The Scooter Libby trial seems to be providing Americans with a tragically familiar view of the inner workings of their government. It harkens to the days of Watergate, but also to Tom Delay, Jack Abramoff, and Bob Ney. Just as we did when I watched the Watergate hearings on TV years ago, we are witness to the intoxications of power.
The prosecutor’s case this time points quite directly to the Vice President. That’s no surprise to Cheney critics, who seem to include about 90% of Americans these days. The defense starts its case today, so we may yet see a different side of the story. If all they can say, however, is that Libby “doesn’t recall,” it may work in court, but the people know better.
Juxtapose this trial to the comment an apparently foreign caller made to a radio show yesterday. The caller said he was from Brazil. His message? If the American people do not impeach Bush, the people will lose credibility with the rest of the world. “We can see who Bush really is,” he said, “Why can’t you?”
Do we have credibility as a people? What does that mean, exactly? The Libby trial is unveiling part of this administration’s intoxication with power. The caller seemed to say: “Americans, how you deal with this really does matter!” Indeed, what does it mean to have credibility as a people? And, what does it mean to lose such credibility?
Anthony Signorelli is author of Call to Liberty: Bridging the Divide Between Liberals and Conservatives
