The only card left

MANIFESTO

Frank Rich in this morning's Times is scratching his head (as I've done) over the sudden re-appearance of Deadeye Dick. Not surprisingly, Rich's analysis is a sagacious one. The money point:

Cheney and his cohort were using lies and fear to try to gain political advantage—this time to rewrite history and escape accountability for the failed Bush presidency rather than to drum up a new war. Once again Democrats in Congress were cowed. And once again too much of the so-called liberal news media parroted the right’s scare tactics, putting America’s real security interests at risk by failing to challenge any Washington politician carrying a big stick.

I.e., no one looks real good in Rich's estimation. The Democrats are still wimps, the Republicans are still fearmongers, and the media continue to carry water for the latter.

It sure hasn't taken long since January 20 to get ourselves back into the same old rut.