Playing musical desks
in D.C.

In all the tongue wagging and jowl shaking that has followed Sen. James Jeffords' bolting the Republican Party, none of the talking heads in Washington have explained why the Vermont senator's desk has to be yanked from the GOP's side of the Senate chamber and plunked on the Democrats' side.

For one thing, Jeffords is now calling himself an Independent, not a Democrat. For another, isn't the Republicans' so-called "umbrella of inclusion" big enough to house an independent? Are feelings so bad that if he stays there, his ex-colleagues will kick him under the desk, throw spitballs at him?

And why do the remaining Republican desks have to be dragged over to fill in the puka? Will that hide the fact that there are now only 49 on that side of the aisle?

All of this desk rearranging, lunchroom switching and committee-chairman office swapping is a waste of time and taxpayer money.

So why is it being done? Because with politicians, looks count.

--Cynthia Oi

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