1. The Branch Davidians shot and killed four peace officers trying to serve a duly-executed search warrant. Case closed. (Maybe some of our Reno-hating friends want to live in a country where suspects can pick and choose which search warrants they will honor -- not me.)

2. During the '60s and '70s, law enforcement agents smashed into apartments where Black Panthers and other radicals were living, shot first, and then figured out who was who afterward. I don't recall any cries of outrage or complaints about "jack-booted" thugs from any Republicans. I guess they're only offended when the victims are white.

3. The reason John Ashcroft was available to serve as A.G. is he was rejected by Missouri voters in favor of a dead man. If you're too conservative for Missouri, you're way out there.