...but the image that keeps recurring in my mind is from the Wizard of Oz:

"Pay no attention to that man behind the curtain."

How many times, and how much proof do we need, before it becomes completely obvious to everyone that this administration relies on mendacity, half-truths and outright lies as a bedrock principle? Why do we believe ANYTHING that issues forth from Dubya, or Tony Snow, right on down to the lowliest spokesperson?

So many lies, and so much concrete proof of those lies -- and yet the core of 25% to 30% support for this administration remains. Talk about a "faith-based initiative" -- when all is said and done, that's what Bush relies on. Faith, and nothing more.

...can we all say "unindicted co-conspirators", very clearly and calmly?

Now, looking back into the mist of history, let's recall that two of three Articles of Impeachment brought against Richard Nixon centered on obstruction of justice by him and subordinates under his control and direction. Aren't we talking about almost exactly the same thing now?

Prosecutors and the larger judicial system shied away from indicting Nixon, leaving it to Congress to proceed down the political path of impeachment. Our country DID survive that trauma (just as it survived the circus of the Clinton impeachment) -- aren't we strong enought to face another impeachment? The system has worked twice before in the lifetime of millions of Americans -- there's no reason to believe it won't work again, with no lasting damage.

The Bush crowd is BEGGING for impeachment -- they're daring the rest of us to try to stop them. What will it take? An incursion into Iran, purely on presidential whim? A declaration of martial law here in the U.S.? A refusal to step down as President in January 2009, when a Democrat elected in November 2008 would take office, based on some real or manufactured crisis?

What will it take, and how long will we wait?

Pulling the Duke lacrosse case and Mike Nifong into this is about the biggest stretch imaginable -- sure, it's apparent to all the Nifong crossed the line into prosecutorial misconduct. It's also apparent that none of the accused at Duke can be convicted, based on flawed indictments traceable to that prosecutorial misconduct.

In that sense, the system will have WORKED, if they go to trial and are aquitted, or if the indictments are tossed.

The same goes for Libby -- even if Fitzgerald has some vendetta against Libby or anyone else, the trial by jury process would have brought that out. A conviction, based on the preponderance of evidence freely given by prosecution and defense, will stand on its own merits.

The system will have worked, whichever way it turns out. Care to bet on the outcome?

Over the years, I've been alternately amused and appalled by how differently famous and powerful people are treated, compared to the Average Joe.

You all know what I mean -- if a regular person practiced self-mutilation similar to Michael Jackson, he or she would be committed to the local psychiatric ward pronto, IN THAT PERSON'S SELF-INTEREST. There are plenty of other instances where that's true -- loony behavior is either dismissed as "eccentricity", or is actually ignored and accepted as normal.

Well, Dick Cheney's complete detachment from reality and disassociation from the real physical suffering and destruction wrought by HIS Iraq debacle certainly places him among the ranks of the mentally ill. Yet no one in any position of power dares to say this out in the open. (Dubya, by the way, is only a step or two behind his vice president in clinical lunacy.)

This emperor and his vice-emperor not only have no clothes, they are patently insane. It's obvious to anyone still part of the reality-based world.

...I've always liked you, both as a human being and as a leader who has a strong moral streak, but especially as an ex-President who's willing to work hard for worthy causes like democratic elections around the world. But what makes you think your support for any presidential candidate really matters to anyone?

I think I'm probably in a distinct minority in this country -- most Americans seem to have a decidedly negative opinion of you (which is largely undeserved) -- your vocal support for Al Gore might be a negative for the former vice president!

For those of us who need reminding (and I'm one of them), Godwin's Law states: "As an online discussion grows longer, the probability of a comparison involving Nazis or Hitler approaches one."

This appears to have replaced, or at least complements, Samuel Johnson's famous quip: "Patriotism is the last refuge of a scoundrel."

There's certainly nothing mutually exclusive about these observations, of course -- both apply equally well to Dubya and his acolytes. All we get from them is disgusting, shameless and indefensible B.S., from people who should (and DO) know better.