Today a deep and corrosive cynicism was on display in the U.S. Senate.

Dan Rather

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Today a deep and corrosive cynicism was on display in the U.S. Senate. It was a shameful chapter in American history abetted by those who would happily trample the safeguards of our democracy in the service of a president who sees our Department of Justice as his own private protector and cudgel.

William Barr cares nothing for that, or the judgement of history. He sees his job as preserving, protecting, and defending the president against any and all legitimate inquiry.

This is a cynicism meant to delay, distract and deceive from the administrations of truth and justice. We could debate whether what Barr said met the high bar of perjury, just as we can debate whether President Trump's obstruction of justice should lead towards a path of impeachment. But there can be no debate over whether our independent judiciary is under withering stress. To see an Attorney General scuriolsy echo the raving rhetoric of his president against a justice department brought a sadness even more than anger. Have we sunk so low?

We were attacked by a foreign power during the 2016 election, and their goal by whatever means, was to destabilize our institutions of democracy. The Russians wanted us to forsake the very freedoms that have made us strong. And whether through active conspiracy or through a tacit sharing of objectives, these destructive forces have found a witting ally in the president.

We now hear that Barr won't testify before the House tomorrow. He knows he has no good answers to thousands of good questions. But that's not how it's supposed to work. Our officials, the men and women we pay with our tax dollars, owe us accountability.

President Trump cares nothing for the women and men who pledge him loyalty beyond what that loyalty means for his needs. We have long had the measure of the man. What is so discouraging is those who line up behind him to debase themselves and harm our nation. William Barr is clearly at the top of the list.

There is no joy in saying all this. There is no joy in seeing Republican senators and representatives line up in obedience. What solace there is comes in the fact that I believe a majority of Americans look at this farce and say, this isn't who we are, or who we will be.