That was a heckuva speech. I agree that Senator Rubio will probably advance his political career beyond the U. S. Senate. He certainly can express his beliefs coherently and think on his feet.

If I'm a little less enthusiastic than you, it has nothing to do with Rubio personally or the ideals he says he holds important. I listened to his speech with interest and I will watch his performance as a Senator with interest. My hesitancy to get too excited about him right now is the pattern I've seen too often among those we send to Washington. As youthful legislators they have strong beliefs and express them well. But the longer they stay in Washington and get sucked into the system the less coherent they become, the less consistent their conduct matches their rhetoric.

I can remember another young Senator who gave mesmerizing speeches, who caused pride and emotion to well among people who became his supporters. Not long afterwards, after considerable electoral success, like many of his predecessors he too seems to be caught in the paralyzing bucket of muck called the U.S. government.

I'll keep high hopes for our new young Senator. But before I get too excited, I think I'll watch...and hope.