State Executive Committee shows it has what Charlie lacks: spine, integrity, leadership skills, etc.
By Chris Ingram
In case you missed it, I have it from multiple sources that Charlie Crist (who is already looking at his political death but who has the chance to avoid said death from becoming a suicide by dumping Jim Greer as RPOF Chairman), will soon announce Greer’s resignation in the coming days or weeks.
But just in case Greer’s spendthrift ways, dictatorial style, bloated ego, bad advice, and general buffoonery aren’t enough to convince Chuckles to force him out, Florida Republicans can breathe easy in knowing there is an effort afoot to recall said chairman at the party’s next meeting.
But for the love of the party Charlie, save the GOP (and any chance you have at becoming Florida’s next Senator – God forbid), and ax the fat boy with the penchant for strip clubs, private jets, and buddies like disgraced Crist fundrasier Scott Rothstein.
If Charlie doesn’t dump him, I am convinced Allen Cox, the now ex-RPOF budget committee chairman (where he served for the last seven years) will be successful in his effort calling for Greer’s ouster. Although Greer is a stooge, he thinks he’s smart by axing Cox. Can you spell “backlash” Jimbo? Greer recently axed Cox when he got wind of Cox’s effort to recall Greer. Having removed Cox, Greer must have figured he got his fox out of the henhouse. Wrong. Cox has more allegiances among party leaders than Greer could ever hope for. If anything, Greer’s actions will motivate Cox loyalists who otherwise may have refrained from taking sides to now take sides with Cox.
Bye-bye fatboy!
The list of party leaders who have signed a recall petition is long and deep and includes representatives from Lee, Palm Beach, Pinellas, Hillsborough, Pasco, Charlotte, Collier, and Duval counties (among others).
According to Cox, there are close to 60 signatories while party rules only require 30 to force the call for the rescission. In a nutshell, that means there will be a real vote on Jim Greer – if Chuckster doesn’t realize Greer is dragging him down and dump him first. And that is still my bet.
One important note on who the people behind the rescind Greer effort are. Or more specifically who they are not. They are not a bunch of wing-nuts with nothing better to do. They are not the people we should be looking to for leadership on this issue (like Bill McCollum, who like Charlie, doesn’t have much of a spine or penchant for leadership — but hey, it’s his turn so lets elect him governor). Rather, they are people like Cox and Lee County Chairman Gary Lee, and former PROF Chairman Tom Slade who said, “If Jim Greer had any integrity he would have already resigned as Chairman of the Republican Party of Florida.” They, and many like them are people who have worked hard for the party for years. They are seasoned and experienced. And they are people who know how to raise money. And that my friends, if nothing else is something Charlie Crist may very well pay attention to. That is, if his sinking poll numbers haven’t already gotten his head out of the tanning booth.
That petition to rescind Greer (signed by nearly 60 PROF executive committee members) includes the following charges:
1) FINANCIAL MISMANAGEMENT
2) VIOLATION OF RPOF RULE 8–ENDORSEMENTS of CANDIDATES in CONTESTED REPUBLICAN PRIMARIES.
3) VIOLATION OF RPOF CONSTITUTION ARTICLE II-A, TO DEVELOP A STRONG, EFFECTIVE, AND INFORMED REPUBLICAN PARTY OF FLORIDA
4) VIOLATION of RPOF CONSTITUTION ARTICLE VII, PARTY AUTHORITY
The entire call for a special meeting to rescind Greer is pasted below.
Stay tuned…
Chris Ingram is the president and founder of 411 Communications a corporate and political communications firm, and publisher of www.IrreverentView.com. Ingram is a frequent pundit on Fox News and CNN, and has written opinion columns for the Washington Times, UPI, Front Page Florida, and National Review online. E-mail him at: [email protected].
