Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL) gave a brief speech on the Senate floor on the debt ceiling on Thursday afternoon. During his remarks, Sen. Rubio agreed to the principle of a balanced approach to deficit reduction but flatly refused that tax hikes should be part of the balance. To achieve so-called revenue enhancements, Rubio said, we should create new taxpayers. According to the senator, growth is a critical part of the debt problem and must be part of the solution. Rubio criticized Obama policies for lack of job growth and inclination toward higher taxes.

This Tuesday, Drawnlines editor Nick Stone and columnist Jessica Osman discussed Florida Changing Hands.  With a new Republican governor, a GOP cabinet and a slate of new Republicans going to Washington, Florida saw a wave of red in 2010.  But will the trend continue or can President Obama put the largest swing state back into his column for 2012?  

Plus breaking news:  Senators Lieberman I-CT and Conrad D-ND will not seek re-election in 2012, leaving both seats open for GOP pickups.



Tweet @Drawnlines to sound off about anything we discussed in this week's episode.


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by Nick Stone of Drawnlines Politics

Please watch and read this pre-election message to readers of Drawnlines Politics:



This election isn't an abstract exercise in government. It's about whether or not this country is on the right path.

I certainly don't think it is. Do you?

Pelosi, Reid and Obama told voters that we should give them the reins of government because Republicans were corrupt, didn't listen to the minority, and spent too much money. And you know, what? They were right.

But four years into Democratic Congress and half way through President Obama's term, the swamp has more surly creatures in it than ever. Spending has reached unfathomable heights. Deficits that were awful have ballooned into orbit.

Of course massive new federal programs, thousands of pages of new regulations and rainstorms of Chinese money have done nothing to grow our economy or put Americans back to work. They have only put Obama's boot on the throat of the American economy.

And Obama's plan?

The president thinks we can solve the crisis with more spending, more regulation, and even more new government programs. It's sad.

A US Senator is one out of only 100 voices that determine the direction of our country. So we can't afford to chance sending the president another rubber stamp vote for his agenda.

Florida must not squander our opportunity and duty to send proven conservatives to Washington that we can count on to hold the line against President Obama's radical, unaffordable economic plan.

Marco Rubio must be the next senator from the great state of Florida.

I understand why some of you at home personally like Charlie Crist. So do I. But again, this election isn't a personality contest. It isn't about who has the best soundbite or who can pander to the widest constituency.

This election is about a fork in the road between two Americas. Down one route, a strong America that provides jobs to her workers, growth to her investors and support to her allies. Down the other path? Well, more of the malaise, uncertainty and burdens that Americans shoulder right now. More taxes on every American family. More debt for our children, and an America unable and unwilling to rush to the aid of freedom-loving allies around the world.

So I ask you, on Election Day, will Florida send a senator to Washington to stand strong against President Obama's radical agenda, or will Florida provide the final "YES" vote for more of the same?

Its up to us to decide, and the stakes couldn't be higher. Join me in casting your ballot for Marco Rubio for US Senate.

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by Nick Stone of Drawnlines Politics.

What do Bob Menendez and Marco Rubio have in common? Besides the fact that they are both Latino public servants, they also both seem to think they are the Chairmen of the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee. You might be shocked to learn which one is doing a better job advocating for Democrats.

Since declaring his candidacy, Marco Rubio has used piercing rhetoric to take digs at Governor Crist in television interviews, at speaking engagements like the Red State gathering in Atlanta, on YouTube and at campaign events. When he’s not personally attacking the governor, someone from his staff or a campaign volunteer is likely doing the dirty work for him.

Charlie Crist is the highly likely Republican candidate for the Florida senate seat in 2010. An article posted on Marco Rubio’s own website says so. Crist is hugely popular, he’s a fundraising machine, and he’s got the overwhelming majority of party support. He has already been endorsed by the head of the NRSC, John Cornyn, ex-Senator Mel Martinez, presidential candidate John McCain, and most influential Republicans including the two Cuban Diaz-Balart brothers representing a large portion of Rubio’s Miami-Dade County. In fact, Crist has garnered a surprisingly high amount of support from the Latino community despite the fact he is running against a Cuban-American in a state with a large Hispanic population. Ex-Governor Bush and Congresswoman Ileana Ros-Lehtinen both could have been extremely valuable endorsements for Rubio, but he has failed to secure their nod.

Democratic activists in the state know all too well that they can’t win against Charlie Crist. They don’t have a strong enough candidate - and even if they did, the governor is extremely popular across the spectrum. He’ll run over anyone in a general election because he’s fought so hard for the people of the state. From day one, he’s championed tax cuts for Florida’s families with heavy financial burdens. He has forced the legislature to spend money more wisely by using his veto pen to remove projects we can’t afford. And where possible, he’s beefed up education and infrastructure spending. In tangible ways, Crist has made Florida a better place to live and to raise a family. The people of Florida love him, Republican and Democrat alike.

