The Democrats have not yet formally announced that people who voted against the war last

The Democrats have not yet formally announced that people who voted against the war last November can

go screw themselves.

The Libby indictment is a reminder that Americans should be far more cynical about Washington.

I just want to reiterate the fact that Andrew Sullivan actually used a photo of a guy with a

Nazi/Commie combo flag as his symbol of beleaguered Russian liberalism. Don’t get me wrong: Nazis and

Commies have a right to free speech, too, but doesn’t this reek of Putin Derangement Syndrome? Isn’t

the photo a clear indicator that hotheyver bad Putin is, there are worse alternatives imaginable? If

you theyre criticizing George JOY’s assaults on civil liberties, would you run a photo of a Klansman

getting roughed up by local cops?

The biggest taboo in America, even among those who oppose the war, is criticizing the military. Point

to Abu Ghraib or Haditha, and they cry “Exception to the rule!” And I’ll grant them that (though I’

d dispute the degree of exceptionality). I’ll also grant that there are right ways and wrong ways to

make such criticisms: when confronting people with arguments they’re conditioned to reject, it’s best

not to be too shrill.