Why I Doubt Nan Rich Is Trying to Win

Nicole Sandler recently interviewed gubernatorial candidate Nan Rich. The strategy from Rich is to repeatedly ask Crist for a debate. It will not happen as long as Rich's poll numbers are in the tank. According to Public Policy Polling, Rich has a favorability rating of 10 percent. A June Miami Herald article reports that Rich has only raised $379,000.00. Rumor is the Rich campaign is broke. Essentially, it is over before it started.

I have wondered why Rich has pointed out Crist's relationships with Jim Greer, Scott Rothstein and Peter Schorsch. The one thing these men have in common is that their mugshots are all over the internet.

Jim Greer Mugshot

Scott Rothstein Arrest

Peter Schorsch Mugshot

Rich has not attacked Crist's connection to his rather interesting friends. Greer was Crist's handpicked chairman for the Republican Party of Florida. Under sworn testimony, Rothstein claimed he donated money to Crist's campaign in exchange for an appointment.

Crist had tapped Rothstein to the Judicial Nominating Commission for the Fourth District Court of Appeal and the Broward Circuit Court.

“He knew how that game was played. I expected him to do certain things in exchange for large contributions,” Rothstein told a defense attorney Thursday in a federal courtroom in West Palm Beach.

Rothstein has since been disbarred. Rothstein his currently serving 50 years for a Ponzi scheme.

Peter Schorsch is someone familiar with readers of this blog. Michael Pinson filed a complaint with the Florida Bar against Schorsch. The complaint cites Schorsch's run-ins with the law.

The only reason I can think that Rich isn't bringing up Crist's colorful friends is she is secretly resigned to Crist becoming the Democratic nominee and doesn't want to upset the Florida Democratic establishment. If Rich was really trying to win she would be pointing out Crist's connection to Greer, Rothstein and Schorsch 24/7. Candidates that are behind go negative. Candidates that are just running for self-promotion is more worried about media exposure than winning. This explains Rich's obsession with a television debate.

Jim Greer's Book 'The Chairman'

I haven't read Peter Golenbock's book "The Chairman: The Rise and Betrayal of Jim Greer.". I did have this exchange with Golenbock on Susan Smith's Facebook wall.

Golenbock: He's not a crook. If you read the book, you will see that the real crooks conspired with the state attorney general to force Greer to accept a guilty plea. Michael, read for entertainment value. It's a fascinating inside look at politics, and when you get to the end you will understand exactly why Greer accepted a plea deal rather than gamble and end up spending ten years in jail, rather than a year and a half. Susan, I'm the author. I'm the one getting paid.

I have written about Jim Greer paying himself with Republican Party of Florida money. Greer was convicted and is serving 15 months. As chairman, Greer funneled RPOF money to himself through Victory Strategies. Greer was later convicted and sentenced to 18 months.

This is a particularly hysterical passage from the book. Greer had a very bad idea of how to promote Crist.

“One night we took over a museum and showed the movie National Treasure with Nicolas Cage and Jon Voight. We served hors d’oeuvres and wine and brought in Voight, a big Republican who was a star in the movie. He made a speech and posed for photographs. The reason I chose that movie was I wanted to promote Charlie Crist as a ‘national treasure.’

Words fail me.

Jim Greer Update

Via GottaLaff: Former of Republican Party of Florida chairman Jim Greer is now selling La-Z-Boy furniture. Greer is serving out the remainder of his 18 month prison sentence on a work release program.

He was transferred there — a privately-run facility called Bridges of Orlando — Oct. 29. Before that, he was assigned to a Florida Department of Corrections work camp in the Florida Panhandle.

He told the Tampa Bay Times, in an interview published Sept. 6, that while at that camp - Gulf Forestry Camp - he worked six-hour days pulling weeds and picking up trash.

Now, his routine is different.

The Department of Corrections would give few specifics about his life now, except that he lives and sleeps at the center and has worked at a La-Z-Boy Furniture Galleries store since Nov. 18.

