A Waste of Time - A common refrain these days, among the far right, who seem to find a new use for the "war on terror" every day. First, it's the gay pride observances by various government departments (though not at the Commerce Department), then it's the Senate's consideration of hate crime legislation. Both are "distracting" us from the important business of securing our nation in this dark hour. Well, never fear, the busy folks at Family Research Council and the Traditional Values Coalition were earning their keep by getting their anti-gay sound bites into the media, and good old Trent Lott was right there with them. Twisting our common battle with civilization's enemies into a weapon against fellow Americans seems especially vile, but I guess it is the nature of the great "game" that's played in this town.