Interestingly, when I bring up just these issues in conversation with people whose political beliefs range from comfortably liberal to firmly conservative, the reaction is surprisingly the same. I get a condescending look (i.e. there there, citizen, no need to be alarmed) and a reply: "Oh come on. Bush is not going to go randomly imprison people. Like he cares about you anyway."

That's the blind trust that only the Terrorists will be subject to the suspension of the law and our basic principles. And I think I know why: people take America for granted. Though definitely not a collection of saints, the Americans have generally treated people (their own and foreign) nicely. Maybe one concentration camp incident per century, maybe one mid-size massacre, but no GULAG, no genocide, no state-sponsored terror. So everyone thinks Americans are "just good people". Our President will never attack his own people... well, just because he won't, okay? He's American, Americans DON'T DO STUFF LIKE THAT.

America is taken for granted. Everyone (Americans or no) forgets that we are this way BECAUSE this place is populated by people who believe in personal freedom. Now, this freedom has mostly been achieved at the expense of other peoples, sure, but hey, I wasn't saying this place was perfect. But we have to move it forward, not back. We're supposed to be at the forefront of human development, not pushing it back to the Bronze Age.

For two centuries now the United States was synonymous with "freedom". Imperfect, yes, but still freedom. Problem is, we've repeated this word so many times we've forgotten what it means and how we've arrived at it. And that's why we let our President imprison our fellow Americans without trial and still believe that we are the Land of the Free. That's why only alarmists are freaking out, alarmists who, like Glenn, know a thing or two about law, or, like me, come from countries (e.g. the USSR) that were dictatorships claiming to be "free".

You see, a man who hurts the feelings of Muslims is a bad man and must be destroyed. A man who caused the deaths of thousands of infidels is a hero and must be honored. These truths are held to be self-evident... at least by some.

I am always amused at the pained incredulity seeping through every public announcement by the hardline Islamists. Don't these infidels understand that they are vermin infesting the Dar al Islam? I mean, what else can they, the Warriors of Jihad, do to make it absolutely clear that Islam IS the only way, and that if you do not find yourself on the road, why you are evil and must be eradicated! Why do the evil ones insist on arguing? How else can the world be put together?

I am also amused at the pained incredulity of the Americans when they insist that, for example, "Iraqis owe us a debt of gratitude". I mean, don't these savages understand that America brings to them the Light of Democracy (tm)? How many more of them, the savages, do we need to kill to make it abundantly clear that Our Way is best? Why do they insist on resisting?

...and never the twain shall meet.

"I think the president thinks that the vice president is a great representer of the United States, and that he complies with all the laws regarding secret documents, classified documents, and that he's someone who truly believes in the institution of the presidency and in keeping that intact."

After saying this, Dana Perrino excused herself because she had to go to the bathroom and vomit. Seriously, how do these people make it through the day? I mean, the sheer volume of bullshit is enough to drown a small third-world country. The strain of having to say these kind of things with a straight face must be overwhelming.

... on the other hand, I think the biggest problem is that much of the world thinks that Dick Cheney is a "great representer of the United States" and they hate us accordingly. If Dick Cheney ran, say, Great Britain (Booji forbid!) we'd be hating Great Britain with equal passion. Wouldn't we?

I'm bored. This is boring. Mr. Grieve, seriously. I know it's your blog and it's my choice to read, but c'mon. Can't you just summarize what Tony Snow is saying? It's not fun anymore to read the same old same old about an unnamed reporter (most likely Helen Thomas) beating against the same old wall.

Here's a template:

"Today Tony Snow was asked some questions about [insert issue here]. In response Tony blathered for a while about total bullshit, acting annoyed that he's asked any questions at all and suggesting that the reporter should just go and shove it. These proceedings were of interest only to certain bloggers and only because they feel it's their duty to report on such crap. And now back to the interesting stuff."

This can be used with pretty much every so-called press conference with anybody from the White House. Tony Snow, like Paris Hilton, does not deserve so much bandwith. (Seriously, if I hear Snow say that it's a complicated situation one more time, I'll break something pretty and fragile. I swear.)