Crist picks LeMieux to replace Fla. Sen. Martinez

[Scurrilous]

Source: Associated Press

<snip>

"A state lawmaker says Gov. Charlie Crist is picking his former chief of staff George LeMieux (leh-'MEW) to replace Republican Sen. Mel Martinez, who is resigning.

State Rep. Jennifer Carroll, who was considered for the position, said Crist told her he is choosing LeMieux. Crist planned to make the announcement later Friday.

By choosing LeMieux, Crist picked the candidate he trusts most to fill out the term that expires in January 2011. Crist is running for the seat in next year's election.

LeMieux ran Crist's 2006 campaign for governor. Crist then picked LeMieux as chief of staff. He left for a Tallahassee law firm in December 2007."

Read more: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090828/ap_on_go_co/us_senate_martinez_replacement

[RockaFowler]

1. I guess Charlie is just warming up the seat

What a POS Chain Gang Charlie is.

http://www.wptv.com/content/breakingnews/story/george-lemieux-charlie-crist-wptv-senator-mel/DUPdH1lak0yj9A5EqIKU_w.cspx

By choosing LeMieux, Crist picked the candidate he trusts most to fill out the term that expires in January 2011. That's when Crist hopes to be sworn in as Florida's next elected senator. Crist will make the announcement later Friday.

[Serge A Storms]

2. well, we just have to make sure that doesnt happen

[indimuse]

3. exactly!

PB county here. :hi:

[RockaFowler]

6. Back at ya

St Lucie County here :pals: :fistbump:

[seafan]

4. Charlie Crist names ex-chief of staff George LeMieux to Senate seat

From the Miami Herald:

Gov. Charlie Crist chose his political shadow and former chief of staff, George LeMieux, to stand in as Florida's U.S. senator until Crist can seek the seat himself in the 2010 election.

Crist has said that he wanted his appointment to have some time to get ready before Congress reconvenes on Sept. 8.

Crist faced the delicate task of filling a seat he is running for after Sen. Mel Martinez announced three weeks ago that he was stepping down. In choosing LeMieux, Crist signaled that personal loyalty and political instincts mattered more than any potential perception of cronyism.
What's more, the clean-cut, well-spoken, 40-year-old LeMieux could serve as an effective surrogate for Crist on the campaign trail. LeMieux was born and raised in Fort Lauderdale and served as chairman of the Broward Republican Party from 2000 to 2002.

The two men have been in lockstep since 2002, when Crist was elected Florida attorney general and made LeMieux his deputy. LeMieux went on to earn the nickname "the maestro'' for orchestrating Crist's successful gubernatorial campaign and served as his right-hand man for one year. Even after he left the Capitol for the Gunster Yoakley & Stewart law firm, LeMieux remained one of Crist's most trusted confidantes.

.....

So, Charlie chose the safe route. Now, the rigid, far right-wing screamers will explode into *traitor* diatribes.

Poor Charlie. He just did what Charlie always does, and that is what is good for Charlie.

[brooklynite]

5. Hmm, sounds pretty FRENCH to me...

The RWers can't be pleased...

[Abacus]

9. The english translation is "best"

For some reason, I find that amusing.

[Scurrilous]

7. From my inbox:

Dear ******,

Today, Charlie Crist appointed his old campaign manager and political crony George LeMieux to the United States Senate.

While the U.S. Senate is taking up important legislation focusing on our economy, global warming, and health insurance reform - Floridians needed Charlie Crist to appoint a Senator who would fight for us in Washington. Unfortunately, by appointing LeMieux, Crist once again put his own political ambition above doing what is right for Florida.

For the past several years, LeMieux has been a special interest lobbyist who has made millions of dollars selling access to Crist to the highest corporate bidders in Tallahassee. Because he has never been elected to any office, "Senator" LeMieux has only ever been beholden to Charlie Crist, Republican Party donors, and his special interest clients - not the people of Florida.

This is just one more example of the Republican leadership in Tallahassee putting cronyism and corruption above the people of our state. From Ray Sansom, to former lobbyist Bill McCollum, to George LeMieux, it is clear that we must stand together and pledge to end the Republican culture of cronyism and corruption in Tallahassee.

http://www.fladems.com/page/s/repubcronyism

In Tallahassee, the Republican culture of cronyism and corruption has run amuck.

Not only is Charlie Crist playing political games rather than working on behalf of the people of Florida, with the latest example being his pick for U.S. Senate, but LeMieux's appointment is just another in a long line of the cronyism and corruption from Republicans in Tallahassee.

After Republican Speaker Ray Samson's indictment and revelations about the Republican Party of Florida's AmEx slush fund, now Charlie Crist taps his friend and campaign manager to go to the U.S. Senate. The shady, backroom dealings that have led to such a culture of corruption and cronyism have got to stop!

That's why we need you to stand up against the culture of cronyism and corruption. Join me in standing against Charlie Crist's appointment of his crony, lobbyist George LeMieux and all the backroom deals that have become the status quo in Tallahassee.

Please join me in fighting to elect strong leaders, who will fight for change to move our state forward:

http://www.fladems.com/page/s/repubcronyism

Thank you for standing up today, because together we can end the culture of corruption, put an end to the backroom deals, and chart a new direction for Florida.

Sincerely,

Eric Jotkoff

Communications Director
Florida Democratic Party


LeMieux no fave among super conservative R's

<snip>

"Critics -- conservatives in particular -- will no doubt have plenty of reasons why they think Gov. Charlie Crist made the wrong choice in appointing his former chief of staff to serve out the remainder of U.S. Sen. Mel Martinez's term. Never elected to office. Potential conflicts of interest involving his firm and state contracts and other clients. He's negotiating the state's gambling compact (many conservatives including Crist's US Senate opponent Marco Rubio oppose gambling).

But it's some of the stances LeMieux took on gay adoption and gay benefits way back in 1998 when he ran unsuccessfully for the state House that could really rankle the conservative base.

In 1998, when LeMieux was challenging Democratic state Rep. Tracy Stafford for a Broward Congressional seat, he sought to siphon off votes from the district's gay community in Fort Lauderdale and Wilton Manor.

LeMieux told Steve Bousquet (back then of the Herald, now of the Times/Herald) in September 1998 that gay couples in Florida should be allowed to adopt children. He also said he favored domestic partnership laws to extend health care and other benefits enjoyed by married couples. He said unmarried partners should be permitted to be listed as beneficiaries on insurance policies.

LeMieux said he opposed gay marriage, but said he was willing to let voters have the final say in a referendum.

"Marriage is a fundamental kind of institution," LeMieux said. "If you're going to have such a significant change, I think the people would have to speak on it."

When asked today if they have any differences of opinions (aside from the fact that Crist likes the Bucs, LeMieux the 'Fins), Crist said he didn't know..."

http://miamiherald.typepad.com/nakedpolitics/2009/08/lemieux-no-fave-among-super-conservative-rs.html


Freepers kvetch.

[Psephos]

8. Bookend for Roland Burris. n/t