In Washington’s shadow goes Mr. Brown. Colorfully.

Partisans are hysterical.  How dare a red senator, Scott P. Brown, vote for a blue bill!  No matter that this Democratic jobs measure with Republican-minded tax cuts actually may be good for the American people.  That Mr. Brown’s action betrayed the myopic vision of his fellows is indicative of why a guy like him is so badly needed.  After all, a public servant that places the people’s interests above his own political self-interest is indeed a rare precedent.  George Washington would be tickled red, white and blue.

Postscript: The denizens of Massachusetts recovered from their ever so brief hangover of sanity by electing Elizabeth Warren, a progressive Democrat, who laughably claimed during her successful campaign against Brown that she's of Native American ancestry ("1/32").  Rumor has it that she has presidential aspirations and is inclined to run if Hillary doesn't.  (Hillary is.)  I am confident that Mrs. Warren has fit right in with Harry Reid and the good-old-boy (now minority) Democratic Senate.  Mr. Brown has since put down roots in New Hampshire, ran for the Senate, but was narrowly defeated by incumbent Democrat Jeanne Shaheen in the general election. I wish him the best of luck whatever the future holds.

http://www.americanthinker.com/author/david_l_hunter/

'From the bluest of states, a red senator of a different color,' Dana Milbank's column, Washington Post)  

Outsourcing An American Monument

I was astonished to learn that the powers-that-be in Washington would permit the outsourcing of the construction of a major U.S. monument, the Martin Luther King Jr. memorial, to China. The 'solid reality' that any symbol of American freedom would not be built by American hands using domestic know-how and materials (jobs anyone?) in favor of the Chinese deserves consideration. This three part, 30 foot tall sculpture—whose size incidentally dwarfs the Jefferson and Lincoln statues (no symbolism there)—depicts a totalitarian looking, arms-crossed-in-judgment, Chairman Mao style leader (interestingly called ‘Stone of Hope’). On either side, flanking this larger-than-life replica, are two edifices aptly called ‘Mountain of Despair.’ However, King’s closed body language is diametrically opposed to his iconic message of openness and acceptance. Somehow I doubt these important nuances will be given any weight when the powers-that-be get around to ordering tributes for future American notables. Yet, one thing is certain. We know the Chinese will be willing to build them. After all, they’ve done it before—and we owe them a debt.

http://www.americanthinker.com/author/david_l_hunter/

'From dream to very solid reality,' Michael E. Ruane, Metro section, Washington Post