Can you believe the nerve of the Capitol Police? First they make Cynthia McKinney assault one of their officers, and now they cause Rep. Patrick Kennedy to run his car into a security barrier. After taking evasive action following a near collision by a police cruiser, Rep. Kennedy smashed his car up at 2:45 this morning. The representative's attempt to avoid the reckless cops by driving with his lights off, like his quick driving reflexes after the police officer nearly killed him, was to no avail. Kennedy's driving skills probably saved the officer's life, but now the ingrate claims, get this, that Kennedy was drunk! Not only that, but the police have cast aspersions on the congressman's explanation that he was in a hurry to make a floor vote. The man was just trying to do his job, and the thanks he gets is all this negative publicity. What was he supposed to do, miss the early-morning floor vote? No way, no how. He's a Kennedy, and he takes his job as a public servant seriously. Apparently, C-SPAN has joined the Capitol Police in the conspiracy as well. Curiously, the network has no video of the House of Representatives vote at quarter of three this morning that Congressman Kennedy heroically rushed to make. Gone, as well, is the bill to be voted on. The entire Republican caucus, too, conveniently decided to miss the vote, lending credence to this Internet conspiracy theory that there was never a vote at 2:45 a.m. in the first place. Where did they dream up that wild idea? Some people will believe anything, I guess.

Patrick J. Kennedy was one of the top House Democrat recipients of money from Jack Abramoff's clients. And remember: Chappaquiddick Ted was the genius behind our current immigration woes.

This must be especially delicious to a native Beantowner. Ha-ha!

What is up with the Capitol Police? To whom, precisely, are they beholden?

Sorry...Ted Kennedy is responsible for the illegal immigration HOW? Other than the many poor huddled masses yearning to breathe free that are likely cleaning the toilets at his mansion, I just don't see the link.

Ted Kennedy is often credited with stewarding the 1965 immigration bill that opened up legal immigration to greater numbers, and did away with rules regarding new immigrants to reflect the ethnic composition of America. I think that's what Donkey Cons is getting at.

I knew that. I just wanted to see if, you know, you guys...did.

perhaps Patrick should have "hitched" a ride with his Uncle Ted, he could have avoided all this foofarah.

Darn! I knew the answer and would have passed that test. Oh well. Probably will get many more chances to bash that useless load in future.

With regard to his spawn: was listening to a call in this morning and a guy who was a Capital cop weighed in to say that the reason the CP does not (typically) make it hard on the solons is that they are budgeted and supported directly by Congress.

Anticipating the rebuttal question, he said that the McKinney deal was unique only because she has a long history of abusing the cops and skirting the rules to the point that it's been an ongoing security issue.

Hope I still get an 'A'.

You know it's summer in Hyannis when the first Kennedy drives down main street on the sidewalk.