Scott Horton goes so far as to compare the radical politicisation of our justice system with KGB Russia:

Moreover, this episode tells us one of the most deeply guarded truths of the Inner Party of the Neocon movement, namely: the ends justify the means. That is, to accomplish a goal accepted by the Inner Party, you are entitled to do anything—break the law, by all means, and indeed set the law into oblivion if you can. That explains the fate of the Geneva Conventions, which were, alas, simply inconvenient—they got in the way of the notion that no rules can stand between us and the accomplishment of our objectives. For the Nietzschean Neocon man (let’s call him Übermensch or perhaps even better, Scooter Libby), there are no rules; they exist for the people of the herd. And that explains the indignation when the rules for the herd are applied against Scooter.

(skip)

Back in my earlier life, I invested many years defending democracy and human rights advocates in the former Soviet Union (and in this effort, I had strong support from prominent Neocons, many of whom remain my friends today). I remember one afternoon sitting with Elena Bonner, the doyenne of the movement, in her apartment on Moscow’s Chkalova Street, turning over the case of a poor refusenik who was being persecuted by the KGB. And Bonner lectured me: “You need to remember one tactic of the totalitarian mindset, a tactic that belongs to the basic training of KGB cadres. They frequently accuse their victim of doing exactly what they, in fact, are doing. Why? It has a double utility. It forces the victim to use his meager resources defending himself from false challenges. But more importantly, it deflects attention from their own scheming and plotting.” Well, that turned out to be exactly the case in the matter we were discussing.

http://harpers.org/archive/2007/07/hbc-90000436

To my mind, this does not overstate the case and is a valid comparison. We are quickly descending into totalitarianism.

I used to watch David Brooks on the PBS News Hour, sitting next to Mark Shields, smiling, making jokes and playing the role of moderate conservative. Brooks, more than any other Neocon, seemed quite adept at displaying the affable and centrist face of the conservative movement. He was almost a "nice guy".

Then I saw him on TV during the 2004 Democratic convention. He was vicious, cruel and misleading in nearly every comment he made. It was immediately obvious that he was there for the sole purpose of destroying the Democratic candidacy. I saw his true face and I will never forget it. He is a Neocon with every molecule of his being. Like the others, he is espousing nothing less than the overthrow of our democracy.

I no longer watch the News Hour. It is not worth watching.

Ibid (see also H.P. Lovecraft)

Op cit ( see also Ibidus)

I don't know why Glenn's quote of Levin:

The way I see it, Lewis Libby was about to become a political prisoner and the president prevented that.

reminded me of this quote from Blazing Saddles:

Bart: [the townfolk aren't happy to find out that their new sheriff is black. They begin to load their guns and point them at him. Bart then points his own pistol at his head] Hold it! Next man makes a move, the nigger gets it!

Olson Johnson: Hold it, men. He's not bluffing.

Dr. Sam Johnson: Listen to him, men, he's just crazy enough to do it!

Bart: Drop it! Or I swear I'll blow this nigger's head all over this town!

Bart: Oh, lo'dy, lo'd, he's despit! Do what he sayyyy, do what he sayyyy...

[the townfolk drop their guns. Bart jams the gun into his neck and drags himself through the crowd and towards the station]

Harriett Van Johnson: Isn't anybody going to help that poor man?

Dr. Sam Johnson: Hush, Harriet, that's a sure way to get him killed!

Bart: Oooh! He'p me, he'p me! Somebody he'p me! He'p me! He'p me! He'p me!

Bart: Shut up!

[places his hand over his mouth, drags himself through the door into his office]

Bart: Ooh, baby, you are so talented! And they are so DUMB!

but it did.