On the facts: I will cede that

three jerks going to Baghdad as representatives of this country and swallowing

Iraqi propaganda in the middle of hostilities is so outrageous they should

be tossed from Congress. Additionally, turning a memorial into a pep rally

and booing an attendee who has come to show respect demonstrates horribly

bad taste. I have no explanation nor defense for outlandish behavior.

Now, when the President goes

to Congress to ask for something he should ask for under the Constitution,

is it unpatriotic to vote "No"? Is Mr. De Marino equating patriotism

to rubber-stamping the actions of one man? In times of crisis, the Roman

Senate would appoint a dictator, usually for a term of six months. It

seemed to work pretty well for them until they ran into Caesar who foisted

himself on the Senate and then showed no inclination to ever leave. Et

tu, De Marini?

Does the same go for Mr. Bush's

court appointments? I find it just a little ironic that Republicans should

be up in arms over disagreements on judicial philosophy after Jesse Helms

held up Clinton appointments the entire time the man was in office. This

idea of "strict construction" is a chimera held forth by many

who would like to reverse "Brown v. Board of Education", much

less "Roe v. Wade." You want strict construction, we better

give the country west of the Mississippi