It seemed to me the a**wipe limp dic* Senators must have been reading the polling numbers PRIOR to Ashcroft's appearance. They were relatively subdued if contrasted to their venomous display during Big John's nomination hearings.
Congress is trying to be "players" in the war on terrorism by using oversight to stay involved. However, they should have used their Constitutional power to declare war to be partners in this. Instead, they gave the President the power to take any and all means necessary to conduct the war. Now that Bush is doing so, Congress is complaining.
They only have themselves to blame. They can still declare war if they want to. Now, that would make news and put the focus back on them.
-PJ