UK memo. How issue evolves will be very telling

Regarding the leaked UK memo, attached is link to a William Pitt article which sums up the information and the emotion pretty well, I think. Despite its practical absence from american media, this issue appears to be a huge story oversees, as it should be.

I'm wondering if there is enough capability for discussion left in our country to process what should be a damning, embarrassing, criminal misdeed on the part of the administration. Eric Alterman has suggested that a lack of effective discourse is crippling our democratic process. I'm imagining that, as discourse and analysis declines as a capability, there is a point beyond which the public cannot effectively handle an issue like this.

So the question is, as a nation, DO WE HAVE ENOUGH INTEGRITY, COURAGE, SKILLS, AND COMMUNICATION INFRASTRUCTURE LEFT TO DEAL WITH AN IMPORTANT ISSUE? Or is our level of discourse and processing so compromised that a politically damaging story can never get off the ground with enough people?

Clearly, the public can process stories like Lacy, Terry, and Michael. Can we deal with significant, real, political stories in a rational, honest way? This remains to be seen. Certainly, there are effective writers and journalists like Pitt who can eloquently and accurately describe this issue. But Pitt's words and his sentiments will not reach the vast majority of people.

How this issue evolves and what level of discussion it generates will be very, very telling in terms of where we are as a democracy.

http://www.truthout.org/docs_2005/050605Y.shtml

a snip:

We need two exit strategies: one to get our forces out of that country as soon as humanly possible, and the other to get George W. Bush out of the White House and into a cellblock in The Hague. Save a bunk for Mr. Blair, too. Criminals belong in prison.

Terror isn't going away just 'cause we'll be away from Iraq. We've created an incubator there and, well, even a civil war won't be enough to suck up all the heat and rage created by the occupation in the first place. They won't just forgive all sins just because the West might act contrite. Same thing with putting heads of state in prison. Yes, but what after?

and see how it shakes out. Can't be much worse than the current situation. In fact, might avoid the next 3 years of equally stupid, violent, corrupt actions piling on top of the current stupidity.

quit beating the Terra horse. The longer 'we' stay in Iraq the worse it gets. Iraq HAD NOTHING TO DO with Terror. 'We' broke it so it is Fk*ng Broke.

anything should be a sign that they don't want to touch it.

Fear maybe?

was on AAR Minnesota (Wendy Wilde program). She's right - we need to keep beating the drums, keep pushing back on the media

Can the nation talk about the issue rationally and in the open without someone throwing gasoline on the discussion or diverting attention away with a false issue or discrediting anyone who dissents or claiming the other side is godless...all in order to avoid real thought and end the debate?

Can the discussion happen at all? And who is interested in talking about it and who isn't? Why wouldn't a dem leader want his colleagues to go on record on the issue...possible evidence of a president lying to go to war? Which media outlets will avoid the issue and which will honestly report on it? How many weeks will this remain a story? Which congresspersons will pick up on Conyers' request for information and which won't mention it? Will the personal life of the 2002 memo-writer be discussed on Hannity in order to smear the messenger?

Which former players (ONeill, Clarke, Kwiatkowski, et al) who warned us of this rush to war will be invited to speak on talk shows to shed light on this issue?

Once the conversation happens, then all kinds of possibilities exist...

If this thing doesn't get legs, we'll know we've passed the point of no return and democracy has lost.

On another post, I said I think this is way too big for the MSM to ignore. I am very hopeful that the tides will turn! Let's all help Conyers and begin the hearings! We must nail BUSHCO!