Note: This diary is cross posted at the University of Pennsylvania Democrats' "The Fighting Quaker" blog, http://www.penndems.org/blog.php.

Allow me first to say that, throughout this tirade, I refer specifically to John Danforth, but also in general to all such disgruntled or so-called "maverick" Republicans who have no trouble taking money from the RNC, even as they call from the rooftops their professed Jim Lehrer-esque political impartiality.

Back into the news of late is former senator John Danforth (R-MO). Mr. Danforth, an ordained Episcopal minister noted for his gravitas as well as heir to the Ralston-Purina fortune (the company having been founded by his grandfather), is in the limelight once again to promote the release of his new book, Faith and Politics. In this book, Mr. Danforth expresses his disenchantment with the current state of the Republican Party. He feels that it is entirely too beholden to right wing theological ideologues, writing in a recent New York Times piece, "By a series of recent initiatives, Republicans have transformed our party into the political arm of conservative Christians...". He speaks out against the current Republican-controlled government's rampant corruption and its discrimination against, well, everybody. It is also worth noting that Mr. Danforth served for seven months during the administration of George W. Bush as the United States Ambassador to the United Nations, a post that he relinquished in order to spend time with his wife, Sally. However, methinks him a trifle disingenuous, given that book tours (not to mention writing the book to begin with) take up a tremendous amount of potential spousal cuddling time...but I digress....there's more after the break.