He was a good soldier who served honorably and like so many of his peers, his generation etc. he moved into the world of politics to serve that system for better or worse.
Politics is where there is compromise and moderation by tradition.
To many of us such compromise and moderation was to the detriment of the nation not its betterment.
RIP Bob Dole.
Exactly. People sometimes accuse militaries of fighting the last war. The way some well-meaning Repubs treat the left is analogous. There once were honest and honorable Dems who had mistaken beliefs but were sincere, loved their country, and weren't bat-shit crazy. Treating today's left like that generation is the political equivalent of fighting the last war. You have to adapt to the situation as you find it.