Saying that torture is morally acceptable because "it works" is a weak argument. Leaving aside for the moment the question about whether it actually does provide us with useful information (a very debatable point), let's list some other things that might conceivably "work" to win the fight against terrorism:

- nuking selected cities in any country suspected of supporting terrorism, to set an example

- raping the wives and children of suspected terrorists in front of the suspect, to convince the suspects to talk

- releasing a genetically engineered virus that kills only people of middle eastern decent

- public disembowlment of suspected terrorists, to set an example

- making the practice of Islam illegal

Would any of those help us get more terrorists? Possibly. Given that they might, would be justified in using them? Of course not -- we'd be monsters if we did. Torture is no different. There are some things that are just wrong, period, and torture is one of those things. People who think otherwise need to take a long look in the mirror, because they are becoming the very thing they fear.

-Jeremy

I'm sure lots of people will vent their spleens on Hillary, but I have to say, after 6 years of W, the idea of someone competent, intelligent, and experienced in the White House is sounding awfully good...

-Jeremy

The fact that a Supreme Court Justice is on the record endorsing illegal torture scares the hell out of me. I just hope to God that Bush doesn't get a chance to appoint any other supreme court justices before he is forced out of office.

-Jeremy

Why is it so surprising that she finds Mr. Moore irritating? Lots of people do. Similarly, lots of people enjoy Ms. Jolie's acting. So what exactly was the point of your post?

-Jeremy

How does using imprecise language get magnified into giving up one's soul and all independent thought to the rule of the mob?

People use sloppy language all the time -- it doesn't (necessarily) mean that they aren't thinking for themselves, it may just mean that they are trying to maximize the efficiency of their communication (i.e. expressing their ideas more succinctly by omitting unnecessary words).

-Jeremy

Geez, with $4.6 billion in my pocket, I could come up with brilliant strategies for a lot of things!

Still, good on Google for fighting to open up the wireless spectrum.

-Jeremy

And what heroic role did YOU play in standing up to the Bush Administration?

Posted some angry letters to a forum at salon.com?

Bravo, sir! If only we were all as brave and resourceful as you!

-Jeremy

... he just likes to have anonymous sex with men. It's not like that makes him a homo or something.

I don't know what's more disturbing, the video, or the fact that most of the comments on the YouTube comments page are of the "that little faggot deserved it" variety. Way too many Americans seem to *want* to live in an oppressive police state.

"This government does not torture people, and the information we get by torturing people is extremely important in guaranteeing your safety from the boogeymen".

Honestly, does anyone even listen to this guy anymore? His credibility is less than zero.

-Jeremy

So it's not a matter of that being "on the table or not" -- we already agreed to that. By deliberately violating the treaty we signed, we make it clear to the world that we are not bound by our word. The world responds, logically, by not trusting us when we promise them something. This weakens our position in the world, since it's difficult to reach agreements with other countries when nobody believes anything we say.

Therefore: The USA should either honor its treaty commitments, or formally withdraw from the treaties it doesn't want to live up to. Pretending to be party to a treaty while not actually living up to its terms fools no one, and serves only to make liars out of us.

Are you sure it's not just that Patience lived to be 100+ in people years?

In a democracy, war is only possible because we are allowed to pretend that it's honorable, or justified, or "not really so bad".

The truth is, it really is "so bad". And the sooner the average citizen understands this, the sooner we'll stop starting wars. So good for De Palma for telling it like it is.

-Jeremy

Doesn't the Republican's anti-abortion, anti-contraceptive, anti-sex-ed policies make them the party of single motherhood?

Or perhaps we should be more nuanced: the Republican party makes sure there are plenty of single mothers, and then when the Democratic Party tries to help same (WWJD?), uses them as political ammunition against the Dems.

-Jeremy

Nobody will even raise an eyebrow at this. The Bush Administration deliberately lying to the public? People would be much more surprised to find out they had been told the truth. Unfortunately, expectations have been beaten down so far that everybody will just roll over and take it, as usual, and hope for something better in 2009.

It really is classic Bush, isn't it? "It turns out I was entirely wrong but that isn't going to change my mind one bit".

I can't wait to get someone from the reality-based community back in power.

Forward, backward, inward, outward

Come and join the chase

Nothing could be drier

Than a jolly caucus race

Backward, forward, outward, inward

Bottom to the top

Never a beginning,

There can never be a stop

To skipping, hopping, tripping fancy free and gay

Started it tomorrow

But will finish yesterday

'Round and 'round and 'round we go

Until forevermore

For once we were behind

But now we find we are be-

Foreward, backward, inward, outward

Come and joing hte chase

Nothing could be drier

Than a jolly caucus race!

-- from Alice in Wonderland, of course... sorry folks, I just couldn't resist!