U.S. Sen. Richard Shelby’s next visit to the county should be an interesting one. For the first time since the 1993 legislative session, Shelby (R-Ala.) will be on the wrong side of both Congress and the presidential administration. Not wrong as in we disagree with Shelby’s views, but wrong as in both Congress and the White House are now controlled by the Democrats.

We have a feeling Shelby will provide insight into our government’s course over at least the next two years – until a new Congress is elected in 2010. What Shelby says about his willingness to work with new President Barack Obama will probably prove to be representative of the attitude of most of the Republican majority in Congress.

Not that we aren’t always pleased to see Shelby in town and interested in what he has to say, but the Feb. 18 visit will especially be worth paying attention to.