On another note, it does also occur to me that the subtext of the "why can't we all get along" faction is always insisting that conservatives should be the ones to back down. The proscription for peace is never for the moderate Republican to step aside or give up his or her positions.I see some definite parallels between Crist and Kay. Both are popular. Both are moderate. Both were for their states taking all of the stimulus dollars. Both are taking on more conservative members of their own party in primaries in 2010.
Consider this; In Florida it was former House Speaker Marco Rubio who was in the race first. Charlie Crist is the one abandoning his post as governor, in an effort to run against Rubio. He is the aggressor.
What if Crist were to run for re-election, thus keeping the governor's seat in GOP hands, and then campaign hard for Rubio? A similar situation is shaping up in Texas, where Kay Bailey Hutchison is abandoning her senate seat in order to challenge sitting Texas Governor Rick Perry. In both instances, it is the more moderate candidate who is abandoning their post to challenge a conservative who was there first.
Those who wish Republicans would start acting like a team -- and to avoid losing seats -- might want to consider asking Crist and Hutchison to simply run for re-election.
I think the parallel breaks down when you look at Rick's incumbency versus Rubio's relative lack of experience. I think it also breaks down in terms of Crist's likelihood to run away with it with ease versus a potentially really terrible and damaging primary for Republicans in Texas.
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Hey now, campaign characters. Be nice. I know a lot of you on both sides, so I don't want any overly foul language, personal attacks on anyone other than the candidates themselves, or other party fouls. I will moderate the heck out of you if you start breaking the bounds of civility.