The Day in 100 Seconds: Viagra and Candy

It is Thursday, we're not in a free fall, not in a recovery either, I don't know when, bigger then ever, we will come out big time, Congressional report, stimulus money, misspent, no strings attached basis, second stimulus, I'm committed to the first stimulus, time to work, it's not working, poorly designed, poorly executed, turkey, second one may well be called for, hope it doesn't get watered down, like taking 1/2 tablet of Viagra, bunch of candy, new dust up between congress and the CIA, CIA lying since 2001, don't really want to know, American people want to see, on the level, political theater, bizarre episode, attacking the CIA, making the Speaker look good, dangerous, very, very bizarre, driving the Republicans to distraction, any excuse will do, looking for some adult supervision, oversight responsibility, and that's that

Fireworks Over Nancy: Ed Schultz on Morning Joe

I think I heard Mika squeal a little bit.

The Day In 100 Seconds

Wednesday, Swiping Reform, Credit Card Bill Of Rights, Mr. Credit Card Company, Great Day For Consumers, Chicken Little, Dead Beats, On The Defensive, Gauntlet Hurled, Disqualified Herself, New Speaker, Lack of Respect For, Dangerous For The Country, Sense Of Confidence, Left-Wing Congresswoman, San Francisco, Weird Views Of Your Constituents, Hummuhna-Hummuhna-Hummuhna, Third In Line, Who Wants It, I'll Take It, Crazy People On The Left, Reputations Defended, Honor Defended, Haven't Been Attacked, Good Enough For Me, President Speaking, Getting Out Front, Energy Efficient, Remain Competitive, Electric Car, Three Tries, Big Problem, Roller Blades, Hot Digidy Dog Zigidy, I'm Excited

Video: Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi on CIA Briefings, Water Boarding and Torture

President Obama speaks at CIA

source: The Political Carnival

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President Obama tells CIA employees that he released the interrogation memos due to the "exceptional circumstances" surrounding them, and that the U.S. is more secure when deploying both power, and the power of our values.

We have a new CIA directior finally

We'll see how this goes.

[Leon] Panetta was sworn by CIA Deputy Director Stephen Kappes.

In a message sent to CIA employees, Panetta wrote, "When President Obama asked if I would accept this assignment, he said he wanted someone he could trust, who was independent, and who would call them as he sees them. Throughout my 40-year career in government, I have made it a point to speak honestly to my colleagues, my coworkers, my constituents, and my president. I hope that we can speak honestly to each other and to those we serve." source: ABC News

Torture: "How Bush Threatened Britain " - an Obama Administration Test

Andrew Sullivan writes at The Daily Dish,

That is a threat to hurt the security of a very close ally unless the British government intervenes into a court process to suppress evidence of US torture. In a critical test of the Obama administration, the demand that such evidence be suppressed was reiterated. (I don't know by whom. Panetta isn't in place yet. Brennan? Clinton?) And that's how illegal torture spreads throughout a legal and military system to undermine alliances as well as the rule of law. The poison of Cheney is still in the system. And it will be for a long time. That was the point: the crimes and blunders they committed were such that their successors find themselves, willy nilly, implicated in them.

Leon Panetta selected to head up the CIA, Dennis Blair will be Direction of National Intelligence

Say no to torture. Panetta is true to his word, and actually knows what constitutes torture, he might be the right guy to head up the CIA.

Time will tell.

Obama 'has selected spying chief'

Mr Panetta has spoken out against the CIA's interrogation policy

US President-elect Barack Obama is to pick Leon Panetta, a former congressman and aide to Bill Clinton, to run the CIA, US media have reported.

Mr Panetta was President Clinton's Chief of Staff between 1994 and 1997.

Mr Obama will also select retired US Navy Adm Dennis Blair to serve as his Director of National Intelligence, according to US media reports.

Adm Blair led anti-terrorism efforts in South-East Asia as chief of the navy's Pacific Command after the 9/11 attacks.

[snip]

In a January 2008 article for Washington Monthly magazine, Mr Panetta expressed his opposition to the use of torture.

"Those who support torture may believe that we can abuse captives in certain select circumstances and still be true to our values," he wrote.

"But that is a false compromise. We either believe in the dignity of the individual, the rule of law, and the prohibition of cruel and unusual punishment, or we don't. There is no middle ground."

gton Monthly magazine, Mr Panetta expressed his opposition to the use of torture.

source: BBC News