Q:  What's more discouraging than watching Congressional Democrats hang their hopes on John McCain standing against the recent detainee bill? 

A:  Expecting China to support and implement a tougher sanction regime against North Korea.

Well, to be fair to the Chinese, they do have their own interests in regards to North Korea, not all of which coincide with our own.  Although the Chinese have carried a lot of water for us the last few years in the multi-lateral talks over ending the North Korean nuclear program, its hard to escape the fact that much of what the North Koreans are doing is directed not at Japan, Russia or China but (brace yourself)...the United States.  Just remember the Chinese aren't worried about being hit with North Korean nukes, we are.  Nor are the North Koreans worried about the Chinese bombing them back to the stone age.  Ironically, while we're hung up on not rewarding bad behavior, North Korea seems to think that's the only way we'll take notice.  I recommend Heather Hurlbutt's two cents on the matter over at Democracy Arsenal.