Over at Kevin Drum’s place (Kevin’s post is worth a read, too–I may respond to it later if I get time):

Totalitarianism is right here, right up in each of our faces every minute of every day. It is the Republican Party, and not a moment’s thought or effort can be diverted from fighting it until it has been destroyed without trace. This will take three generations, and will leave the country with one third the population and one ten-thousandth the economy that it has today.

Then the country must be rebuilt. That will take a further six generations.

THEN, perhaps, we may once more indulge in the [very great and irresponsible] luxury of wondering what is going on elsewhere in the world. But not before.

Hmmm…well, you know what Stalin said about omelettes and eggs.

Peggy Noonan has a gracious, balanced and I suspect correct ode to Dan Rather and his career.

People are complicated, careers are complicated, motives are complicated. Dan Rather did some great work on stories that demanded physical courage. He loved the news, and often made it look like the most noble of enterprises. He had guts and fortitude. Those stories he covered that touched on politics were unfortunately and consistently marred by liberal political bias, and in this he was like too many in his profession. But this is changing. The old hegemony has given way. The old dominance is over. Good thing. Great thing. Onward