There’s a lot of things to discuss with TAL lately. Even though TSOTAL only yielded a couple dozen episodes, I remain an ardent fan. I’m preparing for the second TAL Austin Brunch Club, and just as I return from a vacation in The Big Apple, a live TAL theater event will be broadcast around the country. Most recently — just this morning as a matter of fact — I’m pondering episode #353: The Audacity of Government.

Ira and Jack Hitt take us through a number of disturbing events in the government/legal realm of late, and it reveals a disturbing trend. Repeatedly the Bush Whitehouse has decided to sign away laws, create rules that don’t exist, or ignore the rules altogether. What were formerly binding agreements with the US, are now worthless. Why does any foreign country trust us, except their obligation to our massive financial powers…and what will they do when that goes away? (Sidebar: Yes, Alex P Jones is a nut but you should listen to what he has to say about our flailing economy and follow the trail of Alan Greenspan’s investments outside the US.) Where the Justice Department once relied on the justice system, now they invent their own rules when necessary and redact the ones they dislike. How can the people of this country trust the JD when the say “we can decide to do whatever we want without explanation on our part or recourse on yours”?

Jack and Ira spend the last few minutes of the episode discussing the fact that the now meaningless boundaries of the legal system are the real issue of this election year, and how the potential candidates have responded to Bush’s abuses. I feel it is not enough to have the lip service of the candidates. Watching Horten Hears A Who today I felt immense empathy for the poor Whovillians — helplessly tossed about in a world they can no longer control. We must stand together in the face of our government and make as much noise as possible.

We are here! We are here! We are here!

Horton Hears A Who is not the return of Toy Story days, but it is very well done and quite funny. Be careful that your children don’t see it or they may start to question authority.

p.s. Is it silly to lay the seriousness of our dire political situation alongside the animated adventures of an elephant? Dr. Suess, the Lorax and even the Onceler would say it is not.

p.p.s. Do we refuse to vote for John McCain because he will carry with him many of the same advisers that have stolen justice from us in the last 8 years — a form of punishment to show the GOP that what has transpired on their watch is unacceptable? or do we trust that he is somehow the anti-GOP within the GOP that will return it to a path of sensible government FTPBTP?