...and at the same time you're right in noting the appalling lack of outrage among Bush partisans. Politics trumps morality.

I think the reason Bush got away with it for so long is that Americans had an unrequited bloodlust after 9/11. To put it crudely but accurately, a lot of Americans wanted to "spill some raghead blood", and Bush provided a rationalization to spill Iraqi blood. Yeah, we showed al Qaida, all right.

'Course, now we're beginning to sober up after the bloody party, and some of the people who supported Bush's war, those with a shred of decency, are starting to feel some remorse about our actions. Bush's declining approval rating is a reflection of...reflection. Sober reflection.

In politics, that sort of thing generates a rebound effect: People don't take kindly to being fooled and tend to wreak vengeance against the leader they followed into disaster. Voters punish a leader who makes them feel ashamed or stupid, even if they went along enthusiastically at the time.

The November election is a test of our national character: If the American people are worth a warm bucket of spit, we'll throw the bastard out on his ear.

Or we'll leave him in office and validate the world's low opinion of us.