The way the government does business in Washington--both parties--has bothered the hell out of me for as long as I've been aware of it. Many years. Many administrations. Hell, all administrations. The kind of heavy-handed techniques described are par for the course in legislation. Ask any junior member of the House.

Are you tracking the highway bill at all, just as an example?

On the other hand, you strutting around as though politics had just been invented in January of 2001 doesn't make you sound very bright.

Want an alternate history? I'll give you one. Let's say Bush had had a sudden attack of conservatism, and pointed out that we can't afford a new entitlement, and if you look at the statistics, a universal program isn't even needed.

What happens?

Well, the Democrats attack him like a shark feeding frenzy. "Bush promised prescription drug coverage! BASTARD!! He's spending money on defense that could go to old people! BASTARD!!"

The Senators sitting near Ted Kennedy would be treated to a red-faced spit frenzy that would require them to dress as though for a Gallagher concert. By the time the Left was done, they would have painted Bush as someone who carves up a living old person every night to offer their beating hearts to the gods of Halliburton.

Next, the Democrats would put forth their own bill. It would cost far, far more than the one now in play (all of their proposals so far have), and largely socialize the drug industry. It would be hammered through Congress using exactly the same techiques that so shock the newspapers now.

And people like you would be fawning over the results as the greatest act of generosity and enlighted social policy the world had ever seen.

Face it, what really is pissing people off is that the Medicare bill has Bush's name on it, and not a prominent Democrat's. And that's pretty much it.