You will not likely see a Saturday Night Live skit about Obama's Treasury nominee, Timothy Geithner and his failure to pay FICA taxes. 

If we are honest with ourselves we will admit that had a Republican won the Presidency and nominated a Treasury Secretary who failed to pay taxes for four years the confirmation process would have been "slowed down" to "get to the bottom" of the situation and find out what really happened.  Late night television would have been filled with images of the incompetent nominee not understanding how to complete a tax form.  Television news would delve into the McCain "vetting" process and wonder about a Treasury nominee who didn't know to file taxes while serving as an independent contractor.

To her credit, Maureen Dowd, at The New York Times, wondered how a man as smart as Geithner could have engaged in such a transgression.  She quickly redeems herself by offering that Geithner's mistake seems "petty" in comparison to the (unnamed, but understood?) transgressions by members of the Bush administration.

I doubt that I will be treated to the loud-speak of Jon Stewart wondering "where in the hell" we get these people.  I will not get the faux defense of Geithner's mistake from Colbert:  The step by step help for Geithner in filling out his 1040 as the audience guffaws.

Instead we get the kicking of Bush on his way out. 

As Chesterton wrote:  "We often read nowadays of the valor or audacity with which some rebel attacks a hoary tyranny or an antiquated superstition.  There's not really any courage at all in attacking hoary or antiquated things - anymore than in offering to fight one's grandmother.  The really courageous man is he who defies tyrannies young as the morning and superstitions fresh as the first flowers."

So if we are to have a new "ethic of responsibility," bring it on.  But the ethics must be consistent.  "Brilliance," as one commentator excused, is no substitute for accountability. 

Someone be sure to tell me when the clock starts.

The other route is this:  Geithner shows us how confusing and absurd our tax system is.  This is a perfect launching point for reform.  If this man can't understand what to do, why not fix it for everyone. 

Breathe in.

Aside:  Red glasses?