Reality finally dawned on Nixon when a delegation of senior Republicans, including Sen. Barry Goldwater, visited the President to let him know that his support in Congress had evaporated, meaning impeachment and conviction couldn't be avoided. It was time to go, and Nixon soon resigned.

A looming impeachment threat, followed by a resignation, probably isn't in the cards -- Congress has no stomach for it yet, in any case. But a message from a similar group of senior Republicans to Bush that GOP support has vanished may be the only wake-up call that he will hear.

If the right thing (winding down our presence in Iraq) can be done for what turn out to be selfish Republican reasons (they don't want to suffer devastating losses in 2008), well so be it. If that's the only issue that penetrates our President's thick head, let's be glad there's SOMETHING that works.

I'm still waiting for our senior senator from Ohio, George Voinovich, to make that fateful move toward concrete rejection of Bush's Iraq policies. Sooner or later, he and other so-called moderate Republicans must provide that critical mass to tip Congress to a veto-proof majority against this President's misguided war. Won't hold my breath waiting, though, since it will probably take many more months. Ohio's George has been all talk and very little action, a huge disappointment to his home state.

Why, indeed, do Cheney and his cronies wield so much power in the so-called "Bush Administration"?

I've always subscribed to the concept of Occam's Razor -- when there are competing explanations for a phenomenon, the simplest one is almost always correct. While you can't prove it, the simplest and only sensible theory here is good, old fashioned BLACKMAIL.

Cheney et al. KNOW SOMETHING about Dubya and assorted others who SEEM to be in power. That SOMETHING is so deep, dark and scandalous that they cannot refuse a single important thing to Vice President Vader.

Some think of Dubya as a "useful idiot" or Cheney's "cat's paw" -- I sometimes wonder if any President could actually be as dumb or clueless as many of us usually portray Bush (you almost doubt he could be!). But whether he's dumb or coerced by blackmail (or both), he's the wrong man in the wrong job at the wrong time, and so is Cheney.

If F. Scott Fitzgerald was right in saying:

"The test of a first-rate intelligence is the ability to hold two opposed ideas in the mind at the same time, and still retain the ability to function."

...then Sec. Gates and everyone associated with this Iraq war are all complete and utter geniuses. Of course, the fly in that ointment is the last phrase: "...still retain the ability to function." THAT remains to be seen. Not much sign of real functioning at the moment!

This is same old, same old -- just a continuation of the same bogeyman tactic used for YEARS by conservatives. For decades, their mailings have been marked by overheated rhetoric about how the LIBERALS are comin' ta get ya! They want to take your guns, force your pregnant women into involuntary abortions, and mandate that you must allow gay marriage ceremonies IN THE BACKYARD OF YOUR VERY OWN HOME!

The right needs to pump up a scary image in the weak minds of susceptible people, in order to maintain and build support for their own agenda. The left shouldn't fall prey to this by even dignifying this ludicrous spectre of conservatives being forced off the airwaves.

If anyone doubts this bogeyman tactic (who could, really?), a quick visit to the FCC website makes you realize they are STILL fending off the ridiculous assertion that the long-dead Madalyn Murray O'Hair's followers are actively trying to ban religious broadcasters from the air. The right is STILL beating THAT dead horse!

This new "dead horse" is just as dead, but if it works to stir up the yahoos, the right will go for it. Don't give them the satisfaction by falling into their trap.

My son just returned home after nearly 3 months as an "exchange student" at a French university. In this business school program, he was the only American among a much larger group of students from Germany, China, Sweden and other countries.

He was obviously full of stories about his experiences, including comparing and contrasting the U.S. with other countries during late night discussions with his new friends. One issue that reportedly enjoyed unanimity among his foreign friends was complete bewilderment at gun "worship" among many Americans.

I share that bewilderment. It simply doesn't compute in MY poor American brain. While the mantra is always "Guns don't kill, people do", it is indisputable that today's deranged killer wouldn't have been able to murder as many at Virginia Tech with ANY other weapon but a gun.

THANKS for posting this item -- it made me laugh, even after reading stories of the developing horror today from Virginia Tech.

You didn't point out the most ironic part of this particular article, wysiwyg -- the fact that DICK CHENEY actually administered the oath of office to those being sworn in. Yes, Vice President Cheney, that paragon of humility and civility!

THAT'S truly a case of the blackest pot of all warning the kettle against becoming black!