Politicians know a chance to connect with the little guy when they see one. So it is with the Simpsons.

We all know that Gov. Jim Douglas recently said Vermonters were more interested in the goings-on of Homer Simpson these days than in the Legislature's attempt to override his vetoes. UVM Professor Garrison Nelson suggested it's a statement Douglas might one day regret.

U.S. Rep. Peter DeFazio, D-Ore., jumped in by sending Attorney General Alberto Gonzalez a tongue-in-cheek letter calling for an investigation of the voting that allowed Springfield, Vt., to win the movie premiere over 13 bigger, though obviously lesser, Springfields, including Oregon's. It's the sort of thing Gonzalez might jump on - a chance to investigate Vermont instead of the other way around.

Now, Rep. Peter Welch, D-Vt., has responded to DeFazio with this letter:

Well, Hi-Dilly-Ho-Dilly Neighboreeno DeFazio,

This whole thing sounds like a bad case of sour Oregon cherries.

Investigations by U.S. Attorney General Alberto Gonzalez?

I trust that Mr. Gonzalez has his hands full with another individual who
calls Vermont home. Okiliydokily?

"What does Vermont have? Maple syrup," you wrote. Homer has made his
roots clear, asserting to Marge "I just want to drink a nice glass of syrup like
I do every morning." Spoken like a true Vermonter.

And cows voting on the internet? That may happen in
Shelbyville, but pure Vermont pride carried us over the
top.

Really, don't have a cow man!
Peter

PS: Please
enjoy the accompanying Vermont products and I hope you will join us at the
premier this Saturday in Springfield, Vt. Our 100-seat theatre certainly
can hold one more!

Just a guess, but I think you can expect the politicians to be shouldering their way into the premiere Saturday, each trying to get his or her mug on the screen. Perhaps they are all trying to bank on regular folks' caring way more about the Simpsons than about the mundane issues of government.

- Terri Hallenbeck