I'm frightened now. Fear is building in my bones. An internationally illegal war, torture, affronts on civil liberties via the Patriot Act, domestic failures on every front, tax cuts for the rich, children left behind, New Orleanians left behind, unchecked environmental destruction, investigations into administration officials - all of these failures will haunt the legacy of the Bush Administration. But nothing compares to George W. Bush's latest achievement. From the BBC:
"President Bush has revealed he authorised a US intelligence agency to eavesdrop within the United States without court approval."
My own realization of this disturbing development in the war on terror has been burning in my gut since the New York Times revealed the story. I feel like someone has injected a puddle of molten metal into my stomach. This weight is crushing me and the burning alerts me to the magnitude and urgency of this gross affront on civil liberties.
Battles were raging in Congress this week over the USA Patriot Act. Democrats and a handful of Republicans (including Idaho's Larry Craig) were filibustering the bill, holding out against Bush's heavy rhetoric, which was being echoed by GOP leaders in the Senate. The Senate has since passed a six-month extension while the House agreed to only a five-week extension. But these concerns and battles over the Patriot Act, as with every other offense of the Bush Administration and the GOP Congress, now seem lightweight in light of domestic spying.
It is still unclear to what scope this executive order is utilized. And that is what is frightening. This domestic surveillance of international phone calls is done without any judicial oversight. The specifics of the program are classified. There is no check on the president's power. Bush suggests, in offense to the basic American values of dissent, that the American people should entrust him to protect us while upholding the law and civil liberties. He claims this executive order will only be utilized against known terrorists. We have, however, no guarantee but his, and that is not sufficient.
But Bush's justification for this egregious violation of law and liberty is certainly the most alarming development yet in this new storm clouding Washington. After September 11th Congress granted the President the power to use all necessary force against terrorism. Armed with this act and the second article of the constitution Bush seems prepared to go to any length in his crusade against terrorism. According to the administration, extrajudicial domestic surveillance was implied in the act passed by Congress after September 11th. Law professor Greg Maggs told NPR's All Things Considered on Tuesday, December 20th, clarifying the administration's position, that the 'Use of Force Act' utilized in Afghanistan and Iraq also "supersedes FISA [the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act]". Louis Fisher, however, told All Things Considered that "it is not appropriate to take from a general statute like the 'Use of Force Act' some implied amendment to an existing statute" like FISA.
Article comments
— go to most recent comments1 - gonzo marx
expect the spinners and Apologists to rip into you on this one...
but i think you have raised some good Points here
however, if i were you , i wouldn't use the phone anytime soon
nuff said?
Excelsior!
2 - Jackson
thank you! i've braced myself for attacks but hope enlightened discussion will happen instead.
3 - Aaman
Emperors have a blind spot that makes them vulnerable to lances. And courtiers, ministers and admirers dare not point out the blind spot, for fear of dismissal.
The darkness encroaching, the encroaching dark
4 - Dave Nalle
Are we getting programmed postings now? This seems awfully similar to several which have gone before repeating the same talking points and misrepresentations almost word for word.
Dave
5 - Jackson
I actually haven't read any other blogcritics post about this issue... I've been much to busy with it being the holiday season and all. I just felt a strong need to relate how frightening this policy is to me. If you could point out exactly what 'talking points' and 'misrepresentations' you are referring to, maybe we could discuss. As it is, I can't really react to that vague criticism.
6 - Dave Nalle
I've already gone over the various points you touch on scores of times, so I don't feel a great need to repeat them.
Your first paragraph alone is enough for most reasonable people to just skip on to the next article.
Dave
[THE FOLLOWING is an example of a personal attack. I have moved it positionally within this comment and not deleted it so that it may serve as an example to you ALL, not just Mr Nalle. "When you start bringing up all the old smears as if they're established fact you mark yourself as partisan and without credibility from the get-go." Comments Editor]
7 - neocondi
"Internationally illegal war"
I think I recall the UN passing a bunch of resolutions. Also, Italy, Japan, Poland, Austrailia, Great Britain are also part of this illegal war, right?
"Affronts on civil liberties via the Patriot Act."
Could you be more specific? What affronts? As for the phone taps on some international calls, see how that stacks up against the Clinton's FBI file scandal. At least this was for national security, not a polital enemies list.
"New Orleans left behind."
The federal aid may be slow, but you can't build a city overnight. Anyway, half the residents are now being housed in the surrounding Red states. Liberal states like Mass. are the stingiest when it comes to giving charity, the red southern states the most generous.
