When you can't defeat the message, kill the messenger. That's a tactic of most political cartoonists, comedians who can't be "funny" at anything other than borderline-slander, and others who are often envious of another's ability to excel.

Making fun of people for the sake of a laugh at someone's expense used to be considered as bad manners. Yet, slap a political party label on someone and it's considered open season on the person, their family and all around them.

And we wonder why so many exceptional people who could do wonders for this nation shun public service. With all the Bruce Tinsley's, David Letterman's and Saturday Night Live's - and those who encourage them by adoration - around us, it's more of a surprise that anyone would want to try to make a difference.

And if it were any of us, our families or friends dragged through the muck or made fun of for the sake of a rating or more money, we'd be outraged at the unfairness of it all. But, what the heck, we don't know these people and (more importantly) they don't know us, so let's have a laugh....