In my opinion, part of the problem with the media coverage and the "we're giving them what they want" defense by the MSM is that there is a kernel of truth to what they say. Stories like Abu G. prison, the John Yoo memo, and the Animal Farm-esque corruption of our Constitution, require us, the American people, to engage in some very uncomfortable introspection.

I believe that most Americans believe that we are a good and just nation, and being forced to acknowledge the fact that we are not (or at least have not been for quite some time) is not something that most people like to do. The fact that our government not only authorized torture, but has publicly fought to maintain the "right" to torture, is embarassing and shameful. Reading articles on what we have allowed to happen here *should* embarass and shame us all.

My point (and I'm making it poorly) is that there may be some truth to the assertion that people don't want to read these stories. I'm reminded of pet owners that housebreak their pets by rubbing their noses in the messes they've made and saying "No.!" That doesn't make it right of course, and the crimes that we have permitted by refusing to acknowledge them is horrible. Add to that the fact that our SILENCE, our utter failure to speak out as these atrocities took place, makes it worse. Not only must we acknowledge that we are not who we want to believe we are, and that we are country that tortures, suspends "inalienable" rights when inconvenient, and commits war crimes, but we must also acknowledge our COWARDICE in silently acquiescing to it.

I remember painfully every time some new Administration abuse came to light thinking "this is ridiculous, something needs to be done." Did I do something other than wear out my soapbox at home? Nope. So I'm just as responsible. And patting myself on the back for reading blogs such as these and ferreting out the few people actually reporting the news, and sending CSPAN clips of Jim Comey's testimony to people doesn't change the fact that I did nothing. Few people did. And that I think is part of the reason some people choose to stick their heads in the sand with regard to the stories that really matter. Laughing at John Edwards hair is far easier than taking the long overdue and uncomfortable look at who we really are and what we really stand for at this point in history.

Seriously, it's like honesty and truth are given no societal value in public and political discourse anymore. If you made up a false anecdote to make your far more misleading point, just admit it already. I have no interest in watching yet another attorney general try to dance through self-laid minefields to avoid admitting what everyone knows. It's nauseating.

Has returned. The last time I felt it, I was sitting on my couch at 3 a.m., watching the election returns in 2004. I did not go to work that day. I spent it instead thinking how I could possibly be so out of touch with the rest of America, and how could an intelligent people of such a great nation re-elect such a destructive fool. As the media narratives play out, the fact that we're STILL talking about Reverend Wright makes me fear that the headway it appears we made over the last few years is entirely illusory. The real issues are again being marginalized - the election is taking on the appearance of a popularity contest again, to the detriment of all involved.

I don't think I could take another night like that night in 2004, and it seems a little more possible today than it did a few days ago. Sigh.

Revelations such as these are depressing. The media's failure to question the war now seems like a conscious and deliberate choice, which puts it beyond just intellectual laziness.

Can I also say that I hate McClellan, Powell, Greenspan, and those of similar ilk that are all too willing to say now that what the Administration was doing wrong. Cowards. All of them. IF they thought that, the time to speak up was when it was happening, not when you're trying to F*ing peddle your book.

Overlander:

"McClellan has totally devalued himself as a professional liar. That means he'll never work in his chosen profession again. I'm going to buy his book because I believe repentance should be rewarded."

I'm not sure that it's repentance you are rewarding. I'm not saying don't buy his book, but in my opinion the "mea culpa" is in there to sell books, not because Scottie found God. My guess is you're rewarding self-interest, not repentance. And while it is "brave" for Scott to come out now with all these revelations, knowing that he would be excoriated by the Washington Sound Machine, let's be honest -- his whole job description when he was the White House spokesperson was to take abuse from people who were supposed to be critically analyzing and challenging him on his statements. How is that different from what's happening to him now, but for the fact that the White House Press Corps (by Scottie's own admission) sucked at that part of their job? Please. The outrage that he expresses now should have been expressed when it was happening -- you know, when it might have mattered somewhere other than on Amazon's Top Sellers list.