And now, some punditry

I. Lewis Libby, cut down at the knees, bleeding from the mouth and left for dead! A goner, yes?

Karl Rove, the crosshairs hovering over his temple, nervously awaits his political assassination!

But do they face any real danger? No.

Is the presidency in jeopardy? Not likely.

These two guys did their jobs -- they insulated their political bosses from attack. Libby and Rove are taking one for the team, and they're doing it in style. What, you think they're gonna go to jail? Could this country really tolerate something like that? The highest advisors to the president and vice president as convicted felons? Could the United States ever command respect in the world again?

They will be rewarded, because they're national fucking heroes. Would any board of directors hesitate for a second to hire either of them to lead their global military contracting company? Think about it. Hell, I'd even hire one of them to manage my life for 12 months, if I could afford it. Think of how well off I'd be!

Years from now, when all is said and done, Libby and Rove will be relaxing in large leather chairs alongside the former Prez, his dad, the former Vice Prez and anyone else they care to associate with, content with the success of their tenure. Smokin' cigars and slappin' backs. They successfully changed direction of the national ship. Fuckin' A. Fuckin' B., too.

So, maybe we're doomed as a result. But then again, maybe not.

Gotta give them credit for their effort, even if you don't like it; and if you can't recognize their impact, you're a pussy.

Well then, what's really going on here? Nothing, except that this second-term presidency is unraveling like they all do. Not too big a deal. In the end, they all become ex-presidents. It's the law.

I wouldn't be surprised if there isn't a secret club on some warm, forgotten island where Bush, Bush, Clinton, Carter (Ford -- is he still alive?) and all their aides gather every quarter for some major debauchery, including endless pranks involving the ambushing and de-pantsing of each others' vice presidents. Man, that would be fun.

Anyway, all's well in the country, far as we can tell, because it's fucking impossible for one man to manage a representative government for an extended length of time. On deck, a Democrat possibly. God only knows how he'll fuck it up (and it will be a he, mark my words.) But he'll move on, too. Then the next one... until the empire collapses. And there ain't a damn thing any president's gonna be able to do to stop that.

There you have it.