warning signs

as in "dead as a ____"

In a real parliamentary democracy the fact that at this moment the first five headlines* of the normally comfortably-establishment news service, Reuters, are about the "abuse" scandal and the plumeting public support for both the war and for Bush would be a signal that the collapse of the government is imminent.

But here it's not so exciting. Here we are apparently all just helpless spectators.

Sigh.

*
1.) U.S., Britain, Seek to Contain Iraq Abuse Scandal
2.) Poll: Bush Job Rating Dips, Support for War Down
3.) Bush's Backing of Rumsfeld Shocks and Angers Arabs
4.) Bush Shown Iraq Abuse Photos, Again Backs Rumsfeld
5.) Red Cross Was Told Iraq Abuse 'Part of the Process'

[image from Global Change 2]