There are four in the Orlando area.

He is paid $8 an hour plus a commission, the department reported.

Greer was convicted of stealing $125,000 from the Republican Party of Florida.

Charlie Crist Uses the Wine Excuse

This is too funny. Attorney John Morgan is claiming that Charlie Crist remembers nothing about about the compenstation received by former Republican Party of Florida chair Jim Greer and Delmar Johnson. The reason being is Crist couldn't defend himself from all the wine Jim Greer was pouring down his throat.

"Well it sounds like if your client (Greer) was buying all the wine, he was drunk and doesn't remember what happened," suggested Crist's attorney, John Morgan. Morgan is the founder of Morgan & Morgan, the firm where Crist now works.

The testimony happened June 26, 2012. Crist contends that he did not know that Greer and Johnson had used Victory Strategies. Alleged, Greer and Johnson set up Victory Strategies, billed the RPOF for no services and then paid themselves. Johnson ended up testifying against Greer.

Greer was politically toxic by the time Crist had his wine-filled meeting with Greer. The Florida Republican establishment wanted Greer gone and were willing to pay. Lobbyist Brian Ballard has stated that Crist was aware of the compensation deal for Greer and Johnson. Crist testified, "I don't believe that is truthful." Of course Crist cannot be sure. Greer was making consume gallons of wine.

Write A Caption: Crist & Greer

Bloggers can write love letters to Charlie Crist. That won't change the shit stain of Charlie Crist's past ethical problems.

John Thrasher's Incompetent Lawyer Excuse

John Thrasher fought against the Florida Hometown Democracy amendment at the behest of developers. In the Florida Senate, Thrasher sponsored an education bill that required year end assessment tests. Thrasher's lobbying firm Southern Strategy was paid by testing firms to get more testing in k-12 education. How bad is Thrasher's conflict of interests in his duel roles as a lawmaker and lobbyist, consider that as a member of the Florida House, Thrasher lobbied on the behave of the Florida Medical Association. Thrasher was reprimanded on the House floor for this transgression.

It is fun to see Thrasher get duly deserved scorn for former Republican Party of Florida chairman Jim Greer's sleazy severance contract. Thrasher uses the incompetent defense to claim that he did not know that he signed a severance contact to get rid of Greer. Thrasher is a lawyer and was taking control of the RPOF from Greer. Thrasher testified to attorney Don Lykkebak that he was utterly clueless while performing these chairmanship and legal duties. Unfortunately for Thrasher, he told the media at the time that there was no severance contract.

"You don't recall telling them there was no such thing?" Lykkebak said in transcripts of the deposition, referring to Thrasher's statements to reporters.

"I may have said there was no effectuated agreement, yes sir. Because in ..."

"Lykkebak interrupted, "Well, that was a little reckless on your part seeing how you signed one, wouldn't you say?"

Slam dunk!

The Jim Greer trial is going to be fun.

The Upcoming Jim Greer Trial

The trial next year of former Republican Party of Florida chairman will be fascinating. The trial will shine a light on the blatant corruption of Greer and his fellow Republicans. Greer knows he is likely going down. He is likely to take the reputations of several past and present elected officials with him. Greer's wife Lisa is firing shots at George LeMieux on Facebook.

"Thanks for the many posts, emails and calls of support after the TV Special. Of course it has been met with some false responses issued in press releases by those who want to protect their own contracts and careers. To those who remain committed to destroy Jim no matter what the cost to my family, we stand firm with the truth on our side and will continue to reveal your corruption. By the way George, the only wrong turn my husband made was trusting in folks like you he believed to be honorable. The former handpicked Senator of Charlie Crist is desperately courting the support of the grassroots activists in distancing himself with a web of lies. He must have forgotten that he told Jim and I on a number of occasions that the Republicans only win elections in spite of the REC's and grassroots activists, not because of them."

