Bizarre Pleasant Surprise of the Week

Rick Santorum has, uh, come out in opposition to President Bush's support for the teaching of "intelligent design." From Reuters (link will expire all too soon):

A leading Republican senator allied with the religious right differed on Thursday with President Bush's support for teaching an alternative to the theory of evolution known as "intelligent design."

Republican Sen. Rick Santorum, a possible 2008 presidential contender who faces a tough re-election fight next year in Pennsylvania, said intelligent design, which is backed by many religious conservatives, lacked scientific credibility and should not be taught in science classes.

Bush told reporters from Texas on Monday that "both sides" in the debate over intelligent design and evolution should be taught in schools "so people can understand what the debate is about."

"I think I would probably tailor that a little more than what the president has suggested," Santorum, the third-ranking Republican member of the U.S. Senate, told National Public Radio. "I'm not comfortable with intelligent design being taught in the science classroom."

Yo, preznit -- if Sen. Gay-Marriage-equals-Bestiality himself has reservations about intelligent design, maybe you should think again. Or would that be "think" in the first place?

Last Week's Winner...

Would have to be Bill Frist's bravely coming out in favor of federal funding for embryonic stem cell research. From CNN:

Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist endorsed government-funded research on human embryonic stem cells Friday, breaking with President Bush and the religious conservatives he's been courting for a 2008 presidential bid. He drew praise from former first lady Nancy Reagan.

"It isn't just a matter of faith, it's a matter of science," Frist, a heart-lung transplant surgeon, said in a Senate speech. "The president's policy should be modified."

Ironically, Bush began opposing federal funding for embryonic stem cell research after being convinced a few years ago by, yep -- one Dr. William Frist, a prominent Republican Senator from Tennessee.

How come when Conservatives flip-flop, it's cool? But it is, it really is.

A really cynical guy might speculate that both of these pleasant surpises have something to do with politics. After all, Santorum faces re-election in 2006 and Frist is likely to run for president in 2008. But I'm not that guy. Not today, anyway.