Tulsi Gabbard stuns Trump by announcing she's joining the Republicans

True.

For as long as I have paid any attention to Gabbard, she has always been a bit of a Maverick. She seems to vote - and talk - based on her principles, rather than according to anyone else's talking points.

That being said, she does seem to be far more socially liberal than conservative. And she is pretty strongly anti-war which, traditionally, is more of a Democrat stance than a Republican one.

I think she is one of the few who will do what is right (or at least what she believes is right) regardless of the letter behind her name or the letter in front of the proposal/bill/policy/person.

I am not surprised by her announcement, but I also think it is fairly irrelevant. Unless Trump wins and appoints her to his cabinet, her political career is over. And if he DOES appoint her to his cabinet, I do not think she will last long, due to her refusal to compromise on principles - which has historically been a ticket to a short tenure in the Trump circle. And THEN her political career will be over.

I have admired Gabbard's insistence on principle, even when I disagrees with her principles or stances. But it is this very thing which has shortened her career. It is almost impossible to maintain morals AND survive in Washington.

That's been my experience, too.