Senator Richard Durbin

Would you like to see the prototype of what is wrong in politics today? Look no further than Senator Dick Durbin's recent speech on the floor of the Senate.

First, Senator Durbin states, "If I read this to you and did not tell you that it was an FBI agent describing what Americans had done to prisoners in their control, you would most certainly believe this must have been done by Nazis, Soviets in their gulags, or some mad regime — Pol Pot or others — that had no concern for human beings."

For days, Sen. Durbin (D-IL) refused to retract or apologize for his outrageous statement. However, after facing much pressure, Sen. Durbin followed up his treasonous remark with, "I have learned from my statement that historical parallels can be misused and misunderstood," Durbin explained. "I sincerely regret if what I said caused anyone to misunderstand my true feelings: Our soldiers around the world and their families at home deserve our respect, admiration and total support."

Of course, shortly thereafter, Senator Durbin responded to talk of his apology with the following, ""It's not that my remarks were wrong or that there's any need for apology," Durbin told the St. Louis Post-Dispatch on Friday. "It's the fact that [my critics] have successfully twisted them out of context." Durbin blamed conservatives for his troubles, saying that he refused to be "intimidated by the right-wing message machine."

And finally, after there was talk of censure, Senator Durbin was really sorry, even seeming to be choked up by his own lack of couth, "Some may believe that my remarks crossed the line," said the Illinois Democrat, at times holding back tears. "To them I extend my heartfelt apologies."

Recently, I watched a program w/ Senator George Mitchell (D-ME). What ever happened to respectable politicians like him.