Cute strawman you have there (if he only had a brain). The point was not that politicians shouldn't criticize the government, the point was that smearing our leaders and stating lies or falsehoods simply for personal future gain should be done carefully... this partisan garbage should be pointed out and loathed when it harms our country internationally or increases direct danger to American citizens.
Case in point, all the harping about Bush "lied" when he said Iraq posed an "imminent threat" to America. It gives ammunition to our enemies and is a LIE... Bush stated clearly that there was no evidence that Iraq posed an imminent threat but that terrorism no longer allows countries to wait until an imminent threat is visible. The Dem's love saying this, however, because it makes a great sound bite for THEM...and to hell with the fact that the foreign press and violent groups are quoting such "American officials" with reverence.
It was no strawman. I said it sounded a certain way. It did.