The truly alarming thing is that for the M$M and for far too many voters, it's still business as usual. There's no outrage at the rape of our Constitution, the hijacking of our democracy or the sovietization of our corporate media.

I'm sure we will see the same familiar "independent retired military analysts" explaining everything on TV as the bombs are dropping on Iran.

Here in Houston, Comcast (who actually managed to make Time Warner look good by comparison after Comcast's recent takeover of Houston's cable monopoly) quickly moved liberal-leaning MSNBC to the premium tier from its longstanding position on the basic cable lineup.

Fox News and CNN are still available on Houston's "basic cable."

Coincidence? Unlikely. Regulators, start your hearings.

America has forgotten the horrors we unleashed on Latin America (not to mention SE Asia) in the name of anti-Communism. Our collective amnesia has begotten more abject human misery in Iraq and now threatens even more carnage in Iran.

If there was any justice, Henry Kissinger would be rotting-away in a cell in the Hague for crimes against humanity instead of being celebrated as an "elder statesman" on American TV chat shows.

Of course Republicans lie.

They can't run on their record (unnecessary war, economic ruin).

They can't run on their true economic agenda (only appeals to 1% of the population).

Lies are all they've got.

Luckily for the Republicans, our M$M is much too "polite" to report on the GOP's longstanding strategy of political deception.

In addition to dancing with Karl Rove, TV newsguy David "Stretch" Gregory invited Homeland Security Director and general GOP goombah Michael Chertoff to his child's birthday party (Skeletor at a children's party? Spooky.).

If journalists fulfilled their true democratic function (i.e. exposing lies, corruption, incompetence, etc.), politicians and political hacks would flee their presence and do everything possible to avoid social interactions just in case something unflattering accidentally slipped out.

Instead, our "big name" press corps has become shameless, willingly credulous, courtiers. The sad thing is they don't seem to even realize it -- hence Gregory's umbrage at Scott McClellan's charge of press credulity.

Any justice who could dissent in this decision, i.e., rule against the principle of habeas corpus, is unfit to serve as a justice of the peace, much less as a justice of the Supreme Court of the United States.

Federalist Society? More like the Feudalist Society.

Shouldn't Federalist Society judges at long last be disqualified from serving as judges? By their rulings, they've proved themselves to be consistently anti-constitutional and pro-monarchy in their judicial philosophies. And they're all-too-willing to perjure themselves before credulous Senate confirmation hearings in order to be appointed to lifetime tenures.

Federalist Society? More like Feudalist Society.

American right-wing authoritarians differ from "conservatives" in an apparent need for a feeling of omnipotence by proxy.

A government/chief executive with whom the RWA identifies with should have unfettered power, which by extension, empowers the RWA with feelings of omnipotent power by proxy.

Conversely, any check on that government/chief executive's power is a direct affront to the RWA's sense of empowerment and must be zealously opposed.

How crazy are the RWAs? During the "Night of the Long Knives," SA men who had been rounded-up and were being executed by firing squad actually gave the stiff-arm salute and a "Heil Hitler" as they were being shot.

Re: Revolt in 2100

I re-read it a few years ago and was surprised that the resistance against the theocratic dictatorship was a Masonic revolution. This went completely over my head when I first read it as a kid.

Once upon a time, John McCain displayed admirable qualities of independence and integrity. The moment that that McCain died was captured in a memorable photo as he embraced -- literally and figuratively -- George W. Bush.

The John McCain we see today posesses only one discernable character trait: ambition. This McCain will say or do anything to become president.

It's hurting America that journalists consider their first loyalty to be to their subjects, and not to the people they're reporting for."

That succinctly describes what American "journalism" has become.

Amidst all the hagiography of Tim Russert, we should recall that he was the "go to guy" for Dick Cheney when he wanted to push political spin without fear of critical analysis.

Michael Reagan was adopted by Ronald Reagan and his first wife, Jane Wyman, if I'm not mistaken.

There's an apocryphal story that Ronald Reagan encountered Michael in a receiving line and introduced himself "Hi, I'm Ronald Reagan.."

Unfortunately, too many of our congressional Democrats apparently don't view political power as a means to an end, but an end in itself. Congress is a cushy job with lifetime perqs, after all.

That self-interest at the citizens' expense is made obvious by their "leadership." Can anyone cite what Reid or Pelosi's agenda is other than for "being in charge"?

A real political party would select its leadership based on who would best institute its political agenda. But based on their performance to date, it's hard to even define what congressional Dems' political agenda even is -- other than short-sighted notions of political self-preservation.

Sadly, at the congressional level, the Democratic Party is a political party in name only. This will be pathetically illustrated in the November elections as each candidate runs campaigns with messages uncoordinated and often conflicting with the Obama campaign's.

A new party may be the only solution.

We shouldn't be surprised that Yoo's thesis is transparently false and incoherent. Despite his academic credentials he's just a sleazy co-conspirator shamelessly trying to defend the indefensible.