The capstone to Jim McDermott's embarrassment of Seattle is placed.

No, not the Hussein-funded junket of useful idiots to Baghdad in 2002.

No, not his Baghdad pronouncement that "the president would mislead the American people..." (How conveniently McDermott and his acolytes lament a loss of worldwide prestige that they themselves scripted!)

No, McDermott's capstone is his $1,750,000 total bill for legal fees and civil penalties, combined with 10 years of spilt ink and our annoyance in his self-absorption.

Back in '98 McDermott should have thanked his lucky stars that he dodged criminal prosecution for fencing an illegal wiretap and simply apologized to those whose Constitutional rights he spiked with his jackboots. Rather, McDermott decided to precipitate a 10-year civil case that clogged our taxpayer-funded federal courts. How much did that cost me, the taxpayer, and can I mail a bill to McDermott.

Jim, why didn't you simply hand over that wiretap to law enforcement and not to a commercial enterprise called the New York Times? The political glory you so crave would have been yours still. Only without expense to taxpayers and now to those handing you dollars for Congressional favors.

Craig Keller

Alki