Well, no transcript, so no juicy quotes.

Our new President continues to quietly shed light on the policies of the previous administration, such as those in support of torture. He does this with the full knowlege that he also shines a light on the inactions of his fellow party members.

That’s INTEGRITY.

Those responsible for promulgating policies justifying and allowing torture in the name of U.S. security should be identified and dealt with appropriately. This sort of policy diminishes the standing of the United States not only as a world actor, but in the view of its own citizens. Shepard Smith said it best:

“We are America. We don’t f*cking tourture!”

To the point: Yesterday, The House Speaker gave a press briefing slamming the CIA and Bush Administration- not for having a policy allowing torture, not for torturing, but instead for misleading the congress about it. While her allegation against the CIA and others are likely true, I was frankly offended that she used them to absolve herself and the congress of their responsibilities.

By her own (complicated) admission she was made aware that “waterboarding” had been justified in 2001 and perfomed as early as 2003 (this based on a formal letter of complaint she had knowlege of).

Did she take action then? No. Instead, she states that the letter being registered was the correct action and implying the matter was…. Handled? Out of her hands? Perhaps that she had sufficient cover to avoid a risky political fight over something like torture?

Fast forward to 2006. The general public is pissed at GOP policies, our stance on torture among them. Democrats gain control of the house. Pelosi is now House Speaker. Did she “follow up” on the letter? Nope.

Look, I object to the Speaker of the House of Representatives ducking responsibility for defending human rights, much less the Constitution. If she KNOWS evil is being committed by a branch of government that congress is meant to check and does NOTHING to address it, then she is COMPLICIT. Indeed, the Speaker’s continued complaints of malfeasance on the part of the Bush administration only highlights the need for swift action from the congress.

If not the duly elected representitives of the people, then who?