"...you're probably going to get mixed reviews."

This post's title is taken from the latter half of a comment by New York Mets star, David Wright, shrugging off a reporter's questions about Vice President Cheney being booed at Tuesday's Washington Nationals home opener.

Most press accounts of Tuesday afternoon's reaction to Cheney characterized it as a mix of boos and applause.

Well, let me say this: I was sitting in Section 227, Row 3, Seat 5...and if I could use one word to describe the reaction to Cheney, it would be: ferocious.

I was absolutely stunned by the reaction to the Vice President. This was no mixed reaction, no range of boos and cheers, no alternating chorus by GOPers and Dems in the audience. This was a long, widespread, angry reaction by nearly every fan in attendance.

When the PA Announcer announced that Vice President Cheney was the guest of honor who would be throwing the ceremonial first pitch, the crowd erupted almost as one in a long, angry chorus of boos. The boos lasted several minutes, and only near the very end did a smattering of applause arise to counter (futilely) the volume and ferocity of the boos.

Personally, I had a very mixed reaction to what I witnessed. First, I was embarrassed, even ashamed -- and especially to stand next to two older gentlemen who were veterans of service in the US military and obviously could not believe what they were seeing and hearing.

As a child of the military, I was raised to respect the high offices of our country, regardless of the personalities temporarily inhabiting them. So, it would never occur to me to boo the President or Vice President, or frankly any individual holding a role of high authority and responsibility within an administration. Moreover, I was somewhat embarrassed at the behavior of my fellow citizens and baseball fans. I thought it beneath them to boo.

Second, upon reflection, I am concerned. The booing -- particularly its intensity and duration -- suggest to me an articulation of a deeply, strongly felt anger toward the Administration. It suggests to me the kind of anger that has had destructive consequences for the Republic's faith in itself and its leadership in times past.

Media outlets have already begun to compare Bush's last two years in office to Nixon's. And perhaps they're not wrong.

Perhaps I'm reading too much into a few minutes' experience at a baseball game. But, I'll also say -- you had to be there. It was UNREAL.