I know the GOP has perfected the art of manufactured hissy fits, but this one is unusually foolish.

Not if they can use it to get Pelosi to resign. Then it's all worth it, even if people later realize that they were duped.

I don't think Pelosi is going to resign, but I'm sure she's getting huge amounts of pressure from Democrats in Congress who want the whole thing to go away ... and to be relieved of the embarrassment of a Speaker who was against the Iraq War from the beginning. Then they can put war enthusiast Steny Hoyer in charge and feel secure that nothing will ever get investigated.

Two words for the GOP, Valerie Plame.

Two more words - Colin Powell.

Doubtful, Mnemosyne. It's the Distraction of the Week, and what Michael Steele meant when he declared that the GOP was "back." That's all.

But, as Atrios would say, our discourse is so fucking stupid.

I believe that everyone--from both parties--who received the C.I.A. briefings on enhanced interrogation techniques should promptly be indicted for misprision of felony, in violation of 18 U.S.C. Sec. 4, with the underlying felony that they failed to report being the torture, in violation of 18 U.S.C. Sec. 2340. It would be a somewhat strange way to back into what we are obliged to do by our treaty commitments, but you have to start somewhere.

If it was just from the Republicans that's one thing. But when its from the Administration then its something else entirely.

Obviously, even if it were true Pelosi knew about what was going on there wasn't much she could do about it as both Minority Leader and one sworn to secrecy. But what this little brouhaha shows more than anything is the Speaker is a political lightweight by walking into this GOP trap.

Let them rattle on. I was listening to GMA's Diane Sawyer interview Gingrich this morning (okay, it's a wimpy news show but I was getting ready for work and it's a good mindless thing to listen to) and SHE even made him look like a looney. Check it out if you can. They are all in the process of shooting themselves in the foot. The truth will eventually trickle out....There is no reason for Pelosi to resign now - even Arlen spoke up for her today. Let's wait and see what happens. I just have a feeling they will be the ones to look foolish (hey, what a revelation!).

The CIA has a lot of explaining to do - the firing of Mary McCarthy and the CIA Inspector General Helgerson's investigation of torture being halted after conversations with Cheney, etc. It all smells like a cover-up.

@ Sean Scallon

I have been thinking along similar lines.

Even if Pelosi knew, what could she have done that would make any difference. The only responses I can think of are all felonies.

@ Wendell brought up the "failure to report" issue, but again reporting this action to the Bush DoJ was unlikely to have any positive result.

Another case of the GOP railing against the truthfulness of the intelligence community: their reaction to the 2007 NIE on the Iranian nuclear program.

One serious question... You said:

"...I suspect most of these hacks realize what they're saying is ridiculous, but have received instructions from the party and are doing their duty..."

Who is giving the instructions? It certainly is not Steele. Much as I like the meme about Limbaugh leading the Republicans, I do not take it seriously. Newt? He came late to this particular party. I could go through the list but none of them seem capable of being the lead. So, who is giving instructions? Who are "these hacks" following?

Legacy of Ashes. Buy it. Lend it. Read it.

The CIA was built on lies, constantly lies to Congress, has ALWAYS lied to Congress and always will. Moreover, they are abject failures at even the most crucial part of their business, which is to collect and analyze data.

There are obviously some good agents and some have done some necessary work. And those are in the very tiny minority. Even their "successes" (see Charlie Wilson's War) have turned into major disasters for our national security.

Jesus Fuck, the Church Commission pretty much laid them out 33 years ago -- and we now pretend to be outraged when they are called failures and liars? Can't anyone in the media -- a single person working for a major newspaper -- understand how fucking stupid this is?

Pelocchio totally knew about water-boarding in 02, apparently speaking up to ask if it was enough. in 04, she got a CIA procedure killed when she spoke up against it. waterboarding apparently didn't meet that standard for her though.

this was sooo avoidable. the dems' hypocrisy biting em in the @$$ is hilarious. they've finished setting the table, now how will they avoid sitting down and eating the meal?

drip. drip. drip.

Pelocchio totally knew about water-boarding in 02, apparently speaking up to ask if it was enough. in 04, she got a CIA procedure killed when she spoke up against it. waterboarding apparently didn't meet that standard for her though.

But you guys keep telling us that waterboarding isn't torture, just fraternity pranks, so I don't get why you think Pelosi should resign for not reporting it. If it wasn't a crime -- as you keep claiming -- why was it bad for her not to report it?

Well, I do get it, but it has more to do with your partisan hackery and inability to reason than an actual stand against anything other than, "Lie-berals bad!"

And I think every single one of us would want Pelosi held accountable if she broke the law. Sounds like we should have a full investigation!

ellen, do you second, or do you expect that "drip, drip, drip" is a sufficient accounting?

Here's a thought: Whose malfeasance is Pelosi allegedly helping to cover up? Since she was Minority Leader and had no real power when it came to implementing torture, it wasn't hers.

