Grand Old Panderers

Sticking to the party talking points, a united voice that toes the line, and party before all - the hallmarks of the Republican Party. Until there's a scent of blood in the water:

Republican Senate leaders — terrified by the prospect of losing five or more seats in November — have freed their members to vote however they need to vote to get reelected, even if that means bucking the president or the party’s leadership.

On at least four votes over the past month — Medicare, housing, the GI Bill and the Farm Bill — Republican leaders haven’t even bothered whipping members to toe the party line or back President Bush’s veto threats. Instead, a GOP leadership aide says leaders have told vulnerable senators that it’s all right to “get well” with voters by siding with Democrats on anything but energy and national security.

It’s unusual for rank-and-file members to get a green light to blow off their party leaders. But these are unusual times for Republicans. They are genuinely worried they could get their clocks cleaned in November. The prevailing attitude: It is better to lose some big votes now than big races in November.

Republicans are attempting to neutralize the issues, and give vulnerable Senators some breathing room, by allowing them to vote with Dems. The message is to be "Look! We stood up to our leadership and voted for your best interests! Well. . .for six months or so. Right before the elections. In a year where we're in trouble."

Apparently the hope is that the stark contrast between their new found love of their constituents and the first 18 months of the 110th Congress, which were defined by razor-thin partisan votes in the Senate and a near-daily blame game over the use of the filibuster, goes unnoticed. . .Bon chance!