Power corrupts , the end of the Republican Regime.

Power corrupts, absolute power corrupts absolutely. The Republican party is imploding before our eyes because of pure , raw power. For the last 5 years particulary in the 4 years following 9-11 the Republicans have operated with essentially unlimited power. By virture of their control of the Presidency they drive the agenda and set the tone for the world's lone superpower. By virture of their hold on the House and Senate they control the legislative agenda and perhaps more importantly they have the power to start investigations and hearings that serve to keep the executive branch in check . As a result large scale failures such as 9-11 and the war in Iraq happen with no one held to account do to investigations that are white washed or not even started. More than that , people start believing that they can do anything without fear of punishment. Its that type of thinking that leads to brazen criminality witnessed in the sordid accounts of Duke Cunningham and Jake Abramoff. That type of thinking that led to Scooter Libby, Karl Rove and possibly others outing a career CIA officer and destroying her career. That mentality led the Bush team to give Dick Cheney's former company billions of dollars in a no bid contract in Iraq. Lack of oversight and fear of punishment led Bush to stay on vacation for 2 days while New Orleans drowned. Despite this the Republicans want even MORE power. They threaten to eliminate the filibuster rather than accept defeat in their quest to dominate the only branch of government they currently do not control, the courts. Bush goes above the law and totally disregards the F.I.S.A statute because his adminstration believes in the unitary executive theory which holds that in a time of war the President is essentially beyond the law. Their success depends on their power. Their ultimate failure will be as a result of that same unchecked power.
Mark it down. Democrats will retain control of at least one house of congress this year. Once that happens they will start the long overdue process of giving a close examination to questions that for two long have been ignored. For example, what exactly was Dick Cheney's role in the outing of the agent Valerie Plame? How is it that the United States got it so wrong with regards to not only weapons of mass destruction but also the total lack of anticipation of the insurgency. How is it that the world's greatest military cannot locate one man Osama Bin Laden. Finally what did the President know and when did he know about Jack Abramoff. Fair questions that will never be asked in todays political climate. Sooner or later that will change