'Your papers, please' must never be heard in America
Outgoing Florida Gov. Charlie Crist will linger in some short-term memories for his failed independent Senate run and his pardon of dead rock star Jim Morrison. People thinking longer term will recall a governor who persuaded Republicans and Democrats to work together but blundered away his potential for success at the national level.
The road to reconciliation commenced even before the balloons and confetti were swept away at Rick Scott's victory party.
A criminal-defense attorney for ousted Florida GOP Chairman Jim Greer Monday promised to call to the stand some of the most powerful men in Florida politics - Gov. Charlie Crist, Attorney General Bill McCollum and state Republican chief John Thrasher.
"People found out about his political philosophy. … His compass didn't point north, it didn't point south, it didn't point east and it didn't point west. It pointed any way the wind was blowing for him," said state Sen. John Thrasher, who chairs the state Republican Party.
"You can be a populist for so long before it catches up to you and that's exactly what happened to him."
