Let's all look back into the misty fog of history -- oh, wait, it isn't all that misty or foggy, since it was only two days after the November 2004 election that (SIGH) re-elected Dubya. Here's what our fearless leader had to say then about political mandates, spending "political capital", etc. What, exactly, has changed, other than the fact that Democrats obviously have a REAL mandate and have earned REAL political capital, even under terms defined by Dubya himself two years ago?

This comes from his post-election news conference of Nov. 4, 2004:

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Q Do you feel more free, sir?

THE PRESIDENT: Oh, in terms of feeling free, well, I don't think you'll let me be too free. There's accountability and there are constraints on the presidency, as there should be in any system. I feel -- I feel it is necessary to move an agenda that I told the American people I would move. Something refreshing about coming off an election, even more refreshing since we all got some sleep last night, but there's -- you go out and you make your case, and you tell the people this is what I intend to do. And after hundreds of speeches and three debates and interviews and the whole process, where you keep basically saying the same thing over and over again, that when you win, there is a feeling that the people have spoken and embraced your point of view, and that's what I intend to tell the Congress, that I made it clear what I intend to do as the President, now let's work to -- and the people made it clear what they wanted, now let's work together.

And it's one of the wonderful -- it's like earning capital. You asked, do I feel free. Let me put it to you this way: I earned capital in the campaign, political capital, and now I intend to spend it. It is my style. That's what happened in the -- after the 2000 election, I earned some capital. I've earned capital in this election -- and I'm going to spend it for what I told the people I'd spend it on, which is -- you've heard the agenda: Social Security and tax reform, moving this economy forward, education, fighting and winning the war on terror.

...for the first time he encounters Dick Cheney after this incident. Cheney's already famously suggested that Sen. Patrick Leahy should attempt a physically impossible sexual act, right on the floor of the U.S. Senate.

Oh, the possibilities! What might spill from the enchanting mind and lips of our enchanting Vice President? The media had better review existing rules about the words and phrases that can be printed or broadcast -- wouldn't want to run afoul of the FCC or other watchdogs who guard the public sensibility!

This is copied verbatim from Article 2, as approved by the House Judiciary Committee in July 1974 during the Nixon impeachment proceedings -- let's all simply remove "Richard M. Nixon" and substitute the name of the Current Occupant:

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Article 2

Using the powers of the office of President of the United States, Richard M. Nixon, in violation of his constitutional oath faithfully to execute the office of President of the United States and, to the best of his ability, preserve, protect, and defend the Constitution of the United States, and in disregard of his constitutional duty to take care that the laws be faithfully executed, has repeatedly engaged in conduct violating the constitutional rights of citizens, impairing the due and proper administration of justice and the conduct of lawful inquiries, or contravening the laws governing agencies of the executive branch and the purposes of these agencies.

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I believe Rep. Charles Rangel and Sen. Trent Lott may be the only remaining House Judiciary Committee members still sitting in Congress -- wonder if Rangel in particular would care to compare and contrast Nixon's offenses with Dubya's different, but arguably worse, high crimes and misdemeanors against this country and our Constitution?