Are you a "Republican"? (shhh!)

Oh, this is priceless. Now the rats are not only leaving the sinking ship, but they're denying they ever sailed in her:

The campaign flier is elegantly done. One page on fine stock paper, multicolored on both sides, with a detailed list of the money and projects Pennsylvania Republican Rep. Jim Gerlach has brought to his 6th District. There's a photograph of the handsome two-term congressman and several hundred words outlining his record in this elegant mailing to his constituents.

One word, however, is conspicuously missing: Republican.

Instead, the mailing bills Gerlach as "An Independent Voice, Working for You."

"Damn you, George [Bush]. Damn you and all who sail in you."
--paraphrasing "Mother Russia", Connie Sachs, in John Le Carre's Smiley's People (and I can bet that Meister John is enjoying this too).