Corruptus in extremis

I've noticed something funny about American politics lately. Not ha-ha funny but weird funny.

The American public seems to have a much, much higher tolerance for corruption among public officials than they used to.

Seriously, the stuff politicians - particularly Republicans - get away with now would have done them in at the polls 25 years ago. Granted, the public has a lot less tolerance for Eliot Spitzer-style scandals - if the offender is not a Republican. But they have a lot more tolerance for actual political corruption and major lawbreaking.

Yes, the media has made corruption "cool."

There's general agreement that Bush was by far the most corrupt administration in American history. But where's the indictments? Even some of Reagan's officials had the boom lowered on them. But anybody connected with the Bush regime seems off-limits to prosecutors.

How is it that a war criminal who was forced out of the Army just got "elected" to Congress, and Congress actually seats him? How is it that a corporate crook just got "elected" governor of one of America's biggest states?

Serious lawbreaking by politicians is outrageous regardless of the offender's party. The Republicans are by far the worst offenders though, and are above media scrutiny. I think this weak coverage actually teaches voters to believe the culture of corruption isn't as bad as it really is.