Billie,
Let's see if I got this straight. You are appalled at the media for harassing Nancy Pelosi? You are outraged at the Bush Administration for lying? You think torturing Muslims creates terrorists that are on the same level as Osama bin Laden? Is that a good summary?
To take apart the first item, why is it ok for Nancy Pelosi to lie? Isn't the job of the "Fifth Estate" to shine the light on wrongdoings by our elected officials? If your not familiar with the term, the "Fifth Estate" is the media, traditionally it was a euphamism for the print media. As I see it, Ms. Pelosi is digging her own hole all by herself, and doing a grand job of it. Remember back when she thought she was a theologian of Catholic Church dogma by misqouting Auquinas? I thought she was treated pretty mildly considering how badly she misrepresented what the Church Father had really qouted. And if you look at her other blunders, the media has been pretty forgiving of her too frequent gaff's. The fact that she's been a ferocious critic of Pres. Bush and all that he did, don't you think it's important that she at least be able to tell the truth about when she knew?
The uproar over this particular issue is because she was and is so publicly critical over the methods used to gain information (I do find torture to be a very ugly word, and not at all descriptive of what we did to the prisoners) that was considered vital to the immediate safety of the American people (that would include you if you are a US citizen), but which she overlooks because after all, she's the Speaker of the House and a member of the opposing party, so really, her job must be to take whatever pot shots she can at a lame duck President. Really, it's about honesty and integrity. She takes every opportunity to pounce on Pres. Bush's lies, and yet when her own integrity is questioned, she's being harrased. Double standards anyone?
Your second point, being outraged over the President lying to us. Duh, there's a no brainer. Yes, he lied about some things, but not all. Should we demand more? Certainly. Do we? Well, look at who got re-elected in the last go around. Until we (I know, I say this all the time here) demand more from those we elect, whether it's city councilman or the President, we are going to continue to get garbage. You don't like how your representative is voting? Find someone else who will do the job with more character and substance. That's the only way it's going to change.
As to your third point, PLEASE, the dramatics are killing me (no such luck, I'm being dramatic to make a point). Osama bin Laden is highly educated, came from a well to do family, and has yet volunteered to be a suicide bomber (I'm hoping some day he does). He's a smart guy that brought order and sophistication to Al Queda, which is what made them so succesful. Of course now he's hiding in the hills, and probably will spend the rest of his life doing so, which is some bit of justice I guess. But the idea that those who are or were in custody have become radical terrorists willing to order many to their graves is a bit of a stretch. For the most part, those who were released and rejoined Al Queda were already members. Believe it or not, our intelligence communities do occasionaly get it right. Yes, there were or have been some innocents that were gathered with the garbage, and I think we owe them something for making such a tremendous blunder, but please, get a clue. There's really not that many folks willing to die at someone's command because of some ideological slogan. The one thing about suicide bombers, there's not really a big pool to draw from, which is a good thing.
Tony
PS., I personally think that Ms. Pelosi is being treated with kid gloves. When Newt signed a book deal people were calling for his head on a pike!
