C.S. Lewis once wrote:

Suppose one reads a story of filthy atrocities in the paper. Then suppose that something turns up suggesting that the story might not be quite true, or not quite so bad as it was made out. Is one’s first feeling “Thank God, even they aren’t quite so bad as that,” or is it a feeling of disappointment, and even a determination to cling to the first story for the sheer pleasure of thinking your enemies as bad as possible? If it is the second then it is, I am afraid, the first step in a process which, if followed to the end, will make us into devils.

I suppose I could take this as a tonic not to get too excited by the ongoing SCANDALPALOOZA. If this turns out to be less than we’ve imagined, that will be good, right? If Obama really is schocked and offended by what the IRS was doing, and takes  steps to prevent its future ocurrence, that will be a bonus for everyone, yes?

I must admit this. But I also must admit — because it is true — that I deeply enjoy watching my ideological opponents fail. I enjoyed watching Obama run like a frightened squirrel from the podium after promising us that he was like, REALLY MAD, YOU GUYS! I’M SERIOUSLY! It was fun seeing Eric Holder be all “DURR, WHAT ARE CELL PHONES?” I really dont’ mind watching Jon Stewart losing his temper and realizing the epic truth that the right have been promulgating for decades:

In a few short weeks, you’ve convinced people that when it wants to do some good, Government managerial competence is somewhere between David Brent and a cat chasing a laser pointer. But when Government wants to flex its more malevolent muscle, you’re {expletive} Iron Man!”

I enjoy this more than I should. Even though I know that Stewart and everyone else is just hungering, like a sad dog, for a reason, any reason, to blow this whole thing off. Even though I know that he’s sincere when he states his belief that Big Daddy White Boss really does have everyone’s best interests at heart. It’s just nice to hear someone on the other side admit that what you believe has validity.

So whatever happens, however this plays out, whatever heaping mounds of taural fecal extract that the spin masters manage to cover this in, I can think of no better expression than this: