Another flip-flop toward sanity

In just a few days, we've had the new pope reversing the emphasis from the strict theology of his predecessor (see prior post today) to the social justice gospel.   And now three more reversals from Republicans.   Could this be a salutary trend?    Recognition that conservatives have gone too far?   Or maybe fear of backlash from sane people?

Here they are, for what they're worth;  whether it's a trend, or simply moments of sanity in a sea of unreason, remains to be seen.

1.   Governor Nathan Deal (R-GA) warned Georgia Republicans that the state cannot continue to bombard Washington with demands for spending cuts at the same time that we continue to request, and receive, vital financial support from the federal government.   The amount of federal assistance Georgia has received has alctually increased during this recession and has plugged gaps in state spending on education, Medicaid, and construction projects.

2.  Chairman of the House Oversight Committee that has been holding hearings on the Benghazi pseudo-scandal, Darrell Issa (R-CA), said this about the IRS targeting conservative groups for extra scrutiny of their tax exempt status:

" . . .  you don't accuse the IRS until you've had a nonpartisan, deep look." 

Notably, his subcommittee did not wait for the facts before going ballistic and holding circus hearings on the Benghazi episode -- which ironically is the least possible scandal of them all.

3.  In discussing the wiretaps on AP reporters, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) seemed to be (maybe?  almost?) siding with President Obama.  On "Meet the Press" this morning he declined to criticize the president and said:

"Actually, I do think these national security leaks are very important and it looks to me like this is an investigation that needs to happen because national security leaks, of course, can get our agents overseas killed."

Is it an epidemic of sanity?    Or is it just politics, as usual?   Might it have anything to do with the fact that a just-released CNN poll show that this rash of "scandals" has had absolutely zero effect on President Obama's approval ratings?   And the 2014 election is rapidly approaching.

Ralph