Mel Martinez leaving the Senate

Posted: Friday, August 07, 2009 10:59 AM by Mark Murray
Filed Under: Congress, States, Republicans

From NBC's Chuck Todd and Mark Murray
First Read has confirmed that Florida GOP Sen. Mel Martinez

, who already announced he is not running for re-election in 2010, is resigning from the Senate by the end of the month -- possibly announcing this early as today. It'll be official at some point this month, with the hope of having a replacement in office when the Senate comes back.

Florida Gov. Charlie Crist -- who is already running for Martinez's seats -- will now have to appoint a replacement to fill out the remainder of Martinez's term. The expectation is that Crist WON'T appoint himself, but would rather appoint a placeholder. One rumor is former GOP. Gov. Bob Martinez. Another rumor we've heard is former GOP Sen. Connie Mack.

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Comments

Turn Out The Lights – The Party’s Over –

MSNBC.com alluded to this yesterday -

Remember election night? Remember all the celebrating? Remember all the love in the air? And people began to wonder what the birth rate would be nine months later? Well here we are and evidently it never materialized. Guess there were way too many GOP supporters who weren’t in the mood for – you know – having a good time, once the election results came in.

lol

Pat, Boston, MA (Sent Friday, August 07, 2009 11:08 AM)

So, little Jimmy Tibble, age 9, who lives just down the block, called President Obama a "poopyhead". Do I tattle on him by reporting this to the White House e-mail address they gave out yesterday, or do I contact White House communications directory Robert Gibbs directly?

Emma Nelson, Cary NC (Sent Friday, August 07, 2009 11:09 AM)

(From Another Post)

>>>MSNBC News: “The House is ordering up three Gulfstream jets to fly Pentagon and other top government officials — including members of Congress — around the globe in conditions far cushier than coach class. The almost $200 million appropriation to buy three C-37 jets, the military version of the Gulfstream 550, is buried in a $636 billion Pentagon budget passed by the House last week. The planes are made in Georgia by Gulfstream, a subsidiary of General Dynamics. Rep. Sanford Bishop, D-Ga., wrote the Appropriations panel to request $70 million for one of the planes.”

St. Eleutherius of Nicomedia (Sent Friday, August 07, 2009 10:20 AM)
==========
Wow! Such great top-notch "reporting", Saint...NOT!

It seems you forgot to mention that the request was submitted by BOTH Bishop AND Rep. Jack Kingston (R-GA).

You will note the "R" by his name, won't you.

Full Story:
http://abcnews.go.com/video/playerIndex?id=8263159

http://jawillie.blog.com

jawillie Philadelphia, PA (Sent Friday, August 07, 2009 11:11 AM)

Just wondering: What's the back story? Why is Martinez
leaving so early. Palin, now Martinez,later Kay Baily Hutchinson: Que Pasa? (What's happening?)in the GOP?

Ron Indiana (Sent Friday, August 07, 2009 11:11 AM)

Where is First Thoughts??? Come on guys...

BillO_The_Clown (Sent Friday, August 07, 2009 11:12 AM)

Noneedfor Crist to appoint himself
He'll probably win in 2010

Appointing himself would lower his chances of winning

It looks like the GOP might pick up the Governor's mansions in NJ and Va (Hopefully, not)

Hopefully, we can hold on to the Conn Senate seat
No WAY will the Democrtats win anything in Texas

I would be nice, but Texas seems pretty red

If Obama keeps turning around the economy, we could have a Democratic wave in 2010

But, Obama has to get Health Care and the Economy turned around

Looks like a good start, so far

MSierra, SF (Sent Friday, August 07, 2009 11:13 AM)

Can't blame Martinez. It's got to be frustrating watching the gestapo tactics of Reid and the rest of the loony Democrats in the Senate. Now Reid goes out and blasts common Americans protesters, calling them every name in the book. What an embarrassment it must be to sit in the Senate and be associated with such lies.

Tammy Wayne, Miami (Sent Friday, August 07, 2009 11:13 AM)

Who cares! Another repuke loser jumping ship. Hey, repukes, say what you will about the jobs numbers being a bit better than expected...the stock market is soaring over it today! Take that and stuff it!

pat huntington ny (Sent Friday, August 07, 2009 11:16 AM)

BillO -- We're not publishing First Thoughts on Fridays this August. But we'll update the site when news warrants, as we're doing today.

First Thoughts will be back bright and early Monday. Thanks!

Mark Murray (Sent Friday, August 07, 2009 11:18 AM)

Another lame duck disappearing act. Sigh. If only they'd do it in states where there are democratic governors. Now THAT would be truly patriotic.

Banana Molly (Sent Friday, August 07, 2009 11:18 AM)

NEW JERSEY --- VIRGINIA --- NOW FLORIDA --- RACES ARE 'HANDWRITING ON THE WALL' FOR OBAMA-DEMOCRATS.

