The Real Loser in the Senate

In his Washington Post column this morning,David Broder deemed John McCain the real leader of the Senate, based on his instrumental role in cutting the deal that prevented his party from assuring up or down votes for judicial nominees.

The mainstream media and Democrats may be fawning over McCain, but many (most?) in the Republican party are not. Far from it. Broder doesn't seem to get it. He thinks the compromise McCain brokered soldifies his place as the boss of the Republicans. I think the repercussions of his move to undermine the leadership of his party will prove to be his downfall.

McCain is not a team player. He is an egomaniacal, narcissistic, self-indulgent, back-biting, untrustworthy, saboteur. Does that seem a bit harsh? I guess it is harsh; but it's true, at least in this case. He is a man without a party.

McCain cut Frist off at the knees. Broder considers that admirable. He writes:

In contrast to Majority Leader Bill Frist, who was unable to negotiate a compromise with Minority Leader Harry Reid or hold his Republicans in line to clear the way for all of President Bush's nominees to be confirmed, McCain looks like the man who achieved his objectives.

Broder tries to make the case that Frist's performance as leader of the majority party in the Senate was poor. I disagree. The actions of the "Gang of Seven" were the problem, not Frist's leadership. I think he did a commendable job. He stood on the principle that it is the Constitutional responsibility of the Senate to give judicial nominees an up or down vote. He never backed away from that.

Frist cannot be blamed for being unable to "hold his Republicans in line." What was he supposed to do? Hypnotize his seven traitorous colleagues and demand they follow?

McCain was hell-bent on getting the spotlight on himself and keeping it off Frist. This was not about managing a Constitutional crisis. It is about his ambitions to be president.

Broder writes, "[W]hile such would-be candidates as George Allen of Virginia and Sam Brownback of Kansas lined up behind Frist, McCain took the harder road and helped organize the bipartisan effort that averted the looming crisis.

"He did that knowing he would incur the wrath of the conservative activists who want no barriers placed before their favorites for possible vacancies on the Supreme Court. But contrary to myth, the heroes of the far right rarely win presidential nominations..."

Broder's analysis borders on embarrassing. He, like so many in the MSM, has put McCain on a pedestal. Heroes of the far right, whomever that is, rarely win presidential nominations. He cites Steve Forbes, Gary Bauer, Pat Buchanan and Pat Robertson as examples. I would argue the validity of the "hero" designation he applies to these individuals. Nonetheless, it's true they unsuccessfully ran for president. He's right on that count, but dreadfully wrong on a more important matter.

Broder finds himself under the spell of a myth, one that was debunked in November, 2004.

Slobbering liberals in the media rarely determine who wins presidential nominations.