It is a sad but true reality that we face in 2006 that each week brings a new tale of scandal, corruption, or deceipt from our federal government. Whether the relatively trivial - like a top White House aid indicted for shoplifting - or gravely profound - like unwarranted spying on American citizens - we are relentlessly assaulted by news of misdeeds.

Even when we hear supposedly ‘good’ news, turns out, ehh, not so much:

�Operation Swarmer� is really a media show. It was designed to show off the new Iraqi Army � although there was no enemy for them to fight.

When even the good news is bad news, it is hard to maintain hope for a brighter day.