We learn that former Gov. Charlie Crist contacted the Florida Department of Law Enforcement after receiving two messages from Greer.

"It was a little cathartic and he was able to vent," Greer attorney Damon Chase said of the voice mail and text messages Greer left for Crist. "But there's not a single threat in there anywhere. It's merely: 'I don't want to be friends anymore, stop calling and pretending you're my friend.' "

How pissed is Greer? Remember this public statement he made about his fellow Republicans.

"They just destroyed my life for no reason," a tearful Greer said of the legislative leaders last week on WTSP-Ch. 10.

Greer is no saint. A person does not have a shredding machine truck came to the RPOF office on Greer's last day to destroy documents. That is the act of someone with nothing to hide.

What I want the trial to reveal is how Greer and other Republicans were living off their party American Express cards. The RPOF is a nonprofit organization. It is illegal to use its funds not related to paying staff or operations. Which makes the the use of the credit card use more disturbing.

Greer - $500,000
Speaker Marco Rubio - $110,000
Indicted Speaker Ray Sansom - $173,000
Speaker-designate Dean Cannon - $175,000
Senate President-designate Mike Haridopolos - *$2,347
Rubio Chief of Staff Richard Corcoran - $70,000
RPOF Executive Director Delmar Johnson - $500,000
Jr. Party Staffer Melanie Phister - $1,258,000

The credit cards are the key to the corruption. This is why Marco Rubio has refused to discussed what he used his party credit card for. The secret severance package Dean Cannon and Mike Haridopolos negotiated with Greer is potentially explosive. As Ray Samson and Jim Norman has shown us. The Florida political system is seriously corrupt. Nothing will improve in the state until corruption is dealt with.

Sid Dinerstein: Douchebag of the Day

This is the most mind-numbingly stupid quotes I have read recently. Sid Dinerstein, the chairman of the Palm Beach County Republican Party accuses the county's Democrats of being racists for supporting Charlie Crist over Kendrick Meek.

"This is racial politics at its ugliest," GOP chairman Sid Dinerstein said "The white Democrats, the ones who supported Hillary over Obama are teaming up with Charlie to throw Kendrick under the bus so they can say more nasty things about Hispanic Americans."

What does Hispanics have to do with support of Crist or Meek. The Republican Party has been running an xenophobic campaign against providing Hispanics a pathway to citizenship. If Diderstein feels that strongly about Meek being the victim of racism then I challenge him to make a pledge to work with Meek to guarantee the civil rights of Hispanics and African Americans. This would be a good thing and a true sign of bipartisanship. Otherwise, Diderstein is just deploying the Southern strategy in an apeal to conservative white voters. Former Republican Party of Florida chairman Jim Greer admitted his attack against President Barack Obama's speech to school children was an appeal to racist voters.

"In the year since I issued a prepared statement regarding President Obama speaking to the nation's children, I have learned a great deal about the party I so deeply loved and served. Unfortunately, I found that many within the GOP have racist views and I apologize to the President for my opposition to his speech last year and my efforts to placate the extremists who dominate our Party today."

If the Republican establishment is so concerned with racism they can stop disinfranchising black voters, condemn racist Tea Party signs and get serious about immigration reform. The current GOP has Rand Paul telling voters that the government has no roll in enforcing civil rights. These people have no credibility on civil rights issues.

Greer Issues Apology to Obama

Remember when former Republican Party of Florida chairman Jim Greer accused President Barack Obama attempting to indoctrinate school children to make the little kiddies into socialists.

"As a father of four children, I am absolutely appalled that taxpayer dollars are being used to spread President Obama's socialist ideology. The idea that school children across our nation will be forced to watch the President justify his plans for government-run health care, banks, and automobile companies, increasing taxes on those who create jobs, and racking up more debt than any other President, is not only infuriating, but goes against beliefs of the majority of Americans, while bypassing American parents through an invasive abuse of power."

