How is this possible? Without the moral compass of Absolute Truth, he considers himself and others like him to be the standard of conduct. Using this standard ("everybody cheats, lies, steals, etc."), he projects his values onto the conservative side to see how we line up.
Obviously, our core values are not in line with his. So, in extremely convenient fashion, he simply determines that the other side is living in hypocricy -- they must live one way in public and another way in private, because "no one could ever truly be that virtuous."
He then takes it a step farther. He reasons that since he is being open and honest about his lifestyle, he is actually far superior than the ones who, in his mind, are putting on a facade (think of Bill Clinton's "We saved the Constitution" declaration).
But it gets even worse, because you'll notice that there is an unhealthy rejoicing at finding skeletons hidden in someone's closet. This is because he's uncovered the greatest "sin," and the fact that one of the opposition has fallen because of it is good news, indeed.
As an added bonus, he can feel better about himself because his preconcieved notions about the other side are coming true. Without Absolute Truth, his personal conduct does not matter -- if someone else is exposed, it makes his transgressions acceptable.
A good example of this is Bob Livingston's resignation over adultery DURING THE IMPEACHMENT DEBATE OF BILL CLINTON (who committed perjury and obstruction of justice). Who was the one who uncovered this evidence? None other than Larry Flynt.
Here's what he had to say: "I'm happy if my efforts had anything to do with it. I think right-wing radical bullies like him are more of a threat to our unique form of democracy than anything else" (http://www.pbs.org/newshour/bb/media/jan-june99/flynt_1-5a.html)
And so it doesn't matter about the drug use of Randi Rhodes or Al Franken. Their lives make no difference to them, but they will do whatever they can to expose hypocricy (while being blind to their own). They rejoiced at the Rush Limbaugh case, and you're right, they missed a golden opportunity to discuss major policy decisions.
They're so blinded by their goal of personal destruction that they're destroying themselves. The Truth stands by itself, and it always will. While justice has decreed judgment on the tyranny of liberalism, freedom and liberty are putting her to death.
Left's hypocrisy BUMP