"Unchecked environmental destruction".
Bush = Godzilla.
"Domestic failures on every front."
Other than a very good economy, no social unrest (a la France) and no terrorism it's just been a big fat failure domestically.
"Children left behind"
[Personal attack deleted by Comments Editor]
Joe
8 - Aaman
An invasion by any other name...
9 - Aaman
"Unchecked environmental destruction".
Bush = Godzilla.
You must be terribly uninformed. While the phrasature is hyperbole, the withdrawal from treaties, and undermining the Clean Air Act, the Clean Water Act, etc., are not
From a relevant report,and if you'll pardon the long quote,
10 - Aaman
Perhaps Mr Bush's most frightening policy to date is not related to the WoT, one thinks, on re-reading the comment above
11 - gonzo marx
the contents of comment number 9 make me profoundly depressed and psychotically angry at the same time
thank you, Aaman for reminding me
would that more people would remember
Excelsior!
12 - Jackson
Thank you, Aaman, for defending me on the environmental assertion.
#6 Dave, I haven't read your comments on other pieces. Please refrain from labeling me a partisan if you won't even tell me what you disagree with specifically. That doesn't leave me much room for dialogue. We all have our partisan leanings, but I can critisize Democrats all day (I don't consider myself one) and I admire some Republicans, such as John McCain. The Bush Administration's failures are bigger than party politics.
#7 neocondi: First of all, please don't default to Clinton-bashing. Thats so cliche and so old and tired. I don't much like Clinton either, but we aren't discussing yesterday's politics, we're discussing whats happening now. In my opinion, the Iraq War is completely unjustified. The things we have done in Iraq - the torture, civilian massacres in places such as Fallujah - are clearly illegal under international law, even if the Bush Administration claims otherwise. And please don't tell me the Iraqi people were worse under Saddam. I don't disagree, but that doesn't justify the horrible things happening now. As for the Patriot Act, I'll just mention, for the sake of space, one egregious provision. Fishing expeditions into library and shop records is clearly wrong. Check out the film Unconstitutional if you want to know more. As for New Orleans, "Liberal states like Mass. are the stingiest when it comes to giving charity, the red southern states the most generous." Are you kidding me? The southern red states also happen to be the closest to New Orleans! I imagine that is why they are now housing more hurricane victims. I won't say more, because there is a general consensus that the Bush response to Katrina was too slow (and because that ridiculous line about liberal states being stingy killed your argument anyway). On the environment, Aaman's already got my back. As for domestic failures, see everything above plus the recent cuts to social programs to reduce the deficit and the No Child Left Behind Act that I'll discuss next. I'm not a child left behind, actually. I graduated from high school this last May. Fresh out of high school, I intimately understand the failures of No Child Left Behind. First of all, Congress and the President refuse to adequately fund the Act, causing schools to lack the resources needed to meet required standards. Then the Act penalizes such schools who don't reach the standards, making it more difficult to reach the standards in the future. The goal of the Act is unrealistic anyway. Students learn at different speeds. Strict standards reduce a teachers ability to adapt their teaching to the needs of different students. This holds higher achieving students back and puts undue pressure on struggling students. Thank you.
13 - MDE
Jackson - Don't let anyone give you grief...our founding fathers spent weeks arguing about whether or not constantly justified paranoia should be listed as a natural human right....that's what I heard, anyway.
In times like these I turn to the master of creative paranoia's Gravity's Rainbow wherein I always can find solace - and a good laugh. I suggest that you do the same.
14 - Dave Nalle
"Internationally illegal war"
This is one of the things which keyed me into the source of the ideas in this article. It's one of the standard talking points phrases coming out of the extreme left. The was in Iraq is, of course, supported by UN resolutions and has not been officially condemned and there's no legitimate rationale behind calling it 'illegal'.
"Affronts on civil liberties via the Patriot Act."
This one I might have to give him. While no rights have actually been violated in any serious way, the potential is there in the Patriot Act. But then a majority of the democrats signed off on this bill and still support it as of the vote last week, so blaming it on the administration is rather disingenuous.
"New Orleans left behind."
Now this one is just a joke. The federal response to New Orleans has exceeded all expectations given the magnitude of the disaster. They're getting the city rebuilt faster than expected and have done a susprisingly good job taking care of the evacuees for far longer than they should have had to.
"Unchecked environmental destruction".