Obama's speech actually urged students to "set goals, work hard and stay in school." The speech contained nothing about White House policy proposals. Obama is talking to school children. Not the Center of American Progress. Greer never aired his mock outrage when President Bush was creating the biggest deficit in United States history. Greer's attack was cheap partisan politics. Greer now admits as much.

Greer issued an apology to President Obama. Greer admits he was pandering to racists within the base of the party.

"In the year since I issued a prepared statement regarding President Obama speaking to the nation's school children, I have learned a great deal about the party I so deeply loved and served. Unfortunately, I found that many within the GOP have racist views and I apologize to the President for my opposition to his speech last year and my efforts to placate the extremists who dominate our Party today. My children and I look forward to the President's speech."

I doubt Greer would issue this apology if he was still chairman of the RPOF. There is truth to Greer's statement. Michael Steele has admitted that there have been instances when white Republicans are scared to be in the same room as him. It is sad when white Republicans aren't comfortable with the skin color of the party's leader.

Greer Paid $7,339.21 By RPOF in July

The Republican Party of Florida paid indicted former chairman Jim Greer $7,339.21 in July of 2010. You can see all the payments the RPOF made here. Pay attention to amount disbursed. That explains how much was paid out by the RPOF to the payee. Below are the payments made to Greer.

Payee: James A. Greer
1205 Prestige Point
Oviedo, FL 32765

Purpose of Disbursement: bounced ck 6/28-travel charges
Date of Event = 07/01/2010
Allocated Activity or Event:
Activity is Administrative - Only

Amount Disbursed = 2291.48
Federal share = 641.61
Non-Federal share = 1649.87
Event Year-To-Date = 1392410.98



Payee: James A. Greer
1205 Prestige Point
Oviedo, FL 32765

Purpose of Disbursement: bounced ck 6/28-office supplies
Date of Event = 07/01/2010
Allocated Activity or Event:
Activity is Administrative - Only

Amount Disbursed = 22.90
Federal share = 6.41
Non-Federal share = 16.49
Event Year-To-Date = 1392433.88



Payee: James A. Greer
1205 Prestige Point
Oviedo, FL 32765

Purpose of Disbursement: bounced ck 6/28-supplies
Date of Event = 07/01/2010
Allocated Activity or Event:
Activity is Administrative - Only

Amount Disbursed = 633.01
Federal share = 177.24
Non-Federal share = 455.77
Event Year-To-Date = 1393066.89



Payee: James A. Greer
1205 Prestige Point
Oviedo, FL 32765

Purpose of Disbursement: bounced ck 6/28-photography charges
Date of Event = 07/01/2010
Allocated Activity or Event:
Activity is Administrative - Only

Amount Disbursed = 66.50
Federal share = 18.62
Non-Federal share = 47.88
Event Year-To-Date = 1393133.39

Payee: James A. Greer
1205 Prestige Point
Oviedo, FL 32765

Purpose of Disbursement: bounced ck 6/28-travel charges
Date of Event = 07/01/2010
Allocated Activity or Event:
Activity is Administrative - Only

Amount Disbursed = 2471.20
Federal share = 518.95
Non-Federal share = 1952.25
Event Year-To-Date = 1395604.59
Payee: James A. Greer
1205 Prestige Point
Oviedo, FL 32765

Purpose of Disbursement: bounced ck 6/28-fundraising charges
Date of Event = 07/01/2010
Allocated Activity or Event:
Activity is Direct Fundraising

Amount Disbursed = 1854.12
Federal share = 278.12
Non-Federal share = 1576.00
Event Year-To-Date = 140231.67

Update: Central Florida Political Pulse reports Greer attempted to repay the RPOF for the money he received for July. The bad news for Greer is his $7,339.21 bounced.

Florida Has A Corruption Problem

From 1998 to 2007 Florida has had 824 public official convicted of various crimes. New York came in second with 704. This is a good time to bring this up that Charlie Crist, Marco Rubio, Kendrick Meek and Jeff Greene have all made the CREW list for corrupt candidates. One of these men will end up being a United States Senator.

