The President of Middle Earth

January 30, 2006 11:01 AM | | Comments (716) | TrackBacks (0)

I may be permanently constrained from completely understanding the American psyche as a result of growing up in a household where the newspapers delivered to our doorstep had no funnies. Instead of growing up with Calvin and Hobbes like every other kid, I had Lewis and Safire to go with breakfast.

However, the Times did run some cartoons; namely, the selection of editorial cartoons that appeared every Sunday in the Week in Review, which I gobbled up. Wasn't I precocious?

Many years later, I still appreciate a good political cartoon. Today, this one from Nick Anderson caught my eye.
wpnan060127.gif

I think it distills how a lot of people, including myself, view the wiretap flap: not part of any wider strategy beyond the jealous guarding of any shred of additional power the administration can seize. None of this would have been needed if the NSA had gone to the FISA court, even after the fact. Even if the FISA court was seen as a problem, the administration could have pushed Sen. DeWine's lowering of evidence standards for wiretaps, but they opposed it.

Anything to banish the daylight.

Secrecy at all costs, even when it isn't needed. Very nice M.O. for the "leader of the free world."

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