Sorry Mark Sanford, Rick Perry, David Patterson and Arnold Schwartzenegger, none of you are our great nation's worst governor.
Charlie Crist has you all beat, according to a new article in Forbes magazine.
That's right, our very own Sunshine State wonder boy beat out a guy who mysteriously fled the country to be with his mistress in Argentina, another who wants his state to secede from the union, one who received the worst-ever approval-rating his state has ever seen, and another whose time in office should have been terminated long ago.
The editorial, by columnist Reihan Salam published under the headline "America's Worst Governor?", takes a shot at Crist's middle-of-the-road popularity and hints that he's betrayed the fiscal conservatism of his party.
"Among liberals and progressives, there is a puzzling admiration for Crist, long considered by Democratic and Republican veterans of Florida's political scene to be something of an opportunist if not a lightweight," the article reads.
Did the aurthor see "Collateral Damage" or "The Last Action Hero?"
Crist responded to his "win" Wednesday like our fore fathers would have.
"They can say what ever they want. The first amendment says so," he said.
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The article goes on to bash his acceptance of federal funds for the state and his acceptance of President Obama's stimulus plan.
"Crist has committed Florida to a fiscal nightmare, one that will lead to draconian tax hikes and spending cuts long after he makes a break for the U.S. Senate or finds some other comfortable sinecure thanks to the good graces of his many wealthy friends," Salam writes.
Crist appears to be changing his tune a bit. Though he famously hugged Obama back in February during the Prez's visit to Florida, he seemed to have deliberately avoided Obama during the President's trip to Florida just this past week, even telling reporters he wasn't aware Obama was in Florida.
The Forbes column seems to throw it's weight behind Marco Rubio, who will be facing off against Crist in the republican primary for the U.S. Senate seat in Florida.
"The fact that Crist is such a miserable governor is immaterial to his boosters, who insist on seeing him as a "moderate" running against the "extremist" Marco Rubio," the article reads. "If Rubio turns out to be a truth-telling realist, he will do all Americans, Republicans and Democrats and independents, a tremendous favor by bringing Crist's political career to an ignominious end."
850-WFTL's conservative radio talk show host Jeff Katz told NBC6 that Crist isn't Republican enough for him, however he thinks there are far worse governors.
"There are a lot of governors out there with some real nasty situations -- some are real embarassments. I don't see Crist in that light."
