Your post relative to the number of victims was really important for me. I have often wondered how many people were affected. How many people were tortured but not interrogated? How common was torture when there was no indication that they could get information? How many people who were tortured who were innocent? People who were just picked up and imprisoned because their neighbor wanted to garner a few bucks from the CIA.

The victims also include the the people involved in Abu Ghraib and all the people who were run over protesting these inhumane policies. For example, the FBI.

I'd like to note that Paul Krugman today wrote exactly what I would love to have been able to write. And I just can't figure out how any human being can disagree with what he wrote.

Obama is a real disappointment. I hope he is using a strategy to get to resolving these crimes against humanity that is too subtle for me to understand. Because progress seems to be happening.

I would love to see a special prosecutor investigate the use of torture by the CIA from its inception.

This is not about republican and democrat politics. It's about breaking the law, and we are a "nation of laws."

At least we were, once upon a time.

"And if Turley went on wearing Aqua Velva, a dusty pair of Wranglers, and smelling faintly of a leather saddle, dear lord, Chris Matthews would tear him into ribbons with the spine-chilling shriek of a live possum being thrown into a pot of boiling water."

In no way did Chris Matthews tear Professor Turley to ribbons. There was no "spine-chilling shriek" from Turley. He was the most composed, most objective, most convincing and calmest contestant in an insane, chaotic, partisan argument. He remained steadfast in his reasoning despite the stupidity of Matthews and Buchanan.

He simply stated what makes eminent sense and what Paul Krugman stated very well in his column today.

i found Matthews and Buchanan to be thoroughly repulsive and illogical.

This absurd claim that investigation and prosecution will tear the country apart, in my opinion, is as absurd as the claim that torture works. Turley, as usual was professional and intelligent while the other two were biased and ignorant.

It's the rich, elite, establishment against the poor and the middle-class; and the rich always win. It's a battle that has been going on since time immemorial.

There is zero tolerance for a poor slob who robs a store to support his cancer-ridden mother. Zero tolerance! Zero tolerance for a drug user.

Yet when the rich destroy the economic system or invoke torture the MSM immediately comes to the evildoers defense and everything eventually goes away. Maybe history will be fair and balanced and validly attribute their deplorable, savage. greedy actions to them but so what? They'll be dead and gone.

The elite are going to win this battle also. And eventually the war. They have Obama in their pocket, probably with promises to assist in his agenda.

The disclosures of the last six months or so bode dastardly omens for the United States of America.

Alas, I have no hope!

"I am bothered by the possibility that prosecutions could suck every last drop of political capital out of the remaining years of the Obama Administration. Anyone who has a grasp of political history and is being honest with themselves knows that is a distinct possibility."

If all Obama does is set this country on a path of the reasonable application of the rules of law, then he will have done a great job. He should have "no" political capital if he gives into the rich and powerful elite, supported by the MSM.

But it sure looks like he is going to use his political capital to keep the rich safe and happy.

This sure isn't what I voted for, a maintenance of the status quo!

I think that the MSM is doing everything they can possibly do in order to provide cover for Bush and his administration.

It appears to me that their screeds are egregiously false and it's hard for me to believe that they believe what they are saying. What could possibly be their motivation for deceiving the people and to be cheerleaders for the perps? They didn't come out for Clinton and his affair saying he was above the law. This time it seems it is unique. Their main thrust seems to say the country will be torn asunder by investigations and prosecutions. Malarky! What's the real truth?

Is it because,

they are part of the elite establishment and feel their own people shouldn't be punished?

they are under pressure from top management which is controlled by republican corporations?

they are in bed with the perps and need info from them to do their job?

the status quo is good and they are making a lot of money?

they believe torture works and should be applied?

journalism and its supporting principles not longer apply?

they are receiving payoffs (monetary and/or ego)?

they are under some kind of threat?

None of the above make any sense to me! There must be some subtle (or not) reason for them to be doing what they are doing and I just can't figure it out. I know it's all about self-interest somehow.

This issue to me is about keeping the underpinnings of the USA in tact for the long run. The country is currently getting screwed by the MSM!

"A little digging would probably find the intelligence community's equivalent."

I don't think the CIA needs to employ "message force amplifiers" although they probably do. I think they just outright recruit and make agents of people like Broder and Noonan.

I have never had any respect for Texans. Whenever I travel and wherever I travel there are always drunken Texans screaming out how great they are and how great their state is.

They can leave the USA and take their state with them. Fine by me!