this isn't news. anyone with half a brain knew what was going on.

the important point is, governments in uk and usa had power to behave like nazi sadists, and wanted to, so they did.

democracy is the only protection against these monsters. real democracy, not parliamentary democracy, not representative democracy, the real thing: rule by the people through citizen initiative.

but cows aren't suddenly going to stand up and behave like citizens. the fascists are winning, and are going to continue winning, while each cow tries to save itself by 'co-operating' with their masters. orwell got it right in '1984', in every aspect but time frame.

no presidential candidate is going to change that. but some will hasten the decline, others slow it.

given the republican predilection for raining mass death around the world in support of 'freedom', a few terms of democrat reign might give relative peace to the rest of the world while internal decay continues. that would be nice.

should you be surprised to be nibbled to death?

if you give great power to a body of people, should you be surprised if they use it for their own advantage? if you allow them the power to work in secret, should you be surprised if they do things you would not wish to happen?

the notion that a small guild of people can be trusted to run the state for the benefit of all has no logical foundation. why then be surprised to see these people acting as humans always do?

there is no surprise here. the bush regime is not unique, and might not be even the worst, merely the most coarse and unconcerned with superficial appearances. consequently, a change in personnel will have no significant result in american political culture. america will continue to be a nation ruled by an elite. the elite will be driven by the usual lust for greater power, greater wealth and, when some orc like cheney gets a seat in the cockpit, the lust will be for deeper personal goals, better described by psychiatrists.

people who are unhappy with the way things things are going in the 'land of the free' had better lift their attention away from the celebrities in the beltway, long enough to ask: "why don't we have democracy?"

indeed, they should ask, "why am i sitting here wringing my hands and crying 'woe, woe! when i should be working actively to bring citizen initiative into control of the nation."

the difference is, if facts lead to opinion and opinion leads to action, that's journalism.

gossip, on the other hand, just fills in idle time without consequences.

since the great majority of americans, from failure of education or intellect, see no point in attempting to improve their society or see no need to do so, then all american 'journalism' is pointless gossip.

it's simply not enough to say that bush/cheney are 'bad to the bone' if you have no means or intent to prevent similar creatures from ruling america. and in fact, you don't: the founding fathers established an aristocracy of money which still isolates the people from power. most of the people are glad of it, being told from birth that management is too hard

for them. it probably is, by the time they're old enough to vote.

the swiss grow up expecting to participate in the management of their country, their education and national character prepares them for citizenship. americans are 'prepared' to be civilians, on-lookers as their betters run the country for the benefit of their betters.

how long are you going to let pollies run your country?

into the ground...

he sounds smart, he sounds educated, he sounds like he would be laughing (in private )at the dimwits who voted for w, twice. oh, and he's light brown.

for large numbers, maybe most, of american voters that means he ain't like them, and can't be trusted with power. quite right, too. no telling where the american empire would go next, if the former slaves take the purple from the rich old white men who've been making such a good job of managing the economy, well no, and the foreign policy, ahh, nooo. well they have been protecting the rich, their core mission, full marks there.

the rich vote counts more. call america a plutocracy.

when there is a 'homeland', there must be an 'out-land'. call america an empire.

when the government breaks the law, there is no law. call america morally bankrupt.

when the government revels in joining the 'dark side', they are monsters. call the american electorate dim-witted fools.

and if you think bho is going to fix things, make that short-sighted dim-witted fools.

caligula will retire soon, replaced by aurelius, you hope. nero and commodus will be along soon.

"so you think you can prez" enters a new season, the couch-cows are breathless with anticipation.

if these psychos didn't have the worlds biggest war machine on tap as an election aid.

it's continually being rescued by socialism. only after society is thoroughly screwed up, little people ruined, the rich unharmed but frightened they might soon be less rich.

just an observation..

because there's no point in paying attention. all he can ever do is choose between door a, and door b, with no real indication which has a tiger behind it, or a cheney.

institute citizen initiative in the federal government, and people will start participating.

until then, at least stop referring to america as a democracy, unless you are consciously practicing newspeak.

character doesn't. mccain was the same slimy politician then and now. obama too. it's part of their professional profile, just as hyenas always check the 'carnivorous' box when applying for a position in the pack.

you want a better nation? you need a better system: it's called democracy.