Free Republic

To the surprise of no one, Sen. John McCain , the Republican Party’s frequent goad and sometimes hero, continues to go his own way. On Thursday, for instance, McCain broke with his party’s strategy on the fiscal 2010 budget resolution and offered a full substitute proposal. House Republicans were pressing a comprehensive, leadership-blessed alternative to the Democrats’ budget in that chamber, but Senate GOP leaders had decided to attack the Democrats’ proposal amendment by amendment. That didn’t suit McCain. He argued that an alternative should be offered to show the public that Republicans have a vision for the country. His...

With House Republicans expected to release their hard budget numbers this week, it’s worth noting that on Sunday’s “Meet the Press,” John McCain said Senate Republicans were working on a detailed budget alternative -- contradicting what we had heard previously from Senate GOPers. . . . . . But Don Stewart, a spokesman for Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, tells First Read that instead of working on a budget alternative, Senate Republicans are working on amendments.

MYRTLE BEACH, South Carolina (CNN) – South Carolina Sen. Jim DeMint on Friday became one of the first high-profile Republicans to publicly criticize John McCain following his electoral defeat, blaming the Arizona senator for betraying conservative principles in his quest for the White House.