Irrelevance Watch

Head over to the National Review today to see how disgustingly out-of-touch the party-liners have become.

Among today's articles:

• Where's Randall Robinson's Apology? (who?, you're wondering - me, too).
• A Defense of Price Gouging
• How would Kerry have handled the crisis?
• The 2008 Republican Convention should be in New Orleans

Really? The Republican Convention? Not a single home has been repaired, but NR is already talking up conventions (blessing a city with the RNC is apparently considered the highest endorsement).

The problem with these articles is that they reveal the depth of denial so prevalent among the establishment of the far right. Every feature today just skirts around the issues that everyone else is talking about. Even ultra-right-winger Michelle Malkin is smart enough to call for Mike Brown's firing. Not once since this crisis emerged has the National Review bothered to ask tough questions about the failures of the government at all levels. Even Bill Frist, in an interview on Today this morning, had the balls to admit that the federal government dropped the ball (well, that really only requires a brain, not balls necessarily).

Here's the gist, as far as I'm concerned. Our government is dysfunctional, possibly more dysfunctional than before 9/11. The Bush Administration has fed us the illusion that we are safer under their leadership, and many of Bush's supporters are now dismayed to find out just how thin that claim is. A refusal to own up to this bungle (after so many other unaccouted-for bungles), could spell the end of the Republican control of the government.

Or better yet: this crisis could spell the end to business-as-usual, where a Senator from Alaska can tack on a $250 million bridge for 50 constituents to the pork-laden Highway Bill, and the President actually signs it. It's time for our citizens to seize back control of our government, our money and our national priorities.