Good article about Jeff Greene in the Miami Herald.. mostly not flattering..

[DCBob]

(edited for copyright purposes-proud patriot Moderator Democratic Underground)

PALM BEACH -- Send Jeff Greene to the U.S. Senate, and what do you get? Maybe a self-made success story who doesn't owe anyone anything, a tough man who could not care less about special interest campaign checks or endorsements, and only wants to do what's right. "You're very lucky to have him in Florida. It's not very often guys like him, who aren't compromised at all and don't owe anything to anybody, put themselves out to run for political office," said longtime friend Jeff Wilson, founder of Wilson's Leather chain.

Or maybe your new senator is a tyrant and egomaniac who spends six years embarrassing Florida.

Either alternative looks plausible in the case of Greene, a political blank slate with a track record of remarkable success -- and sheer tackiness. On the one hand, Greene's billionaire wealth is completely of his own doing, from mining side jobs to put himself through college to spot-on betting against the subprime mortgage market.

But behind the bio sound bites and chipper TV ads lies a man widely disparaged by current and former employees, former tenants and political consultants as a self-absorbed cheapskate. A lawsuit accuses him of being cruel and verbally abusive to his former chef. A deck hand electrocuted on Greene's Summerwind yacht had to fight eight months to get his medical bills paid after Greene denied knowing him.

Now Greene, 55, is poised to earn the Democratic nomination. He faces Kendrick Meek in the Aug. 24 primary and, if he wins, will take on Republican Marco Rubio and independent Charlie Crist -- a three-way race in which 35 percent of the vote could be enough to win.

(snip)
more: http://www.miamiherald.com/2010/07/31/1755919/jeff-greene-a-self-made-mystery.html

This is guy sounds like an egotistical arrogant ass.. who now thinks he can buy the Dem nomination with his billions. One key thing the article left off is that Greene has only been a registered Democrat since 2008.

[wmbrew0206]

1. This guy is a cheap opportunist and saw a chance to earn some respect

as a US Senator. The Democratic field for the Florida Senate seat was really weak with only Meeks and Brown running. Brown dropped out, probably because she asked to by the party, leaving Meeks as the de facto candidate. Meeks doesn't seem to be running a very good campaign and doesn't have much appeal to broad areas of Florida.

Greene see an opportunity to jump in the race and will probably outspend every candidate to try and buy the election.

[DCBob]

3. yeah. a "cheap opportunist" with a very fat wallet.

btw, its "Meek".. not "Meeks". If often happens.. maybe a good indication of the problem.

[Turbineguy]

2. Embarrassing Florida

At least that would be familiar.

[DCBob]

4. Its amazing there are Democrats who support this guy..

I guess the constant barrage of ads work. Sickening.

[Raineyb]

6. Right because that's so much worse than supporting the Republican. n/t

[DCBob]

7. Well yes, supporting Rubio would be worse for sure.. much worse.

[HooptieWagon]

8. Meek is invisible...

...plus he's got some ethics questions which he hasn't truthfully answered- his mother getting cash and an Escalade from a developer Meek was helping get earmark funds for . Given 2 poor Dem candidates, it's no surprise many Florida Dems are lining up behind Crist... and he's also the only candidate capable of beating Jeb protege Rubio.

[DCBob]

17. Crist also has some ethics questions.. its "funny" all four candidates are on the CREW list..

CREW -- Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington

Since 2005, CREW has highlighted the most egregious violators of the public trust in our annual Most Corrupt Members of Congress report. Now, CREW has begun a list of Crooked Candidates to shine the spotlight on some of the lousy politicians vying for federal office in 2010.

In compiling the list, CREW left aside all incumbents. CREW’s research team pored over news articles, blogs and public records to find those candidates who have engaged in criminal or unethical conduct. The list is intended to complement our ongoing effort to ensure those representing our country exemplify the values of honesty and integrity.

CREW recognizes that with 2,300 people running for federal office this year, our list is by no means complete. In fact, we may not even have found the worst! Now we need your help: which truly terrible candidates did we miss? Submit your nominees to us and we’ll see if they rank among 2010’s most crooked candidates.

Here is who we have so far:

CREW's Crooked Candidates 2010
•Roy Blunt (R) U.S. Senate, MO
•Charlie Crist (I) U.S. Senate, FL
•Jeff Denham (R) U.S. House, CA
•Alvin Greene (D) U.S. Senate, SC
•Jeff Greene (D) U.S. Senate, FL
•Timothy Griffin (R) U.S. House, AR
•J.D. Hayworth (R) U.S. Senate, AZ
•Ed Martin (R) U.S. House, MO
•Kendrick Meek (D) U.S. Senate, FL
•Dino Rossi (R) U.S. Senate, WA
•Marco Rubio (R) U.S. Senate, FL
•Allen West (R) U.S. House, FL

http://www.citizensforethics.org/crookedcandidates2010

So it's a lesser of four evils choice!

[alsame]

9. It's even more amazing that Dems are

seriously considering Crist when there are two Democratic candidates.

And exactly how long has it been since Crist left the GOP? Seems like the charge of 'opportunist' applies to him as well.

[HooptieWagon]

10. Greene left the GOP in 2008, Meek has run a poor campaign and has ethics questions.

No one is saying Crist is ideal, but he's the better choice given the alternatives.

[alsame]

13. Crist is GOP, no matter what letter he now has after his name. Interesting

that you consider him the best alternative.

