Even the most cursory examination of the record of the last six years would scream at anyone. We are at the mercy of a madman.

President Bush spends billions on a murderous adventure. He cuts health care for millions, including grievously wounded veterans. He opens the treasury to special interests while he and his minions cash big checks from oil companies and pharmaceuticals.

The military service that he worked hard to avoid has become a broken hulk that will take years to fix, and he has almost single-handedly put us in everlasting debt.

We Mainers have watched in dismay our senators going along with the Bush program for the most part. Once in a while they vote against one or two proposals to look independent, but mostly they behave themselves.

A couple of weeks ago, Sen. Susan Collins thought it would be wise to investigate a bunch of poor folks in New Orleans. She stayed clear of the quagmire of the Middle East and the Republican money machine Halliburton, of course.

To watch a crime unfold and to do nothing is to abet the crime. There are ample smoking guns in the administration to demand years of investigation. The fact that our esteemed senators are not doing so is proof of malfeasance. Anybody have a recall petition I can sign?

James I. Scroggy

Blue Hill