Once the bad boys are in the grips of the federales, whatever form the investigation takes, they're done. And they know it.

It's just too bad that getting the bad guys into the hopper of the grinder is so difficult unless they're poor and/or black and somehow involved with drugs.

That said, a nice TV-ready witch hunt would be awesomely entertaining. Watching Carl Rove's greasy sweat alone would be worth the price of admission.

Once the bad boys are in the grips of the federales, whatever form the investigation takes, they're done. And they know it.

It's just too bad that getting the bad guys into the hopper of the grinder is so difficult unless they're poor and/or black and somehow involved with drugs or gambling or some other victimless "crime".

That said, a nice TV-ready witch hunt would be awesomely entertaining. Watching Carl Rove's greasy sweat alone would be worth the price of admission.

They were so panicked by the 9-11 attacks (which did after all happen on their watch) that they were willing to do just about anything to make sure they weren't embarrassed again.

Combined with GW's many character flaws (inability to deal with conflicting opinions; an authoritarian personality with strong addictive tendencies; a chip on his shoulder about his intelligence; a chip on his shoulder about his illustrious dad; an inability to admit error even when his snap decision was clearly wrong; and a strong ego need for adulation) enabled, nay even ordered, a regime that treated the LAW (including the Constitution) like a tax lawyer treats the tax code - as an impediment for which loopholes need to be sought.

This may seem overly simple, but we vest so much power in the hands of the Executive that he really does have king-like authority. Enabled and supported and exploited by powerful vested interests.

I hate to agree with odious scum like Rush Limbaugh, but I think we do have to break the power of a federal government which has been utterly corrupted.

This stinks like a political deal worked out in secret. Who benefits? Who is protected? What details do we not know?

This is not a good sign. Bad enough we have a couple of outright fascists appointed for life to the Supreme Court. Now we see the control their ilk continues to exercise despite the election of Obama the liberal.

Just as the Bush junta's blatant disregard for the law exposed the federal government for what it was, so Obama's inability to unwind the Bush crimes exposes the same thing: the federal government does not belong to the people, but to the corporatist-militarist-oligarchist machine. Threaten the machine and pay the price. It is the USA. Predatory, parasitic, death-worshipping, and evil. It must be broken.

Stupid policies and programs survive a long time in prosperity. Consider the "War on Drugs", for example. But just as this unutterably stupid and expensive program will end because it's unaffordable to keep throwing non-violent drug users in jail, so too will unlimited support for Israel end.

Israel is like the little loudmouth buddy who picks a fight in a bar and invariably involves you in it. The solution: quit buying the aggressive little Napoleon drinks, or even hanging out with him. Who needs friends like this?

And for exposing the careerist sell-outs for what they are.

It is far easier to ignore it all and get on with enjoying life. It's amazing to me that anyone bothers to read the corporatist newspapers anymore. They will soon be dead, I think.

Corporatist television, however, seems to be thriving, and its influence is far more insidious, since TV operates on a subconscious level, reinforced by the relaxed state of its watchers, winding down at the end of the day. I dip into it from time to time, and my WTF moments were noting: 1) how many shows glorify the police state; 2)Reality TV sells a zero-sum exclusionist society, glorifying deception and ruthlessness; 3) gladiatorial "sports" shows present steroidal faked up "humans" in meaningless "combat"; 4) and the news is ridiculous in its pandering to power and militarism.

What are young people learning from this crap? How sick and parasitic is the corporatist culture that creates it?

I can shun it - and protect myself. Do I have a duty to oppose it for the sake of those who can't? How? The sickness is so deep and so entrenched.

Only a deep depression will shake things up enough to break the corporatists, IMHO.

Thus preserving the criminality of manufacture and distribution. However, like Medicinal Cannabis laws, it is a step in the right direction.

How nice it would be to be able to buy your hashish from a legitimate business that pays taxes and is part of civil society. How unsatisfactory it is to have to deal with criminals to obtain your personal, private medicine.

Prohibition, especially of a beneficial like cannabis (which could improve our society in myriad necessary ways) is an evil cancer on our society. Maintained by ignorance, malice, greed, and spite.

Good job, Mr. Greenwald. Pray continue.