he's right about the situation being complicated (as are most human interactions of any kind) he's wrong that the portrayal/propogandization of the Georgia/Russia/S. O conflict by the right primarily (and to a lesser degree the centrist/left) is something that shouldn't be used to bash the neocons with . . . uh, yes it is. In fact whomever disseminates a false simplistic narrative needs to be bashed. That's Glenn's point and he is very consistent in that regard. We can debate the facts till the cows come home but constructing simplisitic factually unsupported good v. evil morality paradigms is precisely what's dragged America into the gutter in more ways than I care to list. Don't blame the left for the well oiled workings of the propoganda machine that neocons, cons, and MIC Dems built. GG is simply trying to point out to the people who will listen that "teh machine exists, it is very good at fulfilling its function, and that if we don't tear it down America will be unable to change course now or ever".

I for one agree with him. Though I think it starts even earlier by teaching blind patriotism. We have an obligation as citizens to question everything (relevant to performance of the job the people have entrusted an elected/appointed official to do) our government does and its policy rationale. Period. If bureaucrats and elected officials (and I am one) can't handle having their actions subject to scrutiny and accountability then they should find a nice private sector job. Right wing "tink-tanks" are always hiring and clearly their employees don't have to have a very good grasp of the facts, employ much intellectual rigor, or be accountable to anyone to do the job so it's not like their aren't opportunties for former political insiders who don't like being held accountable to the public.

And this "you're anti-American" if you disagree with something America does drivel that spews forth from assholes like Bachmann and her hero McCarthy should have faded from American discourse with McCarthy. I love my country because it is an elegantly constructed idea and plan for governance--self rule through the rule of law applying to all and political power sharing. But it is easily derailed when unrepentent power seeking jagoffs hijack it for narrow financial or ideological ends and jettison the rule of law for a two tiered legal system.

That America is or ever has been a meritocracy is in large part a lie. It's an oligarchy with a dash of lottery like meritocracy thrown in to perpetuate the lie. Most of our historical cultural narratives are lies and when people can comprehend that idea we might fulfill our potential as a culture and start discussing our shared problems from a reality based perspective rather than our self-proclaimed national identity as morally superior culturally exceptional world superheroes which pollutes our understanding of the world. Nowhere in that hoary document the Constitution does it suggest we should go around the world attempting to reshape every nation in our image and pilfer their resources and open their markets at the point of the sword. Cause here's a newsflash, maybe not ever person in the world wants to be just like us and maybe they should be allowed the opportunity for self determination. We should help where we can when we are asked in ways that comort with our "values". And that is all. Short of that we'll continue down the same path of moral hypocrisy, overmilitarization, financial cronyism, and amoral wars. The path we've been on since shortly after WWII.