drunken sailors: part 8 - some sobriety among sailors

from Robert Novak:

The Senate was up to its old tricks Monday evening. It prepared to pass, without debate and under a procedure requiring unanimous consent, a federal infusion of $9 billion into state Medicaid programs under the pretext of Katrina relief. The bill, drafted in secret under bipartisan auspices, was stopped cold when Republican Sen. John Ensign voiced his objection.

further detail on the bloc of remaining fiscal conservatives in the senate:

Fear has enveloped Republicans who see themselves handing the banner of fiscal integrity to the Democrats. The GOP is losing the rhetoric war, even though Democrats mostly push for higher domestic spending, because Republicans, while standing firm against tax increases, have also declined to cut spending. Fearing the worst in the 2006 and 2008 elections, Republican senators who would not be expected to do so are looking to McCain to lead the party back to fiscal responsibility.

i know little of Ensign, but of McCain i know too much. am i willing to accept his socially liberal ways and his sometimes very bad legislation (McCain-Feingold campaign finance reform) for his fiscally responsible ways? what about you?