Crist Officially Announces Independent Run

Gov. Charlie Crist makes it official.

"Our political system is broken," he said. "They look at Washington and they don't like what they see."

He added that he doesn't have a Republican Party or Democratic Party to turn to. "I need you -- the people -- more than ever. I am counting on you. And I believe in you."

Crist will be list on the ballot under no party affiliation.

Update: ABC News has more on Crist's announcement.

"My decision to run for the United States Senate as a candidate without party affiliation in many ways says more about our nation and our state, than it does about me," Crist announced.

"For me it's never been about doing what's easy," he said today, "it's about doing what is right for the people first."

Update Marco Rubio has issued a press release condemning Crist. Nothing shocking about that. RNC Chairman Michael Steele sent out his own press release.

"Now more than ever, Floridians need leadership in Washington. With unemployment at an all-time high in Florida, they want a Senator to exercise strong fiscal discipline and be a catalyst for job creation. Without question, the Republican nominee this fall will offer those qualities. Governor Charlie Crist, however, will not be that candidate. Over the years, he has served this party well, which is why his decision to run as an Independent is so disappointing. To be sure, he left this party. This party did not leave him. His decision will in no way impede our path to victory in Florida. The challenges that Floridians face are many. And this November, we will have a nominee in place that will listen to them and put forth solutions to get Floridians back to work."

The Republican nominee will create jobs!?! I seem to remember the state budget and housing market tanking when Rubio was Florida House Speaker. Rubio was against the stimulus. As of February of 2010, economists estimated the stimulus created 1.8 million jobs. Rubio's solution would have been tax cuts. Job growth grew by 0.28 percent under President Bush. The Bush tax cuts did not create the promised budget surplus or job gains. Joel Friedman and Isaac Shapiro summed up how the Bush tax cuts damaged the economy.

The Bush tax cuts have contributed to revenues dropping in 2004 to the lowest level as a share of the economy since 1950, and have been a major contributor to the dramatic shift from large projected budget surpluses to projected deficits as far as the eye can see.

The tax cuts have conferred the most benefits, by far, on the highest-income households — those least in need of additional resources — at a time when income already is exceptionally concentrated at the top of the income spectrum.

The design of these tax cuts was ill-conceived, resulting in significantly less economic stimulus than could have been accomplished for the same budgetary cost. In part because the tax cuts were not as effective as alternative measures would have been, job creation during this recovery has been notably worse than in any other recovery since the end of World War II.

Rubio's answer to the worst economic crisis since the Depression is more tax cuts. Rubio's economic worldview reminds me of Alcohol Anonymous's definition of insanity.

"repeating the same action over and over again, hoping to achieve different results."

Rubio is addicted to the Republican mantra of tax cuts and refuses to give it up. Rubio would rather get elected than talk seriously with voters about economic policy.

Update: Jeb Bush comes out to officially diss Crist.

"I am not surprised. This decision is not about policy or principles. It is about what he believes is in his political self-interest."

Democrat Kendrick Meek told reporters he is ""running against two Republicans in the general election." The Meek campaign is hoping Crist and Rubio will split the Republican vote. This is what DNC Chairman Tim Kaine is hoping for. Meek needs to start exciting Democratic voters. Counting on Crist and Rubio to implode is not enough.



Democrats and Republicans, in the Florida Senate, comment on a Crist NPA run. African-American Democrat Al Lawson thinks a Crist NPA run could make Meek's chances of getting elected harder.

LAWSON: I wouldn't say it really helps Meek. I think if you're Meek, you really have to be concerned the Governor is gonna pull a lot of African-American votes. So, as a result, if you're Kendrick Meek this is a bad move.