03/2010

Charlie Crist: Joe Lieberman Inspired My Independent Run

Wow, talk about setting a d@mn low bar; if it was a limbo bar, the ants on the ground would be the only ones make it under.

[vidyadhara]

06:00 PM on 05/03/2010

Who would want to emulate Joe Sleazerman?

[WendellPerrySociety]

05:50 PM on 05/03/2010

Might make more sense to support this guy (financially) than Meeks because he has a better chance of winning and he would probably caucus with the Dems once there.

[soisay]

10:23 PM on 05/03/2010

It only makes sense for true democrats if Crist promises to caucus with Dems, vote with leadership on all procedural votes (unlike Lieberman / Ben Nelson), and the 3-way race shows Rubio winning against Meeks. If he does this, it will cost him his independent Reps.

[den1953]

05:21 PM on 05/03/2010

Governor Crist steer away from Lieberman he'll stab you in the back!

[UpstateSC]

06:13 PM on 05/03/2010

Agreed.

[Wolfsghost]

04:48 PM on 05/03/2010

Way to go Charlie, Joe is an excellent choice to have as a team member. Most of us regard Joe's opinion about as valuable as a warm cup of spit. He makes us ashamed to be a member of the same species.