Christy Hardin Smith (I typo'd her name the first time) at FDL has several good posts up regarding actions that can be taken. But I'm guessing the odds are less than 1 in 10 that the Congress will actually do anything, don't you think? And I have given up on the press altogether.

I am sick and tired of all the Left Wing bawling and crying and righteous indignation that goes absolutely nowhere.

OK, so you outlined the problem. Now where is your solution?

I don't dismiss this. Rather, it looks to me like a heartfelt and honest utterance of "bawling and crying and righteous indignation". As well as an anguished plea from a reader and fellow citizen.

While I don't agree with Owens' urging Glen Greenwald (and his readers) to go out and get our collective heads cracked open, Greenwald and certain other influential journalists could resolve on the impeachment issue, pro or con, singly or united. GG, I know you are torn on the issue of impeachment, because you have said so publically.

I think I may understand at least some of the difficulties in speaking out categorically on this issue. Is it the best course for the country to take? Would it brand the emerging leftosphere as 'unserious'? Would such a call have any shred of efficacy? Are the 'mechanics' in place (in terms of evidence and 'logistics' for lack of better word) to support an impeachment effort? Finally (and amazingly), impeach which one? Many other considerations I'm sure...

Time is growing short on this. I do think that some of the major leftosphere journalists should speak definitively on this issue, either for or against, why, and possible courses of action. I'm sure some already have, but some have not. Should--or could Salon itself--make an editorial statement.

Personally, I am currently struggling to put together a letter to my representative on this topic. I'm urging him to move for impeachment proceedings. He's Lloyd Doggett, and I believe he'll at least give my letter a fair reading. I'd write to the Senate as well, but as a Texas resident I am not represented in that body.

I'm into my sixth decade. It's not my world any more. Change comes from young people.

What Utter Bullshit, you crusty arthritic geezer.

But keep posting--I enjoy your letters.

This new data confirms what most reasoning Americans already knew, especially if they travel overseas or have the ability to read--and understand what they read.

That said, for a very large number of americans, the "american popularity" argument has never mattered much, and in fact being disliked by others is a kind of badge of honor.

Many rural conservatives in the West and South will quickly retort that all those other countries are over-run with foreigners, with their foreign ways and foreign languages. France, for example, is completely infested by Frenchmen, they will tell you. Those foreign countries, if they say anything at all, should be thanking us for WW II. They should continue thanking us in the future, and if they want to say anything else to us, they should keep it to themselves. Of course, many seriously believe that the UN is trying to gain domination over the US.

This is why Democratic Candidates will bring this issue up without fail, and it is a standard part of their stump speech. Democrats and Independents tend to care about this issue. But you will not hear many Republican candidates saying this--partially because it is implied criticism of Bush, but moreso because they know their constituency simply doesn't care.

Sure, makes sense to me, but I accuse you of appearing to be rational and reasonable. For many conservative voters, all this fussy caring about how others perceive you is weakness. And among all traits they despise, weakness is number one.

Listen to the Republican candidates. Listen to see how many echo the 'american standing' argument. These guys know their party and their demographic. Listen to Mr. Romney, who doesn't want to shut Gitmo down, he wants to double it. Screw the world--they'll like us when we win--he's saying. And the applause thunders down on him.

Now it's, "You're an American? Bush is an asshole. Can I buy you a drink?"

Please tell me exactly where this was.

"In the last six years, America's brutality, unrestrained aggression, and violation of our own professed values have been transformed from destructive aberration into our defining attributes."

Abu Ghraib provides perhaps the best example of why this is true. The photographs of sadistic and homocidal behavior were published extensively in foreign media--much more so than within the US. Perhaps more than any other single event or policy, the photographs from Abu Ghraib opened the world's eyes in shock, horror, and disgust.

As evil as Abu Ghraib was, it was followed by the Taguba investigation, with its calculated limited scope, and immediate removal of Taguba himself from the military, his career ruined. Listen to Taguba's recent speech before the Commonwealth Club of California (CSPAN). The handling of the scandal was nearly as shameful as the behavior itself, designed as it was to look no further up the chain of command.

I believe the Abu Ghraib revelations ocurred at the approximate midpoint of the period being measured by Pew, and those photographs cannot be spun, cannot be argued with, cannot be smoothed over.

Americans clearly liked and chose Dubya.

Temper the above a bit by looking at JFK Jr.'s article in Rolling stone. It is not at all settled that Americans chose Dubya in '04.

RFK, not JFK. Sorry.