Autumn Leaves and Leopards

This morning's papers had two stories of seeming conversions, this time of GOP members of Congress.

The Washington Post highlighted Nebraska Chuck Hagel with the following headline - Hagel Ponders White House Run As War Criticism Raises His Profile. After the headline there are several graphs about how the "career maverick" has worked in Congress. The story (puff piece) goes on to suggest that "Hagel is acting like a politician who believes his stock is climbing." At least with the left - his standing in his own party is in very low numbers. In the article Hagel "also floated the possibility of joining a bipartisan unity ticket with a Democrat -- with his name first, of course." Gee, that is a surprise! The post quotes public scold Robert Scheer who comments "Chuck Hagel for president! If it ever narrows down to a choice between him and some Democratic hack who hasn't the guts to fundamentally challenge the president on Iraq, then the conservative Republican from Nebraska will have my vote," The chances of Scheer ever voting for a Republican are about as good as the chances that Hagel won't run for president. The Post notes with some approbation that while he voted for the original authorizing resolution for our actions in Iraq he has been trying to attone for it ever since. The Post notes he "eschews consultants and other trappings of political ambition -- although he is a regular on political talk shows." Does that mean he is a ruthless self-promoter? The Post's headline merely had it backwards - As War Criticism Raises His Profile,Hagel Ponders White House Run--- But then you should not be surprised at this kind of "news" coverage from the Post.

Then there is the Sacramento Bee article on local congressman John Doolittle. In some ways Doolittle and Hagel are soulmates. Doolittle has had a long career running against "career politicians." At one time when I had the misfortune to be his constituent he actually sent out a franked newsletter (that is at our expense) a tirade against "career politicians" and how the idea of term limits (except of course for him) was a good idea. For a lot of reasons he almost lost reelection in one of the safest seats for the GOP in Congress. We covered his churlish comments on election night when he whimpered that being in the minority in Congress was going to be no fun. His hijinks over his career have been amazing to watch. Doolittle drips of sanctmony but that has not prevented him from cutting deals with the democrats in redistricting to assure a safe seat for him. Nor has it prevented him from raking 15% off the top of all the political contributions he received in the last cycle for his personal use with the ruse that his wife was his campaign consultant. He now claims he will stop that, at least for his own campaign committee. Doolittle's legislative career has been noticeable for its lack of substance. It is impossible to find one idea he has championed in Congress - save self promotion. He is that classic insider who revels in the politics of the moment. Yet in this morning's coverage of his meeting with the Bee editorial board he wished for a kinder, gentler Congress. Now that he is in the minority party. He will now actually deign to meet with constituents and has scheduled a series of town hall meetings throughout the district. Whoopdie Frickin Doo!!! Evidently the Congressman does not have enough boodle to be able to retire yet.

Both the Senator and the Congressman are evidences of the worst kinds of personal ambition in many politicians. Leopards don't change their spots and it is a bit late for autumn leaves to change their colors.