Quote of the Century and Beyond???

"We also have to work, though, sort of the dark side. A lot of what needs to be done here will have to be done quietly, without any discussion, using sources and methods that are available to our intelligence agencies, if we're going to be successful. That's the world we operate in, and so it's going to be vital for us to use any means at our disposal, basically, to achieve our objective."

— Vice President Richard Bruce Cheney explaining new approaches the Bush administration would use just five days after the 9/11

Abuses of Power since 9/11: At home and abroad.

* Abu Ghraib

* Gitmo

* CIA "dark sites"

* CIA extraordinary rendition and irregular rendition are terms used to describe the apprehension and extrajudicial transfer of a person from one state to another.

* "Torture by proxy" (United States has purportedly transferred suspected terrorists to countries known to employ harsh interrogation techniques).

* NSA domestic wire tapping

* FBI abuses of Patriot Act

America — World Leader in Democracy, Freedom, Law and Order, Justice for all, and right and wrong?

Question: Is this our country? Is it the "new" rule of law? Is it equal justice under law (for some, but not for others)? Are we really this way today?

Answer: Yes, Yes, Yes, and Yes. Or so, it seems ... if not, then you haven't followed or examined our "political process" lately. I rest my case.