Salute to RedState's Erick Erickson...

You've got to hand it to RedState's Erick Erickson for having the courage of his convictions -- something sorely lacking in too many Republicans these days.

Conservative bloggers are by nature competitors, but we also are allies working toward the same goal (in fact, Erick and I both recently participated in a New Media panel for a conservative organization).

As such, it's important to give credit where credit is due, and Erickson deserves credit for moving RedState toward becoming the premier conservative "activist" blog (as opposed to merely an opinion blog) -- as well as for having the guts to call-out the liberals and weak-kneed Republicans, alike.

Taking on Minority Leader Mitch McConnell recently, Erickson wrote: "I've said he lost his testicles and is now spreading a cancer of capitulation throughout the Senate Republican Conference. We need to send Mitch some balls." As part of his effort, I'm told more than 500 people sent golf balls (or other novelty items) to McConnell.

This, of course, is fraught with danger. Criticizing powerful people always is. That's not to say that he's in physical danger, but careers have been destroyed for less. Still, Erickson hasn't shied away from controversy.

Erickson's foes (or perceived foes) have tried everything from complaining about him to people who might sit down and "discourage" him from such reckless behavior, to pointedly mentioning him during speeches. At a recent dinner timed to coincide with CPAC, RNC chairman Michael Steele called-out Erickson for not endorsing his candidacy, asking him publicly: "How do ya like me now?".

Rather than backpedaling, the criticism seems to have only emboldened Erickson, who recently took-on Rush Limbaugh's "conservative" critics -- and even today he is taking on David Brooks.

In a world where Republicans are afraid to speak up, lest they offend someone, Erickson's willingness to go head-to-head with some of the most powerful leaders in the GOP and conservative intelligentsia is refreshing.