Letters With The Stamp Of Disapproval

Sen. Ben Nelson (D-Neb.) sent Bush a letter telling him about "the issues the people of Nebraska have told me they consider to be of primary importance to them." Democratic Sens. Harry Reid and Max Baucus sent Bush a missive requesting "immediate Presidential action to address the problems" associated with his prescription drug program. That's not to be confused with the letter 19 House Democrats wrote asking Bush to "level with the public" in his speech about the "frustration the American people are experiencing" over his drug program.

"Some arrive, others are read about in newspapers but never seem to arrive," e-mailed White House spokesman Trent Duffy, writing generally about the hundreds, maybe thousands, of letters that members of Congress send Bush every year.

Alas, letters are not always the most reliable means of communication, even when they travel only a matter of yards. This point became apparent during the confirmation hearings for Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito when Ted Kennedy insisted to Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Arlen Specter that he sent the Pennsylvania Republican a letter asking him to subpoena documents about an organization Alito belonged to at Princeton University.

"We actually didn't get a letter," the chairman said.

"You did get a letter," Kennedy insisted.

"Now, wait a minute: You don't know what I got."

"Yes, I do, senator, since I sent it."

After a few more minutes, Specter growled thusly:

"I take umbrage at your telling me what I received. I don't mind your telling me what you mailed. But there's a big difference between what's mailed and what's received. And you know that."

Either way, according to Kennedy's office, Specter didn't write back.