Jim Leach sounds like a wonderful man. People like that make me realize all over again that there are principled, statesmanlike people out there, and always will be. No matter how dark the prospect.

A Blogged (sic) Response to Jim Leach's Address

"I point these examples out because Jim has always been both a Republican (in the Theodore Roosevelt sense of the word) and an independent person. I always admired those traits in him and they help explain why he spoke at a Democratic convention to embrace their party's nominee. To him, it was the right thing to do.

"There's a side of me that wished Jim had not spoken to the Democratic convention. He opens himself up to being used by Democratic partisans, just like Republican partisans use Democrats who speak out for them. It will be very easy for Democratic true-believers to trot him out, make hay out of his appearance and forget him. Meanwhile, he's burned his bridges with his party -- this time for good.

"But tonight doesn't surprise me. It was different seeing Jim at a Democratic convention. But this was Jim being Jim. Principled, gutsy and independent."