If you haven't heard, John McCain is now speaking up in favor of a compromise that would only put a part of President Bush's judicial nominees on the floor for a vote.  I suppose he couldn't allow Nelson and Lott get all of the spotlight, so he had to weasel his way in that deal.

This is precisely the reason the Republican Party needs reform, and specifically needs to define who and what they are as a political party.  The Democratic Party is virtually unified in their support of left-wing policies and corruption.  The Republicans most identifiable members outside of Bush, Frist, Hastert, and DeLay are a handful of senators that make their name not from what they support, but what they oppose.

These senators - McCain, Voinovich, Snowe, Chafee, Specter, and Hagel - are the Mavericks, guaranteed to support the Democrats on any topic that's deemed controversial.  This handful of senators have the power to hold up important legislation and policies at any time.  It's one thing to oppose party-supported legislation from time-to-time, but when it consistently happens on almost every issue by the same senators there's a serious problem as to who has control of Congress.

The American people gave the Republicans a clear victory in 04, retaining the White House and gaining seats in both the Senate and the House.  This was clearly a mandate for conservative policies throughout the legislature, as most of the seats the Republicans picked up were from traditionally conservative states.  Fenceriders didn't get elected; conservatives did.  Yet, we have a number of number of senators constantly blocking any sort of reasonable legislation being offered to the U.S. Senate.  It's time for the Republican Party to tell the lukewarmers to shape up, or ship out.

If they don't, I'm sure some conservative groups will be glad to show them the door.  The Club for Growth gave Arlen Specter the scare of a lifetime in his primary race against Pat Toomey (who ironically now is their president).  Chafee could be targeted this year, as well as Snowe.  Hagel and McCain have their seats virtually for life, but they'll get theirs in 08, as both of them have no chance of getting the Republican nomination.

Regardless, conservatives should continue to push forward the agenda in the Senate.  A few monkeys shouldn't stop the show.