Politics

Here are some notes from a nation in which the wealthy and powerful increasingly act with near impunity and the lesser off just have to "suck on this" -- in the immortal and unwittingly apt phrase of one of our elite pundits.

The extent of Republican dishonesty on deficits should have been plain long ago, as they have been running up the debt for thirty years. The 2011 budget debate is no different.

David Brooks' latest a-pox-on-our-whole-culture column reflects his ongoing need to think of himself as a thoughtful, self-restrained conservative. But he lacks the awareness and self-reflection to face the implications of his own political allegiances.

Given the disclosures that appear in Bob Woodward's Obama's Wars, the administration's highly selective approach to leaking and the treatment of Bradley Manning leaves little doubt that Manning is a political prisoner.

WikiLeaks, whatever its flaws might be, is filling a dangerous vacuum in our information environment. For that, they deserves our thanks.

It's what deficits represent that matters most -- a hand out to people who are worthy of nothing but hatred and contempt, who have bespoiled "our" fragile community.

In another promotional spot for her TLC show, Palin says of the wilderness: "I'd rather be out here than in some dumpy old political office." Maybe this is one time when we should take her at her word.

Whatever else tomorrow means, it will not mean that the country wants its leadership to engage, above all else, in the demonization of people who are different and downtrodden. Long-term, the GOP strategy is unsustainable.

2010 has seen a re-assertion of bipartisan consensus on American militarism, making the issue virtually invisible in this campaign despite the fact that it's never been more urgent for us to face squarely its scope and consequences.

The fact that the more and less authoritarian now find homes in opposite political parties has made our politics almost impossibly acrimonious.

"Many Republicans with a deep animus for President Obama find their hearts aflutter with the memory of a former leader," wrote the New York Times. Of course, the memo is referring to Bill Clinton.

For all their complaints about affirmative action, the right-wing is benefiting greatly from what can best be described as an affirmative action media policy, otherwise called "balance."