IN A SEASON THAT SHOULD BE CONVIVIAL AND COMFORTING -- filled with family, friends, fun, spiritualism, good food, song, and high spirits--what I am hearing instead from across the country is a surge of angst and discouragement. In conversations, calls, emails, and letters, people in general (and progressives in particular) are expressing profound dismay at the deterioration of America's democracy, not only because of the BushCheney regime, but also, and especially, because of the fecklessness of the Democratic Congress.
"For crying out loud! Why do we even bother to have elections?" Mark wailed in an email.
I am afraid of what this country has become and that at any minute the people in charge may bomb Iran, and I have lost all hope that there will be any checks and balances," Marshaleigh wrote, adding bluntly, "Congress doesn't work."
"I was amazed that the Republicans in Congress were willing to hand over their own power to the executive branch," said an email from Brian. "But I have been incredibly disappointed that the Democrat-majority Congress has not only failed to stop Bush's power grab, but has actually continued to help him do it, even passing laws to legitimize his illegal domestic spying."
My niece Lisa, incredulous at the Democrats' cave-in to the Mukasey nomination, left this message on my answering machine:
"I do not understand something I just heard on the radio, and I wanted it explained to me. How is it that they are saying that they probably are going to confirm this man when he has come out and said he believes in expansive presidential powers, and basically didn't answer the question when they asked him straight out whether or not simulated drowning was torture? And they said they'll still probably support him? What! Unh! OK. That's it. Bye." [ read more ]
The political media establishment is enraptured by John McCain. Mainline media sparklies, as well as the blatherers on the Fox channel, routinely buff up his image as a straight-talking, maverick foe of Washington's special interests. "The press loves McCain. We're his base," gushes MSNBC's Chris Matthews. But if the senator really is the feared reformer of business-as-usual government, why does his presidential campaign look like the back alley of K Street?
