Your numbers don't add up

I've enjoyed Brad DeLong's fruitless search for a grown-up Republican, even though he's had about as much success in his search as Diogenes did in searching for an honest man. It may be that the Party which hates ... oh, look, a jackalope! simply doesn't contain any grown ups any more, but, as he and others have pointed out, there used to be grown ups in the Republican Party -- people who'd look at you, smile condescendingly, and say "It's a great idea, but it isn't going to work. How much will it cost? How will you get people to comply? If they don't do it voluntarily, then how much will enforcement cost? Your numbers don't add up -- and changes, however beneficial they appear to be, don't stick unless their numbers add up, too."

Damned if they didn't keep being right, too. Filthy grown-up Republicans. I miss them sometimes.

One of the reasons I miss them is that it leaves me in the uncomfortable position of needing to be a grown-up Democrat. I've got the condescension down, mind you, and the whole superior tone of voice -- it's the responsibility I hate. It would be so much easier to just ignore the whole thing and move on.