“Hutchison is leaving the Senate soon. Anybody know why she would do such a heinous act?”
Anytime I see a politician do something that is totally contrary to common sense and the will of most Americans I can guarantee you that the reason can be found by following the money. You can be sure that ethnic front groups in Texas are paying her to do this, either in cash or by promising more votes when she runs for Governor in Texas.
Hutchison was PAID to stab us in the back.
If Hutchison runs, hopefully someone will pull out her appearance where she states she will vote for every woman in the Senate over any of their competitors. The only problem was that she would thus vote for Boxer, Feinstein, etc. For lack of words, she is an airhead, and another reason that Texas politicians should be neither seen nor heard.
You answered your own question - she's leaving and has nothing to lose.
Maybe she thinks she will have better luck pulling stunts in TX running for governor if only the TX voters are watching and listening to her instead of conservatives from all over the country. I would guess she believes her TX constituents are neither conservative nor anti-illegal immigration.
Maybe conservative Texans will get wise and she won't be able to run for the Republican nomination for governor unchallenged.