Remember back a few years ago when Bill Clinton was facing off against Slobodan Moloschovich? The president made an important point of stripping that leader of his station and dignity by not referring to him by his proper title, but instead by referring to him as "Mr. ...". I've noticed that for quite some time, the media tends to refer to President Bush as Mr. Bush, which makes me wonder if there is some agenda there that isn't acknoledged. Then again, on the basis that I really don't feel like acknoledging he is president, I'm inclined to do the same. It used to be that people did revere the instituition -- is it apathy, a lack of care, or disrepect that drives the current system of titles and address?

Maybe I'm atypical, but I am very much aware that Represenative Cramer represents my area, and Senator Shelby (whom I greatly disagree with) is our senator. I suppose maybe we've all grown disinfranchised by the situations up in Washington, D.C. and are eschewing any from of formal address as a means of removing any previous respect our leaders had due to the current behavior.