In a time when we are supposedly facing the gravest and most epic War Ever to Save our Very Civilization, they are demanding that scarce law enforcement resources be squandered on the pettiest though still quite invasive and liberty-infringing matters.

It's truly remarkable that the Republican party is a coalition of people who think that what they do with their money is no one's damn business and people who think that what goes on in their neighbors bedroom is precisely their business.

I can't explain the contradiction. But I'm one of those who tends to think that its ALL none of their damn business!

I applaud the work that you and many other bloggers are putting into exposing the corruption in the Main Stream Media or Corporate Media..

The question that keeps popping up in my mind is this: Will the CM ever be brought to heel in any serious fashion?

Or is this as good as it gets, the bloggers yipping around the ankles of the mighty Corporate Goliaths?

What was it that Clinton said about not antagonizing those who buy ink in fifty five gallon drums?

The problem the pundits and, really, the mainstream media, have at this point is that they dug themselves in a big hole by cheering on the Iraq War. If they actually acknowledge that there are others who are smarter or have better instincts than they do, then they are in trouble. So instead, they try to find ways of criticizing the left in order to seem like they still have something relevant and superior to say. Otherwise, they are in an "Emperor has no clothes" situation and their careers are over. People aren't going to pay any attention to them if they catch on that they are just a bunch of narcissistic know-nothings.

You know, Drudge and Politico aren't the only organizations in cahoots here.

I've been reading Glenn Greenwald's blog for quite some time now, and I can also say that I have read his book, "How Would a Patriot Act?" It is quite clear to me after my investigation into his conduct that he is very obviously and deliberately conspiring with the truth. In fact, it's as though he sorts through the facts when researching a particular topic, and only after that does he make up his mind as to what the truth really is.

This is in stark contrast to the "conservative" strategy of beginning with a conclusion, and assembling whatever facts will support that conclusion, leaving out any points that might lead a reader to believe that the conclusion is absolute bullshit.

The question that keeps popping up in my mind is this: Will the CM ever be brought to heel in any serious fashion?

Overall, probably not. It can have some effect in improving the quality and remind individual journalists of where their loyalty is supposed to be (with truth and reality), but real change isn't going to happen unless the public decides thats what it wants.

The poverty of the press is part of an ochestrated campaign of the conservative movement to get in power. One of the most important things that can be done to improve journalism would be to restore the media regulations that have been rolled back for the past 3 decades.

On the Radley Balko link, that sounds like the Justice Dept. is still being used to promote the agenda of the fundamentalist authoritarians who comprise part of the movement's power structure. Ashcroft was more interested in that stuff than terorism ...

http://thinkprogress.org/2007/03/28/fox-bush/

That's Pavlov's Bell for the dogs of the Bush loyalty cult. From here on out, anything and everything that stands in the way of the conservative movement's attempt to overthrow American democracy will be labeled "partisan" so that the mindless drones of the noise machine can wail about the treasonous evil of "liberals". Which will make our future McVeighs feel justified when they start killing "liberals."

http://dneiwert.blogspot.com/2007/03/up-to-minutemen.html

They'll turn violent-er when a Democrat becomes president. That group has its origins in the the same circles that the Constitution part sort travels in (white patriot, survilist, militia movement)

In It Can't Happen Here the fascist thugs of Buzz Windrip were called Minute Men, too.

It says here that Stengle is the "president and chief executive officer of the National Constitution Center, a museum, education center and think tank in Philadelphia."

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard_Stengel

As the CEO of this center, why doesn't he know about the important responsibility congress has to oversee the executive?

I was just visiting Gawker.com for my daily NY media snark, and they are featuring a blurb on Glenn’s Politico post – never thought I’d find that peanut butter in my chocolate …. I think I had an aneurysm seeing that ….

As for Rick Stengel’s “explanation” – it makes more sense if you read it in a spoiled whiny 7-year old child’s voice who’d just been reprimanded. Since he feels a certain way “as a citizen,” that means all Americans must think that way, too. Wish I had such superpowers – no need for polls or elections anymore!

"The question that keeps popping up in my mind is this: Will the CM ever be brought to heel in any serious fashion?"

The answer is no. However, I would be happy if we could convince Americans that there is no "liberal media" conspiring to destroy poor little old Republicans at every turn. The media has given aid and comfort to the Republicans for years, but any bad news that Republicans get is due to "that damn liberal media".

This must end; or our Republic will.

Most notably of all, with our country waging extremely brutal wars and threatening still new ones, detaining tens of thousands of people around the world, and plagued by a deeply lawless and corrupt government

Its always good to be reminded....

Its not a football game! There are real lives at stake. In one sense, the purgegate scandal is a distraction but it is helpful if it reminds people of one salient fact...These people are NOT to be trusted!