Headlines this morning say Syria will accept a proposal to put chemical weapons under international control.

President Obama is already saying his push for military intervention set this turn of events in motion. Republican house organs are already mocking that idea. Plus, there remains skepticism about the meaning.

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This will be a fine political line to walk.

Mocking President Obama means mocking Rep. Tom Cotton, also a militant hawk, does it not?

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And Sen. John McCain, that noted dove?

And if Republicans want to shout the praises of the other Arkansas Republicans who opposed military intervention, mustn’t they also shout hosannas for U.S. Sen. Mark Pryor?

If I know the GOP shills, they’l find a way to praise ALL Republicans and criticize ALLDemocrats. Example: All Republicans act out of principle. All Democrats act out of political cowardice. See how easy that is?

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But: Mark Pryor does have a strong talking point. He stood up to his party’s president — and the White House’s certain severe unhappiness with him. The erosion of Democrats such as Pryor arguably pushed the Obama administration to an alternative solution. If it works. Gas attacks are over without military intervention. Pryor would call that a win-win.

The recent ethical problems of various Republicans are good illustrations. Republicans raised a fearsome din over Democratic wrongdoing. When it comes to Lt. Mark Darr and other transgressors (Saline sheriff, a Senate candidate in Jonesboro), their telephone and Internet devices appear to have been disconnected.

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Happy to see that the Democrat-Gazette this morning picked up on the long-brewing Darr scandal started by Blue Hog Report.

Again: It is critical for the Ethics Commission and the Legislative Audit Division not to look at Darr matters in the vacuum of their respective areas of responsibility. The most serious allegation against Darr is using both office and campaign money for the same expenses. It must be fully explored.

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I wonder if the legislative co-chairs of Joint Audit, Rep. Kim Hammer and Sen. Bryan King, will subpoena Mark Darr to testify? There’s a precedent, is there not?

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