  WILLIAMS: The betrayal of Congressman West   Can someone
please explain to me why the Republican Party in Florida allowed
Rep. Allen B. West to be gerrymandered out of his congressional
district?  Mr. West is the most prominent and best-spoken
elected conservative in the United States. He's a motorcycle-
riding war hero, a passionate Christian and a patriot. He's the
first black Republican member of the House from Florida since
Reconstruction, and he is as strong a vice-presidential
candidate as anyone else. But now he might not even have his
seat in Congress next year. Why do we want to take one of our
best players out of the game?  It would make sense if this were
Massachusetts or California: If a Democrat-majority state had
tried to force out Mr. West, we could easily see why. But this
is a battleground state, and one whose Legislature is run by his
fellow Republicans. While some might think that it might be
better to have someone safe, someone timid, in such an
environment, I disagree wholeheartedly. It