Putting Your Mouth Where the Money Is

Mark Sanford has declared he will reject some--some, not all--of South Carolina's share of the stimulus. Is it a political stunt? Of course! Everything a politician does is a political stunt; this one just happens to be stuntier--pardon the neologism--than most. If Sanford were 100% sincere in his beliefs he'd turn down all the money, no questions asked.

But that, of course, would make the citizens of the Palmetto State howl with outrage. And even when you're a second-term governor trying to cater to your party's right wing, it's never wise to tick off your constituents. It sort of decreases your value as a presidential contender, don't you know.

Sanford's action shows the quandary the GOP is in. They hate the stimulus, but they can't produce any alternative. Intellectual atrophy has left the Republicans idealess. All they can do is shout "No!" While that might be part of a winning strategy, it's not a strategy itself.

So if Sanford really wants to take on the mantle of Republican leadership, let's see how he performs over the next year. Can he create a "second way," a new program for Republican governance? Or is he going to keep shouting "No" until his lungs give out?