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Sunday, Nov 8, 2009
"... The republic has seen dark days before, but I have not experienced personally nor have read of a time in history when the public and our representatives have been so complacent in the face of the diminution and destruction of our republic." CRL
I don't know, CRL ... is it complacency or apathy or maybe people nowadays are just so wrapped up in themselves and their own little lives that there's no room for trivial little things like politics and civil liberties and watching our Constitution and our country go to hell in a handbasket. I can't help but think back to the Watergate era (was it only 25 years ago?). The White House Press Corps were like sharks circling in the water (Sam Donaldson particularly comes to mind). They were outraged at what they were finding out and they were outraged at being stonewalled by the White House. All of America knew they were outraged and before you knew it, most of America was outraged too. (I'm still amazed that the top of my head didn't fly right off after a week-end of Watergate-related firings and resignations that came to be known as "The Saturday Night Massacre"!) It took a while but eventually politicians from BOTH parties were also outraged enough at Nixon's abuses of power to unite in their commitment to see the impeachment process through to its logical conclusion. And they were united in their SADNESS too ... that was obvious from the looks on each and every one of their faces (Barbara Jordan, Charles Sandman, Trent Lott ... 17 Republicans and 21 Democrats) as they voted. I was glued to the television watching those hearings day after day after day and I think the kind of compassion and sensitivity to the historical significance of what they were doing that was so obvious then is completely missing in today's politicians. I don't know what in the world has happened to everyone in the last 25 years but I'd give anything to see just a fraction of the outrage that swept this country 25 years ago. This country has earned it and, more importantly, George Bush deserves it!
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
