It’s not just that he’s nice. Jim DeMint is nice. But Lugar is a progressive, on the same side and following the same policies as the Democrats, just pushing a little slower.
On his debit side: he loves the democrats a bit TOO much.
Maybe he is fond of the good old days when republicans knew their place, back of the bus.
But at least he got to have a beer with Tip O'Neill after a royal beat-down.