Yes, boys and girls, time for the regular round-up of fawning references to the MSM’s favorite non-Democrats: “maverick” Republicans.

New York Times:

As Mr. Voinovich’s refusal to support Mr. Bolton’s nomination demonstrates, “the vanishing center”-as another centrist Republican, Senator Olympia J. Snowe of Maine, often says – can still play a powerful role. There are just four core centrists in the Senate, Mr. Chafee, Ms. Collins, Ms. Snowe and Mr. Specter. They are joined from time to time by mavericks like Senators John McCain of Arizona, Chuck Hagel of Nebraska and Mr. Voinovich.

Los Angeles Times:

Voinovich, a maverick who easily won reelection last year, is considered the Republican with the least to lose if he were to defy his party and president and vote against Bolton’s nomination.

Baltimore Sun:

Ohio maverick George V. Voinovich is the Republican senator who put a speed bump on John R. Bolton’s path to confirmation as U.N. ambassador.

AP:

Senator George Voinovich, a maverick Republican, expressed “great concern” and told the panel that appointing the administration hardliner would send a “negative message to the world community.”

All I know is mainstream conservatives (known in MSM terminology as right-wing radicals or extremist Republicans) are calling Sen. Voinovich a lot of names these days.

But “maverick” isn’t one of them.

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