Thanks for the explanation, Carol, but your assumptions about me are wrong. I have spent a good portion of my life with my "back up against the wall," so to speak, and a substantial amount of time in courtrooms -- including time spent as a defendant in juvenile court, civil and criminal courts, in a variety of situations where I did not have the upper hand. I also went through a divorce, custody proceedings, etc., and I know how difficult it is for both sides to obtain what they feel is justice. I spent eight years in the US military, never in combat but in some difficult and dangerous situations nonetheless. And I am now a government official, who has seen both bravery and cowardice in the public arena.

Elected officials have an important job to do, and if they aren't willing to do it, even at some risk to their careers, they should get the hell out. However, I also know that it is easy, and often tempting, to excuse one's failure to speak out by pointing to some vague and unseen threat or conspiracy that will target you for doing so. I personally do not believe that any Senator or Congressman in the country today has a great deal to fear from speaking out for what they believe is right concerning the Justice Department's current initiatives. They may find that they lose votes, and perhaps lose office, by expressing opinions that are at odds with the opinions of a majority of their constituents. But that's a price they should be willing to pay, don't you think?