sign of the apocalypse #47689

The headline on page A16 of today's Washington Post says that the United States' image is in "bad shape," but everything on the preceding pages had told me so already. Forget what the rest of the world thinks about us, story after story leaves you with the very really sensation that the sh*t has hit the fan.

Another storm coming. "It Was Like the End of the World,' One Texan Says". More people being evacuated from their homes. More detainee abuse. Bill Frist being investigated by the SEC. Big brother collection of DNA from every sap who gets arrested. Cheney going under the knife -- again. FDA Commissioner stepping down after two months on the job. Airport screening process under criticism. Senior citizens being burned alive in a bus. Schools getting shut down in Georgia because they can't afford the fuel to keep them open.

Wealthiest -- country -- in -- the -- world. S-U-P-E-R-P-O-W-E-R. Yeah. We kick a**. And then there's always the article about how Bush needs to get his "swagger" back.