Captain Kirk

Got to like this guy...Rep. Mark Kirk this week took a leadership post with the House Republican Mainstream Tuesday Group, a group that, as reported by Thursday's Chicago Tribune, "pushes for stronger environmental regulation and tends to be less conservative on social issues." The 35-member group is, obviously, at odds with the House's hardcore conservative leaders, like Speaker Denny Hastert and Majority Leader Tom DeLay. That means that when it comes to relaxing the ethical standards so that DeLay can continue in his leadership role even if he is formally accused of a crime, Kirk is standing up and saying no. You know, it's about time the Republican moderates started standing up for themselves. Since the Democrats obviously can't kick the ultraconservative nutjobs out of Washington, maybe the moderate Republicans are our only hope.