I try to view the liberal “this isn’t us” and “wow, this is just like [other country]” as a sign of progress because it means that not only do they acknowledge it’s bad, they are trying to form a national identity that explicitly rejects these values.
It’s far from perfect, but it’s a lot better than condoning it.
Chomsky after the leaks: “I’m an old, old man, and I’m so sickly and weary and probably on my last legs cough, cough” (looks around nervously to see if anyone’s buying it)