I don't know. The tangled web theme makes a certain amount of sense. On the other hand, I'll never forget where I told my wife I was when Kennedy was shot.

If you've got one big lie to keep straight, and it's really important, it's easy. But what these guys are trying to pull off is like a new big lie every week, and they accumulate. Bush couldn't get past about the fourth one.

The saddest part is that the public in this country doesn't even care any more.

McDonald must be out of town.

More evidence to support this theory is if you look back at Bush speaking during the Mid 90s he is reasonably eloquent speaker, both in canned speeches and in off the cuff remarks.

The saddest part is that the public in this country doesn't even care any more.

I heard that!! It makes one wonder what it takes for the public to take notice. That statement about wishing chimpy would get a BJ is on the mark. Sad but true.

"If you had so much to hide, you too would only use canned speeches, carefully vetted by speechwriters".

Not so sure I'd use this argument.

Over the years, from City Club to groundbreakings and State of the State remarks, Governor Kulongoski reads all his speeches.

Therefore, he has much to hide.

Jack: "The saddest part is that the public in this country doesn't even care any more."

One reason is we've relegated political discourse to blogs and talk radio (if you can call it discourse on many shows), while local and cable news obsess over the police blotter. How can the average citizen make an informed decision when the extradition of Jon Benet's 'killer' rules the airwaves 80% of the time? Bush could eat a newborn in front of the press, but the public will think it's not that important because it's buried so far down the news sequence. When the numerous Bush missteps are reported, they're coated so blatently with Rovian spin.

It's not an overstatement to say our democracy is in peril...

Forgot to say... Political issues are now no longer acceptable topics in public discourse. It's simply too 'heavy' for a lot of people, and the instigator can be viewed as 'too serious' or 'too partisan'.

Well f--- that. People are more concerned about numbing their precious minds with endless entertainment and possession accumulation, rather than keeping up with their civic duties. American adults watch roughly 4 hrs of TV a day... if they just devoted 1hr of that catching up on our affairs, our country would be better for it.

TK et al:

I think you mistake the majority of American Voters (that are generally willing to condone Bush's decisions) with the apathetic and uninformed minority.

It is demagoguery to suggest that Americans didn't know what they were getting when they reelected Dubya in 2004. His "War on Terror" and "Stay the Course" strategy were hardly state secrets. Similarly, I believe most Americans can tell you that Bush/Cheney support income tax breaks, increased finding and production of U.S. petroleum resources, and cutting down more timber on public lands. Similarly, any twelve year old (who can read) should be able to tell you that Bush/Cheney oppose abortion rights, did a lousy job in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, and think global warming is not a threat.

But we elected him to be President anyway.

It's a mistake to believe that those who disagree with your opinions are misinformed or intellectually inferior. Each side interprets the same information through the filter of their own experience, biases, and political belief structure.

The primacy of "my point of view" will always trump what everybody else thinks. You're not the only person who is convinced you've got it all figured out, and anybody who voted for so-and-so must be a real idiot. That's the ironic tipping point: everybody thinks their right.

Mr T-

You missed my point... when less than 10% vote in a primary (see: Virginia 2006), I think we're justified in sounding the democracy alarm. Most people don't vote. Not just 'most', it's more like 'almost everyone'. Doesn't that fact startle you??

Poll after poll show the American public have little understanding of the issues that face us. And the neocons COUNT on this to get into office. Is it OK if the public lets GW get away with the laundry list of high crimes, stumbles and gaffes, without regard to our legal system? Just because the public allows it or ignores it, doesn't mean it's right. I'd expect the same standard to be applied to any Democrat...

I didn't hear anybody sounding the alarm when Clinton barely squeaked by with a plurality of the vote (that's right kids, no "majority" of the popular vote).

Or is the electoral college only anti-Democratic when Republicans win?

The people who choose not to vote are excluding themselves from the democratic process. It's not a vast right wing conspiracy to keep women and minorities "in their place". Rather, people who see no difference between the political duopoly are voting with their silence: democracy is no longer relevant to the silent majority.

Some people learn everything the hard way.

[Posted as indicated; restored later.]