It seems many of Andrew's readers not only misunderstand the nature of our democratic-republican system -- hint: it's designed to hamper Washington activism and counterbalance the will of the masses -- but, worse, are hotly and openly contemptuous of it.

Disbelieving the sincerity of small government anti-federalists, apparently confounded by legitimate differences of political opinion, they scorn any opposition to their centralizing efforts as idiocy or "nihilism," rather than honest, thoughtful rejection of a particular governing philosophy (one long viewed with suspicion in this country). It's not that they despise the ideas of their adversaries (fine), it's that they despise the very existence of adversaries with contrary notions. Pluralism, to these people, is nothing but a roadblock in the path to national, ahem, greatness. The exercise of free speech and participatory rights degrades rather than enhances our politics and our marketplace of ideas.

When the democratic-republican (not democratic!) process fails to go their way, they cry that a few "morons" too dumb to know what's good for them are ruining it for everyone ("everyone"). Yes, heaven forbid people vote their consciences! Why even bother with elections and legislative mechanisms and all that deliberative, obstructionist claptrap?

Is Andrew now so deranged that he can't realize he's lending the megaphone to some seriously disrespectful, ignorant, self-important, self-centered people here? And to recall that he once guffawed at such Gore-esque liberal indignation. Any of that old boy left?