As our civil liberties erode, the most obvious targets for related harassment are going to be Democratic politicians. We already see how the Bush administration is abusing it's abilities to perform domestic spying with the revelation that Elliot Spitzer was client #9, in that hardly anyone in the wingnut camp seems to think it's strange that we have yet to find out the identities of clients 1 through 8. Yesterday's "breaking" "news" of an affair that occurred and (as per the wife of the man in question, was also ended) in 2006 is another fine example of a scandal bomb. Just as a reminder 2006 was two, count 'em, TWO years ago.
Meanwhile, ABC - joining those bulwarks of intelligent and responsible journalism, the National Enquirer (eyeroll) to "break" this stale "news" - is STILL sitting on the client list of the DC madam, but we have yet to learn of any Republicans who might be on that list.
More below the fold...
It must be one hell of an interesting list because Deboarah Jean Palfrey intended to call Leola McConnell, also known as "Muscles" the Dominatrix, as a witness. That was, of course, until Muscles was "disappeared" in October of last year for releasing a tell-all book in July about a bisexual three-way she had with Bush and his then-roommate at Yale Victor Ashe in the late 1980s.
One wonders if Deborah Jean wrote her suicide letter under the gun after some helpful goons showed her whatever happened to Muscles and gave her an easier way out (it certainly would have been easier for them, too...) Meanwhile, Victor Ashe has been made ambassador to Poland, a country which has reportedly served as a location for secret prisons and rendition sites. Maybe we should look for Muscles in Poland... but I digress.
As a community designed to provide support to Democrats and Democratic candidates, we have to start getting used to the conveniently timed release of scandalous news as the latest sordid Rovian weapon in the war being conducted for America's soul. We have to recognize these attacks for what they are, and go to the heart of why they're happening. One of the keys to countering this type of attack is to look at the timing. Another is to look at who it's supposed to intimidate.
Timing is everything. Why "break" the "story" of a two year old affair NOW? It's obvious they've been sitting on this information for quite some time. Whenever one of these "stories" breaks, I wonder what it's designed to serve as smoke and mirrors for. This particular one wasn't difficult - it was aimed at anyone who might object to certain steps taken by the US military to react to the war between Russia and Georgia. I am absolutely certain that as warfare erupted in the Caucasus, steps were taken to beef up our presence in the region - steps which will serve very conveniently when, not if, the false flag operation that moves us into a war with Iran happens.
And whichever Democrats and anti-war supporters might have objected to that mobilization of forces, well, they're a bit preoccupied with the scandal bomb that's been tossed into our collective punchbowl.
I am very proud that the DKos is exhibiting compassion and restraint, but for those who feel betrayed that this is NOT just all about the Edwardses - you're right, it's not. John Edwards is a fallen soldier in this fight, and yes there will be more. Honor him for his service or curse him for his mistake - but then LET IT GO.
Don't get distracted by these sickening Rovian tactics. Don't waste a lot of time reacting to this and go Leeroying off into the middle distance. There's nothing anyone, including the people directly involved, can do about what happened in 2006. Let it go. We have bigger things to deal with in the here and now. Our eyes need to be elsewhere - and while that serves to help respect his wife's privacy if it makes you feel better, that's not the only reason.
When a "scandal bomb" drops into the progressive punchbowl, these are the sites I immediately check to see what's REALLY going on that the Rovian camp might be trying to distract us from. None of these sites is necessarily free of the influence of the military/industrial complex monster we're fighting, but it can be said with certainty that at least the perspectives of these outlets are freer from influences that are meant exclusively for American audiences. Since war has broken out again a little closer to the European continent, this is doubly true - we are going to get a better quality of news from European sources, because Europe CANNOT afford to keep it's people badly informed. If you have additional alternative news sources, please leave them in your comments.
Der Spiegel: #1 on my list. As a woman who was stationed in Germany, I generally know and understand the differences between this country's agendas and those of my own better than if I'd never left the US at all, so this is my personal preferred site to check first.
The BBC. This flagship is to Britain what Der Spiegel is to Germany. Definitely not free of bad influence, but again - as it is aimed at British audiences, they will inevitably print things we might not hear about.
The International Herald Tribune - has ties to the NY Times and occasionally prints the same stories, but there are sometimes differences which are alternately alarming and hilarious.
Dandelion Salad. This news aggregation site impressed me the first time I saw it for the sheer speed and depth of coverage it provides. Lo Auer is a one-woman dynamo who always seems to have the latest progressive news at her fingertips. She has gone way beyond ferret - when it comes to her journalistic power animal, Lo is a wolverine.
AfterDowningStreet.org - if there's news on the impeachment front that traditional media outlets don't want us to hear about, David Swanson is going to have it for us within 15 minutes.
These are my favorite sites to check in the wake of a scandal bomb. Do you have a favorite? Share it! Let's move on from this, and stay informed.