From the DePo: Read this and tell me if we're ever going to recover from the last 6 years

[Doctor_J]

As a longtime attorney at the U.S. Department of Justice, I can honestly say that I have never been as ashamed of the department and government that I serve as I am at this time.

The public record now plainly demonstrates that both the DOJ and the government as a whole have been thoroughly politicized in a manner that is inappropriate, unethical and indeed unlawful. The unconscionable commutation of I. Lewis "Scooter" Libby's sentence, the misuse of warrantless investigative powers under the Patriot Act and the deplorable treatment of U.S. attorneys all point to an unmistakable pattern of abuse.

In the course of its tenure since the Sept. 11 attacks, the Bush administration has turned the entire government (and the DOJ in particular) into a veritable Augean stable on issues such as civil rights, civil liberties, international law and basic human rights, as well as criminal prosecution and federal employment and contracting practices. It has systematically undermined the rule of law in the name of fighting terrorism, and it has sought to insulate its actions from legislative or judicial scrutiny and accountability by invoking national security at every turn, engaging in persistent fearmongering, routinely impugning the integrity and/or patriotism of its critics, and protecting its own lawbreakers. This is neither normal government conduct nor "politics as usual," but a national disgrace of a magnitude unseen since the days of Watergate - which, in fact, I believe it eclipses.

http://www.denverpost.com/opinion/ci_6308408

I have serious doubts that we will ever see a recovery from this. The deck is now completely stacked. We're helpless.

[opihimoimoi]

1. Germany has Recovered, Japan too, etc etc...many countries/nations out there have recovered from

poor and inept leadership...so shall we too....

The GOP had sold America a Bill of Crap...including this Dude we got now....

An Ounce of Prevention is worth a Ton of Cure....

Especially when we had HISTORY yelling to us not to Repeat...sho nuff...we let the Dude in there...now look the damage...

Its Not entirely HIM...its us...WE AMERICANS let ourselves down...We allowed them Pubs to STEAL it from us....

What a price we pay....

[BeyondThePale]

5. Germany recovered... after Nuremberg

hmmm...

[Viva_La_Revolution]

2. excellent editorial.

but we're not doomed. people are FINALLY waking up. :)

[Prophet 451]

3. Define "recover"

Can things go back to the way they were before? No. For better or worse, BushCo's reign of error has exposed some serious flaws in the system which will need to be address. However, can the country recapture at least the spirit of it's glory days? Certainly. You have a chance at that. Not a big chance and it will need to be fought for but the opportunity is there.

[tom_paine]

4. I also have serious doubts. But this thing is going down to the wire

and the America that evolved from the Founding Fathers' 1770s dream into something actually resembling their lofty words in ways the nations they birthed could not, with it's millions of slaves...that may still be restored.

I agree the task is daunting and yes, maybe even now impossible. But that makes it no less worthy to try.