I agree with Glenn's analysis, particularly that this is indeed a pathology of the political establishment. The ascendancy of the present monarchical War Criminal-in-Chief and the Republic Party was achieved, in part, by the maladministration's open scorn for, and defiance of, the rule of law, especially well-settled constitutional precepts and obligations.

But their success would have been at least limited if their heinous behavior were exceptional not only in degree, but in kind. But it isn't. The rogues in power have gotten as far as they have precisely because they correctly understand that the political elite and its sycophantic and corporate-controlled media coverage tacitly agree, to paraphrase the late Leona Helmsley, that "We don't abide by laws, we just promulgate them. Only the little people must abide by laws."

As I've observed before, in a political process that requires candidates to perpetually amass sufficient wealth to participate, and which validates and rewards the wealthy over the principled, it's not surprising that principle has become obsolete, or "quaint". (Thus, when a politician like Chris Dodd takes a stand on principle, his colleagues and the chattering infotainwhore class reject this possibility out of hand, and conclude that his behavior is some kind of self-serving "stunt" to attract voters, aka campaign contributions.)

Even superficially-principled politicians like John Conyers and Barney Frank have expressed derision, even contempt, towards citizen outrage at their disinterest in challenging the maladministration's abuses of law and power. They prefer to keep busy doing deals in other areas. Politicians have devolved into mere brokers or technocratic managers, eager to keep the game going, and eschewing any notion that they are obliged to undertake politically problematic and risky duties like preserving and enforcing the rule of law.

The FISA debacle is an egregious example of the bipartisan political SOP that boils down to convicted ABSCAM Congressman Ozzie Myers' observation: "money talks; bullshit walks". But the politicians' general disdain for law, at least when it impinges on the order and comfort of the Oligarch's Club, is manifest everywhere. (Those who naïvely trust "viable", i.e., pre-selected, candidates who give lip service to restoring the "rule of law" underestimate the powerful co-opting undertow that comes with election to high office.)

That's why Larry Craig can still hold his head high on the floor of the Senate, and why Arlen Specter was so eager to rationalize Craig reneging on his belated but quasi-honorable intention to resign. It's why Congress finds time to censure Move.on, issue declarations in praise of Christmas, and ensure that Amerika can watch a highly-anticipated NFL football game on teevee. Freed from the tenebrous and challenging responsibility of exercising Constitutionally-mandated oversight and the "checks and balances" set forth in that document, Congress is free to serve and enable despotic executive power and the extended oligarchy to which they belong.

I mean it as a compliment, I think.

By way of contrast-- I turned on "Democracy Now" a little while ago, where Amy Goodman was also doing a "Review of 2007" show.

I just couldn't take any more after about fifteen minutes. The Alberto Gonzales clips started to trip my gag reflex...

Anyhoo, Happy New Year, if it ain't out of keepin' with the situation.

The two highest serving African Americans in massa's plantation dining room were appointed by Repubs - as was the only sitting African American supreme court lawn jockey.

Just the Wingnut Overlords' way of saying "affirmative action is OK for we, but not for thee."

But hey, don't let truth get in the way of your sloganeering.

I'll check back later to see if Proximity Warning-- apparently a disciple, protege, or alter-ego of Shooter, who keeps my scrolling finger is great shape-- pulls the next arrow out of his quiver:

offering Alberto Gonzales as proof of the ruling oligarchy of misfeasors' egalitarianism and profound respect for the Latino community, although that stellar example of the Bush Crime Family's scrupulous meritocracy has been woefully misunderstood.

Thanks for picking up my slack when I stepped away to refill my coffee cup! I couldn't have said it better myself.

Yeah, but what has he done to us lately?

Today's strip is an exercise in cartoon virtuosity. Schweet!

It's like watching a knife-thrower act on the Ed Sullivan Show... or maybe like watching a Benihana chef slice, dice, and fillet food in mid-air.

Anyone who boasts a Top Ten (+1) list of egregiously wrongheaded inanities such as this shouldn't be encouraged to blow off his big bazoo in any venue. Kristol needs a lot of remedial work first, not excluding brain surgery.

The "Gray Lady", the "paper of record", and "all the news that's fit to print" is so much self-serving puffery, of course, but never more than when the reality is that the Gray Lady is a chancred old whore wearing pee-soaked sneakers; it's the toilet paper of record, touting all the opinion that's fit to flush.