I'm starting to see a pattern here. GOP screams trying to turn a molehill into a mountain. A little time passes by and, Viola!, they are proved wrong and they go onto the next molehill.

Whenever I begin to question whether or not the CIA would lie to cover it's a.s.....I remember George Tenant halting an interview with 60 Minutes in which Steve Kroft asked him about torture by emphatically stating, "We do not torture." I think we know how true that was. Should provide more perspective on any other statements they may be making....like getting the dates of meetings wrong and claiming people were in attendance who in fact were blocked from attending because they didn't have proper clearances.

Valerie Plame: During that whole case Repubs kept ridiculing the CIA's claim that Plame was under cover (she was a NOC), etc. Skunks.

All true... as are most of the above comments. And I see no evidence that Pelosi is actually in any danger.

That said, she went into this without a strategy, and she wasn't very smart about it. In that sense it's her own fault. Try to imagine Barack Obama in this kind of fix. You can't. He's just too smart and too collected.

In the 1970s the Church commission investigated the CIA thoroughly. I don't think it was considered unfair or improper to question them then. And, the commission discovered things which required reform in the agency.

Pelosi isn't even questioning them. She has only said what she knew from personal experience.

I know the GOP has perfected the art of manufactured hissy fits, but this one is unusually foolish.

Steve, I can only assume that you were born yesterday.

Who is giving the instructions? It certainly is not Steele. Much as I like the meme about Limbaugh leading the Republicans, I do not take it seriously. Newt? He came late to this particular party. I could go through the list but none of them seem capable of being the lead. So, who is giving instructions? Who are "these hacks" following?

Now, you are asking too much! The people with the power to investigate and report this are making millions appearing on network TV every night, and if they started asking questions like that, they would be boycotted by the Republicans and lose their million-dollar jobs. They are like the announcers on a pro-wrestling TV show. They have to pretend the script is reality and they would be fired if they asked who was writing it.

If you think Pelosi is even considering resigning, you probably also think that nice lady on Medium should worry more about her husband cheating on her with his boss. Pelosi knows she's part of a TV soap opera. She has to weigh the show's political effect, but she doesn't have to take the scripted plot line seriously.

Courtesy of Raw Story: Powell's top aid agrees, Democratic Party spineless and most feckless he's seen in his 65 years. Who knew?

http://rawstory.com/08/news/2009/05/20/wilkerson-cia-truth/

what did she do? nothing -- exactly commensurate with her level of concern.

what does she do now? the pelosi whirling-dervish immitation. exactly commensurate with her level of concern.

what did she do? nothing -- exactly commensurate with her level of concern.

But, again, according to Republicans, she has nothing to be concerned about, because all of the actions she was (allegedly) told about were perfectly legal. So why are you now insisting that she should have been ohmigod CONCERNED when you still claim that there's no reason for it?

According to you guys, Pelosi acted exactly as she should have: she was briefed on perfectly legal actions and did nothing to jeopardize security. Why are Republicans not defending her since she did what you say was the right thing to do?

The "controversy" is of course manufactured, but what made it possible is that so many Dems went along with GWB in the days, months and years following the 9/11 attacks. Instead of saying, "hold it right there" and bringing some rationality into the discussion leading up to Iraq, they simply cowered for fear of being labeled un-American. Same thing with the laughably named "Patriot Act," Military Commissions Act, and on and on.

Pelosi's stance reminds me of HRCs tortured (can we even use that word anymore?) explanation for supporting the war. Like many, I've been suspicious of Pelosi and what she might be hiding ever since she declared impeachment "off the table." Now, her explanations seem so transparent. Distinctions without differences.

Should Pelosi lose her leadership position because she criticized the CIA? Of course not. On the other hand, we desperately need better, stronger Democrats in Congress. So if Pelosi were to lose to a Democratic challenger with real spine, I'd be more than pleased... provided the same happened to Steny Hoyer!

actually, M, the only shift has been on the part of the Dems, now itching for retribution. Policies that were deemed vital are now declared by your side, including poor Nancy, as unnecessary "torture". We apparently "torture" our special forces recruits as well. Only it appears now Pelocchio was complicit in said "torture" by not speaking up against it.

Hopefully she will retain her post and only be weakened and wounded by this. Otherwise we'd miss her!

"It's a classic political kabuki designed to twist the Democrats into pretzels."

And it's really easy to do since t he Dumbocraps don't have any backbones. Or any other bones for that matter.

We apparently "torture" our special forces recruits as well.

Well, yes, actually -- the SERE program is intended to prepare our forces to face torture if captured and to resist, as much as possible, being tortured into making false confessions.

Numbskull.

They are all lairs.

The Republicans know that Pelosi will never be investigated. Which is why they are making all the noise. They are just posturing.

Can you imagine what would happen if there really was an investigation?

They are all implicated and should all be fired.