Changing standards for our political leaders

This blog isn't intended to be about politics, but politics seem to intrude on everything today.

Judge Kimba Wood is in the news now, as the federal judge in New York handling the current stage of arguments over the government search of the offices, home, and hotel room of Michael Cohen, one of the president's many lawyers.

In 1993, President Bill Clinton considered nominating her as attorney general. She withdrew from that, because she had once hired an immigrant whose visa had expired.

At the time, many Republicans were severely critical of her. Yet today, congressional Republicans seem to tolerate, even defend, conduct by other officials or nominees that is worse than that by any standard.

But this isn't particularly about Republicans. It's about what we, as citizens, are willing to tolerate from elected officials of any party. We can't, and shouldn't, expect our leaders to perfect, or that they never make mistakes. But we can demand leaders who set high standards for themselves, acknowledge their mistakes, and attempt to make amends.