Liberalnesia--Not Just for Liberals Any More

In the run up to the war in Iraq, I learned a new word. An acquaintance of mine was distressed that progressives (aka libruls) were not concerned enough with going into Iraq to retaliate for the 9/11 attacks. (Never mind the fact that there was no reason to retaliate against Iraq in that situation--that was one of the points of disagreement in the argument in the first place.) In fact, he went so far as to suggest that liberals were so unconcerned with the 9/11 attacks that they had essentially forgotten about them. Liberalnesia, he called the phenomenon.

Well, it seems liberalnesia has struck again, this time in some of the oddest places. The Sept. 11 commission (which has officially been decommissioned) issued its final report yesterday, and in the words of former chair Thomas Kean, "More than four years after 9/11 ... people are not paying attention. God help us if we have another attack." It seems as though the Bush Administration and the Republican Congress, who campaigned last time as our last, best, and only hope for safety and security, has dropped the ball. They apparently have forgotten about fighting terrorism at home--at best they no longer care.

The excommission issued actual report card grades for the government's response to forty-one of the commission's previous recommendations. Almost half--nineteen--were Fs, Ds, or incompletes. Only one received a high grade--an A-minus for the government's "vigorous effort against terrorist financing."

Take a look at the entire report if you're so inclined. And demand more from your government.