STATE COMMITTEE-Republican Party of Florida (RPOF)
This Written Request for a Special Meeting of the RPOF State Committee is presented to the RPOF Chairman, Jim Greer, for action in accordance with RPOF Constitution, Article IX, Section 2, “Special Meetings”:
Resolved,
That upon careful deliberation and consideration of the current and recent past management of the Republican Party of Florida,
And, further, in consideration of the best interests of the Republican Party of Florida presently and in the upcoming 2010 elections,
We, the undersigned members of the RPOF State Committee, do call for a Special Meeting of the State Committee to be convened at the time of the next regularly scheduled meeting of the Annual Conference of the Republican Party of Florida, January 8-9, 2010, said meeting to be in closed session,
For the following stated purpose:
That the RPOF State Committee, by authority under the RPOF Constitution, Article XI, and by Parliamentary Authority, Article XX, Section 61, (P.642-643), as provided in Robert’s Rules of Order Newly Revised, take appropriate and necessary action in due process as required, to submit to the State Committee members for vote by secret ballot to:
Rescind the January, 2009, election of the Chairman, Jim GREER,
for charges and cause as stated below:
CHARGE ONE: Upon information and belief,
FINANCIAL MISMANAGEMENT
Specification 1
That Mr. Greer, as Chairman, has financially mismanaged the RPOF resulting in a 2009 RPOF Core Activities Operations deficit of approximately Four Million dollars ($4,000,000) due to excessive spending;
Specification 2
That Mr. Greer, as Chairman, has caused irreparable harm to the RPOF’s ability to provide essential financial resources to Republican Candidates in 2010.
CHARGE TWO: Upon information and belief,
VIOLATION OF RPOF RULE 8–ENDORSEMENTS of CANDIDATES in CONTESTED REPUBLICAN PRIMARIES.
Specification 1
That Mr. Greer has, as Chairman, acted in violation of Rule 8, which prohibits endorsements of Republican candidates in contested primary elections, by expressing support for specific candidates in contested Republican Primaries;
CHARGE THREE: Upon information and belief,
VIOLATION OF RPOF CONSTITUTION ARTICLE II-A, TO DEVELOP A STRONG, EFFECTIVE, AND INFORMED REPUBLICAN PARTY OF FLORIDA
Specification 1
That Mr. Greer, as Chairman, has unilaterally acted to secure legislative amendments to Florida Statutes which grant authority and powers exclusively to the Office of Chairman, and which expand the numbers of non-elected, appointed members to the State Committee, in violation of RPOF Constitution or Rules, and without notice, consultation, nor action approving said revisions by the Executive Board nor State Committee;
CHARGE FOUR: Upon information and belief,
VIOLATION of RPOF CONSTITUTION ARTICLE VII, PARTY AUTHORITY
Specification 1
That Mr. Greer, as Chairman, has conducted himself by failing to adequately lead and supervise RPOF staff in proper and appropriate ethical conduct resulting in said RPOF staff committing actions intended to discredit or harm Republican Candidates for Election.
Specification 2
That Mr. Greer, as Chairman, has without conformity to RPOF Constitution and Rule 9, acted to change the Loyalty Oath and its application and enforcement on RPOF members without proper authorization, and approval of the Executive Board nor State Committee;
Therefore, be it resolved by secret ballot of the State Committee, the question of Rescinding the January, 2009, Election of the Chairman be put before the Annual Meeting of the RPOF.
As attested by the below listed RPOF Member:
Name(print) Office Signature
1. Allen Cox Vice Chair, RPOF
2. Gary Lee Chairman, Lee County
3. Peter Feaman SCM, Palm Beach
4. Bob Starr Chair, Charlotte
5. Clyde Simpson Chair, Jefferson
6. Lindsay Harrington SCM, Charlotte
7. Tony DiMatteo SCM, Pinellas
8. Paul Groom SCM, Gulf
9. Deborah Ashbrook SCW, Gulf
10. Andy Tuck SCM, Highlands
11. Kristina Kulpa SCW, Hendry
12. Brenda Skupny SCW, Lee
13. Mel Karau Chair, Hendry
14. Joan Hartt SCW, Highlands
15. Allison DeFoor SCW, Wakulla
16. Rick Hartley SCM, Duval
17. Bill Bunting SCM, Pasco
18. Eric Miller SCM, Martin
19. Charles Dauray SCM, Lee
20. Georgia Phillips SCW, Lake
21. Ned Pooser SCM, Franklin
22. A.J. Matthews SCM, Hillsborough
23. Charles Oakes SCM, Highlands
24. Jane Sturges SCW, Charlotte
25. Virginia Bomford SCW, Seminole
26. Diane Simpson SCW, Jefferson
27. John Salak Chair, Bay
28. Dan Abel Chair, Leon
29. Deborah Cox Roush Chair, Hillsborough
30. Melissa Arnold SCW, Okeechobee
31. Debby Goodman SCW, Monroe
32. Greg Goebel SCM, Monroe
33. Joe Arnold SCM, Okeechobee
34. Doug Rankin SCM, Collier
35. Joyce Estees SCW, Franklin
36. Steve Nisbit SCM, Hendry
(According to Allan Cox, nearly 30 more have been added since this list was released)
