Where's the Accountability?

Reading the papers this morning, I found four different stories that all shared the same theme. See if you can spot it.

First, there was the story of the big wet kiss the administration gave to the tobacco industry. In closing arguments in a 6-year civil racketeering lawsuit, the DoJ unexpected asked for only $10 billion in damages, instead of the $130 billion that its own witness had said was necessary. The Justice Department refused comment on the change of heart.

Second, we learn about a Pentagon report on the ill-conceived Boeing tanker deal. Not only weren't Rumsfeld or Wolfowitz interviewed for the report, but 45 references to White House involvement were redacted from the version given to the Senate Armed Services committee. Asked about the deletions, McClellan responded that nothing more needed to be said about the matter.

Next is an update on the Bolton nomination, currently stalled in the Senate because the White House refuses to release full copies of the intelligence documents requested by Bolton at State. Democrats want to know the identities of the people Bolton requested information on and whether that constituted a misuse of intelligence. The White House says the Senate doesn't need to know that.

Finally there's the story of a White House official (and former oil-industry point man in the fight against greenhouse gas regulations) who has been editing government scientific reports to downplay the links between greenhouse gasses and global warming. The White House refused comment.

See the pattern? This is a White House that does what it wants and answers to no one. It's just as Senator Clinton said two days ago: "There has never been an administration, I don't believe in our history, more intent upon consolidating and abusing power to further their own agenda." The evidence is overwhelming — all we have to do is open our eyes and give a damn.