What if Alaska contained 100 times as much petroleum as Saudi Arabia? Would that mean we would soon see dollar-a-gallon gas again and go back to commuting in two and three ton metal behemoths? How about a 7 mpg RV in which to tour the USA during your next vacation or after you retire?

Knowing what we do now about the climatic effects of burning fossil fuels, we would be truly foolish to reverse our current trend toward greater conservation and efficiency. We have but taken the first baby-step toward the realization that our present economy is in no way sustainable over the course of decades, much less centuries or millennia. Instead of squandering what is left to us through wasteful consumption and over-population, we need to find ways of living that are consistent with the mechanisms that keep the Earth a habitable planet.

The Bush/Cheney/Rove Administration has done so much lying and the powers behind them have committed so many crimes, often sloppily executed, that just about any competent investigator, given legal authority, access to records that ought to be publicly accessible, and protection from retaliation, should be able to make a solid case for impeachment and/or prosecution. I applaud Glenn Greenwald for this continuing series of reports showing the many deficiencies and contradictions in the FBI's case against Bruce Ivins. I'm hoping on the one hand that the nation sits up and listens, and, on the other hand, that he is not perceived as a great enough threat to become a target himself.

I recently watched Ron Susskind discuss his recent book on the Democracy Now! TV program. Susskind has solidly documented allegations concerning the fabrication of a letter to support Bush's fantasized Al Qaeda - Saddam connection, a felony under the law. Rep. John Conyers, Chair of the House Judiciary Committee, made a telephone appearance. Two years ago Conyers was all set to go after the Bush Administration in connection with the Downing Steet Memo. Recently he has become more cautious. On Democracy Now! he whined and sniveled like kid in fear of being beaten up, obviously very uncomfortable with fulfilling the expectations of Amy Goodman and Ron Susskind that he make good on his pledges to investigate lies and criminal behavior in the Bush Administration. He is caught between a rock and a hard place. The progressives reasonably think that, given his position and apparent powers, it is his duty to investigate these things. On the other hand, he knows that these people play hardball (witness what happened to Bruce Ivins). I don't know if Conyers has some unsavory history that he fears will be made public or if he anticipates an "accident" or "suicide".

There may be many journalists who opt not to pursue the many leads connecting the Bush/Cheney/Rove Administration to crime not out of credulity, but out of fear.

Your symbolic allusions are amusing, but to get straight to the point...

The surveillance arm of the Executive Branch has at its disposal information that would be significantly embarrassing and/or damaging to the image and career of most elected officials and has no scruples about leaking these to the press should any Congressional investigation get too close to the truth of 9/11.

For those who have lead a blameless life, there are always the examples of Senators Wellstone, Leahy, and Daschle to contemplate before publicly exposing the criminal misdeeds of the Bush/Cheney/Rove Administration.

It is no wonder that progress with these investigations has been slow or nonexistent. As soon as the trail starts leading to toward the Oval Office, Congress loses interest.

1) After the next 8 years of the Obama Administration, Joe Biden will be 74 years old, older even than McCain is now. His age would be a serious liability to his candidacy for the succession of Democratic presidents. Historically, the vice-presidency is one of the better launching points for a presidential campaign and the party that wants to stay in power will consider this when the vice-presidential selection is made, if they are smart.

2) Congress polls now even lower than Bush in public confidence and esteem. By selecting one of the stalest, most entrenched politicians in Washington as a running mate, Obama has de-energized his campaign. I wasn't planning to vote for him anyway after the FISA betrayal, but he certainly lost the chance to redeem my vote by picking a neocon-enabling establishment insider. (To be fair, Biden DID vote against the FISA Act.)

Now, let's see, which elderly, mealy-mouthed gasbag of a Republican Senator will McCain select for his vice-president? Or will he be smart enough to seize the opportunity of choosing a relatively young, dynamic new member of Congress or state governor and so trump Obama?