Still Investigating Cisneros...

...who, by the way, was convicted in 1999 and has long since paid his fine.

This spring, Republicans and Democrats voiced outrage over the news that independent counsel David M. Barrett was still pursuing a decade-long, $21 million investigation into a crime long confessed and paid for. Without debate, the Senate unanimously agreed to strip Barrett of further funding for his inquiry on former housing secretary Henry G. Cisneros. But, prodded by conservative commentators, House Republican leaders grew convinced that Democrats were trying to suppress embarrassing revelations about the Clinton administration. The Senate provision was ditched behind closed doors, and Barrett and his staff continue to work -- at a cost to taxpayers of nearly $2 million a year -- on an inquiry that seemingly ended 13 months ago.

Sen. Byron L. Dorgan (D-N.D.), who wrote the legislation to cut off Barrett's funding, called the ongoing expenditures "unbelievably stupid."

What exactly is Barrett looking for?

Columnist Robert D. Novak said Dorgan's amendment, inserted "in the dead of the night," would "close a rare window into political foul play at the Internal Revenue Service."

What? When did this supposed "foul play" happen? Is it really worth the time and expense of this investigation ($930,000 in the last year alone) to look for "foul play" by people who might not even work there anymore, under an administration that's been out of office since 2001? I mean, really, this is akin to the people who want to hang around and drink your beer way after the party is over. Seriously, go home.