There are any number of people I don't mind getting sticky with, or even just having potstickers with, but there are many, many more to whom I have no wish to stick...

Until those in government are held accountable when they break the law, we will have a lawless government. How hard is that to see?

In a few years, the Bush men will be on TV and writing books acting if everything they did was legal, even if "not the best policy". And some people wonder why young folks have little respect for the laws of this land.

Like Gleen Greenwald. I bet he is rich.

Aren't they all too busy counting their riches?

as much as i admire your writing, so often you get too caught up in the righteous vision of idealism and miss the reality that pragmatism can accomplish.

This reminds me of the shaven-headed child in The Matrix (embarrasingly, I'm revealing my pedestrian movie tastes); let me adulterate and say, "Instead, only try to realize the truth. There is no crime."

"Like Gleen Greenwald. I bet he is rich."

Well, yeah. Gleen is rich. Unfortunately, Gleen's big in dry goods at his 4 locations in Duluth.

Glenn, though, he's a journalist...

Again, from my real-world namesake, Mr. Paine:

Though I would carefully avoid giving unnecessary offence, yet I am inclined to believe, that all those who espouse the doctrine of reconciliation, may be included within the following descriptions:

Interested men, who are not to be trusted; weak men who cannot see; prejudiced men who will not see; and a certain set of moderate men, who think better of the European world than it deserves; and this last class by an ill-judged deliberation, will be the cause of more calamities to this continent than all the other three.

It is the good fortune of many to live distant from the scene of sorrow; the evil is not sufficiently brought to their doors to make them feel the precariousness with which all American property is possessed. But let our imaginations transport us for a few moments to Boston, that seat of wretchedness will teach us wisdom, and instruct us for ever to renounce a power in whom we can have no trust.

Common sense, indeed. When you take out the references to "European" and "Boston" and replace them with perhaps more appropriate terms (like "bipartisan" and "Basra"), Paine's words still echo today.

for the robbery I committed the other day, I simply say "Don't you have anything better to do? Surely someone's committing a crime today!"

Then I give him a few bills and send him on his way, happy as a clam, though I'm sure a little worried for a couple of days.

Yes, it is stunning. How petty that everyone just wants to see their wishes fulfilled - nobody cares about the concept of the rule of law. The right has one set of wishes, the left another. Neither has any desire for laws that apply the same to everybody. Sad.

Yeah...ok... we won't go after Bush for all the crimes he and his have committed... but please, the war crimes are a matter of international duty.

"it's more important to get things done than to fight yesterday's battles."

snip

"as much as i admire your writing, so often you get too caught up in the righteous vision of idealism and miss the reality that pragmatism can accomplish." -- metropolitannyc

When do you believe a better time would be?

Before or after the next "crisis"?

Just for clarification, do you believe that defending the constitution is one of "yesterday's battles"?

1) The duopoly (Rep and Dem Congress) has spent years creating as many barriers as possible to the viability of 3rd and/or multiple parties.

2) The National Guard was originally intended as a means to resist a corrupt federal govt/military. If the federal govt became too corrupt, the guards could march to Washington and overthrow the govt.

3) The american people sat by and let Bush "nationalize" the guard ...... removing them from under the authority of the individual state legislatures/governors.

4) As I have mentioned several times in Salon, the founding fathers provided a means to bypass corruption and/or inaction by any or all of the 3 branches of govt thru Article 5 of the Constitution.

The article provides that when 2/3's of the states ask for a convention (whose purpose would include amendments to the constitution), Congress is required to call for same.

Over 600 applications have been made by all 50 states and yet no Convention has been called.

http://www.foavc.org/

This represents treason on the part of the Congress and is sufficient for rebellion itself.

5) What is the common element here ????? The american people are in a trance ...... so self-concerned that they apparently do not care what is being done by their govt.

In my opinion, they have it too good still ........ they have sold their ethics for goods.

When they can no longer afford all that "stuff" that they now "serve", perhaps they will turn to look at those who have "betrayed" them.

6)As far as changing the current system ......... methinks only rebellion will work ........ get those who produce nothing but make money from those who do ...... we won't miss them ...... like cockroaches, there are plenty more where they came from ...

"Like Gleen Greenwald. I bet he is rich." Well, yeah. Gleen is rich. Unfortunately, Gleen's big in dry goods at his 4 locations in Duluth. Glenn, though, he's a journalist...

You're slaying me again. Time to put on my PDA-approved tinfoil fedora and resurrect.

I know when the police come to my door for the robbery I committed the other day ....

I warned you about that prescription pad ....

In light of the Democrats refusing to impeach Bush (in spite of the GOP attempted impeachment of Clinton for infinitely lesser crimes), they might at least prosecute him and his cohort for the evil they have done.

And if you want to see the face of the coming bipartisan happy days, I offer you the face of Mitch McConnell. See how he cottons to reaching across the aisle next year.

If I break the law, I face prosecution. The laws these guys broke are far more serious than any I might break. Why should our elected representatives and their staffs be above the law? How can they ignore subpoenas? How can our Civics classes handle the question of a double standard like this? What do I tell my kids? It doesn't make any sense. In fact, it is even more important to hold them responsible for their crimes because they betrayed a public trust. This is so much more important than mere expediency: it'll make our job so much easier if we don't make enemies. Make the enemies; fight for the change; stand for what is right. Maybe our kids will be able to believe in something again.