When did Senator Edward Kennedy become the first official voice of the Democratic party? It seems that every time the President makes an announcement Sen. Kennedy gets off his barstool and is the first in front of the reporters to completely disagree with whatever decision the President has made. Has his official title now become 'Doubting Thomas'?

I realize that it is not proper to use religious terminology when speaking about a liberal, but, as a fellow Catholic I think its only fitting. He has been reduced by his party to be the angry voice of discontent. The problem is that he isn't taken seriously by many people anymore. When he gets angry or upset he looks like that crazy old man who lived in your neighborhood who would come out on his front step and yell at you in his boxer shorts when a stray ball landed in his yard. He is trying to be the 'Mad as hell and I'm not going to take it anymore!' character from Network, but it just doesn't work.

Take a good look at the past years news stories when President Bush has come out with a statement, announced a nominee or proposed a bill. The first democrat at the microphone with an angry rebuttal or to call the Administration out on 'not playing nice' always seems to be Senator Kennedy. He has been reduced to their toothless attack dog. It is pathetic, really. This administration has bent over backward to get him involved in policymaking and ask for his opinion but the Democratic party has a different agenda for him and he is letting them pull the strings.

I guess the President shouldn't have thrown a toothless attack dog a bone.

Smith Kinney   10 31 05