As I watched Bush frolic at the Olympics in China and saw a newclip on TV of him leaving church there this morning, waving, grinning in his uniquely simian way, and saying "God is love", I knew I was seeing a man with nothing on his conscience. All's right in his little world. Yet, over the last 7 plus years I have said so many times to myself - "how does he/she sleep at night?"
I think s/he sleeps at night because s/he believes that the ends justify the means. But look at a quote from "What Would Buddha Do at Work?", by Frank Metchal, et al:
Buddha knows that "the ends justify the means" is a rationalization. And rationalization is just a fancy word for the lies born of the incredible creativity of our monkey minds as they scheme to get things we desire, while keeping our self-esteem intact. To keep up the rationalization, we delude ourselves with phony justifications...No matter how noble our purpose, how lofty our goal, if we lie, cheat or steal to accomplish that goal, we have essentially sold out souls for success.
Our government leaders in the executive branch have said that harsh measures (God forbid, don't call it torture) are necessary to save American lives. Of course, they have proclaimed that this practice has, in fact, saved American lives but examples of such are secret. The same goes for all the other abuses to our Constitution.
I am sure that Monica Goodling believes that her personal selection of lawyers in the Department of Justice with her version of Christian, Republican values was for a "good" purpose.
Of course, there are others - Cheney, Addington, Feith, etc. - who feel they need no justification as they have no souls. And it is interesting to see some of herd leaving the pack once they have left the White House bubble and come to realize they have been sold a bill of goods.
So, will the American voter this November vote for a future with Barack Obama where means matter or will they vote based on their fears and echo the WH mentality that the ends justify the means. I hope and pray daily that it is the former.