Power plays.

While John Kerry was using the power of the internet and the patriotic devotion of Democrats to set a new fundraising landmark for the USO's work to support our troops, House Speaker Dennis Hastert was demonstrating his power to punish people who support our troops, ousting Chris Smith from his role as Chair of the Committee on Veterans Affairs.

Smith's sin?

During his four-year tenure, Smith authored twenty-two bills benefiting veterans: increasing veteran education funding through the GI bill by 46 percent, allocating $1 billion for homeless vets and $1.4 billion for expanded healthcare programs, and providing an extra $100 million in benefits for surviving spouses.

Take a note, Mr. Speaker. When you lose Robert Novak, you've blown it...

"The extraordinary purge buttressed the growing impression of arrogance as Republicans enter their second decade of power in the House," Novak wrote.

And this doesn't help a bit...

A top Republican aide justified his party's brutish behavior by praising Smith's replacement, the fiscally hawkish Buyer, as someone who'll be able to "tell the veterans groups, 'Enough is enough.'"

The veterans groups know that, of course. And they know that there isn't enough. And not enough isn't, well, enough.

Why do Republicans hate the men and women who fight for America?