French Dis
Apparently while the Republicans were ramming through an ugly bunch of amendments to the Homeland Security Bill through congress (which among other things provided a substantial amount of pork to Texas A&M and limited the liabilities of companies that make fault anti-terrorism equipment, even in the event of intentional wrongdoing), Ted Kennedy was AWOL. He was not there for the vote and not their to lobby fence sitters to vote against the sops to special interests, but in Paris for the opening of an exhibit of Jackie Kennedy's Dresses.

I suppose that other senior law makers have taken some time off, even in the days before imporant votes, but this is still an asinine thing to do.