McCain Plays Hooky, Stimulus Plan Bogs Down

A single vote could have made the difference yesterday. A coalition of Democrats and moderate Republicans, 59 in all, were ready to vote on an economic-stimulus package in the U.S. Senate. One more Senator was needed to end the debate, and that turned out to be the one not in attendance, John McCain. The Straight-Talk Express was parked on a siding somewhere, his campaign coming before country.

You see, McCain is trying to sew up the Republican nomination for President. To do that, he needs to mollify conservatives in the party, something he hopes to accomplish by attending the Conservative PAC Conference beginning today in Washington. But how do you walk into such a gathering having just voted in favor of a 12-figure spending bill?

Taking a stand against the bill would be risky as well, for tens of millions of voters have already spent (at least in their minds) the election-year handouts offered by the House last week. Wouldn't they be pissed if John took the money back! So McCain did what any self-respecting politician would do in similar circumstances. He ducked.

Wanted: a graffiti artist to change the logo on that train to the Keep-Talking Local.

[7:30 p.m.]
P.S.--Since posting the above earlier today, I see where Mitt Romney, the putative "conservative" in the GOP race, has suspended his campaign, clearing the way for McCain to return to the Senate chamber to support a $170 billion stimulus bill. What conviction!