It doesn't matter that Bush broke the law and trashed the constitution, just like it didn't matter when Reagan broke the law and trashed the constitution, because the GOP controls the House and Senate. Even Nixon was allowed to resign unpunished. It didn't even matter that Bush stole two elections in a row!

The US system ensures that politics, not justice, decides the fate of a criminal president, and the GOP doesn't have a shining record of placing ethics or respect for democracy ahead of politics. In fact the stated rational of the ruling cabal is to ensure, mostly by foul means not fair, that the GOP stays in power...forever. That would put the US right up there with all other Democratic Republics, like Congo, China and North Korea.

I dont' think Americans living in America understand the disgust and despair experienced by those of us in the real world who believe in Democracy, and are forced to watch what Americans are doing to it. Americans enjoy freedoms, wealth and advantage only dreamed of in most of the world, and what do you do with it? Throw it all away for a spoiled, rich-boy draft-dodger in a cowboy hat who promises to protect you from the boogey man. Sickening.

Its not bad enough that you trash your own democracy from ignorance, greed and fear, but the US then goes around threatening or overthrowing emerging democracies that it doesn't like- remember Chile? Greece? Congo? Venezuela? How long will Morales last in Bolivia, or will the CIA organise yet another coup against another popularly-elected anti-US-Imperialism leader?

I proclaim again, Americans aren't ready for democracy. They don't understand it, they don't value it, and they consistently work against it, even when they do bother to vote. The ruling junta has proven itself to be a threat to its own citizens as well as the world at large. The best thing we can do is send in the Blue Helmets to try and set up a transitional government while a proper constitution and legal system is drafted and put into place. 'Cause the one you got, it don't work.

Of course Conason is correct to point out the clumsy distortions of the Drudges and Limbaughs of the world, although it is like shooting fish in a barrel.

Nonetheless, my question is this: does anyone know when the secret prison system described by the WP and present in popular media forever was created? Were there "black sites" extant under Clinton or earlier?

Like proverbial police corruption in New Orleans, we not only condone US mistreatment of foreigners, we've come to expect it. It is only that this warrantless spying has been conducted against American citizens that has landed the President in hot water with most of the public.

Clinton was no saint and in an effort not to become the photographic negative of Limbaugh et al, it would be good not to simply assume in a knee jerk manner that all charges against him are malicious right wing demagoguery.

Thank you to Conason for pointing out that Clinton's exceutive order re: FISA was different than Bush's. Now, what about those prisons?

The whole "Clinton did it too" thing is a classic diversionary tactic. Whether or not Clinton did the same thing is irrelevant to the current issue. Since when are previous crimes precedents for establishing innocence?

As they consistently do, the Republican enabler/apologists are trying to do several things with these tactics:

1) Put Democrats on the defensive for a Republican crime

2) Establish universal guilt and, by extension, universal innocence

3) Force the Democrats to back down for fear of their own collusion being uncovered

So, exactly how broken is our system of governance? It would be hard to imagine a more obvious example of a President proudly proclaiming that he is above the law. If we can't get both parties to speak out strongly against these activities, perhaps the Republicans are right - we are all guilty.