Non-Traditional

I’ve noticed this too.

One of the great discoveries of the Republican Party over the past decade or two is that an awful lot of the rules we take for granted are, in reality, just traditions. Like redistricting only once a decade, for example, or keeping House votes open for 15 minutes. And what Republicans have found out is that if you have the balls to do it, you can just ignore tradition and no one can stop you. It's that simple.

Alberto Gonzales has learned this lesson well. Normally, cabinet officers who have been caught in multiple obvious lies have to either resign or else seriously try to defend themselves. But Gonzales realizes this is just tradition. Unless House Democrats have the votes to impeach him, he doesn't have to do anything. He can just mock them to their face and there's nothing much they can do about it.

Now, depending on you political persuasion, this bucking of tradition might be seen as a good thing or a bad thing. Not being particularly sympathetic to those employing these tactics, I tend to find it arrogant and frustrating. It does make me wonder though, has the mold now been broken for everyone henceforth, or will the “traditions” be re-established after this bunch is gone?