@asiafile--"Obama is just one more CEO carrying out America's imperial destiny. In that sense, his continuation of the cult of secrecy and expansion of executive power make perfect sense."

In context of what 's transpired since 9/08 that statement sums up many perplexities about our (U.S.A.'s) purpose in the world.

These men (women) we venerate to the highest office fulfill more than the Washingtonian dream of a democratic republic justifiably contained within a sovereignty that does no harm.

They are, as you aptly put there for the highest purpose known to ancient or 21st century economies--maintain the structure of greed's empowerment above all--the Citi's, Sachs, KBR's, GE's, and Verizon's to name a few examples of unfettered "free markets" with no conscience or respect for Washington's "country first".

Their chief above all all in the scheme of American capitalism is by "electoral" dictate--the POTUS.

"And what do you have to say that, according to you, the President is lying to you and the public about what he's doing, and -- like a dog who gets beaten - you're grateful for that? You like having a President who lies to you about what his motives are? That makes you feel good and protected?"

--Glenn

Excellent. Are you whip-the-accused-with-American-exceptionalism proponents listening?

At least my precious dog when she is lied to by her master (I say- "ally gone because she's had enough snacks) still trusts me to protect her from vicous, stray dogs.

I think you put that nagging motive intensifier within the Obamian, enigma of disappointments.

"OLC is not an intelligence agency. It is a legal agency. Here (.pdf) is how it defines its own function:" GG

The OLC is shown to be impotent in the Obama term thus far, for "intelligence" data on all suspects is given preference.

We are a society so afraid of the boogey men around the malls, churches and offices of commerce that legalities are as quaint as--

Santa eating our Christmas cookies and barfing on the gifts he presents under the yule tree.

Glenn, once more you raise the red flag of a secret, shadow community outside the Executive with the brashness to think they are ordained to rethink the rules of representative government.

GWB used the OLC as a tool--Obama and staff must see it as useless.

OR

...redacted memos later exposed (unredacted) to reveal US treated detainees humanely, but mislead the public to win the war on terror, propagating the image of hardened warriors (interrogators) using extreme measures against their terrorist enemies.

Chose your headline--it will aid and comfort your preconceived notions of American exceptionalism, if you had any left.

"...mumbling to myself about corrupt bastards..."

A not unique condition among the rare introspective citizenry, beleaguered by frequent abuse of that "Unitary Executive" and other legal contortions (distortions) embraced by men/women given control by teabaggers and other persons who disdain the peculiarities of a Constitution when it invokes the law over tyranny.

From Think Progress story--

NYT report: National Security Agency tried to spy on a member of Congress.

Read the comments.

One particularly sums up the lunacy and confusion of teabaggers--

Why weren't they in a frenzy of constitutional assembly crying over the abuse of our surveillance state?

Well, that would attack the foundation of scapegoating the liberals and faulting authoritarian practices such as NSA spying for political purposes under their lust for secrecy and disdain for transparency.

Why weren't they in a frenzy of constitutional assembly crying over the abuse of our surveillance state?

(My paraphrase of of one commenter).

"Anyone know the significance of the "bloody shirt" photo?"

I can only guess--but tide-white shirts don't have the same effect as hooded, red-soaked sheets and stallions with saddles festooned with embematic crosses, K's and X's.

Don't want to leave out the mixed ingredients of those steeped in hot water tea-beggers--

but the gripes of their crowd I am in sympathy with but for the people carrying the message--

not so much.

"Aren't we all (mostly anyway) on the same page here?"

What we know is that the page is wide, deep and spotted with blue, red and purple ink as long as paper is still in vogue.

"The onus is on those who believe in the rule of law to find ways to force the government to criminally investigate whether they want to or not..."--Glenn

Once there was an America where obsessing, burdens, onus and cajoling the government/people to--

"believe in the rule of law" was lighter on the back--

Why has it become heavier to get that respect, while the winners (disregarders of those laws) walk away with the lighter packs?

If I am acting in the interests of the nation as a CIA operative or interrogator I will be compelled to act "Extra-legally" for the benefit of embracing the spirit and letter of the law and not conveniently ignore them for basal, instinctual drives.

Like Glenn says--Orwellian in its "war is peace" backward way.

"Extra-legall"--like Extra-poll tax instituted (unratify the 24th) so more citizens may access their voting franchise--

makes perfect sense.