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Sunday, Nov 8, 2009
Arvin Hill
Published Letters: 85 Editor's Choice: 2
Joan, do you ever place the rule of law above politics?
If so, I've not seen it. Few persons who would describe themselves, or be described by others, as politically informed would assert Bush-Cheney, Inc., was unworthy of being investigated for high crimes and misdemeanors. Yet, that didn't stop you from arguing against impeachment proceedings.
Political expedience shouldn't trump the laws to which the rest of us peons are hopelessly chained, but, thanks in large part to the Royal Punditry, it does.
Sooner or later, when it finally suits your frayed, nebulous ends, you won't be able to resist the temptation to bolster your politically expedient position du jour with sober recitations on the supremacy of The Law. I may or may not agree with you when that time comes, but, either way, it is extremely unlikely you will have a leg to stand on, assuming one of your many talents isn't spontaneous limb production.
Not that it matters. Being wrong is the last thing that will ever bite into your face time.
...are the essence of our media culture, and anyone who deviates from the script can expect an angry pummeling from the insatiable, consensus-addicted mob.
Those who cite the devaluation of language as a major factor in the hero and miracle fetishes masquerading as analysis and insight are entirely correct. It feeds the metastasizing politicization and authoritarianism which have become the hallmarks of the collective American mindset.
Critical thinking? Who needs it.
Whether we realize it or not, we all do. And it's very often a thankless role.
Not this time, though.
Thank you, Patrick Smith. You're a credit to both of your professions.
...there's all those Democrats to push President Jesus to the left.
In no particular order:
• Telecom Immunity: CHECK
• Funding Israeli Atrocities in Gaza: CHECK
• Anti-Constitutional Surveillance State Policies: CHECK
• Lubrication of "Public Servant"/Lobbyist Revolving Door: CHECK
• +$40B Giveaway to Bloated Military-Industrial Complex: CHECK
• Retention of Key Bush Personnel: CHECK
• Continuance of Rendition/Torture: CHECK
• Bailouts for Industry Fat Cats; nothing for individuals: CHECK
• Escalation of Armed Conflict in Afghanistan with "collateral damage": CHECK
• Commitment to fund "Faith-Based Initiatives": CHECK
• Missile Strikes in Pakistan with "collateral damage": CHECK
• No Justice for War Crimes & Other Crimes of Bush-Cheney, Inc: CHECK
• Fear-Mongering/Saber Rattling Against Iran: CHECK
• Preserving Loyalty of Uncritical Democratic Base: CHECK
Of course, pragmatists understand we all have to take the good with the bad. No politician is perfect.
Funny how polls are only relevant when they can be molded into a net plus for America's political elite.
What disturbs me about the idea of so-called truth and reconciliation for Bush-Cheney, Inc. and its habitual enablers in the U.S. Congress is how predictable it is. I've seen this coming for years, and, yet, despite the complete lack of surprise, it is absolutely infuriating to watch this ridiculous charade.
Same old bullshit to the Nth degree. There are those who govern and those who are governed, and, by God and Country, the former are intrinsically superior to the latter.
Those Who Govern use the law to steal from us directly and indirectly. They pack off men and women to kill and be killed, either to enrich themselves or purely for political expedience. Their disdain for the rule of law to which the rest of us are subjected, often in brutal and ruthless fashion, is beyond dispute. They unleash their monsters of choice however they see fit, whenever they see fit.
And they - Those Who Govern - do it all because there's always someone like Joe Conason, Et Al, to protect them from the just consequences of their crimes.
This isn't just about The Bush Administration, Joe, and you damn well know it. If Leahy or anyone else on Capitol Hill - our State Actors who, for the last eight years, have perfected the art of moral theatrics and gutlessness - care to prevent the abuses which have stained and strained this country to its breaking point, they need only confess their own failures with a full acknowledgment of COMPLICITY.
Sadly, Joe Conason, your brain - and, along with it, your sense of justice and basic human decency - is no less rotten than those of your Beltway pals. What you're advocating is not pragmatism. It's forfeiture. Some things are worth fighting for, even when the odds do not favor a painless victory - or any victory at all.
You're an abject failure as an American citizen, Conason.
As a journalist, you're about average.
Draw your own goddamn conclusions.
Much of the initial coverage about Fort Hood turned out to be wrong. Is there anything wrong with that?
The accountability imposed by another country for the CIA's kidnapping and torture reveals much about our own.
Fox News' morning show plays to type, talking about whether Muslims in the Army should face "special debriefings"
219 Democrats and one Republican join in favor of the legislation, which passed by a narrow margin
The survivor and author is upset about comparisons some on the right are making to genocide
Salon headlines in your mailbox
