Senator Mark Kirk is supposed to be one of the "moderate" Republicans, and by comparison he is, showing it by some isolated votes, like his vote to confirm NRA target Surgeon General Murthy last December.
But his inner wingnut is lurking just below the surface.
Last month, he agreed that it wasn't a good idea to hold up Homeland Security funding to get rid of the President's immigration reforms. But now that it's really happening, he's engaging in some major attempts to shift blame to Democrats via the worst kind of fear-mongering:
“It’s a very dangerous game. If we have a successful terrorist attack – all the dead Americans from that should be laid at the feet of the Democratic caucus,” Kirk said. […] “The Republicans – if there is a successful attack during a DHS shutdown – we should build a number of coffins outside each Democratic office and say, ‘You are responsible for these dead Americans.’”
via Steve Benen.
What?
Coffins outside of offices?
That's some hard-core Cheney-Giuliani-Graham grade hysteria (TM) right there, Mark. As Benen points out, that might not be so wise when you're running for re-election next year in Barack Obama's state.
On the other hand, Fox et al. will be pushing this turnaround hard, repeating endlessly that it's Democrats' fault even though a Republican House and Senate were the ones who cut off funding for Homeland Security.
Nonetheless, Mark Kirk is the Monger of the Day for his tasteless immoderate hysteria. We hope he feels the blow-back when he tries to run again next year.