Forgive me for pondering for a moment....

[Pacifist Patriot]

but I'd like to think through a conversation I had with someone at lunch today. Like many of us here, she too is frustrated at the lack of Galloway-esque behavior coming from our Democratic representatives in Washington. Given the preponderance of evidence pointing to stolen elections and illegal wars, rampant disrespect for the U.S. Constitution and theo-patriarchal efforts to control women among countless other anti-American activities with little to no vocal resistance, something is clearly impeding reason and virtue.

We came up with a few possibilities that might explain the deafening silence. (Note: We deliberately removed the fourth estate from the equation focusing on political activity.)

1. Any successful full-court press for investigations would result in some of our own tumbling from their pedestals. In other words, the party would have to sacrifice a leg to save the body and fears the amputation. We have to be honest and recognize that Democrats may very well be benefiting from whatever the hell is going on in our corporations and our government.

2. If I'm not mistaken, idealistic reform-minded freshman congressman are either whipped, converted or defeated by the end of their first term.

3. The prevailing political paradigm is one in which the person who does not rock the boat is the most electable. Power preservation is trumping personal beliefs resulting in politicians without convictions.

At this point a full investigation would be costly, perhaps lengthy and have unimagined consequences. My personal code of ethics, sense of responsibility and need for justice tips the scales in favor of benefits rather than risks, but perhaps many of those who have risen within Democratic Party ranks don't see it that way.

This is why I regard voices such as Rep. Kucinich, Rep. Conyers, Rep. Slaughter and Sen. Boxer to be courageous. There are risks involved, but clearly they recognize them as necessary ones.

I don't want to seem pessimistic as I am clinging to hope, but I do want to be realistic so genuine impediments can be breached.

[donkeyotay]

1. They are afraid the dam will break

All the lies will come flooding out. How do you manage scandals this big? It'd be like telling your spouse, "I'm having an affair, and oops, I'm gay, and I never loved you, and I cleaned out the bank account, I'm taking the children, I maxed the cards, I'm leaving you, and I'm taking the dog." Where do you start?

They would rather stick with the known corruption than take the risk of telling the truth and facing the consequences... and having to explain any of this to some very angry voters who would have finally been roughly awakened from their media-induced coma.

It is very scary, but doing nothing will not save us from having to clean up after the elephants.

[Pacifist Patriot]

2. That's pretty much what I tried to tell my sister, but you

phrased it very well. Good analogy. This isn't just a scandal, this is a catastrophe of monumental proportions.

[donkeyotay]

3. Yes, "a catastrophe of monumental proportions" nt