Heroic Republicans

I will pause momentarily to allow my family and friends to wake up following their fainting from the title above..........Now then. The Iraq study group has released its report. Its conclusions were a foregone conclusion, if they were going to be honest. And with Lee Hamilton, a bulwark of integrity for 35 years in the House of Representatives, as the Democrats' co-chair, I believed they would be honest. The presence on the panel of Vernon Jordan, Leon Panetta, Chuck Robb and William Perry further raised my hopes. The Democrats performed as I expected.
This space is for an appreciation of the Republicans involved. Former Secretary James Baker has been a Bush family retainer for about 50 years. Whenever Bushes have found themselves in trouble, Baker has been there to quiet the waters. Not this time. Lawrence Eagleberger has been a member of several Republican administrations. He's as inside as inside gets. But this time he stepped out. Justice O'Connor was an honorable member of the United States Supreme Court throughout her tenure, and the nation is poorer, much much poorer, for her retirement. That leaves the final two members: former Senator Alan Simpson and former Attorney General Edwin Meese. I have had no respect for this pair whatsoever. Simpson is caustic and vicious. He has been one of the leading attack dogs for the transition of the Republican party from the honorable institution of Everett Dirkson, Dwight Eisenhower and Nelson Rockefeller to the despicable snake pit of Newt Gingrich, Jerry Falwell and Pat Robertson. Ed Meese was an unmitigated disaster as Ronald Reagan's chief law enforcement officer. In days gone by, it was a close contest to count whether Meese had enforced more laws or broken more. But even Alan Simpson and Ed Meese put their country ahead of politics and power this time.
These Republicans have participated in this study, and agreed to the committee's report, in spite of the fact that the report is bluntly critical of a Republican president's performance. They have told the truth that staying this course in Iraq can only result in disaster, if we're not already there. They have called for change now, and withrawal within 15 months. They have made these calls in spite of the fact that this particular Republican president is openly vengeful. He punishes anyone and everyone who challenges him, who criticizes him, who points out his mistakes. In short, this group of Republicans have risked their reputations and legacies within their party to serve their country.
We should all be grateful to the whole membership of the Iraq study group. But we are all particularly indebted to the Republican members for their courage and honesty. Viewing their performance, and having listened to newly confirmed Secretary of Defense Robert Gates as he told the truth in his Senate hearing yesterday, perhaps there is some opportunity left for the Republican party to reclaim its honorable heritage. We would be a better nation if they did.