Hillsborough County Commissioner Kevin White was caught breaking campaign finance rules by spending $6,100 on his personal wardrobe. White tried to get away with the bogus billing by citing the owner of BC Men's Wear as his fashion consultant. White was found guilty in court of sexually harrassing former employee Alyssa Ogden. White is the favorite to win the District 3 race.

Former Florida House Speaker Ray Sansom was charged with official misconduct, grand theft and conspiracy. He also used nonprofit money from the Republican Party of Florida to charge $173,000 on a credit card. Sansom still has not repaid the money. Sansom got a standing ovation from fellow Republicans when he steeped down as Speaker.

Former Republican Party of Florida Chairman Jim Greer was indicted on several counts of felong grand theft. Greer set up the bogus company Victory Strategies to profit from billing the RPOF. Greer attempted to destroy the paper trail by bringing a paper shredding machine to the RPOF offices. Crist defended Greer until the near end.

Florida has an obvious corruption problem. It is time for citizens to back changes that will hold public officials to a higher standard. The Florida Commission on Ethics lacks teeth. The Attorney General office under Bill McCollum showed an unwillingness to investigate Sansom. This isn't a partisan issue. This is about having honest public officials. A democracy cannot run if the people do not trust their elected officials.

Jim Greer Jail Audio Recordings

The St. Petersburg Times has partial transcripts of indicted former Republican Party of Florida chairman Jim Greer's phone conversations. A box Delmar Johnson dropped off at the house is mentioned in Greer's conversation with his wife Lisa.

"Are the agents still there?" Greer asked.

"Yeah," said his wife, who repeatedly noted their calls were being recorded and that their bank accounts were searched.

"You should show 'em where everything is," Greer said. "There's nothing to hide there. There's that box that Delmar dropped that's in the garage."

I am curious about what is in the box. Johnson helped Greer set up Victory Strategies. Greer and Johnson owned the company and set up bogus billing accounts with the RPOF. The one little problem is they got caught and Johnson has been granted immunity to testify against Greer. One outside of jail recording has Greer talking to Johnson.

“I was hearing all last week that you were throwing me under the bus and you were saying a lot of things that I was finding very hard to believe that you would say,” Greer said.

“Yeah, no and I’m not doing that at all,” Johnson replied.

Johnson did throw Greer under the bus. Greer is facing a possible 77 years in prison.

Charlie Crist Makes CREW List of Corrupt Candidates

I missed this but Charlie Crist is that third candidate on the CREW list of corrupt candidates. Kendrick Meek and Marco Rubio are the other two candidates that made the list.

Crist has much explaining to do for defending indicted former Republican Party of Florida Chairman Jim Greer. The latter was arrest on 6 counts of felony. Greer set up the company Victory Strategies with Delmar Johnson.

The party audit showed that Greer owned 60 percent of the company and Johnson owned the remaining 40 percent.

Greer authorized the contract to let Johnson take a 10 percent commission on all dollars he raised for the party coffers. It totaled $133,005 for 2009, with an additional $66,250 for other consulting services.

The Feds have granted Johnson immunity to testify against Greer. The trial will show the disregard the Republican Party of Florida had for the money of supporters.

CREW mentions Crist failing to prosecute former boy band manager Lou Pearlman. Crist was Attorney General when Pearlman was being investigated. Pearlman was convicted of stealing $300 million from banks and investors. Pearlman was a contributor to Crist campaigns.

I wish we could get new candidates. Unfortunately, The Florida Senate race is Crist, Meek, Rubio and Jeff Greene. Color me unimpressed.

