Perhaps Graham and DeWine have heard back from their constituents? The people they were sent to serve?
Rush said as much the other day... DeWine's kid lost his election bid... apparently that spoke volumes
Oh, yes, they heard.
I heard Graham speaking about the MoU IMMEDIATELY after it was announced. He was very, very aware that his conservative supporters would be vocal in their opposition to his taking part in the gang. He EXPECTED the phone lines and fax machines to be burning up with their opposition.
Nevertheless, he did it because HE BELIEVED it was the RIGHT thing to do, and that the Senate would operate more smoothly this session if the nuke did not have to be resorted to.
His explaining NOW is not something being done only in retrospect: he was well aware that his conservative supporters would strongly question his judgement. He asked that they watch, wait and see if that judgement was good or bad. Thus far, the results have been good and no filibuster has been attempt by the Senate on judicial nominations.
Agree or disagree with his decision in this case, he followed through on what he believed to be right and for the good of the country. I commend any politician who does this, and who refuses to be governed by polls. We don't elect them to blindly follow OUR orders, but to do what THEY believe to be right. That is why integrity is the single most important quality for an elected official, and why I was so opposed to the 'Toon.
(Other FReepers have told me that DeWine was similarly immediate with his response after the MoU, but I can't personally vouch for him.) If you take a look at the way these two are rated by almost any conservative organization, on nearly every issue, you'll find they almost invariably top the list of good Senators. These two are definitely not RINOs.
Much like Ron Paul, who often breaks with the "R" leadership and whose judgement I similarly find questionable at times, I applaud this type of personal responsibility for their voting. This type of principled independence has to be applauded (unlike the continual grandstanding that McCain does just to get the accolades of the Old Media) and our support should not waiver when they, who are in the middle of the stewpot, choose to do something because they believe they can see better through the murkiness than those of us who are not in the middle of the situation.
I reiterate: I personally will vouch that the "explaining done since" by Graham was immediate, well before the publicity accompanying the MoU, and not in response to the outcry of the conservative base.
Despite some self-congratulating conservative talking heads who contend it was their pressure that made him come around, he made that statement far in advance of any pressure they ever brought to bear. He simply believed this to be the "right" thing to do, and had the guts to buck against his "base" in order to do what he believed to be right.
"Perhaps Graham and DeWine have heard back from their constituents? The people they were sent to serve?"
I think you can be sure they have. DeWine's future hinges on his vote. I'd say the same for Graham. And if McLame has real aspirations to run for prez, he'll have to back Alito as well.
The closer we get to an election the more "conservative" politicians become. Even many democrats.