Here is a quote from a conversation he had with Anthony Lewis discussing Mr. Lewis' book on first amendment issues.

“The management of foreign relations appears to be the most susceptible of abuse, of all the trusts committed to a Government, because they can be concealed or disclosed, or disclosed in such parts & at such times as will best suit particular views; and because the body of the people are less capable of judging & are more under the influence of prejudices, on that branch of their affairs, than of any other.” Madison is reflecting on the use of secrecy concepts mischievously to cloak the dealings of the Government. The Government can disclose half-truths and mislead just as effectively as by telling lies. Do you consider the experience of the Iraq War another demonstration of this concept that Madison calls “universal”? And if so, wasn’t the press itself much to blame because of its failure to ask the right questions at the right time, and its willingness to allow Government claims to go unchallenged even when it knew there were serious issues with those claims? The letter here occurred against the backdrop of the famous Quasi-War with France, which Jefferson and Madison thought not a legitimate war as much as a domestic political game designed to isolate and vilify the Republicans (as the Democrats were then called). But should that make a difference?"

linkie:http://harpers.org/archive/2008/02/hbc-90002447

My hope is that Mrs. Clinton will become the VP in the new administration and immediately assume all of the powers that Dick Cheney formulated for his office and this will have only one effect in my mind. The Republicans will immediately, at all costs, rescind all of her newly gained powers out of total fear and put the genie back in the bottle where it belongs.

Just like communism, unless your a communist or a terrorist you have nothing to worry about, right? How many drug convictions were based on NSL letters used in the name of fighting terrorism or other crimes so dubiously attached to that profile. Scared people don't have any limits to the parameters of their fear and thus frankly don't care how the bad guys are caught. I'm surprised the exclusionary rule is still around.

BEFORE THEY STARTED! Retro active immunity proves nothing relative to that original statement. If it was such a legal no brainer than why did they gamble on the situation they are in now? Is that not too obvious to people?

We default to comfort and leisure because after 911 Dear Leader took bold actions to protect us and alleviate our fears so that we could go back to life as normal. What sacrifices has anyone other than the military personnel and their families made to fight terrorism? This complacency is exactly what corporations and the government want. the media goes right along with the notion that appeased tranquil populace means less intrusion into what actually has been going on in the name of Nat'l Security. Meanwhile making any objections, let alone ones made for the sake of the Constitution,seem hysterical. My solution; Obama- Clinton ticket and HRC immediately assumes all of the power that Dick Cheney has garnered for his office and it will all mysteriously need to go away. Just like the GOP raping the treasury and as soon as they lose the majority they are now the greatest proponents for eliminating earmarks. Pry their fucking hands off the controls.

Here is a quote:"But the most insidious enemy is the cowardly journalist and editor who doesn't need to be told what to do, because he or she has already internalized the need to please—or at least not to offend—the worst tyranny of all, which is the safety-first version of public opinion."

http://www.slate.com/id/2184493/

Scott Horton used this term the other day " Ludicrous Conceit" and serves this current atmosphere of the media and it's relationship to the administration perfectly.

Can you say Diva FEST? It's just like jessica, brittany, and rush all trying to grab the spotlight for attention. Brian Ross, Joe Klein, Bill Kristol, John King, they all still have jobs right? As my brother always says, Shit Floats. I know, you know, and everyone else knows, Glenn, that you can try to humble these people but they have no shame. If it's any compliment I think you have inspired VDH, he used the term vapid the other day in his tripe laden spew on Obama after the Sen.'s speech. Thanks for your ability to maintain the integrity of simple facts.

Job security, what ever you want to call it. Why bother with details about actual realties better to deal with superficial personality auras instead. Aren't they all editorial writers anyway?

"The past years have seen us both shamed and threatened by the implications of the Berkeleyan attitude, from Burma to Rwanda to Darfur. Had we decided to attempt the right thing in those cases (you will notice that I say "attempt" rather than "do," which cannot be known in advance), we could as glibly have been accused of embarking on "a war of choice." But the thing to remember about Iraq is that all or most choice had already been forfeited. We were already deeply involved in the life-and-death struggle of that country, and March 2003 happens to mark the only time that we ever decided to intervene, after a protracted and open public debate, on the right side and for the right reasons. This must, and still does, count for something."