As a civil libertarian, I felt a small cold chill. I don't entirely trust this guy with my constitution, and he was looking like Lurch and like maybe he hadn't slept much in the last couple of days, and if he had it must have been with this suit on.

But also at this hearing, Ashcroft slowly read the names of terrorist suspects that he is looking for, and I felt a little better about him. I know I wouldn't want this freak reading MY name in front of a senate committee. It would put the fear of Yahweh into ME, and I don't scare that easy. I will admit that I like the idea of THIS particular dark cloud hanging over anybody in this country plotting our demise.

In short, John Ashcroft is a crazy, dark SOB — but he's OUR crazy, dark SOB. I suppose this was approximately Nixon's appeal, but Rand knows I'm not proposing making Ashcroft president.

I sure believe in keeping a close eye on this guy though, cause he could go all Jack D Ripper on us. I wouldn't trust him with the nuclear codes. Yes, Mr. Ashcroft, that's just what we need — a little water on the back of the neck and the code.

I don't know how much any of this indicates that he's a more effective head of federal law enforcement than anyone else would be, versus being just a surface emotional reaction on my part.

On the other hand, we haven't had a successful major terrorist attack since 9/11, and surely he deserves some small part of the credit. The arrests keep coming, and the plots keep unraveling. He'll certainly be getting the blame if there IS another big successful domestic terrorist attack.

Yesterday (June 14), there was Ashcroft announcing the arrest and indictment of some Al Qaeda jackass from Somalia who was busted plotting to blow up a mall in Columbus, Ohio. Hey now, I've got people there. I've got a three year old niece in Columbus.

Thank you, then, Mr. Attorney General, and thanks to your staff. I just respectfully request that you try to ignore the old hippies, Christians, and masturbators. They're not the problems.