Remember the story last week about the "signing statements" that Bush has been issuing on bills that he signs? The most prominent of these was the signing statement on the McCain anti-torture bill that essentially said (from the WaPo via Slate):

[The White House] is explicitly reserving the right to abuse prisoners, while denying them any opportunity to seek redress in court. Having publicly accepted the ban on cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment, Mr. Bush is planning to ignore it whenever he chooses.

That's a pretty much old, but important news, now. But what is interesting is the amount of coverage given to this "signing", (via Slate):

Number of news stories the Post, NYT, USAT, LAT, and WSJ devoted to the signing statement: one—and that's being generous.

It's been pointed out that these "signings" are not new to Bush. What is different is Bush's use of these signings. His administration considers these opinions as carrying the force of law, despite the fact that there is no foundation for such a belief. But then again, just how is precedent formed?

I excoriated Franklin Foer for his criticisms of the blogosphere for not praising the "mainstream media" when they do something right. This story is yet another example of just how the press has abandoned the American people. Torture is a signature issue of our culture and a reflection of who we are. Yet the heavy-weight newspapers of our country have not even seen fit to cover this story. Blogs covered ad-naseum, and anyone reading these pages has been thoroughly informed about the McCain anti-torture bill. But how many people have the time and inclination to follow the blogosphere?

So despite Franklin Foer I'll say it again, the mainstream media continues to let down the American people and aide the rotting of traditional American political values from the middle out.