Laugh? Cry? Both?

Mother Jones has compiled its "Diddly Awards" for the 108th congress, which outlines some of the moving rhetoric and profound accomplishments of our legislature. Some highlights?

••• Rep. Nick Smith (R-Mich.) refuses to name names but has confirmed that during the midnight vote-buying that finally got the Medicare bill out of the House, he was promised "$100,000 plus" to help fund his son Brad Smith's campaign. According to Smith, the Republican extortionists said the money would come from "pharmaceutical business groups." According to columnist Robert Novak, when Smith voted no anyway, Rep. Duke Cunningham (R-Calif.) served as GOP consigliere, informing Smith that his son was "dead meat."

And of course some on Iraq:

••• Sen. Trent Lott (R-Miss.) offered his Iraq strategy: "Mow the whole place down, see what happens."

••• Sen. John Kerry (D-Mass.) explained his vote in favor of the Iraq war: "Did I expect George Bush to fuck it up as badly as he did? I don't think anybody did."

••• Rep. Patrick Kennedy (D-R.I.) explained his opposition to the president's economic policy: "I don't need Bush's tax cut. I've never worked a fucking day in my life."

••• Rep. Fortney H. "Pete" Stark (D-Calif.) opposed the Iraq resolution, saying, "We have a president who thinks foreign territory is the opponent's dugout and Kashmir is a sweater."

Heady days, these.