I love The Onion so much… Here is yet another brilliant piece of satire, and a remarkable and realistic presentation of cable TV punditry.

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Jon Stewart puts the relocation of ‘Gitmo’ detainees in its proper perspective.

Should we feel sorry for the Republicans?

Stephen dismantles right wing efforts to “rewrite history” in an effort to portray the GOP as hapless victims of bully Democrats.

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God bless Jon Stewart and his Daily Show staff. Last night they presented a fantastic satirical segment on how Bush administration officials, past and present, have avoided answering questions posed by Congress. Daily Show correspondent John Oliver put it best: “Classic Hall of Fame Bullshit.”

Oliver’s remarks were in response to John Ashcroft’s testimony before Congress. When the former Attorney General was asked about his recollection of discussions regarding the treatment of “enemy combatants,” Ashcroft claimed he couldn’t differentiate his own memories of events with the accounts of others.

The exchange between Stewart and Oliver is below, and lasts 3:25.  For information that is less satirical, see:

From the New York Times:  Two Testify on Memo Spelling Out Interrogation, 27 June 2008.

or this from the American Constitution Society for Law & Policy: Former AG John Ashcroft Before House Committee On Interrogation, 18 July 2008.

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With its usual ironic poignancy, The Onion pokes fun at the CIA’s penchant for secrecy.  At the same time, however, their November 30, 2005 article rasies some very real concerns for historians.

“Why did it go on for this long, and this far?” said Goss in a press conference called shortly after the report’s release. “I’m as frustrated as anyone. You can’t read a single thing that’s been highlighted. Had I been there to advise [former CIA director] Allen Dulles, I would have suggested the traditional yellow color—or pink

Goss added: “There was probably some really, really important information in these documents.”

When asked by a reporter if the black ink was meant to intentionally obscure, Goss countered, “Good God, why?”

Goss lamented the fact that the public will probably never know the particulars of such historic events as the Cold War, the civil-rights movement, or the growth of the international drug trade.

“I’m sure the CIA played major roles in all these things,” Goss said. “But now we’ll never know for sure.”

Indeed, we may never know for sure.  With the “highlighting” of such documents, historians must rely on the principles involved, ideally the ones responsible for producing the information.  Unfortunately, those individuals are usually less than forthcoming with “highlighted” items.  There is hope, however. If we’re lucky, some of those privy to the redacted information keep personal diaries.

If nothing else, It’s funny because it’s true.  I do love The Onion.  Today’s headline reads, “Badly Injured Man Not Done Partying Yet.”  Hilarious.