Martinez is out

[bcj1755]

GOP Sen. Martinez tells supporters he's resigning
AP
By BEN EVANS, Associated Press Writer Ben Evans, Associated Press Writer – 13 mins ago

WASHINGTON – Republican Sen. Mel Martinez of Florida said Friday he will resign from the Senate as soon as a replacement can be appointed, leaving the seat more than a year before his term ends.

Martinez, the only Hispanic Republican in the Senate, revealed his plans in a statement to supporters and was expected to publicly announce the decision Friday afternoon in Florida.

The first-term senator already had announced in December that he would not seek re-election in 2010, but he had fended off rumors that he would give up the seat early.

His decision puts Republican Gov. Charlie Crist — who is running to replace Martinez — in charge of filling the seat in the interim.

In his letter to friends and supporters, obtained by The Associated Press, Martinez says he's stepping down early for personal reasons.

"My priorities have always been my faith, my family and my country, and at this stage in my life, and after nearly 12 years of public service in Florida and Washington, it's time I return to Florida and my family," Martinez wrote.

The note says his resignation will be "effective on a successor taking office to fill out the remainder of my term."

Officials predicted that Crist, who faces a Republican primary challenge and a large field of Democratic contenders, would select a "placeholder" for the temporary assignment.

Martinez, 62, was elected in 2004 after serving as the U.S. secretary for housing and urban development under President George W. Bush. He served as general chairman of the Republican National Committee for 10 months, resigning in October 2007.

He was born in Cuba. At the age of 15, he fled to America as part of a Catholic humanitarian effort called Operation Pedro Pan. Catholic charitable groups provided Martinez, who was alone and spoke virtually no English, a temporary home at two youth facilities. He then lived with two foster families, with whom he remains close. He was reunited with his family in Orlando in 1966.

Martinez has denied that he was forgoing a second term because of concerns about difficult re-election prospects in a state won by President Barack Obama. But he has struggled to boost public support because of his close ties to former President George W. Bush and his efforts pushing an immigration bill that was unpopular with many Republicans.

His resignation leaves just one Hispanic in the Senate, Democrat Robert Menendez of New Jersey

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/us_senate_martinez_resigns

He's one of the Republicans that voted to confirm Sotomyaor to SCOTUS, so I say good riddance

[Mouton]

He was facing an uphill fight, yeah, like climbing Mt Everest. This clown has been supportive of every middle of the road piece of legislation to come down the pike. Besides that, he was in favor of the Amnesty for Illegals immigration bill, he voted for both Holder and Geitner besides voting for Soto. He comes from the RINO side of the house and feared reelection simply because a GOPer running as a dem lite cannot compete against anyone from the demo left.

Crist, whose only good point is he supports the second amendment albeit he is another RINO, will be in a primary against strong conservative Marco Rubio. Who he appoints in the interim should be a challenge but I am sure he will find another RINO to put in to run the shop for a year till he suspects he will get elected.

Vince

[Snakedriver]

I wouldn't vote for ol' Mel to be the County Dog Catcher. He's the ultimate RINO and racist.

[USMC-03]

Goodby, farewell and don't let the door hit you on the bum on your way out...

[Alpo]

I think the worst thing he did was screw every other Hispanic/Latino/whatever-the-hell-you-call-'em's chance to get elected.

A congress-critter is supposed to be a representative of the folks in his state. He's supposed to vote the way WE want, not his own personal agenda. So what's the last thing Mel does? Votes to appoint a judge WE don't want, because she is a "fellow Latina". So when Pedro Gomez runs for election, all the Cubans in Miami will vote for him. But the white folks, that might have voted for this unknown will be thinkin', "No, all them Cubans do is vote for stuff that helps the Cubans. We need someone representing all 18 million Floridians, not just the 1.5 million Cubans in Miami."

[358 winchester]

Mel is lower then whale dung at the bottom of the oceans. He should be hung out to dry and someday maybe the folks of Florida will find out how much he has made in bribe money while in Washington.

[Haligan]

Originally Posted by bcj1755

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/us_senate_martinez_resigns

He's one of the Republicans that voted to confirm Sotomyaor to SCOTUS, so I say good riddance

Thanks bcj, that's all I needed to know. I'll waste no more time with this foolishness.

[artabr]

Don't let the door knob hit ya where the Good Lord split ya.
Garbage in, Garbage out.



Art

[22WRF]

The rats are leaving the sinking lib ship (even the RINO's)

[Suwannee Tim]

Maybe Mel wanted to jump to the Democrat Party and they told him no, he is too conservative.

Maybe not.

I miss Connie Mack. I ain't gonna miss Mel. Maybe we can send Nelson packing in four years. Him and Obama, they could commiserate.