Friday, 7 May 2004 - 9:56 AM EDT

That town hall meeting ought to be a real algonquin round table.

It's a shame that this is what the world is going to know Cumberland for, because there are a number of good, decent people there. And all around, it's not a terrible place.

The problem has always been that the geographic seperation of the area by the mountains has also shaped the personality of the people. New ideas are bad. New people are suspect. Cumberland's caught in a time warp. Now, there blinding sense of loyalty is going to make them look foolish and ridiculous. These are the only people in the world who are attempting to make excuses for the behavior of these soldiers, and they will never, ever waver in their support, regardless of what evidence will be offered.

This is such an open and shut case for them: These soldiers are from Cumberland. The world is accusing them of something. Hence, these soldiers are innocent.

Next Case.

Saturday, 8 May 2004 - 9:42 AM EDT

DISPATCHES FROM CUMBERLAND:

I spoke with my brother Patrick last night. For those who don't know him, he's 22 and living in Cumberland. He called to ask me what I thought about this whole prison abuse scandal. He was shocked and appalled at the images he's been seeing. He said he was utterly capitvated by the Rummy hearings yesterday, blowing off some friends in order to clean his car out and listen to them live on the radio. The interesting thing about this is that I was listening to the Dan Patrick Show on ESPN radio yesterday afternoon in my office.

Anyway, Rummy announced yesterday that there were actually worse photographs on the horizon. Also, the girl from Ft. Ashby, WV (home to the other side of my family -- I've quite the hillbilly pedigree) has been formally charged.

I can understand Rummy keeping Congress out of the loop during these apparently on going investigations into prisoner abuse, but he also kept the president in the dark. If that's the case, I'm starting to think his resignation may not only be politically prudent, but an appropriate course of action due to his activities. Any thoughts?