The only prayer that the Democrats have for a win is that Marco Rubio destroys the governor’s character and record during his quixotic and desperate campaign against Crist. Whatever the reason for Rubio’s personal and brutal attacks, they only serve as fodder for Democrats like Kendrick Meek and Corrine Brown. They see what’s going on very clearly, and they’re smart enough to stay out of it for now. There’s an old rule in politics – when somebody is shooting them self in the foot, shut up and let them do the damage themselves. One Republican in the race seems hell-bent on pointing his gun at the foot of his own party.

Rubio loves to invoke the spirit of Ronald Reagan on the campaign trail, though he seems to have forgotten Reagan’s Eleventh Commandment. Reagan vowed not to assail another Republican, especially with provocative, unfounded attacks. If Republicans had spit as much venom at their own Reagan in 1980, Jimmy Carter would have edged out a victory. If Rubio doesn’t tone down his negative rhetoric, we may have exactly that situation heading into next year’s senate race.

If Rubio is unhappy with Governor Crist’s policies, just wait until he sees what Kendrick Meek has in store for the people of Florida if he ends up beating a weakened Crist in November 2010. It is breathtakingly stupid for two candidates from the same party to viciously attack one another in the primary. One or the other has to go on to face Meek or Brown in the general election. Do Republicans want their candidate bloodied by unfair attacks that they launched at him themselves?

The Rubio campaign has used extremely transparent political tactics, and both candidates will ultimately suffer because of them. To attract attention, Rubio’s cult members have consistently called for straw polls at Republican Executive Committee meetings where conservative activists dominate. His minions are making motions for these straw polls – sometimes out of order – because that’s the only place their candidate has majority support. Among statewide voters – even Republican primary voters – Crist wins hands down. That’s because he’s been the governor of all the people of Florida, not just the extreme Right Wing. The governor should be commended, not assailed by his own colleagues.

In fact, Crist has been commended by several important leaders of the Republican Party:

“Charlie Crist has been a tireless advocate for the citizens of Florida by fighting to lower taxes, reduce government spending and enhance the quality of life for all Floridians,” Senator Mitch McConnell said. “Decisions are being made every day in Washington that have a direct impact upon the lives of all Americans, and we need Charlie Crist in the U.S. Senate to ensure that those decisions will benefit the citizens of Florida.”

“With his record of reform in Florida, I know that Governor Crist will bring a fresh perspective to Washington in our efforts to fight for lower taxes, less government and new job creation for all Americans,’’ said John Cornyn. “While I believe Marco Rubio has a very bright future within the Republican Party, Charlie Crist is the best candidate in 2010 to ensure that we maintain the checks and balances that Floridians deserve in the United States Senate.”

Miami Dade Mayor Carlos Alvarez added, “Governor Crist has demonstrated his commitment to conservative values that hold government accountable and keep more money in the pockets of hardworking Floridians.”

“You have been an incredibly successful governor, and I know your style of common-sense conservatism will serve the people of Florida well in the Senate and is exactly what the national Republican Party needs,” said Senator Lindsay Graham.

On his own merits, Rubio may be a good candidate. He came up with the 100 Ideas concept by listening to everyday Floridians. Many of his concepts were enacted into state law. But instead of focusing on the candidate’s own record, his campaign and supporters have been venomous toward his opponent, a fellow Republican and former colleague of Rubio. It is absolutely stunning to stand near a group of Rubio’s supporters at a rally and hear the way they talk about Governor Crist. The harpy propaganda from his supporters is nearly surreal. You would think the candidates were from opposing parties to hear Rubio’s allies and supporters speak.

Candidate Rubio alleges both directly and indirectly that Governor Crist is not conservative enough. That’s a mighty suspicious charge to be leveling at one of only three governors to get an “A” rating from the Cato Institute on fiscal conservatism last year. Crist is often referred to as “Chain Gang Charlie” because he is so well known for being tough on crime. And Crist has aggressively led the transformation over the way we spend money in our school districts, diverting more money into the classroom with great success. He’s used the power of his veto pen to knock out spending we can’t afford, and the power of his leadership to find bipartisan progress where possible. If that’s not conservative leadership in a truly purple state, it’s hard to say what is.

Though Governor Crist has been largely silent about the Senate race, he has been raking in donations and endorsements under the radar while governing the State of Florida. Soon he will use his resources to win the nomination. For now Crist has a day job fighting for the people of Florida, rather than just throwing mud at those who sit on the sidelines.

Instead of coming up with fun slogans, Crist is working on improving our schools. Instead of tweeting, Crist is putting people to work with new construction projects around the state. Instead of blogging, Crist is cutting unaffordable spending out of our state budget. Instead of degrading fellow Republicans, Crist is consolidating support from both parties in preparation to champion our state in Washington DC.

Soon, Crist will pivot into full-throttle campaign mode. Let’s see how Rubio does when he has to answer for his record too.