Excellent post.

I’ve long believed that a major part of the Republican Party’s electoral success is their ability to “personalize” the issues they hold dear in the eyes of potential voters. The issues are simplified in a way that not only distorts the facts, but make them easily digestible, and makes the target audience feel as though it touches them personally.

For example, the vast majority of Republican voters believe that Bush’s tax breaks affected them in a direct and positive way--whether that’s true or not. As a Democrat, I can tell you without a doubt that those tax breaks did not affect me in any personal or significant way. For that reason, those tax breaks meant more to Republicans than it ever could to me, or many Democrats. And issues that “mean more” on a personal level are the issues that get voters to the polls on election day.

This NSA scandal just isn’t going to touch very many people in that same personal way, I believe. And that’s the problem, in my view.

I hate that you can't read what you're commenting about while you are typing!

The troll period of silence on this issue is now over. They've received their talking points and marching orders, the daily ration of kool-aid has been consumed, and now it's time to spew some drivel, ladies and gentlemen. Let the troll games begin!

Of all people, Bush has perfected the art of political theater, and even made a career out of it. So for him to watch these "amateurs" in Congress go at it to no effect whatsoever, it must be painful for him to watch. Kind of how it's painful for us to watch him try to speak the English language in complete sentences.

Your rationale conveniently ignores who started this tragic war in the first place. But that's okay, sheep have never been known for their ability to keep track of such pesky facts. And hey, you're not over there fighting, right? No skin off your nose. In fact you're not being asked to sacrifice in any meaningful way at all, are you?

You can have your Monica Goodlings, Karl Roves, Jack Abramoffs, Duke Cunninghams, Dick Cheneys, Scooter Libbys, Tony Snows, Rush Limbaughs, Sean Hannitys, Tom DeLays, Deny Hasterts, Bob Neys, Michael Browns, Alberto Gonzalezes, George Allens, etc. I'll stick with my Democratic cowards for now, thanks.

The fact that you feel vindicated today despite the fact that you've been playing on the same team with those characters for the last six years confirms everything I believe about Republicans what their true "values" are. Enjoying your tax breaks? And how's that wall on the Mexican border to keep the darkies out coming along?

Re: the Regents dig--Is it elitist or petty to say that shit smells like shit?

Re: publishing McKinnon's email--If McKinnon wanted the email to stay private, he should have said so. Say what you will about the man, he's no moron. Had he asked Conason not to share it, I'm sure Joe would have complied. Obviously he didn't, so it's fair game.

Speaking of petty, McKinnon started it all with his snide, "Joe's not worth responding to" comment in the first place. He had it coming, and was man enough to acknowledge it, I have to say. However, I have to imagine it's easier to admit it when you lose a battle or two when you're always playing on the winning team.

One thing I'm really curious about though, is how did McKinnon feel he had to respond to? Isn't he working for McCain now? The timing of it all seems weird to me.

Bush supporters like Goodling clearly can't tell right from wrong. Despite what the "rules" and "laws" say, she feels as though "the cause" is so "just" that she can do whatever is necessary just so long as she doesn't get caught.

Always be loyal, and don't get caught.

American Taliban, indeed.

that this stuff makes Edwards look better to me. This is coming from someone who is slightly leaning towrds Obama at this point.

So in trying to look better, he ends up employing the sort of flawed logic that would make a retard blush? That makes him look better? He's just adding a new layer of cement to his legacy as Worst President Ever.

I can't fathom where Cohen was going with that line of questioning. Just go ahead and turn her into a martyr, why doncha? A Christian on her level has got to have a Olympic-sized persecution complex, so there's no need to test that water. This was as stupid as Kerry/Edwards calling out Mary Cheney as a lesbian. It's just ham-fisted and can only backfire. Stick to the fact that she's incompetent, there's no need to go down the religious road. People can figure that out for themselves if they are willing to.

The fact that she is a Christian, and where she went to school may give us background on her motivation and and lack of qualifications, but the issue is whether or not she broke the law. Cohen's line of questioning was a red herring in that respect.

If people cared, the Deomcrats wouldn't have to make anything of it. This war doesn't touch enough people on a personal level for them to care. If it did, we'd be out of Iraq already.

... I presume?

The Republicans have "progressed' to the point that they are as clueless as the Democrats were back in the 1960s.

"You've come a long way, baby!"

All those freshmen Democratic senators that we got all excited about when they won in November voted "yea." THAT is the big disappointment to me on this vote.

Another interesting note is both Sam Brownback and Norm Coleman not voting at all. Now THAT'S cowardice. Neither guy wants this vote to come back and hit him in the face in next year's election. Coleman in particular must be really scared.