Gates confirmed, 95-2 - but it's the "2" that worry me

As you probably know, Robert Gates sailed through his Senate confirmation vote yesterday. But what struck me was who voted against him and why:

Two Bush allies, Sens. Rick Santorum, R-Pa., and Jim Bunning, R-Ky., voted against Gates, citing his criticism of the war and his view that the U.S. should engage Iran as part of a solution.

"Mr. Gates has repeatedly criticized our efforts in Iraq and Afghanistan without providing any viable solutions to the problems our troops currently face," Bunning said. "We need a secretary of defense to think forward with solutions and not backward on history we cannot change."

Let me get this straight, Sen. Bunning: we should, essentially, "stay the course," but not look backward? This guy gives "screwball" an entirely new meaning.

Santorum, who lost his re-election bid last month, mocked the idea of engaging dictators and talked at length of the evils of "radical Islamic fascism." When it comes to reaching out to Iran to discuss the security of Iraq, Santorum said of Gates, "I think he is in error."

Yep, let's forget about diplomacy and invade Iran. After all, that strategery has worked so well in Iraq.

Hey, Ricky - there's a reason you lost. Look in the mirror, pal.