Florida GOP Goes Further Down the Toilet
Now the sewage is starting to back up
By Chris Ingram
A few weeks ago when Jim Greer finally announced his resignation I pledged that I wouldn’t write any further columns about Greer. But good golly, if you’ve been reading the papers about the Delmar Johnson saga, you’ve got to know it’s taking a lot of restraint to honor my pledge.
Unfortunately, no one (other than Paula Dockery) including Governor Crist, Attorney General McCollum, or either of the main candidates for state party chairman are giving any indication as to how they will ensure this kind of fiasco (which started with Too-Tan Charlie) will never happen again. That’s because there is a void in real leadership in the Fla. GOP which is due to the fact that no one in a position of leadership has any sense of respect for the rank-and-file or spine to stand up for what is right.
I was talking to a friend this morning who said, “Well one thing is for sure, anybody who gives any money to the Florida GOP needs their head examined.”
Well said.
And I would add the following: the people behind the scenes who gave us Jim Greer and Delmar Johnson are the same people pushing John Thrasher to be the new chairman. I’m not suggesting Thrasher would bring the kind of dishonor Crist/Greer/Johnson have, but if you’re looking for him to do anything substantive to mop up this mess, forget about it. He’s one of the good ol’ boys.
Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me. Fool me three times…
Chris Ingram is the president and founder of 411 Communications a corporate and political communications firm, and publisher of www.IrreverentView.com. Ingram is a frequent pundit on Fox News and CNN, and has written opinion columns for the Washington Times, UPI, Front Page Florida, and National Review online. E-mail him at: Chris@411Communications.com.
February 10th, 2010 at 10:22 am
I think you are wrong about who gave us Jim Greer and Delmar Johnson giving or pushing Senator John Thrasher. Opposite camps there philosophically.
John Thrasher is a successful, experienced statesman, a class act and an incredible Speaker of the House for
Gov. Jeb Bush.
John Thrasher would restore respect, trust and order to the R.P.O.F. at a critical time. He would clean up the mess (not an enviable job considering) going on there and he’s a man both the base and donors could trust.
Knowing the character of John Thrasher, I know he is doing this for the Cause bigger than himself.
And in reality, he is probably the only person at this point in time who could provide the necessary leadership AND raise the needed funds for the RPOF other than the former governor. John would only be in this leadership role until after the elections in Nov. I believe now he is the best person for Chairman of the R.P.O.F. bar none.
February 10th, 2010 at 10:36 am
As always, I am assured of some TRUTH from IrreverentView and
so do so many others. This is one BIG “mess” which could and should have been put to rest long ago- Greer is not the kind of person that should be at the helm of ANYTHING that helps others- unless of course it is help top another of the same cloth and selfish lifestyle.
I stopped giving to the Fl. GOP as soon as I knew first hand what was happening- now our hopes are to learn more on facts of John Thrasher, other than what Crist, Greer. or Johnson-
After all it would be as one report Thanks so much for your
assistance. By the way, the BIG Man from Alachua (REC) is also thick and another Greer flunky…..
February 10th, 2010 at 1:17 pm
Are you out to convince your readers that the Republican Party
is totally HOPELESS? Never an encouraging word. Depressing.
February 10th, 2010 at 2:02 pm
Some of your assumptions in respect to this issue are questionable. The problem was Transparency. I do believe that several have asked for the credit card information be released/shared. I also believe Gov Crist to be one in such group. Do believe it is appropriate to share information but believe it should be factual and creditable. Do note that you did NOT include the fact that some of the legislators who had cards (ie: Marco Rubio) were not mentioned in your article.
thanks
February 10th, 2010 at 2:10 pm
Response to Nole:
I don’t think Charlie has asked it be released, nor any member of the legislature other than Dockery as far as I know of. In fact, I think Dockery is the only one showing any leadership on this. If you can point to someone else, I’d like to know. M I have in the past (other columns) spoken about this issue. Rubio should release any information he has about his card, because if he doesn’t Charlie certainly will.
February 10th, 2010 at 3:51 pm
And all this time I thought the RPOF was just incompetent, now I see they are also corrupt.
It’s time to clean our house.
Chris, you are well connected and know the “players”, find us one we can believe in with impeccable integrity. I know it’s a tall order, but surely there is someone out there.
February 10th, 2010 at 9:06 pm
Why does Sharon Day keep popping into my mind? Sharon has been a long time Republican Party supporter and has kept a level head through the whole thing. I think she would make a great RPOF Chairman and restore sensibility as well as credibility to the Party.