It usually passes quickly...

...thank goodness, but I'm sometimes stricken with a wave of sympathy for some of the old line Republicans who find themselves trapped in the clutches of the radical destructionists who have shoved their anti-American agenda to the front of the GOP's attention.

Take Dick Cheney. Now, I generally reserve the 'poster child for evil bastard' slot for the Veep, but in many way's he's a throwback to a time when Republicans seemed like better people - largely, of course, because they were in the minority and couldn't act on their worst impulses. Wrong, of course, but somehow better.

Cheney's always seemed a bit uncomfortable with the destructionist social agenda. He'll mouth the right words when a PAC check is on the line, of course, but his heart's never been in it. Nope, he's from the wing of old school Republicanism based in the idea that 'what's good for American business is good for America...and what's good for Dick Cheney's business is best of all.' Greed is an agenda that may push at some ethical boundaries, but can ultimately be contained within a Constitutional framework with relatively few indictments and fewer convictions. The destructionist agenda requires the destruction of that very Constitutional framework, and that's going a bit far even for some of the most rock ribbed Republicans.

Not really a surprise, then, to see the Veep joining the growing chorus of Republican voices willing to toss the chief destructionist over the side...

Cheney said he backed efforts to help save Terri Schiavo's life, but strongly disagreed with House Majority Leader Tom DeLay (R-Texas), who wants retribution against judges who blocked restoration of her feeding tube.

"I don't think that's appropriate . . . There's a reason why judges get lifetime appointments," he said.

Dick Cheny giving a lesson in separation of powers to Tom DeLay.

Almost makes him seem like a...nope. The wave of sympathy has passed.