Letters, calls and the roar of the crowd:
L. W. Helminiak, Eldersburg: On "Saturday Night Live" and in your column I see the beginning of the left's attempt to win back the Congress. Vilify the Republicans. Poke fun at them and make supporting them look stupid. Promote the surviving liberals.
Interesting. I remember when Clinton was elected and the Hollywood left and the press -- often hard to tell the difference -- said, "Hey, we had the election. He's our President. The people have spoken. Let's all support him."
When people like Rush Limbaugh mocked him, there was an outcry from the left. But now, when the opposite occurs, and the entire country told the Clintons to take a walk, you resort to the same tactics that you criticized.
I take satisfaction in a dream I had last night. I dreamed of a bright new flag waving over the Capitol. It had only calendar dates on it. On top was July 4, 1776. On the bottom was Nov. 8, 1994.
The first represented our freedom from British tyranny. The second represents our freedom from Socialist tyranny.
COMMENT: Personally, I prefer the good old Stars and Stripes, but you can fly any flag you want.
The people certainly spoke on Nov. 8, but since only 38.7 percent of eligible voters cast ballots, I don't think you can claim that the "entire country" expressed an opinion.
But now that you are about to be freed from socialism, L. W., which socialism would you like to be freed from first? Social Security or the home mortgage interest deduction?
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Elayne Fedder, Baltimore: I was tempted to hand you the enclosed when I saw you Friday night at Marconi's -- at least I thought it was you, though you look younger in your picture.
Here's a toast to Republicans who know where it's at
And know how to stick it to each Democrat.
So who are they, those good moral men?
Who turned the Dems out and gained power again?
"Contract On America" the hit man is Newt
Squeeze out social programs or give them the boot.
Cut back on Head Start, Job Corps, Medicaid
Give more to the military, but less foreign aid.
Balanced budgets, term limits may seem very wise
As long as it happens to those "other" guys.
There's Gramm and Dole controlling our fate
Who gave meaning to gridlock and spewed forth their hate.
Supreme Court justices, this is a promise
The next one will be more like Clarence Thomas.
Forget about health care and campaign reform
For two years at least the far right is the norm.
Entitlements sadly will have to be capped
The rich will get richer, the elderly zapped
There's those who take solace from Senator Robb
Who saved us from North, that untruthful slob
And we're also left with a Kennedy -- Ted
The last of the liberals whose program is dead
Here's an unabashed liberal who's fought the good fight
Who won't hide in the woodwork from the radical right
Just remember the pendulum always swings back
Though it may take a while till it's back on the track.
So to those who could care here's what I'm all about
I may be depressed, still I'm down but not out!
COMMENT: That wasn't me at Marconi's. The last time I was there somebody tried to read me a very long poem and I haven't been back since.