To be in this conversation?

Brig. Gen. Michael Walsh, with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, was testifying on the Louisiana coastal restoration process in the wake of Hurricane Katrina. He began to answer one of Boxer’s questions with “ma’am” when Boxer immediately cut him off.

“You know, do me a favor,” an irritated Boxer said. “Could say ‘senator’ instead of ‘ma’am?'”

“Yes, ma’am,” Walsh interjected.

“It’s just a thing, I worked so hard to get that title, so I’d appreciate it, yes, thank you,” she said.

“Yes, senator,” he responded.

Senator, if you really need your ego stroked that badly, we don’t need you in Washington. Yes, we know you are a senator, and I could probably understand if he was addressing you by your first name or something, but he was showing an appropriate level of respect for your position already. Your comments are more appropriate for a monarchy than a Republic.