VOTERS WILL TAKE OUT THEIR UTTER DISAPPOINMENT WITH OBAMA IN THESE COMING ELECETIONS!

ANOTHER BIG SEAT GOING TO THE REPUBLICANS !! (Sent Friday, August 07, 2009 11:21 AM)

Just get ACORN to stuff the ballots for another Obama Trotskyite to take Martinez's place and be done with it!

Today Obama shreds the Constitution and tramples on First Amendment Rights. Obama questions the patriotism of people who challenge his plans and labels them as Fascists or Nazis.

Angry protests and civil disobedience will not be tolerated; get the FBI out there to take pictures and get names and tap phones. Rahm “Cheney” Emanuel wants a list. (Biden is too much of a dolt to even be trusted with the bathroom key)

But tell me Dems, with a straight face, how this is completely different from what you ranted and raved about George Bush doing. Pray tell Lefties, how is this different?

Pete Roleum, Detroit, MI USA (Sent Friday, August 07, 2009 11:24 AM)

I hope he isn't sick or anything. Can we call this "pulling a Palin?"

Steeler Fan Pittsburgh, PA (Sent Friday, August 07, 2009 11:33 AM)

Mel must be fed up with the anti-hispanic bigotry of the GOP. Good for you Mel, way to stand up against the facist leaders of the GOP.

Scooter (Sent Friday, August 07, 2009 11:34 AM)

It's got to be frustrating watching the gestapo tactics of Reid and the rest of the loony Democrats in the Senate. Now Reid goes out and blasts common Americans protesters, calling them every name in the book. What an embarrassment it must be to sit in the Senate and be associated with such lies.
******************************************************

Gestapo tatics...did you get that from Rushie's playbook. These so called "american protestors" are nothing but a bunch of thugs trapling on the free speech rights of others who attend these meeting with the sole purpose of asking questions and getting answers. It's downright un-american. The protestors are the embarassing ones.

Nancy Inverness Fl (Sent Friday, August 07, 2009 11:35 AM)

Mr. Murray

All of this isn't news.
Admit it, you're addicted just like the lot of us.

Peter Percival Patterson (Sent Friday, August 07, 2009 11:36 AM)

waiting for the other shoe to drop!!!

Hersey Kisses (Sent Friday, August 07, 2009 11:45 AM)

Tammy, perhaps Mr. Martinez is embarrassed by being part of the Party of No. I know that I would be.

Dede, Madison, WI (Sent Friday, August 07, 2009 11:50 AM)

Tammy, perhaps Mr. Martinez is embarrassed by being part of the Party of No. I know that I would be.

Dede, Madison, WI (Sent Friday, August 07, 2009 11:51 AM)

Kay Baily Hutchinson: Que Pasa? - KBH wants to be governor of Texas. The election is in Nov of 2010.

Chris, Dallas, Texas (Sent Friday, August 07, 2009 11:54 AM)

FR - This is the first I have heard of this, do you guys now why he is resigning?

I mean it would be helpful to understand and make a judgment about how the GOP may be crumbling in the ranks.

Let U.S. know

Thank you and GOD BLESS AMERICA

The - Democrat Soldier (Sent Friday, August 07, 2009 12:01 PM)

Wow! Such great top-notch "reporting", Saint...NOT!

It seems you forgot to mention that the request was submitted by BOTH Bishop AND Rep. Jack Kingston (R-GA).

You will note the "R" by his name, won't you.

jawillie Philadelphia, PA (Sent Friday, August 07, 2009 11:11 AM)
-------------------------------------------------
You are correct-

The "R" absolves all Democrats of their sins my son.

From now on I won't trust MSNBC (Monopoly Soft- National Barack Cheerleaders) and I will go to ABC (Atheist Bolshevik Communists) for unbiased news, the same ABC who ran an hour long free propaganda infomercial for Obamacare.

St. Eleutherius of Nicomedia (Sent Friday, August 07, 2009 12:07 PM)

Personally, I would quit my job too if having an (R) after my name inferred I was just like those frenzied lunatics that are attending town hall meetings. I was in shock watching the videos of these people. They are all out of their TINY minds. You have this 80yr old woman complaining about having to help 20% of the population when she is on GOVERNMENT RUN medicare. Another woman screaming about wanting to take her country back, and someone else whining about the constitution. Unfortunatlely, fear and anger usually turns to violence. It's only a matter of time.

Oscar, Rio Vista CA (Sent Friday, August 07, 2009 12:40 PM)

THose who ignore history are DOOMED to repeat it! If you read how the Brownshirts of Hitler's regime busted up the opposition town hall meetings back in 1932-33, you'll find a frightening similarity to what's happening now.

David Chicago, IL (Sent Friday, August 07, 2009 12:51 PM)

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