Corrupted and Debased, II

A couple more instances of how deeply corrupt the political system has become:

You may recall that when the domestic-wiretapping scandal broke, a Justice Department investigation was commenced--a means of trying to head off probes that might not buckle to political pressure. So, what has happened? The DOJ investigation has been killed. Why? Because the White House, citing national security concerns, refused to cooperate. I don't know about you, but I am shocked, shocked! to hear this.

You may also have noticed that the office of the Special Inspector General in Iraq--headed by a Bush buddy named Stuart Bowen--has actually been going after fraud, theft and mismanagement in the US aid program to that war-torn country. So, what do Republicans do? As reported by The Carpetbagger, they make sure that the money now being allocated to Iraq reconstruction is routed through a different program where it will be audited not by Bowen's office, but by an undermanned State Department unit. Here I truly am shocked--this time at the brazenness of it all. (I know--by now nothing should shock me, except perhaps honesty and competence.)