Although I confess, given the depleted state of our news media, that I do read several "lefty" blogs to help me understand the despicable mess that passes for the US government these days, I assure you, Shooter, that my words and thoughts are my own. I studied Journalism and history in college, and am a voracious reader of history and current events. I also have read at least one newspaper a day, all of my life. I'm sure that to you, this makes me some kind of commie, but I would call it being a well-informed citizen

The "adjectives' to which you so strenuously object, leave "no room for discussion" because they plainly describe observable reality. When a government outspends all others, put together, on its military, is it not "bloated?" When a government spends at least half again what it collects in taxes is it not "bankrupt?" When a government, through means legal or otherwise, seeks to concentrate its power in plain defiance of the bill of rights, international law, and democratic tradition dating back to the Magna Carta, is it not "power-obsessed?"

Are trials wherein the accused is detained without charge, may not see evidence, and can be tortured into confessing, not what we once called "Kangaroo Courts?" I could go on, but it's dreadfully late and I would suggest that you argue with a dictionary, not me. If you have one.

Thank you, LWM, for stepping into the steaming pile of Shooter's BS for me; I was attending to a family emergency, and was unable to engage in this worthy, but probably futile, endeavor.

It has always felt strange to me that the right considers irrational fear a sign of strength or bravery, or at the very least, a kind of grim "realism." No measure, no matter how barbaric, despotic, or Orwellian, can ever be questioned, without the questioner being dismissed as either "naive," or more often and more ludicrously, "hysterical."

Therefore, when one assesses risk in a rational manner, based on observable statistics and facts; say, that the small risk of terrorism does not justify torture, gulags, and Big Brother government, the right doesn't merely disagree, but they blow a gasket.

Any belief held so firmly that its adherent cannot allow it to be questioned in any quarter, at any time, because to do so threatens All That is Right and Good, must not be defensible, and is therefore false.

It's as simple as that.

Blue Meme.... Thanks for a fascinating post. I am forcefully reminded of President Reagan, telling stories derived not just from movies he'd been in, but also movies he had seen, as though they were true, and he were there. The press and the public so preferred these sweet and heroic Hollywood anecdotes to messy, complicated reality, that he was never called on it.

Of course, this willful submersion of reality finally caught up with him as he tried to explain his multiple lies and falsehoods surrounding Iran/Contra by saying that he believed in his "heart" what the facts plainly contradicted.

Willful suspension of disbelief, though, carried the day again.

Reagan also said, "Facts are stupid things," and unfortunately, lots of people agree.

Kasimira, perhaps you are not aware that at the time of the Madrid bombings, Spain was led by s right-wing Bush clone who supported the Iraq war against the will of the overwhelming majority of Spaniards. After the bombing, the government immediately mounted a disgraceful and false PR campaign attempting to deflect deserved blame for inciting terrorism by blaming Basque separatists.

The Spanish people, who after Franco know a thing or two about lying, right-wing authoritarians, wisely tossed the government out on its ear.

And this incident supports your argument how?

Great work, Reilly.

Not so great work, Kasimira Malkin. Has it ever occurred to you that any group can be similarly smeared, and just as irrationally, by the behaviors of an extreme few?

Your faux bonafides, tossed gratuitously in amongst your more intrinsic anti-Muslim talking points, fail to cut the mustard, fava beans or no.

Try again, please.

WT... You forgot to mention that on said date, take BJ to a Persian restaurant in a tough part of town, run up a large bill, then climb out the men's room window (Bop might have a bit of trouble with that leg...) and make a run for it.

Confronting one's deepest fears is the only way one ever overcomes them.