MOBILE, Alabama — From a self-interested standpoint, people here in Alabama are lamenting the loss of clout their state will suffer when veteran Republican U.S. Sen. Richard Shelby retires in two years. But his pending retirement, announced Feb. 8, will deprive not only the state but the nation of a man with a habit of being uniquely right on key issues.

Before explaining why, let it be clear that Shelby had his flaws. He had a tendency to play political hardball when entirely unnecessary; he needlessly hoarded millions in campaign cash that could have been better used to help elect other conservatives; and he was notoriously opaque in his dealings with the media, rarely answering questions directly when roundabout, pointless countrified vignettes could be used to obfuscate or dissemble.