It was once obvious to Americans that someone being snuck into the White House under false pretenses was a cause for concern, a red flag indicating a security breach or hidden interests at play. A pretend reporter in the White House press corps was the kind of thing that required an explanation and perhaps a change in policy or personnel.

When it also turns out the bogus reporter is a gay prostitute who was not just participating in press briefings, but also routinely visiting the White House itself, the red flag becomes a flashing warning light. In the No-Account Era of Bushco, however, such warnings just alert the faithful to grab their shovels and head to the barn. When it became known that Jeff Gannon of Talon News Service was actually James Guckert, a former serviceman with a web page advertising the dimensions of his penis and his rates for nightly or weekend-long escort services, parroting administration spin for a "news service" that was merey a website funded by one of Bush's Texas fundraisers, the Bullshit Brigade switched into denial overdrive.

Willing dupes like Les Jones turned into helpful tour guides, "Nothing to see here, folks. Move along." They talked incessantly about day passes and how unregulated they are, but they refused to talk about any of the facts that made this case unique. None of the dupes wanted to touch the eight-inch, uncut penis. Now Ted Haggard, a trusted Republican spiritual advisor with White House access, has resigned after his hired gay lover outed him as hypocrite, and campaign records have shown the RNC taking big donations from a gay-porn producer whose catalog includes many films starring former servicemen.

Is it all a coincidence, or were Haggard and Guckert working on a five-part box set of a gay-sex-themed "West Wing" ripoff filmed on location?

What bothers me about the Gannon affair is not the gayness or the sex or the hypocrisy. What bothers me is I feel like I'm living in a world that has gone batshit insane. How can a clumsy, inconsequential remark by John Kerry spark a media frenzy during of time when truly important news is in steady supply? Haggard's career has just been ruined by his gay lover. How do we know that Guckert is not blackmailing someone far more important and powerful with the threat of exposing whoever it was in the White House that was sneaking him in?

If Republican leaders want to be lying hypocrites, fine. What I really want to know is what the hell is wrong with rank-and-file Republicans and the mainstream press? Is there no level of truth and decency for which they are willing to take a stand? Must our nation rewrite every law the President violates? Must we willingly go along with every rewriting of history and repackaging of current events that spins out of the mouthpieces? Has my country gone insane?