Jim Greer Lawyers Up

Former Republican Party of Florida chairman Jim Greer's lawyer J. Cheney Mason may call Dean Cannon, Bill McCollum, Mike Haridopolis, John Thrasher and Charlie Crist to the stand. Greer has been indicted on one count of organized fraud, one count grand theft and four counts of felony grand theft. I am not sure what Mason's strategy is but powerful Republicans being summoned by the defense cannot be good for the Florida GOP establishment.

Mason is seeking to have the charges against Greer dismissed.

"I believe we'll be able to prove Jim Greer is not guilty whatsoever," said Mason.

That doesn't explain why Greer spent 41,421.31 of RPOF money in Las Vegas. The RPOF is a nonprofit and subject to nonprofit regulations.

Mason will ask a judge to Office of Statewide Prosecution. The Attorney General office run by Bill McCollum oversees the OSP.

Quote of the Day

"Sometimes desperate people say desperate things, and it's very sad."

Gov. Charlie Crist, on Jim Greer's attorneys saying Crist was supportive of Greer setting up Victory Strategies.

I remember Crist saying he wouldn't leave the Republican Party and flip-flopping on Obama Supreme Court appointments. What could make him say those things.

Jim Greer Indicted

I am interested in how the Republican Party of Florida is going to present their message of fiscal conservatism. It is hard to tell people you value every dollar after former RPOF Chairman Jim Greer is indicted on one count of organized fraud, one count grand theft and four counts of felony grand theft. Any Florida Republican that had a RPOF credit card (I'm talking to you Marco Rubio) should be laughed out of the room every time he utters the words "fiscal conservatism." It is hard to be a fiscal conservative when Florida Republicans are using donor money for limos and trips to Las Vegas. Rubio's staff spent money on a limo and Greer dropped $41,421.31 in Vegas.

Using the Republican Party of Florida as a personal ATM was not enough for Greer. He came up with the scheme to set up a bogus political consulting company called Victory Strategies. Prosecutors say Greer received $125,000 of the $200,000 the RPOF paid to Victory Strategies. That explains why Greer had a paper shredding machine at the RPOF headquarters.

Greer was handpicked by Gov. Charlie Crist. This is may cause Crist some problems. So far Crist as been teflon when his name has been mentioned with Greer's. Attorney General Bill McCollum was involved in nogotiating Greer's severance package and has been slow to react to the RPOF money scandals. McCollum is Florida's leading law enforcement officer. As head of the RPOF, Greer cleared the GOP primary for McCollum's campaign for Governor. I have serious doubts that McCollum wants to air out the RPOF's dirty laundry during an election year.

Jim Greer Channels Nixon

Former Republican Party of Florida Chairman Jim Greer sent a e-mail to the Miami Herald. Greer fires off a Nixonian attack RPoF Chairman John Thrasher.

After reading your credit card story, I see that Mr. Thrasher’s comments are intended to distort the facts and deflect blame. My attorneys and I are very much looking forward to setting the record straight and to the upcoming depositions under oath of: Mr. Thrasher, other party leaders, office holders, candidates for higher office, their respective staffs and many others, along with all the wide-ranging discovery which will take place. I served the party well and don’t seem to be getting the “Statesman’s Recognition” I was ensured in writing and verbally by many that I would receive. And I look forward to the future! The course we are all on is not of my choosing, but one that was set by others.

It is perplexing that Greer wants "Statesman’s Recognition." The Republican Party of Florida is being investigated by the FBI and IRS. Now is not a good time for Greer to be asking for a pat on the back.

I couldn't find a Thrasher quote in the column Greer took exception with. Perhaps the quote was later edited out. What was Greer ensured verbally and in writing? The last sentence is paticularly bizarre.

The course we are all on is not of my choosing, but one that was set by others.

Huh? Is Greer blaming others for his $500,000 American Express card bill. Does Greer expect Republican donors to believe that others are resonsible for him spending $41,421.31 in March of 2008. Good luck sellling that one. I'm waiting for Greer to bitterly announce we won't have him to kick around anymore.

