When I was a kid we used to play games. The games usually had rules, albeit soft rules. “Soft” meaning that if we didn’t like them we would say so, try to work out a new rule system with the group, usually to some success even if it was usually some sort of compromise. Once in awhile if the group wouldn’t go along with the proposed change someone, having an especially self-centered day, would get mad and say something fine such as “If you don’t like the rules then don’t play,” or from the other perspective, “If you don’t change the rule, I’m not going to play” — maybe something even more home-centered: “I’ll tell my Mom!” Well, some folks never grow up.
How do you feel about someone breaking the law, justifying it by saying that he did it for our good, and then having the law changed by his friends after the fact.
Here is a quote from Dan Froomkin “White House Briefing,” Washington Post :
Late Night Anger
Sen. Russell Feingold (D-Wis.) was on the Daily Show with Jon Stewart last night, talking about his censure resolution. Crooks and Liars has the video.
Feingold: “I was taught that it’s the Congress that makes the laws and the president is supposed to sign them and he’s supposed to enforce them. He’s not just supposed to make them up. And on this illegal wiretapping, he apparently just decided that he didn’t like things the way there were, and made up his own law. I don’t think we can let him get away with that. So I think it’s a pretty mild step to say, by resolution, Mr. President, you did the wrong thing. How about admitting it, and maybe apologizing?”
Stewart, in conclusion: “This feels like some attempt at accountability, and that’s what I really like about it. Because it seems like the worse you screw up, with these guys, the bigger the trophy they give you.”
Peace for Every Living Thing 