Oh wait, sorry, that’s not right. Republicans are not demanding an investigation. Instead, they’ve covered Karl Rove in a warm blanket of spin in an effort to deflect attention away Rove. Does it matter that White House Press Secretary Scott McClellan said at a September 29, 2003 press briefing that it was a “ridiculous” idea to suggest that Karl Rove was involved in leak of Plame’s name because McClellan had spoken to Rove about it? Nah, of course it doesn’t. Sure, someone was lying in 2003, since we now know that Rove was involved.

I don’t understand some conservatives. They can attack Bill Clinton for his supposed lack of morals because of his affair with Monica Lewinsky, yet they looked other way when it was revealed that former Speaker of The House Newt Gingrich had been involved in a six-year-long affair with one of his staff members. Drug addicts should be thrown in jail, but drug addict Rush Limbaugh needs our sympathy. William Bennett, a conservative advocate of morality and author of The Book of Virtues, turns out to be quite gambler. I’m pretty sure gambling is a vice. But hey, there’s nothing wrong with morality czar gambling! Gambling is legal. So leave Bill Bennett alone!

I think if George W. Bush volunteered at an abortion clinic for a week, his right-wing defenders would find a way to come to his defense: “He didn’t actually perform any abortions! Leave him alone! This is just another tactic by liberals to bash President!” I wonder, at what point did conservatives abandon ideals of ethics and morality?

One of talking points about Karl Rove is that he didn’t do anything illegal. Okay, maybe that’s true, but does it make it right? Should a top Bush administration official mention that a particular individual works for CIA? When you say “So-and-so’s wife” it’s not that hard to figure out who that person is.

Fearful that terrorists will next target Australia, Prime Minister John Howard broke silence this week. He reopened debate on issuing mandated national ID cards.

Those who live topside and think that internal political decisions made down under will have little bearing on our lives, should think again.

A national ID system in Australia will do more than raid that nation of personal liberty. It will set a precedent to be followed by rest of world.

So what's big deal?

Once national ID card is adopted in Australia, its effectiveness in curbing terrorism, illegal immigration and host of other social ills will be realized. That will make for an easy sell to Americans, Europeans and others weary of what ails society. The national ID will be seen as a quick fix.

The logical progression will lead to an international interlink between nations. An international ID card will be established. Then, to thwart card theft, business-card sized documents will be replaced with permanent IDs: computer chips implanted in hand (for convenience) and forehead (for permanence).

Once established, implanted IDs will lend themselves for other conveniences, such as biotechnical debit cards and health histories.

So long to liberty

Implanted IDs will be effective. They will do wonders to end terrorism, tax evasion, kidnapping, money laundering and even purse snatching. With exception of cumbersome act of bartering, implanted IDs will be required for commerce of any kind. No ID implant? No buying and no selling.

While international IDs will provide a panache of benifits, they will also end personal liberty as we know it. And that, many believe, will be a fair exchange.

End of national sovereignty