How do they do it?

How do they explain "a culture of life" that supports the death penalty? Freedom that denies "choice"? "Free elections" in Iraq where not everyone gets to vote? An American culture that allows for prison torture and spying on its own populace? Cut backs in Social Security and health care. Compliments for vigilantes at the border. Add it up.

Why aren't we calling them on it? In blunt terms? Why is Robert Byrd vilified for liking the "nuclear option" to Nazi tactics, but there's not a peep when Santorum says the filibuster is "the equivalent of Adolf Hitler in 1942 (during World War II)," declaring, "'I'm in Paris. How dare you invade me. How dare you bomb my city. It's mine...'"

Every little "give" is a paint stroke in a portait they are painting. Before we turn around it will be finished and hung on the wall. We need to be shouting our lungs out. Marching in the streets. And being vigilant as hell.

Bills passed on friday afternoon with attachments about the environment need to be flagged in Monday's paper. Public television can't be turned into a propaganda unit for more of the above. Fair and balanced can't come to mean what it does on Fox.

They govern by fear and we need to be fearless. There for each other. There is power in numbers.

This week is critical. Let's let our congressional leaders know we care. That we're there behind them. And let's cross our fingers and toes...and yes, even pray. We're gonna need help.