Has My Tune Changed?

So says Mountain Goat Report, who cites many of my posts to show an evolving or devolving view of Senator Larry Craig:

Enter conservative blogger Adam Graham. As of June 22, Graham was defending Craig against the “sleaze-ball tactics” [mp3] of Idaho Statesman reporter Dan Popkey who spent time earlier this year on special assignment trying to confirm rumors of Craig’s orientation. By July 7th, after the Senate’s highly charged immigration fight and Craig’s support of the President’s policy (called shamnasty by many), Graham had changed his tune, predicting a 55% chance of a Craig retirement.

Now Graham, very appropriately, is declaring Craig “one of them,” in response to reports of Craig’s support for embattled fellow Republican Senator Ted Stevens of Alaska. In fact Senator Craig compared FBI officials investigating Stevens to the Gestapo.

I appreciate MGR noticing, but I’m being misinterpreted. I don’t write my blog for the benefit of politicians, I have a system of beliefs I follow on matters such as fairness (and that’s where Popkey’s sleazy investigation goes), and I also have a strong anti-Washington bias and suspicion of the federal government. My mind hasn’t changed about Senator Craig. I call them like I see them.

There are quite a few conservatives ticked off at Larry Craig for the border, primarily, but the Closed Primary issue is another one where he’s out of step. Given the national conservative mood regarding Ted Stevens, I doubt there would be a whole lot of sympathy for that statement. Is anger so high folks would throw out a right of center senator with a pro-gun, pro-life record for a pro-abortionist who earned a “D” from the National Taxpayer’s Union?

Will Larry Craig have a serious challenge should he run? I doubt it. Will he run? I think not. That, by the way, is not a statement of what I want, but of what I believe will happen. It’s predictive. Will him not running have much to do with conservative disatisfaction? No. The indications I’ve received based on my observations is that Senator Craig is considering retiring as he’s in his 60s and has spent 18 years in the Senate.

Will I vote for Craig in a Craig-LaRocco race? Absolutely. Larry Craig may have his problems, but Larry LaRocco doesn’t have the cure. LaRocco, in 2 terms in Congress, showed himself to be a bloated big spender (with the aforementioned D rating from the National Taxpayers Union), he opposes term limits, and is too liberal for Idaho. Craig, despite his faults has always had a B+ or an A from NTU, each of the past 17 years. Until the Democrats can get a candidate who can stand in his own right and speak forthrightly to the people of Idaho, this will never be a serious question, as the Democrats run against Republican politicians, but really give the public no reason to back them.

Linked in the Best of Idaho. 3 links in 2 days, I think I’ve been discovered.