I live in Rhode Island, and I saw that ad two days ago. Frankly, I was pretty shocked - not at the ad itself, but that it would actually be broadcast in Rhode Island. We don't usually see that level of ugliness here.

I've been quite aware of Chafee's rather contemptible voting habits:- voting "liberal" only on votes that don't matter to the Republican leadership, but a reliable party member in the clutch, like other New England Republicans. And I was quite annoyed recently to get a newsletter from him, printed and mailed at taxpayer (my!) expense, which was little more than a campaign advertisement. That's just sleazy.

I've met Whitehouse, and while he didn't knock my socks off, he did seem competent (you can read my writeup of the dinner at http://bobquasit.livejournal.com/225041.html ). He did seem like a standard Democratic candidate, but I will say that while much of what he said was standard Democratic talking points, he did show real passion when the topic of the environment came up - or rather, of the environmental lawsuits he'd overseen as state Attorney General. He was REALLY pissed that the Bush Administration and the EPA had stalled enforcement and changed regulations to accomplish back-door nullification of the suits.

So while he may not set the Senate on fire, I do think that he'd be better than Chafee, and he does seem to have at least one issue that he really cares about. I have no idea what Chafee cares about, except apparently getting re-elected and not offending the GOP leadership too much.

WHY does Dick Cheney so desperately want the power to legally torture?

I fear that the explanation could actually a pretty straightforward connect-the-dots sort of thing...

1. George W. Bush (and perhaps Dick Cheney, too?) can legally declare anyone he wants an "enemy combatant", thereby effectively stripping them not only of their US citizenship (if they are a citizen to begin with, of course) but of even the most basic human rights.

2. He can then legally order US operatives to torture or kill them without the slightest fear.

It seems to me that this is a legal basis for rounding up, "disappearing", and torturing political opponents, uncooperative media types, and pretty much anyone else in the world. Such power is virtually...godlike.

You know, I may be nearly unique; I didn't experience 9/11.

I was having surgery that day, and was literally just going under the knife when the first plane hit the first tower. By the time I was conscious (barely), both towers were down and the whole thing was over. I spent the next week or two in a fairly heavily medicated state, which may also have had an impact.

Maybe that's why I've never really understood the effect that 9/11 had on America. It's not that the towers had no meaning for me. I'd been up in them, several times, and one of the strongest memories I have as a teenager is standing at the base of one of the towers and looking straight up. It made me dizzy; it looked as if the tower was going to fall over on top of me.

But... why did so many Americans somehow feel that it made sense to turn this country into the opposite of all its ideals? Why is it suddenly fine to torture, spy on other Americans without a warrant, kidnap and hold people secretly, even for life, on the say-so of a man who has so clearly proved that he's not even trustworthy (or competent) enough to be a town dogcatcher?

I have to believe that this was always in us. Or rather, not us - them. Because there's no way I'm taking responsibility for this. Even if I'd been conscious on 9/11, I still wouldn't accept what's happened to this country.

I guess that there's a deep streak of stupidity - or evil, call it whatever you want - in a large percentage of the human race, just waiting for an excuse to toss out all the rules which allow for a sane and safe society, and simply worship a strongman. Ultimately, that racial tendency may doom us all.

I'm rather amazed at the way so many people here have been bootstrapping the information in the letter to make points that are entirely unsupported by the facts.

The LW invaded his/her boss's privacy? How do you know? He or she is legally liable to report the information, or legally culpable if s/he does?

No offense, but no matter WHAT the truth is, a lot of people are talking out of their asses here. The fact is that we don't know how the LW got the information; it may have been pursuant to his professional duties, or not. And that may, or may not, matter. I often disagree with Cary, but in this case he nailed it right on the head: it's time for the LW to check into his professional responsibilities and code of ethics.

I'd add that it would be a damned good idea to speak to a tax lawyer about the entire issue as soon as possible, because it's certainly possible (either way) that the LW could be in legal jeopardy. And yes, if I were the LW I'd damned well be looking for a new job ASAP - no matter what.

I spent eight years in a hellish job myself. That sort of toxic atmosphere can do serious, long-term psychological damage. You need to get yourself out of there as quickly as you can.