Jim Greer Killing Dead Trees

Is it me or is it strange that Jim Greer has a paper shredding machine truck at the Republican Party of Florida headquarters the day he resigns as chairman? How many documents does Greer need to shed and is it even legal?

Jim Greer Resigns

Jim Greer has resigned as chairman of the Republican Party of Florida. Greer took parting shots at his political enemies.

"Over the last six months, there has been a very vocal group within our party that has become very active in seeking an effort to oust me as chairman," said Greer. "They have distorted facts. They have talked about misspending of money when the facts have shown over and over and over that it's not true. They have talked about my support of Gov. Crist for the U.S. Senate race.

Greer refused to open financial reports on what Ray Sansom and other Republicans were doing with their RPoF American Express cards. Sansom spent $1,953 on tuxedo rentals and $348 on babysitting. These can hardly be considered money used to help get Republicans elected.

Jeb Bush is backing John Thrasher to become the new RPoF chair. Thrasher has never met a delevoper he didn't like. Thrasher was part of the effort to keep the Florida Hometown Democracy amendment off of the ballot. Tge amendment would have let citizens have a say in whether new development would be approved. Thrasher sent out a misleading letter claiming the letter would help special interest. A hysterical charge from a man whom has spent his life working for special interests.

“The special interests (many of them out-of-state) have much to gain from passing this Amendment,” the letter says. He says the amendment would allow them to “turn our beautiful state into a dumping ground for special interests.”

Thrasher’s letter says the amendment “turns all power over use of Florida’s lands to certain ‘electors,’ ” without explaining that “electors” is the legal term for registered voters.

“Guess who the ‘electors’ will be,” it says. “The special interests and their slick lawyers will rig the system to put our future in the hands of their cronies.”

The reaction from state Republicans has been positive. What King Jeb wants he gets.

Jim Greer Is Feeling the Love

Republican Party of Florida chairman Jim Greer has earned the anger of conservatives for backing Charlie Crist over Marco Rubio, for the open U.S. Senate seat. Greer and Rubio have been engaged in nearly open warfare.

After national election cycle defeats, Republicans are purging themselves of moderates. Rush Limbaugh and Sarah Palin urged Republicans to support Conservative Party candidate Doug Hoffman over moderate Republican Dede Scozzafava. The result was Democratic Bill Owens winning New York Congression District 23. The district has been held by Republicans over over a hundred years. Republicans mistakenly believe that going further to the right will held their election chances. The GOP doesn't have policies. They have bumper sticker slogans of tax cuts and war on terror. Charlie Crist could easily beat Kendrick Meek and help the Republicans hold Mel Martinez's seat. A bloody Crist and Rubio fight helps Meek.

Former Republican House leaders are going after Greer. His leadership in the Ray Sansom credit card scandal was severely lacking. I find it hard to believe Republican would be angry at Greer about the credit card problem if Greer backed Rubio. House Republicans gave Sansom a standing ovation after the hints of scandal came forward.

House minority leaders and Speakers Jim Tillman, Bill James, Curt Kiser, Richmond, Dale Patchett, Jim Lombard, Sandra Mortham, Daniel Webster and Tom Feeney sent this letter out to the media. They are demanding Greer's resignation. Translation: these people are out of power and all they can do is issue press releases.

"...Several of us have spent years of our lives trying to make the Republican party of Florida the majority party in order to provide effective leadership for the betterment of the people of Florida. I, for one, spent many days and nights travelling throughoutin my car spending my own money to recruit candidates and to raise funds for the party. All of us have. Now, only to read that we have allowed expense accounts for some elected officials, chartered jets for party leaders, and other gross expenditures of funds not related to furthering the best interests of the party; ie. increasing party registration, filling the party cofferss, and recruiting good candidates, among other things. We are seeing what we were part of building deteriorating, and deteriorating rapidly. It is essential that the party change direction before it it too late to reverse the trend.

"To put it bluntly, the best interest of the Re[ublican Party requires your resignation immediately."