U.S. Rep. Charlie Crist always did like to make cozy with important people. You remember. 

Broward County Sheriff Scott Israel is a lot like Punxsutawney Phil, the groundhog who scurried out of his marmot hole in February -- and was so fearful of his own shadow, he scampered back below for six more weeks.

Above-ground has become a cruel world for Broward Sheriff Punxsutawney. 

As the nation has been fixated since Feb. 14 on -- in many ways, overwhelmed by -- Parkland students’ protests, the one constant before the TV cameras, the sheriff who criticized the National Rifle Association and loudly called for stricter gun control laws, has drifted to the background.