Frist is a big stupid disgrace. But he thinks we are going to forget this and vote him into office in 2008. They are all slimeballs breathing the rarified air of Washington, haughty as McKinney smart enough not to show it through violence. Worse yet, they think we are stupid provencials to be manipulated and lied to. "Those stupid voters. HAHAHA. They just keep allowing us to dilute their power and lifestyle in this country while we enrich ours ensuring the votes of illegals by letting more in and offering them amnesty."
I think you're being a little too harsh - you're assuming our representatives are different from you and I. On the contrary, they are just like us; one only needs to understand human nature to realize that man is governed by fear and greed.
Politicians fear not being re-elected - it's a visceral feeling; greed is the power & perks to be enjoyed if successful.
While a representative republic appears to be a good form of government in theory, it's primary weakness are internal enemies that represent potential votes. And overt external enemy is obvious to all - it is the insidious internal opponents that divide citizens from their representatives.
It's how all societies have fallen throughout time, and is how the US will fall as well.