Will the Real Walter Jones Please Stand Up?

I was really struck by this article I found linked to from HuffPo today. I know that ole Walter "Freedom Fries" Jones deserves very little of our sympathy for some of the outlandish comments and terrible votes he has cast as a United States Representative, but I am very much looking forward to reading this book.

It's not that long ago that the entire country was caught up in war hysteria, willing to believe all the lies the Bush White House told us to scare the citizens into supporting a useless and costly (both lives and money) war in Iraq. Of course, Jones will never be able to take his vote back, but I am willing to give the benefit of the doubt to this book. Jones' remarks (and recent votes, such as the one to reprimand Joe "You Lie" Wilson) may seem to suggest that ole Walter is finally concerned more about doing what's right than for blindly following party doctinaire with no regard for the folks his votes directly affect. At least Jones understands that decorum and decency are due to the President and that solemn reflection and respect for tradition has a place in our current national debate.

Sure, he was against the stimulus and may be against healthcare (he'll answer to his voters for that), but this is the first personal, printed tome from a sitting Congressman about his sense of betrayal to his constituents - most of them military personnel and their families - and regret for making decision based on political calculations and not deeply held convictions.

Many American are currently so distrustful of Washington because they feel that the monied interests and lobbyists control the minds and hearts (and, of course, wallets) of our elected officials. And, while it is true that we haven't seen Jones put his votes where his mouth is yet, perhaps there is hope down the road. Why write this book and ask forgiveness from your constituents, if you aren't going to vote in their interest from here on, Walter?

I guess my question is: Why are the only Republicans with a conscience or a willingness to speak out against their party former Democrats? I think this book, and Jones' newfound empathy, says alot about the state of today's GOP and how they'll never win elections by championing the Bush/Cheney legacy and offering no new ideas.

Now, where do you stand on healthcare and energy reform, Mr. Jones?