This one just doesn't wash. Bush singed the "Clean Skies Act", the only meaningful piece of new environmental protection legislation in the last 20 years. He's also continued all existing EPA policies AND passed the largest clean-vehicle promoting legislation of all time, with massive subsidies for individuals buying alternative fuel vehicles.
"Domestic failures on every front."
His only failures here are his inability to pass social security, medicare and tax reform, which we can lay at the feet of the obstructionist democrats in congress and the protracted Iraq war. Aside from that every economic indicator is positive - which is what domestic policy is all about.
"Children left behind"
In what sense? Admittedly, "No Child Left Behind" was poorly conceived as it was an unfunded mandate, but the basic idea of teacher accountability which it has encouraged the states to pursue is highly desirable.
Dave
15 - gonzo marx
Mr Nalle sez...
*This one I might have to give him. While no rights have actually been violated in any serious way,*
tell that to Jose Padilla
Mr Nalle sez...
*Unchecked environmental destruction".
This one just doesn't wash.*
see comment #9 above and face the Facts...that is a small sampling...this Administration has rescinded so much of the progress over the last 30 years that even Whitman had to quit the head of EPA in disgust
Mr Nalle sez...
*"Domestic failures on every front."
His only failures here are his inability to pass social security, medicare and tax reform, which we can lay at the feet of the obstructionist democrats in congress*
another Apologist bullshit talking point...can you tell me how the Minority in both Houses can possibly obstruct the Majority without at least some help from the GOP members themselves? and this, by extrapolation, shows that whatever Idea is being bounced around doesn't have support among some of the Majority's own people...so to try and even blame the Minority for the Majority's "failures" is pure spin and distortion...as usual
on and on
Excelsior!
16 - Dave Nalle
tell that to Jose Padilla
One case just doesn't add up to a pattern of systemic abuse.
see comment #9 above and face the Facts...that is a small sampling...this Administration has rescinded so much of the progress over the last 30 years that even Whitman had to quit the head of EPA in disgust
I'll go over that in detail shortly. The claims there are at best innacurate.
Mr Nalle sez...
*"Domestic failures on every front."
His only failures here are his inability to pass social security, medicare and tax reform, which we can lay at the feet of the obstructionist democrats in congress*
another Apologist bullshit talking point...can you tell me how the Minority in both Houses can possibly obstruct the Majority without at least some help from the GOP members themselves? and this, by extrapolation, shows that whatever Idea is being bounced around doesn't have support among some of the Majority's own people...so to try and even blame the Minority for the Majority's "failures" is pure spin and distortion...as usual
These are major issues which require bipartisan support. The minority in the Senate is still very close to a majority. If Bush loses just a handfull of votes from his own party he needs bipartisan support for this kind of radical reform, and they have made it very clear he's not going to get it if he puts forward any really progressive and creative plan. No complete overhaul of anything is going to get through the Senate or the House. Yes, both parties are at fault, but the Democrats are leading the criticism and opposition to reform. They're also the ones out in the media badmouthing Bush's innovative ideas in these areas. Paul Krugman is like a nonstop propaganda attack machine on Bush's governmental reforms.
Dave
17 - gonzo marx
Mr Nalle sez...
*tell that to Jose Padilla
One case just doesn't add up to a pattern of systemic abuse.*
well now..ONE fuicking case, that we know of, is MORE than enough..since it Violates the fucking Constitution...you know, that silly little thing that ALL Federal employees, Government Representatives and military personnel are fucking SWORN to uphold... ONE case is too many, no matter what you Apologists try and spin
as for yoru last paragraph...can you admit for a second that some might see it differently? that they think the proposed Legislation is total bullshit at best, and rank pandering to "special interests" at worst? could it possibly be that it is SO fucking obvious that even some members of the GOP can't stomache it without vomiting on their own shoes?
can't you just admit that when a solid Majority can't get bi-partisan support , then the Issue in Question is probably NOT a "good Idea"
can't you admit that this is EXACTLY how the system is supposed to work?
if an Idea/Issue is not good enough to carry a clean Majority , according to the Rules of House or Senate...then it should NOT be made into Law...
seems to me that is how the System is designed to operate...i have NO sympathy for totalitarians who whine because they can't ram ALL of their Agenda thru into Law...how about working out the differences and getting the support needed...
you know compromise and politics?
Excelsior!
