When former Senator Mel Martinez (R-FL) announced his retirement, the responsibility fell upon then-Republican Governor Charlie Crist to appoint a replacement. He chose a longtime crony, George LeMieux, who was quickly seated and has been voting ever since.

Today even LeMieux has grown tired of Flip-Flop Charlie, abandoning him in the U.S. Senate race.

“I am saddened that my friend, Governor Crist, has decided to leave the Republican Party. Our friendship runs deep, but my commitment to the principles of the Republican Party runs deeper. I cannot walk down the path he has chosen.

“Now more than ever, our nation’s future depends on our ability to uphold the core Republican ideals of fiscal restraint, peace through strength, individual liberty, personal responsibility and smaller government.

“I will support our Republican nominee and will continue to do everything I can both in Florida and across the country to increase the number of Republicans in the United States Senate.”

While I refer to LeMieux as a “crony” in the first paragraph, he demonstrated today that he’s now more than that. He’s actually a senator with more of a backbone than Flip-Flop Charlie will ever have.