Today is a good day

I am heartened today that there may be something to the hopeful adage that "The truth will out." Today one Lewis Libby was indicted for obstruction of justice, among other things, in the investigation of the leak identifying Valerie Plame as a CIA operative.

I am not happy about today's announcement because it is nothing to rejoice over. In order for such events to occur, they must be preceded by crimes. I would rather have had no lies, no war, no petty political vengeance, no misuse of power, none of the incredibly foolish acts of this government since before the WTC fell. It saddens me that we are governed by such people as these.

Instead I am made hopeful that the truth will out and that some measure of justice will come from it.

I find it ironic that a government installed by a block of intensely religious voters turns out to be one of the most corrupt, if not the most corrupt, in my lifetime. It is an act of treason to out a CIA operative, which is easily a more serious crime than those that prompted the resignation of Nixon. Certainly more serious than the charges brought in the impeachment of President Clinton. I further find it astonishing that these so-called "values voters" are not the loudest to call for justice to be done.

Let me clarify that I am not a Clinton-lover. I found his sexual dalliances to be quite reprehensible, and not just because he was cheating on his wife. His lack of discretion left him vulnerable to his enemies and the last years of his administration were much less effective because of all the hoopla around his impeachment. Had he kept Little Bill in his pants (or at least been smarter about when and where he whipped it out), then he would have accomplished much much more. But at the end of the day, though I did not agree with all of his goals, he was a good leader who wanted to make thing better for people in this country. He governed well.

Using the yardstick of Clinton's impeachment, I would say that our current President certainly deserves the same. His crimes are evident and any serious investigation would bring them to light. I think my greatest disappointment in the American system today is that members of Congress put party loyalties above their constitutional duties. Had they taken their power to declare (or authorize) war seriously, we would not have gone to Iraq. They allowed the Executive Branch to go to war without requiring it to justify it. Now they allow the leader of an administration that commits treason to remain in office. These men and women do not love America, do not love the Constitution, are not patriots, and do not represent me. They love power and money.

When someone invents a workable political system that doesn't eventually become controlled by those who love power and money, I'll be first in line to join.