[DCBob]

15. If you want Meek to win you should focus your ire on Greene not Crist..

Crist is not running for the Democratic nomination... in case you weren't aware of that.

[alsame]

18. I'm very aware of that, thank you. I'm also aware that you are

continually advocating for Crist by portraying the Dems as unattractive candidates.

Interesting title to this thread....a 'good' article is one that trashes a Dem.

[DCBob]

20. "Good" meaning detailed and I think accurate..

"Trashing" Greene in this case is just reporting the facts.

[alsame]

21. Riiiight.

[DCBob]

25. mispelled that. you need spellchecker.

[DCBob]

11. I have a hard time considering Greene a Democrat..

how about you?

[alsame]

12. And what about Meek? And you are more comfortable with

Crist than with either Dem?

[DCBob]

14. We are talking about the Dem nomination. I prefer Meek by far.

even though he may not have a chance in the general against Crist and Rubio.

[alsame]

16. Really? You prefer Meek by far?

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x8852710

GMAB.

[DCBob]

19. Yes, for the Dem nomination.. We dont even know who the candidates are for the general yet.

You really need to focus on the Democrats.. this is the Dem nomination. No wonder Meek is doing so poorly.

[alsame]

22. Yes, my pointing out that you are supporting Crist and

trashing Dems is responsible for Meek's polling.

:rofl:

[DCBob]

23. How does Crist affect Meek's numbers versus Greene for the Dem nomination??

explain that please.. without twisting into a pretzel.. or are you too preoccupied rolling on the floor?

[Bluenorthwest]

27. I don't do emoticons, but if I did, I'd use the same one

Transparent and hilarious.

[DCBob]

29. There is no emoticon to decribe this post..

wish there was.

[alsame]

28. No more time for your spin. Just know that your MO is transparent, you

really should review some of your responses in that thread I linked above.

Thanks for the laughs and have a nice day :hi:

[DCBob]

30. So long.. you leave a long list of unanswered questions.

I dont think you or many other Dems will be laughing if Greene wins the Dem nomination.

[HooptieWagon]

5. Same story appeared in the St Pete Times, for those who get that paper.

Greene is a real slimeball.

[Stinky The Clown]

24. Unrec for overt, unabashed Republican cheerleading and hypocrisy

[DCBob]

26. Are you defending Greene??

The guy's a rogue.. any one can see that.

[Stinky The Clown]

32. No, I am calling you out for posting every story you can that cast Crist in anything approaching ...

.... a favorable light.

Shame on you for cheering for a lifelong repubican.






(was that clear enough?)

[DCBob]

34. I didnt even mention Crist. Dont you care that Greene has a questionable background?

Seems this is exactly the kind of issue we should be discussing here? Sounds like you dont want anything posting about the Florida senate race unless its positive about Meek and Greene and/or negative about Crist.. regardless of facts? I dont think that is the intent of this board unless I am misunderstanding something here.

[Stinky The Clown]

36. Don't do the "who me" stuff. It demeans you.

Your pattern is clear. You support the repubican in Florida.

[DCBob]

37. you are one confused "clown"..

[Scurrilous]

31. K & R

:thumbsup:

[Scurrilous]

33. More from the Herald:

Two rich guys betting on our mass stupidity

<snip>

"Poor Jeff Greene. His candidacy suffers constant association with that other super-rich political dilettante come from nowhere.

Stories about monied neophytes out-spending and out-polling the pros in 2010 tend to lump the two together -- Florida's pecunious twins.

More than a few voters probably confuse Greene, the wildly wealthy Florida Democratic candidate from California, with Rick Scott, the wildly wealthy Florida Republican candidate from Texas.

But it's the Texan, not the Californian, who was CEO of a hospital chain that paid $1.7 billion in civil and criminal fines in the biggest Medicare fraud case ever.

Greene (currently outpolling Kendrick Meek for the Democratic U.S. Senate nomination) has not been affiliated with a known criminal enterprise -- though he does suffer an affinity for B-list celebrities with criminal records. The former ``Hollywood Madam,'' Heidi Fleiss, once lived in Greene's guest house. Ex-con Mike Tyson was best man in Greene's 2007 wedding. Drug-addled movie star Lindsay Lohan, currently doing a stretch in a Los Angeles County lock-up, was photographed in alluring beachwear on the Summerwind, Greene's 145-foot yacht, off St. Barth's in January."

<snip>

"It's a little unfair to categorize Greene, a sure 'nuff billionaire, with the less fabulous Scott, who muddles along with only a few hundred million. Greene became famous back in Beverly Hills just for being rich, hosting society page bashes in his 40,000-square-foot mansion with its 24-car garage.

But it was his understanding of a housing bubble ready to burst in 2006 that led him to his famous, giant bet with Wall Street banks.

He collected $800 million when the market collapsed. Now Florida has an improbable candidate out of nowhere (also known as California) able to self-fund his campaign with millions made by betting on our collective stupidity about real estate.

Now Jeff Greene figures he'll win this election by betting millions on our collective stupidity about politics."

Read more: http://www.miamiherald.com/2010/07/31/1755839/two-rich-guys-betting-on-our-mass.html#ixzz0yJEVL6ON

[DCBob]

35. That last line is a real zinger..

"Greene figures he'll win this election by betting millions on our collective stupidity about politics."

ouch.