Charlie Crist's turnaround shows what is wrong with DC

Charlie Crist used to be a free thinker who did what he thought was right. As Florida Governor, he didn't feel constrained to follow the Republican platform. He did what was best for Florida.

Now he is running for Senate on the GOP ticket. It is amazing how fast he has changed. He switched from supporting Sotomayor to opposing. He switched from supporting cap and trade to opposing. And on and on.

Regardless of what you think about these policies, the fact that he reversed 180 degrees on them all when he decided to run for Senate is a great illustration of what is wrong in Washington. Governors have some latitude. The special interests are somewhat less entrenched and governors do not have to conform to the party leadership to get anything done. They don't have to be independent thinkers, but at least they can be.

But in the Senate, this entrenchment and top down leadership style is suffocating. Both parties do it. It is the heart of what is wrong with US politics and why I have become very cynical about the government's ability to get anything positive and productive accomplished over time.