Dear Progressives:

It is possible that special prosecutor Patrick Fitzgerald will bring indictments against senior Bush administration officials this week, alleging criminal activity in the outing of CIA covert operative Valerie Plame, in the ensuing investigation, or in both.

Please understand very clearly that this is a horrible day for the United States of America. It was horrible that anyone leaked Ms. Plame's name for any reason whatsoever. It was horrible that it was done for political reasons, as reported more than two years ago. It is horrible that any administration officials involved did not honor their oath of office. It is horrible that those people put the country through an investigation rather than resign.

It is horrible that career Justice Department officials were almost not able to get hopelessly compromised Attorney General John Ashcroft to recuse himself in an investigation that targeted his long-time supporter, Karl Rove. It is good that the process did work as it should, but not that it came so close to falling apart.

If indictments are brought, it is even more horrible that there is enough evidence to indict anyone for something that never should have happened in the first place.

It is not a gift of any kind.

I don't care how much you oppose the corruption of the Bush administration, or their lying the nation into war, their attempts to dismantle safety for all but the richest people in the nation, their rape of the planet and their uncurable megalomania. Indictments of senior government officials for compromising our own national security are horrible for this country.

Not to mention that the more you pretend this is some kind of "fun" or "gift," the more the supporters of treason will simply say this is all "politics as usual." This is not politics as usual, and you're smart enough not to act like it is.

This is the continuation of a horrible time for the United States of America. Even if you feel personal glee that it just might be nearing an end, please refrain from expressing it in public. The only joy for any of this is that the system may still be working. That's not a "Fitzmas" gift - that's a treasure we've nearly lost and must fight to protect at all costs.

Stop celebrating - there is no festival involved. It's good that our country can peacefully remove even the most odious and treasonous of high officers, but it's tragic that we're being forced to consider it because of the low character of those who hold such high positions of trust. Every celebration you mark over this helps make this "politics as usual" - now and in the future.

Shape up or shut up.

Thank you.