Uh... Peter? Seriously, there are really only two scenarios I can think of here: 1) you weren't paying attention when the vote was called, and you thought the issue at hand was something most excellent like "free healthcare for all kids"; or 2) you were paying attention and you deliberately voted "yes" to condemn MoveOn's PAC for running the Betrayus ad in the New York Times.

Either one reflects poorly on you.

If you were simply asleep at the wheel then wake the hell up; Rome is burning and y'all appear to be playing with yourselves down there in DC. The Democrats didn't get a majority last time so a bunch of clueless newbies could prove how incredibly badly the party still sucks after so many years in the wilderness. Shape up, or come back to Vermont and we'll send someone competent in your place next time.

But. If you actually voted to condemn the MoveOn ad, then you've really been smoking too much of the Beltway weed. You're supposed to protect the First Amendment, remember? The one about protecting free speech? There's no sub-clause that says anything about "except calling out the commander-in-chief's lying lackeys for their dismal performance and lethally deceptive inability to face the facts." Really, I've checked. It doesn't say anything about a ban on pointing out loudly and clearly that Petraeus is a petty enabler of the worst foreign policy blunder, like, ever. And since you and the rest of your colleagues seem to have such a hard time doing anything useful about our sorry state of affairs, it was entirely appropriate that MoveOn showed the courage you so lamentably lack.

Alas, when the Administration badly needed a diversion so the nation wouldn't focus too much on the failed surge and the failed war and the endless loss of life and treasure, you fell for it, hook, line and sinker. And so help me, you decided it was important to formally sneer at a newspaper ad. In light of your recent "harsh words" about Petraeus and his testimony, your actual voting record here is all the more hypocritical and disappointing.

Please tell us all that you really just screwed up and meant to vote "no." Heck, you can come back to Vermont, take a hike, chill out, get a grip, then head back down and do what the people of Vermont want you to do; get the war ended, and stop wasting time on petty toddler tantrums and posturing by the petulant war-mongers across the isle.

Actually, this is what I just sent off to my Congressman:

Dear Peter Welch,

As a supporter of your campaign for Congress I was dismayed to learn that you today voted with the Republicans in Congress to condemn MoveOn's ad highlighting General Petraeus's history of deceipt and betrayal of the American people.

While you may not agree with MoveOn's tactics or their message the pathetic spectacle of mock outrage really should have been easy enough for a savvy yankee to see thru. These were the same Republicans who had no problem with the Swiftboating of John Kerry not that long ago.

I really want to believe that your vote was cast in error and that you didn't mean to support the condemnation of free speech. If you sincerely meant to cast that vote I would be very curious to hear your rationale for doing so.

Sincerely,