Bush Admits to Ordering Torture

The Washington Post reports former President George W. Bush admits to ordering the waterboarding of Khalid Sheik Mohammed.

In a memoir due out Tuesday, Bush makes clear that he personally approved the use of that coercive technique against alleged Sept. 11 plotter Khalid Sheik Mohammed, an admission the human rights experts say could one day have legal consequences for him.

In his book, titled "Decision Points," Bush recounts being asked by the CIA whether it could proceed with waterboarding Mohammed, who Bush said was suspected of knowing about still-pending terrorist plots against the United States. Bush writes that his reply was "Damn right" and states that he would make the same decision again to save lives, according to a someone close to Bush who has read the book.

Bush previously had acknowledged endorsing what he described as the CIA's "enhanced" interrogation techniques - a term meant to encompass irregular, coercive methods - after Justice Department officials and other top aides assured him they were legal. "I was a big supporter of waterboarding," Vice President Richard B. Cheney acknowledged in a television interview in February.

"Damn right" Bush ordered torture. Bush wasn't so cavalier about this fact when he was in the White House. Bush gave Katie Couric an alternative version of reality.

"I've said to the people that we don't torture, and we don't."

Except when Bush tortures people.

The United States is violating the Geneva Conventions it is legally obligated to comply with. The CIA destroyed 92 videotapes to hide evidence of torture. The Bush administration was scared of getting prosecuted. Bush can now brag about torture because President Barack Obama has vowed to to prosecute anyone involved with waterboarding. Bush is legally in the clear and knows it.

Katie Couric Asks Glenn Beck About 'White Culture' Statement

Katie Couric asks Glenn Beck what he means about Barack Obama and "white culture." Beck awkwardly tries to duck the question.

Glenn Beck: I'm not going to get into your (cross talk) game which we already are.

Katie Couric: No, no, no. We are actually... this is completely unedited. So, if you felt like you wanted to explain it you have all the time in the world.

Beck shakes his head and grunts.

Couric: No, don't want to go there.

Racists tend to shut the fuck up when they have to explain their coded tirades. Beck wasn't about to talk about "white culture" to a national audience. If Beck actually has convictions (which I'm uncertain about) if certainly isn't going to back them outside the safe confines of the conservative media.

Democrats Throw Abortion Rights Under the Bus

President Barack Obama continues to be horrible on social issues. Obama told Katie Couric that he does not feel health care reform should fund abortions.

Katie Couric: Do you favor a government option that would cover abortions?

President Obama: What I think is important, at this stage, is not trying to micromanage what benefits are covered. Because I think we're still trying to get a framework. And my main focus is making sure that people have the options of high quality care at the lowest possible price.

As you know, I'm pro choice. But I think we also have a tradition of, in this town, historically, of not financing abortions as part of government funded health care. Rather than wade into that issue at this point, I think that it's appropriate for us to figure out how to just deliver on the cost savings, and not get distracted by the abortion debate at this station.

Anit-abortionist Tim Ryan (D-Ohio) wants a provision in the House bill that would not require or forbid private insurers of paying for abortion. Ryan and fellow Democrats Dale Kildee, James Langevin, Artur Davis and Kendrick Meek sent a letter to Speaker Nancy Pelosi.

The lawmakers say that their proposal "maintains the current status quo in the private market" and would not "preempt constitutionally permissible state laws" governing notification requirements and other restrictions on obtaining an abortion.

"Now it is imperative that we reach some consensus on the issue of abortion in health care reform, so that we can move this critical legislation forward," the lawmakers wrote.

Does Obama, Kildee, Langevin, Davis and Meek understand their base overwhelmingly supports abortion?

Sarah Palin Stumped On Supreme Court Decisions

Katie Couric asks Sarah Palin what other Supreme Court decisions, besides Roe v. Wade, does she disagree with. Hilarity ensues.

Couric: Can you think of any?

Palin: Well, I could think of … any again, that could be best dealt with on a more local level. Maybe I would take issue with. But, you know, as mayor, and then as governor and even as a vice president, if I'm so privileged to serve, wouldn't be in a position of changing those things but in supporting the law of the land as it reads today.

I give you a hint Gov. Palin. Republicans always cite Dred Scott v. Sandford as a decision they disagree with and link to Roe v. Wade. Couric threw a hanging fastball. Palin could have answered the question and assured anti-choicers by mentioning Dred Scott. Palin failed on both counts

Gotcha Pakistan Policy

Sarah Palin was questioned, by voter Michael Rovito, if U.S. troops should cross into Pakistan's border.

When asked by Rovito whether the U.S. should conduct cross-border raids into Pakistan fom Afghanistan, Palin responded, "If that’s what we have to do stop the terrorists from coming any further in, absolutely, we should."

