Tolerance? I don't think so

In honor of Independence Day week, I told friends that I should try to be more tolerant of others. Tolerance is in short supply in Washington these days. Intolerance and anger are more in vogue.

So here is an attempt at tolerance.

Take Ann Coulter, the propaganda doyenne of the right. In her latest book, she insinuates that liberals are anti-God. She is hardly tolerant, so forget me.

How about Sen. Jim Bunning, Republican of Kentucky, who said the New York Times should be investigated for treason because of its disclosure of secret bank transfer investigations by the government? A Hall of Fame baseball pitcher, Bunning struck out on this fool's errand. No tolerance for him on that score.

William Bennett, a figure from past GOP administrations, was hot and bothered on NBC's Meet the Press this week about the Times's publishing of the bank story. An admitted and compulsive gambler, Bennett rolled snake eyes in his moaning and groaning. Can I be tolerant of him?

As for Rush Limbaugh, forget any tolerance. After getting caught at an airport with Viagra prescribed to him but with his doctor's name, the windbag of talk radio deserves little tolerance.

Finally, there is Vice President Cheney, who is the most secretive veep in memory and a violent hater of the press. Cheney is orchestrating the Bush administration's concerted attack on the press. As one who has been in many political campaigns, including his own in Wyoming, he knows this is a transparent effort to stir up the adherents on the right and other press snipers.

Sorry, I am unable to be tolerant when dealing with this crowd in our midst.