There is only one political story out there today, and it is the US Attorney purge. The clock is ticking down for Attorney General Alberto Gonzalez, and, from all reports, he did himself no favors at his press conference this afternoon. I think Sen. Leahy's comments, that he is "shocked" that members of the Bush Administration lied to his committee sound a bit like Claude Rains in Casablanca, as these folk are institutionally incapable of telling the truth, but that is neither here nor there. More to the point is the simple fact that, the entire edifice of this group of unindicted co-conspirators against the American people is crumbling, only a few rats remain on board the ship, and the only fans they seem to have are members of the press, who still insist, despite mountains of evidence, on giving them the benefit of the doubt.
When I first read a small blurb over at Talking Points Memo about the firing of United States Attorneys, I thought, "Interesting, but hardly anything anyone is interested in." Sadly, I was sounding a bit like members of the press - the American people are much too dim to understand something as complex as the sacking of federal prosecutors, no matter how egregious it may turn out to be. I must eat the plate of crow I have served myself, because it now turns out that this is about as big a deal as Richard Nixon firing Archibald Cox, or Ronald Reagan selling arms to Iran, then taking the profits and giving them to American-supported, drug-running terrorists in Nicaragua (after Oliver North took his cut for a home security fence; a finders fee, one assumes). The press recognize this exactly for what it is - meddling in non-political legal affairs for crass, even base, political motives is about as low as one can go. Manipulation of the legal system is something Mafiosi do, which is why it arouses such disgust among most Americans. It is thuggery, pure and simple.
While one wonders whether or not the "I" word might start to become spoken a bit more loudly, not just whispered among a few, there is no doubt that the carefully constructed facade, a kind of Potemkin Village of competence, even arrogance, is now down, and what is revealed is a sordid, indeed fetid, pile of rat-infested buildings, paint peeling, roof leaking - kind of like Building 18 at Walter Reed Army Hopsital. . . .
My friend and frequent visitor Democracy Lover is annoyed that articles of impeachment haven't already been served, and while I understand his frustration, I also recognize the necessity on the part of Democrats in Congress to exercise caution. I remarked to him that, considering the multiple disadvantages Democrats operate under, some of them of their own doing, it is remarkable the amount of information that is coming to light in just two short months since they took over Congress. While the USA purge is a recent development, one doubts that much of what has already come to light would have surfaced had Republicans maintained control of the legislature. It is remarkable, really, how, with just a little push here, a nudge there, we have lifted the bed skirt and all sorts of horrid dust kitties have become visible. Were the Democratic majorities larger, and the Democrats themselves a bit less timid, we might actually be well on the way to ridding ourselves of this odious group once and for all. Just remember, kiddies, should Bush and Cheney fall, third in line for the Presidency is the Speaker of the House of Representatives, so not only might we be seeing a change of Administration sooner rather than later, we might see a change of party, and a change of gender as well.
We now see, as the dust from this travesty rises then settles around us, how important elections are.
