As someone born and raised in Southern California I was disgusted over how voters in my area of the state had nurtured the rise of native son Richard Nixon to political power as he used smear tactics questioning the patriotism of congressional and senatorial opponents Jerry Voorhis and Helen Gahaghan Douglas respectively.

Operating in an age where television was relatively new and had not reached the point of political advertising dominance it now holds, Nixon's operatives used phone calls along with the candidate's slimy proclamations defining who was patriotic, namely himself, and who was not, his opponents.

Nixon maintained a close working relationship with Joe McCarthy up until the time when the Wisconsin demagogue got into trouble, at which time he abandoned him, typical of "Tricky Dick's" swivel-hipped action of opportunism during moments of potential crisis.  After all, at the top of the parade for shutting off McCarthy's water was then Vice President Nixon's boss, President Dwight D. Eisenhower.

Chambliss on Tuesday could be said to have been elected rather than re-elected since that 2002 result remains questionable, as does the result of the Georgia's gubernatorial election.  

james webb, former navy secretary under reagan, in today's nyt...

   Military people past and present have good reason to wonder if the current administration truly values their service beyond its immediate effect on its battlefield of choice.     Military people past and present have good reason to wonder if the current administration truly values their service beyond its immediate effect on its battlefield of choice.