The frustration with the federal government, now characteristic of partisanship rooted in the pursuit of power, not the depth of beliefs or principles, is at levels marking permanent erosion of trust and credibility.
There was recently a sigh of relief and applause directed toward a joint intelligence operation that prevented another "underwear bomber" with new technology that would have been difficult to detect with current search and security measures at airports.
Unfortunately, due to politics overshadowing security, there have been leaks about the roles of the U.S., British and Saudi intelligence communities and the depth to which a terrorist cell was penetrated to access the technology of these murderers and to stop an attempt to destroy human life for the cause of evil.
Plans were under way to execute a terrorist event near the one-year anniversary of Osama bin Laden's death by al-Qaida of Yemen in the Arabian Peninsula.
Specific details made available to the press following the disrupted attack included the nationality of the bomber-to-be, the fact that he would don non-metallic explosives that would likely slip past security, and, unlike the unsuccessful Christmas Day underwear bomber, would have a backup detonator.
These specifics, linked with the information of a drone attack that killed a Yemini terrorist, enables the enemies of freedom to retrace and identify players, tactics and the timeline involved in this embarrassing defeat for them.
More importantly, it endangers the lives of those directly involved in fighting in the war on terror.
The U.S. partners in this operation have gone on record in expressing their shock and dismay.
In The Times, a "senior British official" described a meeting held regarding the leaks at which his peers were "slack-jawed" at the level of specifics being reported in America.
The Week reported the confirmation of such leaks by U.S. Defense Secretary Leon Panetta in his statement:
"When these leaks take place, they damage our ability to be able to pursue intelligence efforts." Panetta also acknowledged an "internal review" and an additional criminal investigation by the FBI.
The Guardian captured the sentiments of "growing anger in the U.S. intelligence community" with agents "blaming the Obama administration for undermining national security." Their interview included the former head of the CIA's Bin Laden unit, Mike Scheur. Scheur noted "the leaking about the nuts and bolts of British involvement was despicable and would make a repeat of the operation difficult. MI6 should be as angry as hell."
He continued, "Any information disclosed is too much information. This does seem to be a tawdry political thing."
The American public, despite any partisan divide, should be livid at the rot that is permitted as standard operating policy by a White House driven by politics with disregard to our nation's security and interests.
It's time for Barack Obama and his campaign team that poses as our government leaders to exit swiftly with the reputation known for what they've created it to be: Incapable of governing.