tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6926413038778731189.post3610212733026522298..comments2023-10-16T07:13:12.123-05:00Comments on A plain blog about politics: Some Florida Juice?Jonathan Bernsteinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15931039630306253241noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6926413038778731189.post-19584448465115501592010-04-20T22:25:52.311-05:002010-04-20T22:25:52.311-05:00Yeah...I can't prove it, but I think it's ...Yeah...I can't prove it, but I think it's very likely. It's not just that Crist appointed him; LeMieux's worked for Crist on and off for almost twenty years; his whole political identity to now is tied up with Crist. Moreover, if Crist jumps, and given LeMieux's moderate reputation before the appointment, he has to know that he'll never earn the full trust of Florida Republicans, and after knocking off Crist you have to assume they'd go after LeMieux next. <br /><br />Granted, he could stay as conservative as possible, hope that no one primaries him, and if he does get beat in a primary he could go on and make a lot of money as a DC lobbyist...but I'm not sure that's cut off for him if he supports Crist and then doesn't run for re-election. Plus, if Crist wins and then caucuses w/the GOP, perhaps LeMieux winds up OK, anyway.<br /><br />It's definitely not a sure thing, but it's a solid possibility (as opposed to if Crist stays Republican, in which case I'm certain that LeMieux will stay conservative.Jonathan Bernsteinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15931039630306253241noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6926413038778731189.post-27482664656318727672010-04-20T20:20:40.877-05:002010-04-20T20:20:40.877-05:00You've mentioned this several times before, an...You've mentioned this several times before, and maybe you've explained it elsewhere, but I'd be interested to know why you're so sure that Crist has so much influence over LeMieux that he can dictate his Senate votes. I understand that Crist appointed LeMieux, and that he is in some sense his flunky, but what's the incentive for LeMieux to stick with Crist, rather than the Senate Republican leadership? <br /><br />After all, if Crist jumps ship, won't everyone with a political pulse realize that if you ever want to work in conservative circles again, Crist is poison? What kind of leverage does Crist hold over LeMieux? They may be good friends, but you know what they say about having friends in Washington.Ace-Khttp://www.alexanderkobulnicky.comnoreply@blogger.com