Maybe at age 80, Richard Lugar shouldn’t have tempted a “Last Hurrah” scenario. The relatively reserved, notably polite Indiana senator had served six terms–but being known as a reasonable conservative with across-the-aisle appeal was no longer a political plus. Now his last race will be recorded as a blow-out, primary loss to a Tea Partier who branded him as Barack Obama’s “favorite” GOP senator.
Ironically, Lugar was once known as Richard Nixon’s “favorite mayor” (Indianapolis). Now he’s not nearly conservative enough for too many anti-stimulus, anti-“socialism,” anti-tax sanity Hoosiers.
Arguably, Indiana is worse off without Lugar and his experience. Unquestionably, the country is worse off with one fewer bi-partisan voice reflecting a national consensus on America’s vital issues–domestic and foreign.