Good Time Charlie: Dreaming of Crist

When the rumors that Charlie Crist may opt to run as an independent for the open Florida Senate seat, following the "Joe Lieberman Primary sore-loser" model, the reaction from political watchers was rapturous.  Nate Silver summed it up best: "If Crist were to win as an indie, he'd instantly become one of the most important politicians in America. But not an easy path."  I agree on both points, having a true independent from the center-right would be a refreshing change of pace in Congress, but it will be tough to pull off.  Crist is currently bleeding support against both Marco Rubio, his staunchly conservative Republican Primary opponent, and Kendrick Meeks, the likely Democratic candidate.  The man who was once the most popular governor in the country has lose his luster thanks to a concerted effort on the part of conservatives to punish him for his moderate policies and support for Obama's stimulus plan.  However, if Crist were to leave the Republican party by highlighting how his sensible progressivism was heir to the Teddy Roosevelt Republican tradition he could be a formidable foe in the general election; once a clear winner develops from either party, and in all likelihood Mr. Rubio looks like the heavy favorite, voters from the other side might flock to Crist as the lesser of two evils.  Given the state's history with disputed elections, I imagine Florida voters will be sensitive to the notion of "throwing their vote away."

During the campaign, rather than running as an alternative Republican in everything but name, Crist should promise not to caucus with either party and serve as a moderate swing vote.  Not only would this give him a disproportionate amount of power in the Senate for someone with zero seniority, but it might break the partisan gridlock in Congress.  I know this idea sounds like wishful thinking, but imagine if Crist were to "caucus from the middle" by forming a coalition with bipartisan moderate Senators like Susan Collins, Olympia Snowe, (choke) Joe Lieberman, Evan Bayh, Scott Brown, Jim Webb and Max Baucus.  If this coalition demonstrated that it had "gettable" votes for major issues, then it would instantly become a power broker in Senate politics.  Especially since negotiating with this group would make attacking a proposed policy as extremist from the ideological wings far more difficult.  "Hey, the bi-partisan moderates said it was a good idea so it can't be that socialist/neo-conservative."

While I'm dreaming, imagine if the coalition actually had idiosyncratic opinions on issues, rather than just watered down version of partisan ideologies.  Charlie Crist's mix of social conservativism, fiscal moderation and environmental progressivism are not exactly my ideal mix of policy opinions, but it isn't just splitting the difference between the two extremes of the parties either.  When all the moderates in the Senate are just timid ideologues who need to be bribed into supporting a particular bill, all the while complaining about it, then legislation is enacted poorly or not at all.  A moderate Senate coalition should do anything in its power to avoid looking like the moderate Democratic coalition in the House, the Blue Dog Democrats, who sell their disproportionate influence for pork and are hated by both sides of the aisle.  Senators do not need to constantly run for election and so their form of moderation could be based on finding policies of practical compromise, rather than naked district profiteering.  Thus, while Ben Nelson might like to be in this hypothetical coalition, the stink of the wrangled bacon he secured in exchange for his health care vote is too strong to include him.  Joe Lieberman may be more odious, but at least he seems to really believe that he is doing the lord's work by sticking it to liberals.

Reading about some of the things Crist has done during his political career- ending the disgusting public intrusion into the private family affair of Terri Schiavo, allowing non-violent felons to vote and purchasing large parts of the Everglades to create a state park - I developed a healthy respect for the man.  Running as an independent when his electoral fortunes waned smells of opportunism, but he can credibly point to the concerted effort within his party to oust him as proof that his party left him first.  As a Senator, Crist would have opportunities to accomplish far more interesting things than Mr. Meeks or Mr. Rubio, starting perhaps by working on prison reform with Jim Webb.  I hope we get a chance to see what he's capable of, rather than losing another interesting politician to the rigid litmus test of the base.