General Powell had the utter temerity to say this, I believe it was yesterday:

"I think what Rush does as an entertainer diminishes the party and intrudes or inserts into our public life a kind of nastiness that we would be better to do without."

Hard to say that one was out of context, but I suppose not impossible.  Does this sort of thing still send the fat drug addict spewing rage and bile into his microphone?  Can the hideous misanthrope frighten the battle-proven, four-star commanding general?!  How much will Powell have considered beforehand the likely fusillade of ignorant abuse, and does he care at all?

Hmmmnnn, any thoughts?

With a bad reputation for faithlessness you can read about anywhere, Specter should have been providing assurance to Senators who were already miffed to be asked to step aside in seniority.

Instead, he was poking them in the eye with a sharp stick!  This was Biden's initiative -- did they ever have a come-to-Jesus phone call in the light of Specter's increasingly bizarre remarks?

Here's what the now-junior Senator could have been saying:  "While anyone may have differences from time to time, of course I am a loyal Democrat. I'm on a new team now, a team that is generating a lot of excitment, has already shown results, and I'm truly delighted to be here. I am determined to make this work with my fellow Democrats and with our President."

No one except Specter thought his "independent" streak was any great asset -- he indeed seemed to harbor delusions of grandeur.