This column almost broke kayfabe last week and insinuated that Gov. Charlie Crist of Florida reversed himself on off-shore oil drilling because he wanted to curry favor with John McCain, whose vice presidential ticket he covets.

Give credit where credit is due: Crist's announcement yesterday that Florida would buy the sugar cane company responsible for sucking a lot of water out of the Everglades was a pretty bold and audacious move. The Orlando Sentinel notes that the deal "with U.S. Sugar Corp. results from a convergence of interests: The state is trying to restore the Everglades and clean up pollution caused by Big Sugar and other growers, while the American sugar industry is being squeezed by low-price imports." Crist recognized the opportunity and exploited it.