Although U.S. Sen. Harry Reid’s “war room” has gotten a lot of press, we at Various Things & Stuff have never been too impressed with the operation. The “war room” was more like a “strongly worded warning room,” issuing usually tepid slaps at Republicans while forced to broadcast an equally tepid message from the Democrats, “America can do better.” At times, Reid himself has been more forceful than the man in charge of the “war room,” Jim Manley.

That’s why we’re confused about Reid’s letter of apology to 33 Republicans who were named in a “war room” attack piece that listed them and their contributions from disgraced Republican lobbyist Jack Abramoff, who has pleaded guilty to offering bribes to members of Congress.

What’s the big deal, we wondered? After all, everything in the document was true. Abramoff did give money to those 33 senators and those senators did accept it. Fair game, right?

Not according to Reid, who said in his apology letter the document “went too far, and I want to convey to you my personal regrets.” Manley fell on his sword and said he’d authorized the attack and Reid never saw it before it was released.

What gives? Why is Reid pussyfooting around, when Republicans are giving him rough treatment in lengthy attack documents of their own? Why show weakness in the face of Majority Leader Bill Frist setting up a “war room” of his own? (And you know the Republicans aren’t going to pull their punches.)

Oh, wait. You mean that U.S. Sen. John Ensign was one of the 33 senators attacked? Oh, that can’t be good. Reid loves Ensign, with a love that defies political differences. Reid, according to the above-linked story in the Review-Journal, even called Ensign to apologize.

Well, Jim Manley, learn what many before you, including attorney Ed Bernstein now understand so well: Reid will brook no criticism of the perfectly coifed Ensign. Better get back to America doing better, or whatever that slogan is.

What’s this? Miss Nevada favors Yucca Mountain?

According to the Review-Journal, Miss Nevada Crystal Wosik, 23, of Las Vegas is in favor of the government’s plan to build a nuclear waste repository just 90 miles north of Sin City. It will be the best-built dump anywhere, she says.

But, judges asked her, what about the potential for people to die? “We just have to take one for the team,” she replied.

Now is usually the time we’d say something funny about Miss America contestants being stupid, or marveling that they still do the Miss America Pageant, or wondering if Wosik is aiming for a job in the Bush administration, given her perfect balance of good lucks and total disrespect for (post-womb) human life. Instead, we’ll just let her have her say. After all, we’re totally rooting for Miss California, Dustin-Leigh Konzelman, who’s platform is the importance of character education. And nobody with good character would say we’ve got to “take one for the team” by sacrificing the residents of her home state.

Go, Dustin, go!