Republican Disaffection

Atrios notes that David Brooks has come down hard on the Republicans over the Abromoff affair. Brooks' editorial is on the NYT pay site, so I've got no link. Atrios reprints part of the editorial and provides a link to the NYT, but two things struck me:

1) Great line "That's a great G.O.P. talking point: some Democrats are so sleazy, they get involved with the likes of us." This really does sum up the Republican position.

2) Main problem facing principled Republicans is illustrated by this line: "Instead, all legislation should be posted online for 72 hours before the vote, so the staff and bloggers can nitpick and expose."

However, that nitpicking and exposing is exactly what this Republican party is so completely opposed to. That is why they support this Imperial President. It is a matter of deep conviction and principal to these people that one should not have that kind of review. It is a deep conviction which is completely wrong, one which all of history and experience has repeatedly shown is profoundly wrong, but it is nonetheless the deeply held belief of this Republican Party.