Rhody Pols in National Spotlight

Rhody's Congressional delegation was in the spotlight this weekend. First, Senator Jack Reed was on CBS' Face the Nation doing battle with Republican Senator Lindsey Graham, of South Carolina, on health care reform. Reed voiced support for a public option, while acknowledging an "active debate" on alternatives to a straight public option: an opt-out provision for states and a trigger that would allow the public option to kick in if private insurers are unable to meet certain metrics for care. But Graham had the headline-grabbing quote, labeling the House-passed version of the bill, which includes a public option, "dead on arrival to the Senate."

Last night, it was US Representative James Langevin's turn, sounding warnings on 60 Minutes last night about a pet concern: cyberterrorism. The issue probably doesn't move voters - too abstract until there's a major, widely publicized incident. But Langevin's appearance, heavily promoted by his staff, lends a certain gravitas. And the nation's vulnerabilities, if not the stuff of everyday news accounts, are beyond worrisome: our utilities, banking system and even weapons systems are under assault. Langevin says the country is in a sort of pre-9/11 moment and must act. He may be right.