Dear Bobert,

The only deal we have is to exchange books and ideas. There are five or six titles I'm still considering, and I'll pick one in a day or two.

Mr. Palast's book is available through the library here, and I've requested it.

By the way -- touche. I thought John Ashcroft gave a perfectly miserable interview the other day on the Today Show.

I've always liked him, and I can't believe he's as stupid and insensitive as his defensive and bureaucratic syntax would indicate.

As a conservative and Republican, I've never thought I need apologize to anyone for my principles. That, after all, is what the whole debate is about.

So you may be right. While I still think Mr. Ashcroft is a man of truth and integrity, his vision -- and, sadly, eduation -- may be too narrow for his current responsibilities.

Tony