18 - Dave Nalle
Aaman, your 'relevant report' is from the NRDC, an extreme left/socialist activist group which has demonstrated again and again that they're on the lunatic fringe of environmentalism.
Toxic Releases Are Up
After years of consistent decline, the most recent annual inventory of industrial toxic releases shows an increase of 5 percent in the release of toxic substances into our air, water, and land. Data released in June 2004 document toxic releases from industrial facilities of nearly 4.8 billion pounds.
This may be true, but not one standing policy on toxic emissions has been rolled back by the EPA under Bush. This might have to be laid at the feet of the resurgence of certain industries - such as the construction of new auto plants here in the US by international corporations, and increased demand for electricity.
Environmental Enforcement Is Down
EPA data documents a 75 percent decline in the number of federal lawsuits filed against companies violating national environmental laws in the first three years of the Bush administration as compared to the last three years of the Clinton administration. Civil citations for polluters are down 57 percent since 2001, and criminal prosecutions have fallen 17 percent.
And this is a bad thing? This suggests that those who normally sue over environmental issues have less to complain about now. This would seem to argue in favor of a good environmental record for Bush.
Pollution-Related Beach Closings Are Up
The EPA reports a 36 percent increase in annual beach closings due to unsafe water quality since 2001. Sewage contamination is an important and growing part of the problem.
Yet standards for sewage treatment are as high or higher than they ever have been. This might have to be laid on population growth, which the EPA can't exactly control unless they are planning to set up abortion clinics and euthanasia centers.
Mercury Contamination Warnings Are Up
A total of 2,348 fish consumption advisories for mercury contamination were issued in 45 states in 2003. Seventy-six percent of fish samples from U.S. lakes were found to contain mercury levels unsafe for children 3 years old and younger to eat twice a week, according to the EPA. Every year more than 600,000 newborns may have been exposed to levels of mercury exceeding EPA health standards while still in the womb.
I'm curious, is this reflected in an increase in miscarriages and birth defects? I've seen no report of an epidemic of mercury related illness.
Hazardous Waste Cleanups Are Down
The pace of completed cleanups of Superfund hazardous waste sites, which increased dramatically in the later years of the Clinton era, has declined 52 percent since 2001, according to the EPA's own estimates. The Bush administration has refused to seek renewal of the Superfund clean-up tax on polluting industries, allowing the fund effectively to go bankrupt. The EPA reported 34 unfunded Superfund cleanups in 19 states in 2004.
This could, of course, be because the major sites have already been cleaned up and so there's less work remaining to be done. That's the way it's supposed to work, right?
Perchlorate Contamination Is Widespread
More than 90 percent of lettuce and milk sampled nationwide showed levels of perchlorate that may be unsafe for children. Despite recommendations from scientific experts at the EPA to severely reduce perchlorate contamination, the Bush administration has refused to take action.
This is a new issue which only came on the environmental radar recently. Why has no one introduced legislation to control Perchlorates in Congress? Let me give you a hint - Democratic representatives from the FarmBloc oppose any legislation of that sort.
Dirtier Air, Longer
In September 2004, EPA's inspector general concluded that the agency was not making sufficient progress in reducing the pollutants that cause ozone smog in the nation's population centers.
In most cities where there are ozone issues they result from automobile emissions. Auto emissions have been reduced so much at this point that we've hit the law of diminishing returns. The cost to reduce them any farther is out of proportion to the value of accomplishing those reductions. Most cars today produce 90% less emissions than they did 20 years ago and many produce 99% less or more, and that will be the standard wihin 5 years. Once you've reduce emissions that much there's just nowhere left to go. And if you live in a major city you should have noticed the results by now. Ozone alerts are rarer and rarer every year, constant smog is no longer an issue in cities where it was endemic in the 70s. This issue is typical of why you can't trust the NRDC, because they're misusing the figures to make success look like failure.
Less Oversight of Refineries
There has been a 52 percent decrease in EPA clean air inspections at refinerie since 2001, and a 68 percent reduction in the number of notices of violations issued to refineries over the same period.
Which is a mixed blessing, since we do need to keep our refineries operating given our shortage of refinery capacity. The NRDC, of course, is opposed to all oil drilling and refining, despite the fact that with current technology gasoline is one of the cleanest fuels we have.
Dave
19 - gonzo marx
/sigh..ok...
Mr Nalle sez...