The answer is pretty cut and dried. John McCain and Sarah Palin sat down together in a joint interview with Katie Couric. Both candidates denied that Palin said what she said. Hilarity ensues.



Is this an SNL skit or actual interview? McCain is sitting with Palin to do a damage control interview. McCain uses the attack-the-journalist tactic George H.W. Bush used on Dan Rather.

John McCain: Of course not. But, look, I understand this day and age of "gotcha" journalism. Is that a pizza place? In a conversation with someone who you didn't hear … the question very well, you don't know the context of the conversation, grab a phrase. Gov. Palin and I agree that you don't announce that you're going to attack another country …

Couric: Are you sorry you said it?

McCain: … and the fact …

Couric: Governor?

McCain: Wait a minute. Before you say, "is she sorry she said it," this was a "gotcha" sound bite that, look …

Couric: It wasn't a "gotcha." She was talking to a voter.

McCain: No, she was in a conversation with a group of people and talking back and forth. And … I'll let Gov. Palin speak for herself.

Palin: Well, it … in fact, you're absolutely right on. In the context, this was a voter, a constituent, hollering out a question from across an area asking, "What are you gonna do about Pakistan? You better have an answer to Pakistan." I said we're gonna do what we have to do to protect the United States of America.

What McCain calls "gotcha journalism" is actually holding politicians accountable for their words. The Pakistan issue is serious and voters have a right to know if McCain and Palin agree. The quote above clearly shows Palin saying that it may be necessary to send troops over the Pakistan border. McCain and Palin are clearly lying about what was said. McCain's "gotcha journalism" comment will win applauds from partisan Republicans that care nothing about holding politicians accountable. Except when it serves their party's purpose.

McCain's policy on Pakistan makes no sense. Pakistan is moving away from the United States and has never shown the desire to go into the mountain regions (which the Pakistan government has no authority) and hunt Taliban and al-Qaeda forces. The Pakistani government would rather ignore extremists than angers citizens xenophobic of Western presence. The Pakistan government will take U.S. money. But will not lift a finger to fight terrorism.

McCain & Palin CBS Disaster

John McCain foolishly blew off David Letterman. McCain suspended his campaign. The problem was he was still campaigning. The Maverick did an interview with CBS News' Katie Couric. Pissing off a late nite talk show host with a huge audience is staggeringly stupid. Only an idiot would do another interview with the same network, at the time of the cancelled interview and not expect Letterman to find out.



Letterman brought Keith Olbermann on to fill McCain's place. The undecided voters tuned in to watch McCain got a noted lefty pundit. The biggest asset to Barack Obama's campaign is McCain's blunders.



McCain personally called Letterman and told him he was racing to the airport. Letterman showed a live feed of McCain being interviewed by Katie Couric.



Obama made a bipartisan effort with John McCain to make a joint statement. McCain responded by rushing out and announcing suspending the campaign. McCain did the Katie Couric interview after the announcement. Campaign offices are still open. The bailout deal was already announced when McCain returned to Washington.

Sen. John McCain returned to Washington on Thursday after declaring that he has suspended his campaign, but he appeared largely detached from the flurry of negotiations on a $700 billion economic rescue package that appeared to be headed to a successful conclusion.

McCain's "Straight Talk Air" landed at National Airport just after noon, and McCain's motorcade sped toward the Senate. But by then, senior Democrats and Republicans were already announcing that a deal in principle had been reached.

Watch CBS Videos Online

McCain had to spin Governor Sarah Palin comparing the mortgage bailout to the depression.

Couric: “But isn't much of this, Senator McCain about consumer confidence?”

McCain: “Sure.”

Couric: “And using rhetoric like the Great Depression, is that the kind of language Americans need to hear right now?”

McCain: “Well, listen, I've heard language from respected people who are staring at the abyss. I've, I've heard all kinds of, of things from people. I don't think we need to scare people. …”


This campaign has officially gone off the rails. McCain used to handle the media with ease. McCain listened to anti-media former Bush campaign advisors. Millions of voters get their news from television. McCain and Palin are projecting a lack of confidence. The GOP candidates are too guarded and revert back to talking points.





Palin was asked about a bailout for the mortgage lending industry. The Governor rambles on about job creation and free trade. The bailout is to stop major lending institutions from failing. The bailout does nothing for health care. As Palin hysterically implied.

Update: Here is the transcript.

PALIN: That’s why I say, I like ever American I’m speaking with were ill about this position that we have been put in where it is the tax payers looking to bailout.

But ultimately, what the bailout does is help those who are concerned about the health care reform that is needed to help shore up the economy– Helping the — Oh, it’s got to be about job creation too. Shoring up our economy and putting it back on the right track. So health care reform and reducing taxes and reining in spending has got to accompany tax reductions and tax relief for Americas. A

And trade we’ve got to see trade as opportunity, not as a competitive scary thing. But 1 in 5 jobs being created in the trade sector today. We’ve got to look at that as more opportunity. ALl those things under the umbrella of job creation.

