The "Deal"

Who better than Hugh Hewitt to shed light on the winners and losers of the Senate's compromise.

Hugh:

1.  Nan Aron is unhappy --a very good sign indeed.


2.  John McCain  --a great American, a lousy senator, and a terrible Republican-- took himself out of serious contention in the GOP primaries of 2008.  The McCain Caucus showed itself last night, and is united not by "moderation" but by enormous, towering ego.


3.  Chuck Hagel did any presidential ambitions he nurtured enormous damage as well. He didn't sign the deal, but his public dithering for the last month fueled GOP confusion and encouraged the egomaniac caucus.


4.  It will be much easier to persuade GOP voters to abandon Lincoln Chafee and Olympia Snowe in 2006.  Worse than useless, defeating one or both of these incumbents will send a much needed message on how the party regards deals based on scissoring the Constitution.

It seems to us here at OC Chronicle that there some debate about how good or bad this deal is and who the winners are.

Bottom line: Harry Reid is happy, Bill Frist is not.