The ugly face of power: "Every once in a while, ordinary voters get a chance to peek behind the curtain that hides the real face of power. Such a moment happened last weekend, during an interview with the secretary of state, Colin Powell, on America's most watched Sunday political talk show, Meet the Press...
The Soviet-style manner in which Republican operative Miller, who used to work for the majority leader, Tom "the Hammer" DeLay, tried to muzzle an interviewer once the questioning no longer pleased her betrayed an arrogance that goes to the core of this White House.
... Those in Bush's inner circle reconciled themselves to this suspension of morality long ago. They live in a bubble in which everything is permitted militarily and politically in the pursuit of total victory. Their approach to the Iraq campaign is the same as their approach to all things: ' We can do anything we want to win. We can do no wrong. We will brook no dissent. '
The last time the curtain went up to reveal power so ugly and unchecked was Watergate, when hours of Oval Office tape recordings showed the world the true nature of the Nixon administration.
Voters are not likely to experience anything quite as satisfying again. But occasionally, despite the best efforts of White House news managers - and sometimes because of them - the curtain momentarily blows open to give us all a glimpse of what is really going on."
- posted by geoff @ #