When Charlie Crist officially leaves the Republican Party to run as an independent, he might as well watch his political career fade even further from sight in his rearview mirror. His moderate to liberal values have already distanced him from most conservatives. His departure from the Republican Party will seal his fate.
Other than President Obama, Crist runs a close second in the race for the fastest falling popularity poll numbers. When Crist won the Florida governor’s seat, he was put forth by some elite from the old guard Republican Party as the new face of the Party. The so-called new face of the Republican Party seemed to gain some temporary traction. Crist enjoyed soaring approval ratings. These ratings caused Crist to moderate his views even more. He appointed some liberal Democrats to office and made appointments merely to please certain segments irrespective of how ill-equipped the appointees might be for the job.
Crist then tried to ride the moderate McCain train, hoping he might become the next Vice President, or at least that he would gain valuable air time for another political foray. But riding the McCain train did not go well for Crist. In fact, it is because of politicians like Crist, who suffer from conservative laryngitis and whose conservative compass spins in circles, that the Republican Party suffered such a stunning defeat in 2008. Even some conservative and moderate counties in Florida voted for the most liberal president in American history. The Republican Party had lost its way and Crist was supposed to be the poster child of the new Party.
