Yes and they will go to great lengths in order to ignore or try to deflect conversations as to why there is no confidence and what that means. There is no confidence because there shouldn't be.

-- adnoto

Precisely my point. Public sees economy crumbling around them, feels it in their pocketbooks, sees it at the gas pump, NOTICES the deaths of bear stearns, fannie and freddie, the sale of american businesses to foreign ones, and then are subjected to the "Henny Penny" treatment (Thanks Donny) for actually noticing. Calling it a confidence issue deflects from the fact that any one with two eyes, ears and a brain *SHOULD* lack confidence in the economy.

The fact that the "crisis in confidence" - rather than legitimate causes for it - is seen as "the problem" represents the last 8 years in a nutshell. You know, sort of like blaming the New York Times for exposing the warrantless wiretapping program and making that the primary issue, rather than the fact that there WAS a warrantless wiretapping program.

Such an overreaction. What has this government ever done to earn such mistrust? I'm sure that this military unit will only ever be used for good. We're really just making the National Guard re-available domestically since we've been burning through them in the Iraq war. They'll be here to PROTECT your rights, not violate them. I don't see why you people are worried about this, what with our long record of safeguarding your rights and honoring the Constitution.

You'll see how nice they are once we've ordered you to give them a room in your house to stay in.

What? Hmm.. *note to self, must sneak in some legislation to sneak through our sieve of a Congress to fix that pesky Third Amendment...

Once her handlers have reached the point (if they ever reach it) that they are willing to close their eyes, cross their fingers, and pray that she doesn't mangle the English language or say somethinst st00pid (too late), she'll develop coping mechanisms.

Like changing the question asked, and answering the question you rephrased but nobody actually asked you, explaining concepts by saying "that's what we call" as if you have stumbled upon some secret knowledge, rather some basic nugget understood by everyone, and belittling anyone who asks you a tough question by explaining that they understand life in a post 9/11 world.

This fear of exposing her to the press is simply the fear of exposing who she is: George W. in a pant suit.

That is "don't" understand life in a post 9/11 world.

Like Miss Teen USA South Carolina bad, such as.

His attempt to look statesman-like failed because it became obvious after a few hours of him riding to the rescue that he was making things worse not better - something I expect to be the case should he win the Presidential race. As the public wasn't buying that he would help matters there, it made it look like he was running from the debate. The only thing that changed in the 48 hours was that his handlers realized (too late) how the move was ACTUALLY going to be perceived by the American public.

You know, it might have worked had the crisis involved Iraq or foreign policy, things that are purportedly McCain's strong suits. But to drop everything because his participation is essential on a subject he admittedly doesn't know much about, naturally causes people to second-guess his motives, and the only possible motives are grand-standing (net negative) and fear of the debate (net negative).

Which is no doubt why people are actively trying to snuff out anything that might lead to public support for prosecution of those responsible (and it's a long list) for the torture policies.

Such prosecutions, in my view, are a necessary step towards restoring what used to be our good name as a country. Unless we take steps to acknowledge our wrongdoing in this regard, we will never again be looked upon internationally as any kind of moral authority on any subject.

After recovering from my initial shock that he actually HAD such an organ, I found myself hoping Dick Cheney enjoys a swift recovery from his heart trouble.

I would hate for him to be unavailable for trial.

Will we free them forthwith? No. They will ask for a stay and appeal, and the injustice will continue.

Will we stop and reflect on what we've done to these people as the judge invited? No.

Will they ever get those 7 years back? No.

Will they get exoneration from this outcome? No.

Public apology? No.

Compensation for the suffering? No.

Will we at least prosecute those responsible for this travesty? No.

Rebuke them? No.

Hold hearings? No.

Can they be sued? Not likely.

Will there be any public acknowledgment of at least a mistake, "oops", "we're sorry", by any official of any kind, anywhere? No.

This government and the people who have been running it are the Holocaust deniers of our generation. I am deeply saddened by what we have become.