Democrats who cheered the courage of Jim Jeffords call Louisiana Congressman Rodney Alexander a “coward” and a “turncoat” for switching parties to become a Republican. Of course, both sides cheer switchers to their side and hiss those who go the other way, although Republicans are more apt simply to trumpet switches as a sign of the strength of the party and its ideas, rather than as some great profile in courage (although many big GOP stars have switched from the Democratic side at some point, including Reagan, Phil Gramm, Bill Bennett, Jean Kirkpatrick, and many others).