Another moderate Republican bites the dust.

But first some ancient history.

Nobody realized it back when it was happening, but now with the benefit of 40 years of hindsight, the reformation of the Michigan Republican Party post former Gov. Bill Milliken, is as plain as the nose on your face.

The moderate Mr. Milliken was supposed to hand off his brand of politics to his Lt. Governor James Brickley, but a funny thing happened on the way to the hand off. They fumbled the ball.

It was recovered on the goal line by Dick Headlee, who was in cahoots with conservative lawmaker John Engler and others who marched down the field, converting what was a moderate state GOP into neo-conservative that eschewed everything Mr. Milliken stood for.

To be fair, there are still fragments of moderate Republicanism left, although everyone is careful not to call it that anymore, less the ultra conservatives catch on to the notion that these guys are willing to compromise with those with a D after their title to get things done.

Traverse City Sen. Wayne Schmidt fits that category along with Sen. Ed McBroom from the U.P. and Sen. Curt VanderWall from Ludington. In the house, sadly, there are only a handful of reach-across-the- aisle Republicans including Rep. Julie Calley, Rep. Joe Bellino and Rep. Tommy Brann from downstate.

And mentioning the name Calley brings us to the subject of this story Brian Calley.

You dedicated citizens who follow this stuff will recall he was Lt. Gov. Brian Calley along with Gov. Rick Snyder and before that he sat in the house where his spouse now sits.

He’s just landed an impressive gig as the incoming CEO of the Small Business Association of Michigan, known around these parts as simply S-BAM, which has 28,000 members.

Mr. Calley was asked an innocent question the other day seeking to unearth his desire to be governor, a U.S. Senator or some other higher calling.

His answer was revealing and sad at the same time. Very sad.

“Running for office is not even remotely attractive to me,” this from a guy who ran for office earlier in his career.

What’s the problem?

“I don’t know if there is a place for people like me; people that want to work with both sides, and get things done with respect for other people and care for relationships not to lob grenades into the system.”

So another moderate R tosses in the towel, giving in to the harsh reality that that brand of how to govern is not very popular among those who consider the term “compromise” to be a four letter word.

If he ran, Mr. Calley most certainly would appeal to some Republicans, probably more Democrats and certainly a whole host of independents and in a general election he would likely win.

But before Republicans get into the general election they must survive a GOP primary and in that, Mr. Calley would be a loser. Recall he ran for governor against Trump-inspired Bill Schuette and failed.

Which is why he “probably” will never run again for anything, although he is encouraging his wife to run for something because she shares the same values he has.

If Rep. Julie Calley did run for higher office, she would start out with at least two votes…her own and his.