What does it say about this country that someone saying the obvious truth makes me want to weep?

Now go ask some grunt who has lost his soul as his brothers fall.

Well, that's refreshing. When I was growing up, I never would have dreamed that our government would have thought otherwise.

As unequivacable as he was on the torture question, he was unfortunately vague and hesitant on the Rich pardon grilling. Too bad.

EC: What?

What does it say about this country that someone saying the obvious truth makes me want to weep?

It means we have a long way to go to get back to where we should be. We've been following leadership without direction, moral compass, plan of action, wisdom, forward-thinking, integrity, or compassion for far too long. I picture the current state of the country as the bizzaro US where Gore didn't win the 2000 election. Everything is ass-backwards and we don't even know it.

It means nothing unless they prosecute Bush, Cheney, Addington and Yoo for war crimes. Period. Full stop.

As unequivacable as he was on the torture question, he was unfortunately vague and hesitant on the Rich pardon grilling. Too bad.

Well maybe they should just look at the record from when they investigated that eight years ago. I'm guessing Holder's memory was a lot better at the time.
Or, Republicans can continue to rehash all their issues from the Clinton years and make fools of themselves. I've lost all respect for Arlen Specter at this point, although I didn't have much left anyway.

This guy Eric Holder is the one that was second in command under Janet Reno when Elan Gonzalas was kidnapped by Reno's federal thugs. Does anyone remember Waco? How about Ruby Ridge?

Scott Johnson, those "Reno's federal thugs" are law enforcement agents who put their lives on the line to protect the United States. You should show them some respect.

Scott Johnson - How do you think Ashcroft, Gonzales or Mukasey would have handled a suicide cult storing huge arsenals of weapons and incendiary devices?

Maybe Reno should have simply had Elian Gonzalez's relatives waterboarded until they gave him up. That would apparently satisfy a lot of her critics.

"Mr. Chairman, no one is above the law. The president has a constitutional obligation to faithfully execute the laws of the United States."

Sic Semper Ty, Mr. Bush. Sic Semper Ty....

"Elan Gonzalas was kidnapped"

..and returned to his father.
Family first.
Can you imagine?
Who'd do something like that?
That despicable!?

Scott Johnson - How do you think Ashcroft, Gonzales or Mukasey would have handled a suicide cult storing huge arsenals of weapons and incendiary devices?

And don't forget that the leader of the cult was a child molester.

Scott Johnson: Elian Gonzalez was being held by distant relatives who he had never seen before, against the will of the child's father and in defiance of a court order. The "thugs" returned Elian to his father and grandmothers, all of whom asked for his return.

Ruby Ridge? Ruby Ridge? Wait, wasn't that in 1992? Who was president then again? I think he and all his heirs should be banned from electoral office permanently. Oh wait, I am 8 years too late, aren't I?

Remember when we impeached a president for parsing words about getting oral sex from an intern? Instead of having an entire government parsing words about whether or not 'interrogation techniques' used by Torquemanda were appropriate for the US to use? You know why the 'no one expects the Spanish Inquisition' skit was funny? Because no one really thought a civilized country would do that sh*t anymore. Guess what? We do. Ouch.

Waterboarding? Torture? Who Knew?!

Does anyone remember Waco? How about Ruby Ridge?

Not you, evidently. Bush was president when the ATF became involved with Waco and Ruby Ridge happened entirely under his administration, months before Clinton was even elected you dishonest fucking moron.

Interesting, that the GOP so readily ditched the network of strong and equitable law that made the US a great nation.

Do any of you think that the GOP faithful at some point may be asking themselves whether there is a connection between the willingness to embrace barbarism, and the state of the nation today? Or are they already sputtering with indignation over the fact that we won't be waterboarding people any more? Or sequestering them in the night, taking them away to secret prisons, holding them for an indefinite amount of time, without giving them a chance to review the charges against them?

Barbarism.

Yesterday, a boy who was 14 when he was sent to Guantanamo was released. He was charged with offenses committed when he was 11.

For that alone Bush, Cheney, and Rumsfeld should be put away for life.

Waco oh yea that's where a cult led by a wack job having sex with 12 year old girls was brought down.

It's fun reading the the wingnuts sputtering incoherent nonsense as they circle the drain.

Waco? Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha. Whew *wipes eyes*

That's good.

It means nothing unless they prosecute Bush, Cheney, Addington and Yoo for war crimes. Period. Full stop. -- dalloway, @12:50

It could be just me, but his "no one is above the law. The president has a constitutional obligation to faithfully execute the laws of the United States." seems to suggest that he'd apply the same rule to both the future *and* the past president/s. It almost sounds as if he's laying the groundwork for the prosecution (establishing the rules of the game) here.

Then Leahy asked what should be done if the president breaks the law anyway. Holder responded, "He should be given a sternly worded letter and a cookie. No one is above the law, but Important People are off to one side of it."

According to a secret memo prepared at the request of the President, the President, Vice President, Attorneys General Ashcroft and Gonzalez and I have all been pre-tried for treasonous acts and torture, and were found not guilty in the Emergency Future Court established in 2002 and presiding over the establishment of acquittal to all those involved or not involved before or after March 1, 2002. Furthermore, I have referenced Geneva Conventions and US law to allow removal of organs and pain equal to and beyond death on subjects deemed enemy combatants in the event it becomes convenient for the executive(s) for any reason. This is my clear and concise opinion.

I heard part of Holder's openning statement and Leahy's first questions driving to work today (from a doctor's appointment, I'm not usually that late). It was a breath of fresh air.

And let me second all the comments about the stupidity of Mr. Johnson and his Ruby Ridge/Waco comments.

So, will Obama appoint a special prosecutor for BushCo war crimes?

Answer, "no," because he's "looking forward."

I agree with SG. Obama has to smash the SOBs.

Well, the AG has clearly stated the case history and the law. There are now quite a few Repubs wondering where this all ends up.

Expect them to dreg up anything and everything to stop the AG.

Apparently we CAN handle the Truth. It's a shame so many on the Right buy into all the garbage they hear on Faux News and from all the so-called Conservative mouth-pieces.