Unlike many Democrats and Republicans, Glenn Greenwald is unwilling to excuse criminal behavior of politicians and public servants. To Greenwald, the rule of law is the foundation of a civil society and the political class must be accountable for lawbreaking. Punishment has multiple purposes -- retribution, rehabilitation and deterrence. Without penalties, we license inappropriate behavior. The Salon writer says that if crimes against humanity are tolerated without sanction in one congress, or one administration, succeeding persons may also act on the dark side of the law without fear of consequence.

This is a Greenwald article arguing that the political class of Republicans, Democrats and pundits believe that Presidents and their administrations are by and large above the law and should not be prosecuted. In arguing that such a view prevails, he makes his case that it should not be true. The article is well written quite effective.

Greenwald skillfully points out that the current belief in Washington is that the only punishment for elected officials who break the law is to vote them out of office because they believe that Americans do not care about the Constitution and civil liberties. But if we vote them out it will happen again and again. May be this attitude will change with Americans waking up and seeing how Washington law breaking is impacting the economy and impacting their lifestyle. This is another thoughtful well sourced opinion piece by him on an important issue.

Thought provoking and troubling article, consider this quote:"the idea that the Rule of Law is only for common people, but not for our political leaders and Washington elite, is pervasive among the political and pundit class, in both parties. While common Americans should be imprisoned in record numbers when they break the law, the worst that should happen to the political elite when they commit crimes is that they should be voted out of office."

Harold Ford and Broder and Schumer and others like them are pathetic. They have come to epitomize how cowardly all too many Democrats in and out of Congress are. Broder is a flaming hypocrite and at best Ford is kind of an Uncle Tom and belongs in the Republican party. Schumer is just cowardly. The rationale they offer for giving Bush and Cheney and the other criminals a pass for their terrible activities is ridiculous. Maybe just a sign of the times and Americans are kind of whiners and cowards. I can remember when Democrats had guts but that was before 9/11 and even earlier. Republicans are useless and always have been. Ford thinks we should just suck up and let the thugs get away with their murderous and traitorous ... More »