Past, Past all Dishonor

In July of 2005, almost two years ago (7-27-05), I wrote a blog entitled Past all Dishonor (a title taken from a James M. Cain novel). I suggested that the Republicans were letting Bush/Cheney take over the party, commit grievous crimes against the nation, and refusing to do anything about it, thus being past all dishonor. Well, by now, they have repeatedly demonstrated the same unwillingness to curb Bush/Cheney and thus have gone even past their previous dishonor. If Republicans don't join with Democrats to do something now about Bush's disgraceful commutation of Libby's crime (and yes, it was a crime) I think they will have dishonored themselves and their party for all time. I can't see how they could fall much further into the cesspool of American politics and history.

Libby lied to a Grand Jury and obstructed justice. Those are extremely serious charges. He was tried before a competent (Republican appointed judge) who rendered a seriously considered sentence. The sentence was reviewed by another court and found to be perfectly reasonable. Libby was sentenced to 30 months in jail, par for the course. Bush (probably acting for Cheney as usual) said the jail time was an excessive punishment (which, for the crime, it was not). But he cleverly did not grant Libby an all out pardon for if he had done so Libby would forfeit his right to claim the 5th amendment in any further investigation. Libby is left with a quarter of a million dollar fine and two years of probation. Of course he will never pay the fine (the money for it has already been collected for him) and his probation will end when Bush inevitably will pardon him once and for all. As Bush has no history of compassion when it comes to such commutations one might wonder why this case is different. The reason is obvious: Bush is protecting himself and Cheney from potential criminal charges. This should be an impeachable offense (along with the other dozen or so impeachable offenses they are already guilty of) but, of course, Republicans will not go along with impeachment even if Pelosi should change her mind and allow it to happen. If nothing is done this time, that is, if Bush/Cheney are not impeached or forced to resign, it will be an admission that they are, indeed, above the law (even though no one in the U.S. is supposed to be above the law, even the President). In other words they will have established a dictatorship (with the connivance and support of both Republicans and Democrats). Democrats are claiming to be outraged and will hold a series of hearings. Watch for the whole sordid episode to disappear amidst an avalanche of hearings (full of sound and fury, signifying nothing). God, I hope I am wrong about this.

It is now official that Larry Grant is running again for Congress against the mindless Bill Sali who just keeps on disgracing the State of Idaho with his meaningless minority votes against just about everyting and anything. Sali, who gets his money from the Club for Growth, apparently just votes their way no matter how ridiculous and stupid it appears. I don't think he gets much money from people in Idaho. Larry Grant does. If the citizens of Idaho can't see Grant as a superb candidate (especially compared with Sali) they obviously can't rid themselves of the garbage-mouthed voices they hear from the likes of Limbaugh and Coulter.

LKBIQ:

"We live under a system by which the many are exploited by the few, and war is the ultimate sanction of that exploitation."
Harold J. Laski