Florida Governor Charlie Crist (R), looking to launch an independent bid for US Senate after falling far behind conservative Marco Rubio in the Republican nomination fight, has sided with teachers unions over the welfare of Florida students.

After weeks of protest and a deluge of messages, Gov. Charlie Crist on Thursday vetoed a bill that would link teacher pay to student test scores and wipe out tenure for new teachers.

“I know in my heart it’s the right thing to do,” Crist said of his veto.

Which is funny, considering he previously supported the legislation. He only changed his mind after it became clear he is on track to lose the GOP primary and reports surfaced he was looking toward an independent bid. Suddenly he flipped. The man has no convictions.

Gov. Charlie Crist got some new supporters this week in his campaign for the U.S. Senate.

The question is whether he can keep them.

On Wednesday, teachers from Hillsborough County began canvassing neighborhoods on behalf of the Republican governor, urging voters to support him — as long as he vetoes the bill that would overhaul teacher tenure in Florida.

If Crist thinks he’s going to keep the teachers union endorsements in the general election, he’s finally lost his mind. They are not going to back an independent candidate and former Republican over the reliably-liberal Democratic candidate Kendrick Meek. It’s simply not going to happen.

Crist is all about what’s best for Crist at this moment, even if it’s bad for the country or even him in the future. Which is why he supported the failed $825 billion stimulus package and cap-and-trade legislation. Because Democrats were in power and Obama was significantly more popular at the time. He went with the flow rather than standing his ground.

It’s also why he’s willing to risk putting a liberal Democrat in the US Senate, losing a conservative seat in the process, just so he can run in the general election. Running in that election, even as an independent who lost his own party’s primary, is what’s best for Charlie Crist right now. It’s bad for the state, country, and even Charlie Crist in the future. But it’s good for Charlie Crist right now.

He’s a selfish, reactionary son of a bitch. He’s a man of no principles, of no convictions, willing to sell-out to whichever position is more profitable at the moment. And he’d like to represent you in the US Senate.