Wouldn't it be refreshing if we had a tradition in this country similar to Great Britain's -- with PUBLIC, DETAILED and PRINCIPLED resignations from the Cabinet over major policy disputes?

Certainly, one of the greatest disappointments of recent years was Colin Powell's failure to break publicly with Dubya over Iraq policy, giving voice to his reservations and disagreements so that the policy would change significantly.

But, no, the good soldier kept his mouth mostly shut until very recently, and as a result thousands of American soldiers have been killed or wounded grievously, and countless thousands of Iraqis have also suffered needlessly. The failure of Bush41's advisors to speak up en masse about Bush43's horrible performance in office is part and parcel of the same inexplicable reluctance -- don't we all have a duty to this COUNTRY that goes far beyond loyalty (or is it fealty?) to any particular President?

Whoever would have thought, 14 years ago, that anything could have come along to make George H.W. Bush look good? The son is raising the father's image.

As W drives us over the precipice, it was (and is) the duty of every patriotic American to speak out-- particularly if they have a measure of power or respect from others in high places.

This is why I consider the former president and his advisors-- like Colin Powell, who disgorged lies on cue to a skeptical U. N.-- in dereliction of duty, or AWOL. And now, because fearful men failed to speak out, we are careening into endless, pointless war, with a growing spectre of nuclear.

We can only hope these people recognize their duty now, and speak out before it is really too late.

At least now everyone can see that radical neoconservative ideology just doesn't work in the real world.

Thank God it's only taken six years to prove this to the world. It took 75 years for Communism to flame out.

So let's take our half full glass to the polls and fill it the rest of the way.

By the way, speaking of nostalgia for 41: the marijuana arrest rate during 41's term was only 250,000 per year.

Not even Trent Lott thought this number was a problem until 42 came aboard and decided to make it one. 42 succeeded in tripling that number, largely at the expense of poor and minority youth.

I really think that particular legacy left by 42 helped pave the way for the radicalism and sixties bashing of 43.

But again, to look on the bright side, maybe now that 43 has greatly increased the number of real foreign enemies for our country, we won't need to keep creating imaginary domestic enemies out of our own youth.

The bottom line is to keep the party in power. Warning the public about Dubbya could have cost the Republicans the White House. Compared to that, the American People, and the country itself, pale in signifigance.

The 41s have failed miserably, maybe criminally, in their responsibilities and obligations to the American people. Though this is nothing compared to the criminal actions of George W, Cheney, too many of the 43s, and apparently, more and more of their lackies on the Hill.

I feel sick when I think of what this country could have been spared.

I liked your analogy of the neocon movement to the communists and the hope that we wouldn't have to put up with several generations of their destroying our society like the USSE did. Still, there is some resurgence of "communist lite" in Russia now so we need to make sure that if the neocons are tossed in our country that we stomp that bug extra hard to make sure it's dead.

USSR of course, CCCP if you will. Sorry

Richemery is right on. But let us remember that democracy is a lot older then the US and Britain, even though, the British style is a lot more open and transparent. For one they don't have electronic cheating, sorry election machines a la Diebold. And as said Cabinet members can express opinions of their own, and/or resign if they dont fit the policies of their party. Bush and Co have a long way to go to be really democratic, even if the are Repugnicans.

Diane S. is entirely correct. But the sudden love-in with Bush 41 is, if I may say, somewhat misplaced. George H. W. Bush was, in a word, disastrous for the country over his single term. It took nearly the entire first term of President Clinton to set the country right again economically. Bush the elder was a moderate by comparison to the younger Bush, but no one should think that his policies were any better for the country than any standard issue Republican policy is. The deck is always stacked with the GOP. In this case, it's obvious and it's worse by several degrees with the junior Bush. He is not even a real "conservative". He is a naked, brazen radical who lusts for power for its own sake, and the current GOP is now twisted into something that is wholly and irredeemably corrupt. The 41s are cut invariably from the same cloth and that's why they were silent all these years. Nothing matters but power, and the lengths they will go to have it and maintain it. Power trumps all. Country, truth, the rule of law are but collateral damage. No one should forget that. The only thing Bush 41 got right was policy relative to Iraq. Bush 43 however, has screwed up EVERYTHING. Bush 41 was bad. Bush 43 is worse than bad, possibly worse than worse. No one should look at 41's term as "the good old days", because they were not.

are not true patriots. For if they do indeed truly feel as DeFrank writes they do, then they should have put the flag and its people ahead of political gain and steered the party and then the country away from Duh-b-ya. Instead, they kept their mouths shut and continued to make their big bucks on various boards, making $$$ speeches, etc. and watched this country sink into its current abyss.

To me, Jack Murtha is one of the ultimate patriots--he has had the courage (and patriotism) to criticize the Marines, a group that he clearly holds deep in his heart and soul, for the atrocities some may have committed. For the betterment of the whole institution. I may disagree with other views he holds, but I truly respect him for that stance.

The 41s can go back to their gated communities, board rooms and golf outings with 41 himself. Still they hide behind a reporter. They don't deserve our respect.