http://www.jaxobserver.com/2009/09/05/how-much-clout-will-crist-have-in-lame-duck-session/ Your Independent Alternative! Sat, 13 Aug 2011 16:20:42 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 http://www.jaxobserver.com/2009/09/05/how-much-clout-will-crist-have-in-lame-duck-session/comment-page-1/#comment-2633 TDiPod Mon, 07 Sep 2009 22:50:35 +0000 http://www.jaxobserver.com/?p=5603#comment-2633 The only card Governor Crist will hold during the next legislative session will be the threat to be a stingy U.S. Senator w.r.t. federal pork in Florida. (As a codicil to that, he may also threaten to order his proxy George Lemieux to act petty and vindictive toward any legislative district whose representative defies Governor Sunbeam). He can't play the card very convincingly, for two reasons. (1): It would weaken any promises that he might try making to the voters along the lines of being a strong, effective, bring-home-the bacon senator. (2): It presumes that any of his legislative critics in Tallahassee believe that he'll win election and that he would have any actual influence in the U.S. Senate even if he does wind up getting there. The only card Governor Crist will hold during the next legislative session will be the threat to be a stingy U.S. Senator w.r.t. federal pork in Florida. (As a codicil to that, he may also threaten to order his proxy George Lemieux to act petty and vindictive toward any legislative district whose representative defies Governor Sunbeam). He can’t play the card very convincingly, for two reasons. (1): It would weaken any promises that he might try making to the voters along the lines of being a strong, effective, bring-home-the bacon senator. (2): It presumes that any of his legislative critics in Tallahassee believe that he’ll win election and that he would have any actual influence in the U.S. Senate even if he does wind up getting there.

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