The Moose was once again reminded why he would crawl over a field of broken glass for John McCain.
We live in an age of political cowards, pontificators and panderers. It is rare for a politician to endanger his political future in defense of the truth. A modern version of JFK's Profiles in Courage would be brief indeed.
That is why it is inspiring for one leader to dare to commit the truth, even if it jeopardizes his popularity with a key constituency. The Moose's former boss did that just this week on "Hardball" when he announced his opposition to the nuclear option. As the Washington Times reports,
"Look, we won't always be in the majority," Mr. McCain told MSNBC's "Hardball" host Chris Matthews Thursday night. "I say to my conservative friends, someday there will be a liberal Democrat president and a liberal Democrat Congress. Why? Because history shows it goes back and forth. I don't know if it's a hundred years from now, but it will happen. And do we want a bunch of liberal judges approved by the Senate of the United States with 51 votes if the Democrats are in the majority?"
The conservative organ also indicates that some of the creatures of the fever swamp right are in a rage over McCain's remarks. You would think that these hard core critters would have their hands full with the Republican Congress enlarging the size of government which McCain opposed. Instead, they are evidently frothing at the mouth over the fact that McCain delivered some straight talk that conservatives might be the long-term losers if they eliminate the filibuster which has traditionally protected the rights of the Senate minority, whether they are Democrats or Republicans.
An interesting passage appeared in the Washington Times story,
"He [McCain] will have no presidential hopes if he pursues this course," said Manuel Miranda, a former Frist staffer who now chairs the National Coalition to End Judicial Filibusters. "This very well may be the first primary campaign between Bill Frist and John McCain."
Here we have the real agenda behind this attack on McCain. Moreover, the contrast between Frist and McCain is revealing. Frist, the abject panderer vs. McCain, the truth teller.
Perhaps, America will be fortunate enough to be led by a truth teller again. -- | 
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