*This suggests that those who normally sue over environmental issues have less to complain about now. This would seem to argue in favor of a good environmental record for Bush.*
no..it suggests that the money from the special interests and the INfluence it buys has worked, and the EPA is not enforcing current Laws...this Hypothesis has MUCH greater validity than what you propose based on the Facts...i understand that you don't want to accept that... but again... i cite Whitman... far from some kind of "raging liberal" and her complaints as well as the Record
*the pace of completed cleanups of Superfund hazardous waste sites, which increased dramatically in the later years of the Clinton era, has declined 52 percent since 2001, according to the EPA's own estimates. The Bush administration has refused to seek renewal of the Superfund clean-up tax on polluting industries, allowing the fund effectively to go bankrupt. The EPA reported 34 unfunded Superfund cleanups in 19 states in 2004.
This could, of course, be because the major sites have already been cleaned up and so there's less work remaining to be done. That's the way it's supposed to work, right?*
did you miss the part where Bush refused to renew Funding so the already recognized superfund sites could be cleaned up? which part of that is incomprehensible to you?
on and on..distortion and spin... let me just touch on one last before i puke...
*Less Oversight of Refineries
There has been a 52 percent decrease in EPA clean air inspections at refinerie since 2001, and a 68 percent reduction in the number of notices of violations issued to refineries over the same period.
Which is a mixed blessing, since we do need to keep our refineries operating given our shortage of refinery capacity. The NRDC, of course, is opposed to all oil drilling and refining, despite the fact that with current technology gasoline is one of the cleanest fuels we have.*
spoken like someone who owns Haliburton stock... oh wait, you do...
nuff said?
Excelsior!
20 - Dave Nalle
Mr Nalle sez...
*This suggests that those who normally sue over environmental issues have less to complain about now. This would seem to argue in favor of a good environmental record for Bush.*
no..it suggests that the money from the special interests and the INfluence it buys has worked, and the EPA is not enforcing current Laws...this Hypothesis has MUCH greater validity than what you propose based on the Facts...i understand that you don't want to accept that...but again... i cite Whitman... far from some kind of "raging liberal" and her complaints as well as the Record
I like Whitman, but the fact is that the administration can't cause people to sue less. Something else is causing that and the only logical conclusion is that it's less to sue over. The administration might be able to cause fewer suits to succeed, but that's not what was said here. The number of suits being filed has declined. That can really only mean fewer causes of action.
did you miss the part where Bush refused to renew Funding so the already recognized superfund sites could be cleaned up? which part of that is incomprehensible to you?
The part where we're having major problems in the ecology because of these superfund sites which have just been set off limits and are being allowed to break down naturally.
"Which is a mixed blessing, since we do need to keep our refineries operating given our shortage of refinery capacity. The NRDC, of course, is opposed to all oil drilling and refining, despite the fact that with current technology gasoline is one of the cleanest fuels we have.*
spoken like someone who owns Haliburton stock...oh wait, you do..
No, spoken like someone who knows how efficient modern gasoline engines are. A modern gas engine causes less pollution than the electricity used to power an all-eletric car or any of the available biofuels.
Dave
21 - Neocondi
Yes, red states are helping Katrina victims more because of their close proximity. But statistically, red states are more generous overall. See this site: [Dave Nalle or somebody: How do I link to a site so it "lights up"? It's "lit". Comments Editor]
People have problems with the hypocrisy of the left:
They talk about the poor but give less.
Rich libs want guns banned but then we find their bodyguards carry them.
N.O.W. fights for "womans rights" in the US (where woman control more wealth then men) but don't fight against the horrible subjugation of woman by Islam where woman are routinely mutilated and killed and otherwise treated as propery.
As for the envirnment, the Kennedies are the biggest big mouths on the environment but they fly private jets and have blocked windmill power in Martha's vineyard because it ruins their perfect ocean view.
Last: Clinton's FBI file scandal was, in my opinion, much worse than Bush's wiretapping. At least Bush did it for national security, not just to spy on political enemies.
22 - Jackson
This is sad. I should have left out that first paragraph (though I stand by every assertion) because I didn't want to discuss any of that. I wanted to start dialogue about the extrajudicial domestic surveillance, but no one has spent one word discussing that.
Dave, I'm not going to address everything you've said, because I would like to begin discussing domestic surveillance and whether or not it is illegal, but I do need to address a few points.
First of all, I don't care whether or not some democrats have supported the Patriot Act! I'm not a democrat! The fact that some democrats support it doesn't change the fact that the ideas came from the administration. And the administration has been more outspoken and unflinching in arguing for every provision of the act, that I think we can, in fact, deem them responsible.
