The newfound "outrage" belies the fact that there was no such congressional outrage when it mattered -- four, five years ago, and every single day since 9/11.

The USA PATRIOT Act, a bipartisan atrocity, has been on the books for four years. The Bush administration's intelligence apparatus has undoubtedly been engaged in domestic spying continuously, with bipartisan approval. Horrendous crimes committed under the pretext of the "war on terrorism," another bipartisan atrocity (that continues to enjoy enthusiastic support), have taken place on a daily basis. The major crimes of the US government, including 9/11, remain unaddressed, or have become the subject of massive disinformation and cover-up.

The only reason why congressional Democrats and other critics of Bush have suddenly emerged from the woodwork, after four years of silence and supplication, is that the Bush faction has screwed the pooch, and badly blown its turn as the New World Order's manager. So the 2006 (s)election year approaches. With it comes another foolish turn at rearranging of deck chairs on a sinking ship, and another year of false hopes and naivete. This foolishness may end in yet another round of defeat and angst, as the Republican forces that control the voting machines will steal more elections, just as they have manipulated every election since 2000, from the US to Iraq. (Or, perhaps the rival faction will be given the machines.) In the end, noise aside, there is no reason for optimism.

Bush, Cheney, Rumsfeld, Rice and all the rest are being Watergated. They deserve far, far worse. So do the Democrats, most of whom are fully complicit in the destruction of this country.