THIS WOULD HAVE MADE A GREAT QUOTE TO USE ON THIS WEEK, MEET THE PRESS, OR FACE THE NATION

"He made a lot of bad decisions, that in my opinion a lot of kids have died because of his bad decisions...I called for his resignation a couple of years ago and...don't let the screen door hit you."

Congressman Gene Taylor (D - MS), commenting on the resignation this week of Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld. He was also quoted as saying that the former SecDef "didn't give a flip" about the troops in Iraq.

Taylor, a conservative Democrat, represents Southern Mississippi where I was born and raised. He won reelection with an 80 percent majority, with only token opposition from a far-right Republican challenger.

He knows just how many of his constitutents along the Mississippi Gulf Coast felt in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. His own home was destroyed in the storm, and like many of those he represents, he battled his insurance company over benefits.

Taylor had a nice piece done by USA Today Monday. Now that the Democrats are in control of the House, he looks to earn chairmanship of an Armed Services subcommittee.