Arktimes Goes After Beebe Legacy

The leftist Arktimes complains that Gov. Mike Beebe did not use any of his excess political capital to stop Republicans from winning a large number of offices around the state. The complaint that Beebe is only in it for Beebe reminds one of the Huckabee legacy in Arkansas, where the popular candidate is all about the himself, not building the party or advancing an ideology.

My conclusion is that this is just what successful politicians do. They act in their own interest while getting you to act in their interest too. They collect as many commitments as possible while giving as few as possible. There are exceptions, but Max Brantley and the Arktimes may not like to hear it. Sarah Palin, Jim DeMint, and Ron Paul are three who have shown a willingness to go out on a limb to make endorsements. In Palin's case they are a bit all over the place in terms of ideology, but all three are willing to do it. So occasionally a conservative politician will be selfless, but I can't think of a leftist one who is. What might that tell us?