Jeff Van Drawn

Jeff Van Drew, U.S. Representative from New Jersey, was one of only two Democrats to vote against the articles of impeachment against Donald J. Trump, having been well aware that his southern New Jersey district is the state's most conservative district as well.  He's since become a Republican, and I must say, the retired Cape May County dentist looks the part.

Plaid!

But he doesn't always act the part.  Although he does have a 100 percent rating from the National Rifle Association, and even though he did vote against same-sex marriage as a  New Jersey state senator, he's supported for full funding for the Children’s Health Insurance Program, he's backed Internet neutrality, and he opposes oil drilling off the New Jersey shore (he's from Cape May County, remember).  In fact, he's voted against Trump's agenda more often than not.  Now, here he is pledging total fealty to the Trumpster just to keep his U.S. House seat in his Republican-leaning district.  He's gone from being one of Congress's most conservative Democrats to becoming of the most liberal congressional members in the GOP.

Well, maybe he's not that orthodox.  But now he has a problem.  He's running for re-election as  a Republican in the June 2 GOP primary this year.  Republicans in the district think he's a poseur and want nothing to do with him, even if Trump does.  Democrats will target him in November because he's a turncoat, which is why his entire staff quit on him when he changed parties.  He's the political version of an '86 Eldorado, which traditional Cadillac buyers hated because it was too small and Baby Boomer yuppies hated because it was too gaudy.

You know - where's the audience?

If Van Drew pulls of re-election this year, I'll be impressed.  I'll also conclude that Van Drew missed his calling.  Instead of being a dentist, he could have been a car salesman.