That's some catch, that catch-22

The no-nonsense lede says it all: "The government has abruptly ended an inquiry into the warrantless eavesdropping program because the National Security Agency refused to grant Justice Department lawyers the necessary security clearance to probe the matter."

See It Now (via Raw Story)

So, as we predicted in one of our first posts, Chex and Balance are now mere breakfast foods, and no longer a system by which democracies can protect themselves and their citizens. Perhaps we accidentally exported so much democracy that we ran out here at home. Some sort of rationing may be in order. Fear not, you can trust the Bush Administration to oversee such a rationing effort fairly and with your civil liberties well in mind.

We'd say write your congressman to complain, but while you were sleeping congress was done away with and 535 executive-branch androids were installed in their place. So now writing to complain will only get your name put on Santa Bush's naughty list, which of course is maintained by the uninvestigatable NSA. And should you end up on that list a lump of coal will be the least of your worries. Think Gitmo.

We'll ask again: what are they teaching in 8th grade civics classes this year? How do the teachers preach three-branch, checks-and-balances accountability without bursting into tears?