One of many reasons for being angry about the current US Administration is the fact that our government has become less capable to promoting values inherent in the Constitution. Throughout our history, there has always been tension about how to promote those values. The two stereotypical contrasts were between isolationists and interventionists. Until relatively recently, our nation has enjoyed positive regard based on our values. There was a degree of credibility when we promoted those values. We held them out for others to see and adopt, if possible. We tended to avoid crossing the line to impose those values. When we critiqued other nations, our words had moral validity.
We have, at least for the moment, lost this level of being a credible witness to these basic values established by our Constitution.
Thomas Friedman reviews a recent news item that highlighted the partisan role played by Attorney General's Chief of Staff in selecting Department of Justice appointments. Questions of competence were trumped by their political views. He then points out the similarity between this behavior and the sectarianism practiced in the Iraqi government. We are unable to provide credible criticism because there is virtually no difference between promoting a Shiite agenda at the expense of national interests and the Bush Administration's promotion of a rigid conservative Republican agenda.
We lost our credibility.
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