A quiet GOP defection

By Libby I haven't really followed his politics all that closely but he generally struck me a sort of decent guy and probably the closest politician you might find that fits the definition of moderate Republican. That's not true anymore. Lincoln D. Chafee, who lost his Senate seat in the wave of anti-Republican sentiment in last November’s election, said yesterday that he has left the party. Chafee said he disaffiliated with the party he had helped lead, and his father had led before him, because the national Republican Party has gone too far away from his stance on too many critical issues, from war to economics to the environment. “It’s not my party any more,” he said. He actually quit earlier this summer but made no public announcement until someone finally asked him about it. He has some strong criticisms to make about his former party now and darn if he doesn't sound a lot like a progressive liberal. He should speak up more often. [Via]