The pattern repeats.....

dr. elsewhere here

Hard to avoid the need for hourly disinfectant showers while fielding this latest in the string of Republican scandals. Icky does not even begin to capture the disgust.

But the greatest disgust - as if Foley's reprehensible behavior can be outdone - arises from the pathetic and desperate Republican attempts to cover their hind-ends.

Once again we see this pattern, this obscene all-else-be-damned grab for a stranglehold on power, that throws everything that we hold dear, everything we truly value, down the toilet - including the safety and innocence of our children - whether these children be sent to kill and die as soldiers, whether they be left with overwhelming debt not of their choosing, whether they be left without health care or the possibility of a decent job or future, whether they be left behind in school, whether they be left to rot in NOLA, whether they be left without rights or Constitutional protections, whether they be left without leadership of courage or guidance of wisdom and security.

Here, I am preaching to the choir, but of the many conservatives and Republicans who are now - finally? - calling for blood and finally rejecting their party because of this latest most recent display of depravity, I simply cannot refrain from pointing out that this pattern is entirely consistent with this administration, and even with this power-mad part. Even the final straw was predictable and just as much a part of the pattern. It of course took a sex scandal to get everyone's attention, even that of the media.

But note just how neatly this pattern has repeated itself over time:

Rig a national election in your brother's home state? No problem; the Supreme Court will cover it up for you.

Arrange with energy companies to fix the policy for profits? No problem; refuse to talk and cover it up with secrets.

Hide the fraudulent activities of your biggest contributor? No problem; deny you ever knew the guy and cover it up with a "crackdown."

Ignore repeated warnings about an attack on US soil? No problem; take advantage, play the hero, refuse to talk to the investigative commission, then lie to cover it up.

Fix the intelligence to excuse an illegal and immoral war? No problem; threaten and/or fire dissenters, and cover it up with fear.

Leak the identity of a CIA agent in order to silence a vocal opponent on the war? No problem; deny she was covert, blame the reporters, and cover it all up with the epidemic administrative memory deficit.

Foster torture and inhuman treatment of captured enemies? No problem; make the front line soldiers take the blame, deny wrongdoing, then cover it up with a bill that legalizes the crimes.

Construct a massive illegal domestic spy program? No problem; insist it is legal, insist it is necessary, insist it has worked, then cover it up with a bill that legalizes these crimes, too.

Enable the largest corruption and money-laundering schemes ever to hit the hill? No problem, again deny knowing the culprits, refuse to discuss an "ongoing investigation," and cover it up with more lies.

Ignore the dangers for Congressional pages of known sex predators? No problem; pass the buck, order an investigation into who leaked the truth, blame permissive liberal society, blame the kids, then cover it up with a scapegoat.

This current scandal is not a surprise to those of us who have watched this army of power-mongering maniacs chainsaw their way through our American way of life and Constitutional government. This pattern precedes even the list above, stemming from their belligerent and hypocritical sweep into control just over a decade ago, which itself had its roots in the mean-spirited and short-sighted views of those who fear the very principles upon which this country is founded: Rule by law, equally administered and available to all; equal opportunities for all; equal accountability and distribution of power; equal access to and equal protection by our government.

This pattern took strong root in the Reagan years, but was seeded long ago, even at the inception of our democratic experiment by those who feel some are more equal than others, to use Orwell's insight. More equal privileges are of course then rewarded accordingly, more equally.

It is time we actively shifted the debate from that regarding our rights and focused on our responsibilities. As Americans, we cannot hope to keep any of our rights if we do not accept the responsibility of constant vigilance over those in power. One glance at our Constitution exposes this directive. The Bill of Rights is just a reminder, in afterthought (that Jefferson expressly felt self-evident), of the payoff.

Our lapsed brethren of the opposition party need reminding of these things. Shame on Foley for his actions, and pity his victims. Shame on the Republicans, and pity those who have so long been duped. Shame on us all, and pity us for the task that lies ahead. For this will not be an easy road. And those in power will not go down without more lies, more deception, more abuses, and more destruction.

It is, after all, just the same pattern, repeated.