Reply #24: Well ... that should have a couple caveats.

[SteppingRazor]

First, it's impossible to bring up congressional districts in Florida without discussing how badly gerrymandered they are. With the possible exception of Texas and one or two others, Florida's are the worst in the nation. Given that, it's hardly surprising that the 4th district, heavily Republican, elected Fowler. But, if you're going to note that, you should also point out that the other district that covers parts of Jacksonville, the 3rd, is currently represented by Corrine Brown, and she's about as liberal as they come.

Second, while the 4th was once represented by Fowler, it's currently represented by Ander Crenshaw who, while deeply conservative, could hardly be called unusual among his compatriots in the House Republican Caucus. Indeed, if I were to rank House Republicans by their conservative bone fides, I don't know that Ander would finish in the top 20 or 30.

And finally, far be it from me to defend the late Rep. Fowler, but I don't know that I'd refer to a pro-choice Republican who refused to accept gun-lobby funding as being "on the far right of Phyllis Schlafly."