The irascible and ineluctable Maureen Dowd speaks up on the issue of excessive emphasis on loyalty in this New York Times column. She says:

"Now, in the 21st-century reign of King George II, flattery is mandatory, dissent is forbidden, and erring without admitting error is the best way to get ahead. President Bush is purging the naysayers who tried to temper crusted-nut-bar Dick Cheney and the neocon crazies on Iraq.

First, faith trumped facts. Now, loyalty trumps competence. W., who was the loyalty enforcer for his father's administration, is now the loyalty enforcer for his own.

Those promoted to be in charge of our security, diplomacy and civil liberties were rewarded for being more loyal to Mr. Bush and Mr. Cheney than to the truth."

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She makes a telling case. Why should the leader of the free world depend on sycophants and butt-boys? Personal instability? Low self-esteem? Artificial intelligence?

You decide.

A