There's a long tradition of conservative Democrats in the General Assembly from southern Delaware, especially Sussex County. Reps. Bill Gordy, Howard Clendaniel and Lou Harrington come to mind, and from Kent County one Ruth Ann Minner. Of course, there also has been a line of conservative Democrats and Republicans from above the canal: Republican Sen. Ev Hale and Rep. Jack Billingsley and Democrat Sen. Cal McCullough and Republican Rep. Dick Sincock. And we can't leave out Democratic Rep. John "Matty" Matushefske.

But two of the most famous conservative state lawmakers, who many have forgotten, are directly responsible for Democrats celebrating their 32nd year of controlling the state Senate. In 1973, former Republicans J. Donald Isaacs of Townsend and Tony Cicione of Elsmere changed their party affiliations, crossed over the aisle in Legislative Hall and gave Democrats control of the state Senate. Isaacs was awarded president pro tem for his kind act, and Cicione became head of the Joint Finance Committee. Both positions pay bonus salaries.

The Democrats then held the Senate by one vote, and they've kept it ever since by varying slim majorities.

Nowadays such political shenanigans in Delaware would more likely involve a conservative Democrat going to the Republican side. But since the infamous Isaacs-Cicione defection, nothing like it has happened. Well, there was something recently that's kind of close. Republican Rep. Wally Caulk quit the party and declared himself an independent a few months ago. But he'd already planned to move out of his district and he isn't running for re-election, blaming mean old Republicans for not allowing him to participate in milk and cookies.

Enter Sen. Bob Venables, the venerable Christian right conservative and registered Democrat of Laurel. A clear DINO -- Democrat in name only -- he's the latest member of the coalition of unlikely politicians who have spoken out for changes in the state's prison health care system.

Venables joins Reps. Hazel Plant, D-Wilmington, and Wayne Smith, R-Clair Manor, Sens. Margaret Henry, D-Wilmington East, and Charlie Copeland, R-Greenville. (Quick-- name the last time you saw lawmakers from Wilmington and Greenville behind the same cause.)

After lobbing a few obligatory shots at the "liberal" News Journal, which he says he doesn't often agree with, Venables offered an assessment of the paper's series on prison health care. Something's not right, Venables in effect said. He's correct, of course.

Democrat Sen. Karen Peterson, as it turns out, also has been seeking legislative involvement on the issue from behind the scenes.

The only person missing from the table is that former Kent County representative, Ruth Ann Minner.