You can make a fool of yourself trying to predict what politicans will do (last year I said it was unrealistic to expect Arlen Specter to switch political parties....oops).

But If you read the news all over Florida, it seems like Gov. Charlie Crist is about to defy his party and veto Sen. John Thrasher's education bill.

My colleague, David Hunt, has already referenced Crist's testy response to Jeb Bush. Crist also disputed Thrasher's contention that he promised to sign the bill.

But to me the most interesting Crist news was his interaction yesteday with Michelle Ruiz, a high school senior in Kendall, Florida. Ruiz, spoke to Crist for five full minutes in public, and urged him to veto the bill. At the end Crist gave her a hug.

When Crist came to Jacksonville to sign a bill that allowed the First Coast Outer Beltway to move forward, he didn't meet with anyone in Clay County opposed to the Beltway. While we like our public officials to seek input from all sides, the truth is a governor rarely has an up close and personal interaction with an average citizen opposed to something he's about to do.

Crist's PR people wouldn't allow an Outer Beltway opponent anywhere near him. And if he was going to sign that education bill, he'd have never talked to Ruiz.

Of course, this all assumes that Crist knows what he's going to do, and that his staff is competent.

It also assumes that I know what I'm talking about. And anyone who heard me opine about Arlen Specter might tell you to take me with a grain of salt.