And this is how the Democratic party gets pulled ever further rightward.

[bigtree]

31. these folks don't just pull parties just by declaring their allegiance

. . .someone has to vote for them. And, we don't get these rightist candidates in areas where there is a dependable number of voters who are willing to elect Democrats advocating progressive positions. We get candidates like Crist in areas where there are a significant number of conservative-leaning voters. Often it's a choice in the general election between a far-right candidate and a 'moderate' or conservative Democrat.

So, disliking all of that is understandable. But, that doesn't relieve anyone of the burden these voters face when they can't get a progressive to survive the primary. It doesn't relieve anyone of the dilemma of advancing a disaster of a republican candidate by refusing to support a questionable Democrat in the general. Let's not pretend like the republicans don't do much more damage in office, okay?

Very few here like compromised candidates like Crist, but we'd benefit SOMEWHERE from his support of SOMETHING in out Democratic agenda. No chance at all with a republican rival (if he managed to get that far). I can tick off several excellent progressive-minded Democrats who would/could likely challenge him in a primary. Would they win in Fla.? That's the ultimate question. Can they advance to the general and win? Crist gets attention in Fla. because he has that potential. At some point, that's going to be the bottom line. Voters pull parties, much less candidates alone, on their own initiative. Elections pull parties.