Yesterday, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell took to the floor to endorse a moratorium on earmarks, representing a surrender of sorts to the Tea Party and others who engineered the GOP’s wipeout of Democrats on Nov. 2. The old guard in the Senate was not interested in eliminating earmarks, though it’s clear the Republican leadership in the House is going to push them through.

The video of McConnell’s speech…

This affair has illustrated in vivid color the famous advice of Milton Friedman, who said it’s not necessary to elect the right people but rather to make it politically profitable for the wrong people to do the right things.

McConnell might be a weasel, but he at least manages to realize which way the wind blows. He might not be perfect, but after two years of sheer contempt for the American people it’s nice to see something which looks like responsive government.