On New Orleans... the administration may be getting closer to being on track now, but in the days immediately following the disaster, when help was needed most, the administration failed the American people.
On the environment, I think Aaman and gonzo have got my back, but I also want to point out Bush withdrawing from Kyoto and his extreme push for oil drilling in Alaska.
As for children left behind, how far removed are you from high school? Maybe you are fresh out of high school as I am, or maybe not. All I know is that understanding No Child Left Behind as a student or teacher (as many of my former teachers will attest), it is painfully apparent that, as a whole, the Act does more harm than good.
I'm sorry I'm not addressing everything you've said, I just am getting tired of discussing everything that my original article was not about. I really should have left out that first paragraph. I didn't anticipate everyone getting hung up on it.
Neocondi, I can't take you seriously. Sorry.
First of all, that red state/blue state assertion isn't very fair. Red states contain millions of blue thinking folk and blue states contain millions of red thinking folk. Its unfair to judge people by what state they come from. Hell, I'm from Idaho, one of the reddest states in the nation!
"Clinton's FBI file scandal was, in my opinion, much worse than Bush's wiretapping. At least Bush did it for national security, not just to spy on political enemies." Who fucking cares? Sure, Clinton was a fuck-up on so many levels. I agree! His failures in Rwanda infuriate me. But how the hell does that justify what Bush has done? It doesn't! I want to talk about what the president is doing in 2005, not what the president did in 1995 (or whenever this supposed scandal happened).
"Rich libs want guns banned but then we find their bodyguards carry them." I'm sorry. You are so right! I'll tell my bodygaurd to get rid of his gun. Then I can save money... out of my extravagant $800 per month I'll never have to buy ammo again! Come on, are you serious!?!
This is so far from what I want to be discussing and has no bearing on anything. Please, neocondi, if you are going to comment again, refrain from the unfounded, irrelevant accusations. I could call you a bigoted, gun-toting, Muslim-hating conservative, but I don't believe that for a second. I'm sure you aren't a bigot. I'm sure you don't hate Muslim people. You might have a gun, but that doesn't bother me. Please! Let's elevate the level of our conversation!
[Apologies for adding paragraphs for improved legibility. Comments Editor]
23 - alpha
I would join the fray but it has gotten personal (and not against the person of George W.).
Perhaps we should face that America is in rough times abroad and domestically.
George W. was a poor choice and a non-choice originally. 9/11 gave him the opportunity to consolidate power and play on real fears.
The discussion began with the Patriot Act and patriots of either persuasion should admit that govenmental excesses are the enemies of freedom. This one seems to rate with the dangers of The Sedition Act or the repulsiveness of the Nisei concentration camps. We make mistakes in times of stress and should try not to to repeat them ad infinitum
Unless Mr. Bush finds a way to continue in power past the two term Constitutional maximum (and he isn't much on the Constitution); he will be gone in 2008 -- Life always has a silver lining.
We can all, I think, agree that we could have done better and that it is time for a responsible American of either party to come forward.
Where are they?
24 - gonzo marx
alpha sez...
*The discussion began with the Patriot Act and patriots of either persuasion should admit that govenmental excesses are the enemies of freedom. This one seems to rate with the dangers of The Sedition Act or the repulsiveness of the Nisei concentration camps. We make mistakes in times of stress and should try not to to repeat them ad infinitum*
Quoted for Truth...
Excelsior!
25 - Christopher Rose
If this convo is too rough for Señor alpha, then it's too rough for me.
I've decided to run through this thread and "civilize" it. I'd appreciate it if those of you with the greatest BC experience would avoid the use of personal attacks like I saw here.
I single out nobody as I'm sure you are all well aware of where the line is although it wouldn't be a bad idea if some of you reminded yourselves of the BlogCritics Official Comments Policy.
Some of you are particularly failing your responsibility here to maintain an open and welcoming house for all. This is NOT a site that supports one party or perspective and you are all being treated the same here. Except I may be a little stricter with people who have an editorial role in BC and therefore a greater responsibility.
It is perfectly possible to have passionate debate without resorting to egocentric spleen venting of the type seen here; I do it almost every day...
To summarise this for the lot of you rowdy pols, it's debate the subject not the messenger. And if you must get personal, let's go for a bit more comedy and a bit less venom. Jeez, kids these days...
Oh yes, Merry Christmas everybody!