No surprise here...

...for anyone who pays attention:

Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) was close to leaving the Republican Party in 2001, weeks before then-Sen. Jim Jeffords (Vt.) famously announced his decision to become an Independent, according to former Democratic lawmakers who say they were involved in the discussions.

In interviews with The Hill this month, former Sen. Tom Daschle (D-S.D.) and ex-Rep. Tom Downey (D-N.Y.) said there were nearly two months of talks with the maverick lawmaker following an approach by John Weaver, McCain’s chief political strategist.

Democrats had contacted Jeffords and then-Sen. Lincoln Chafee (R-R.I.) in the early months of 2001 about switching parties, but in McCain’s case, they said, it was McCain’s top strategist who came to them...

Daschle noted that McCain at that time was frustrated with the Bush administration as a result of his loss to George W. Bush in the 2000 Republican primary... ((surely politicians never act out of personal gripes, now... -- Jemison))

The Democrats’ claims about McCain come as the senator is courting the Republican base for his 2008 White House bid. Other frontrunners for the GOP nomination have raised some eyebrows in conservative circles. ((--that's an understatement -- Jemison)) Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney (R) voted for Democratic Sen. Paul Tsongas (Mass.) in 1992, while ex-New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani (R) endorsed then-New York Gov. Mario Cuomo (D) a couple years later.

The endorsements are a symptom, not the problem. You see, party labels aren't as useful as people think. With brands, you're supposed to have some idea of what you're buying. With party affiliations, the issue is one of smoke and mirrors. There are still two political factions in this country: those who think government is the answer to all problems, and those who prefer to keep government in check as a useful tool, but a dangerous one. It takes more than looking for the trademark "R" or "D" to figure out who belongs to which faction. A hint, though: the latter are depressingly outnumbered by the former.