Since John McCain's prospects are looking considerably better
than the congressional Republicans', I've wondered when he might
cut the House and Senate GOP candidates loose and make an explicit
"blank check" argument -- elect me, independents, for divided
government and a check on Nancy Pelosi. So I was intrigued to see
that John Ensign of the National Republican Senatorial Campaign
Committee is making a similar argument himself: "Senate
Republicans really will be the firewall to stopping bad legislation
or having the majority come to us to modify their positions."
The Washington Post's Chris Cillizza even raises the
specter of Senate Republicans holding the line against President
Obama and congressional Democrats. Of course, as I've said before, if the Republicans don't have
a credible filibuster threat the next president will sign more
liberal legislation regardless of whether his name is McCain or
Obama. But it is interesting to see the chairman of a campaign
committee whose key candidates are frequently polling worse than
McCain making this argument first.
topics:
John McCain, Nancy Pelosi, NATO