This bailout is a part of that.

The woman has either been saturated with talking points, is clueless on economic policy or both.

Palin's Interview With Katie Couric

Sarah Palin tells Katie Couric what a Maverick John McCain has been. Unfortunately, Palin can't cite a single instance when McCain stood up to Wall Street.

COURIC: You've said, quote, "John McCain will reform the way Wall Street does business." Other than supporting stricter regulations of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac two years ago, can you give us any more example of his leading the charge for more oversight?

PALIN: I think that the example that you just cited, with his warnings two years ago about Fannie and Freddie — that, that's paramount. That's more than a heck of a lot of other senators and representatives did for us.

COURIC: But he's been in Congress for 26 years. He's been chairman of the powerful Commerce Committee. And he has almost always sided with less regulation, not more.

PALIN: He's also known as the maverick though. Taking shots from his own party, and certainly taking shots from the other party. Trying to get people to understand what he's been talking about — the need to reform government.

COURIC: I'm just going to ask you one more time, not to belabor the point. Specific examples in his 26 years of pushing for more regulation?

PALIN: I'll try to find you some and I'll bring them to you.

What makes matters worse is McCain chief economic advisor Douglas Holtz-Eakin dropped out of the Stanford SIEPR Associates Obama vs. McCain Debate to brief Palin. This would be hysterical, if Palin didn't have a chance of being a heartbeat away from the presidency.

I don't think Palin is dumb. It's obvious she is a skillful politician. That doesn't mean she has a grasp of the economy.

Update: here is the video. Palin is unsure if Rick Davis was involved in his lobbying firm's dealings with Freddie Mac.

Davis' firm received the payments from the company, Freddie Mac, until it was taken over by the government this month along with Fannie Mae, the other big mortgage lender whose deteriorating finances helped precipitate the cascading problems on Wall Street, the people said.

They said they did not recall Davis doing much substantive work for the company in return. They said Davis' firm, Davis Manafort, had been kept on the payroll because of Davis' close ties to McCain. Davis took a leave from Davis Manafort for the duration of the campaign, but as a partner and equity-holder continues to benefit from its income.

Another gem: Palin on the bailout.

Palin: the interesting thing, in the last couple of days, that I have seen is that Americans are waiting to see what John McCain does on this proposal. They're not waiting to see what Barack Obama is gonna do. Is he gonna do this and see which ways the political winds are blowing. They're waiting to see that John McCain will be able to see these amendments implemented in Paulson's proposal.

Couric: Why do say that? Why are they waiting for John McCain and not Barack Obama?

Palin: He's got the track record of leadership qualities and the pragmatism that is needed at a crisis time like this.

Couric: But polls have shown that Senator Obama has actually gotten a boost as result of this latest crisis. With more people feeling that he can handle the situation better than John McCain.

Palin: I'm not looking at poll numbers. What I think Americans, at the end of the day, are going to be to go back and look at track records.

Palin's message is pay no attention to McCain's shitty economic numbers. My God. The Daily Show could air this entire video uncut.



Update: I have more on Palin's interview and McCain's decision not to appear on David Letterman's show.

Three Cheers For Katie Couric

It is rare when the mainstream media gets things right. CBS News anchor Katie Couric took the media to task for sexist remarks against Hillary Clinton. Couric pointed out Tucker Carlson's sexist statement.

On the July 16 edition of MSNBC's Tucker, discussing presidential candidate Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-NY), producer Willie Geist described a Clinton doll being advertised at the website HillaryNutcracker.com that features "serrated stainless steel thighs that, well, crack nuts," according to Geist. He introduced the story by saying, "I think the metaphor in this next story, Tucker, is pretty clear. So I will just report the straight facts." He later asked, "What do you think they're saying about Hillary?" Host Tucker Carlson replied, "I have often said, when she comes on television, I involuntarily cross my legs."

The nation has a federal deficit and two wars. The best Tucker and MSNBC could do was talk about an obscure web site. No wonder cable news ratings are tanking.

Couric: Like her or not, one of the great lessons of that campaign is the continued and accepted role of sexism in American life. Particularly, in the media... mainstream pundits saying they instinctively cross their legs at the mention of her name.

I instinctively rub my temple every time I watch Tucker. I instinctively that a migrane headache is coming.

The Liberal Media

Katie Couric asks John Edwards questions that would make Sean Hannity blush.

"Some have suggested that you're capitalizing on this."

"You're putting your work first, and your family second."

Some have suggested Couric has a habit of repeating Republic talking points. Some might even say Couric singlehandedly killed CBS Nightly News. I'm just repeating what "some people" say.