Wow -- a week since I've written anything here. Nothing much to say, I guess... same old same old. Upon further research, though, I must say that I disagree with my mom: Jim Jeffords has not, in fact, restored my faith in humanity. Sure, I'm pleased that the committee chairs will go back to the Democrats, etc., but I'm not terrifically impressed with Jeffords himself. It seems like there have been plenty of reasons for him to switch parties in the past, his ideology never really matched mainstream Republicans', and this decision was made at this time because he was personally slighted by some of the more tactless GOP members and by Bush himself. Well, it's stupid politics on their part to be so presumptuous when their margin is -- was -- so slight, but it doesn't make me admire Jeffords particularly. This isn't the fourth grade; you shouldn't make huge decisions that affect a lot of people because the popular kids are making fun of you.