Sad is an understatement, but there isn't a single word in the English language which describes "horrified, terribly disappointed and dispirited to tears"...that I know if.
I'd rather have a conservative guarding my back than a left-wing progressive - whatever they call themselves these days - too, ANY day of the week. Conservatives are more loyal and more stable and less likely to break and run when the heat is on than the left wing could ever dream of being.
Oh yeah. And dead on!
It's like....you're in a bad, armed, tense, dramatic,deadly situation, and you have to choose between tommy daschle or President Bush to stand beside you-'Who ya gonna call'? No contest.
However---Lott, the logical choice to Daschle above-doesn't exactly bring to mind strength and resolve, either. Too bad.