Courage? Not so much.

The head guy from Toyota went before a congressional committee yesterday and NPR predicted that he would, “… face some extremely hostile questions.” Suprise, suprise.

While public safety is important, I’m guessing this was just one more of those discouraging spectacles we expect from congress. They get hold of someone who is momentarily in the media spotlight then put them in front of their committee so members can act righteous for the cameras.

When I was young, I read a book supposedly written by President John F Kennedy entitled "Profiles in Courage." (A Pulitzer Prize winner, most of the book was reportedly written by JFK speechwriter Ted Sorenson. JFK wasn’t known for being either a writer or an intellectual).

I remember being impressed with the stories of politicians making decisions that placed the common good above their own political futures. Possible? I don’t know. I’d have to reread it and do a little fact checking. The name that sticks in my head is Thomas Hart Benton, Missouri Senator, 1821 to 1851, who voted against his party when he opposed the extension of slavery into the territories before the Civil War.

It’s ironic but typical that a book championing political courage would be faked to enhance a politician’s career.

Yesterday, one of the NY Times editorialists was pointing out the obvious, that political courage is in short supply in Washington right now.

That’s not news. It’s just that, on some days, it’s a real head-shaker.