[mburbank]

GOOD LAWS, YOU ARE A COMPLETE NUTJOB!

"I don't trust any politician to limit his or her own activity to that which is just. It's not cynicism. It's the foundation of our country. "

I agree compeletly! The constitution is ALL ABOUT removing any occasion to trust politicians. The three branches are supposed to watch each other like rabid dogs equally distanced from enough food for one of them.


"I understand that much worse abuses of power happen all the time. MUCH worse. ALL the time."

I don't doubt that in the least, but here's my problem with it. The envelope of evil extends as far beyond the legitimate as the powerful can reach. W et al are trying to move the line of legal legitimacy WAY forward to cover warantless spying, torture, detention without charge, disapearance. If they succeed in making thse things, (which I'm sure they've done before in countless administrations) solid, legal, unasailable ground to stand on, think how much further into the darkness their reach would extend.

Nixon said he was not a crook. Clinton sad he did not have sex with that woman. When it became crystal clear they'd lied, Nixon had to leave and Clinton got impeached. Bush says "I did it, I'm going to keep doing it, and I can do whatever I want". That HAS to be challenged. It changes the game completely. Until now it has been 'I can do whatever I want until I get caught'. That makes Presidents a whole lot more circumspect than 'I can do whatever I want.'