Wednesday, June 29, 2005 | According to Samuel Johnson, “Patriotism is the last refuge of a scoundrel.” Duke Cunningham proves that almost daily, at least I think he does. Unless he’s reciting a cliché, it’s hard to figure out what he is saying. He makes some sense when he touts his patriotism. But when he tried to defend his fetid real estate bonanza, he gave the lamest reply since George Bush’s last unrehearsed comment. Our congressman defended a fishy 700 grand profit with, “I never smoked marijuana.”
And Duke ought to step aside to write his memoirs while hoping his colleagues in Congress don’t take bribery as seriously as they did a sexual peccadillo by a president.
Keith Taylor is a retired Navy officer living in Chula Vista, Calif. He can be reached at