thanks for the link, and the infectious optimism. A little tangent here, but something to ponder. I think a politician's durability right now, whether newly elected or serving concurrent terms, is not as sure a thing as it used to be. More people are tuned in, more people are acutely aware of positions some take during an election on certain issues and their actions once they get into office.

If Obama and the Democrats cave on issues, or can't at least stand up for the rule of law, or won't allow single payer healthcare advocates to even make their case in hearings, for example, I'm not the only one who is more than ready to cast a vote for someone who will.

You are correct that they are scared as well they should be. I think they care much less what side of history they are on than they do what side of the bars they are on.

The crminals always understand full well the consiquences of their crimes if prosecuted.

The Republicans are a very interesting and predictable group in many ways. For example, whenever they go off (as they so often do) and become virulent out of all proportion to whatever the Democrats are doing you can bet they are terrified that the Democrats may actually do something. It's always a sure sign of what the Democrats ought to be doing. Fortunately for the Republicans and unfortunately for the nation, the Democrats typically are so scared of their own shadow that when the Republicans start foaming at the mouth and threatening to get "really, really" mad if the Democrats dare do anything that, after they finish wetting their pants in abject fear, they dutifully do as the Republicans command.

Thus far, since the Republicans have lost power, we are seeing over and over a repetition of this startlingly dangerous, dysfunctional pattern of behavior on the part of both parties. the pattern of behavior has become so destructive over the course of time that it now threatens the very idea of the rule of law itself via the torture issue. And make no mistake, the rule of law is the central issue. This is especially disappointing with respect to the President and his administration though one cannot be too surprised. A leopard can't change it's spots after all and the DC Democrats are still the same timorous crowd of weaklings they were before last year's election.

But look at what is happening currently and you can see the dysfunctional pattern of behavior all over the political landscape of the capitol. On the torture issue it couldn't be clearer that these crimes occured, that they were sanctioned by the President, his inner circle and his most powerful appointees on down the line. The law is very clear. There must be investigations and prosecutions where warranted. No question about this. But what is happening?

The Republicans have let it be known that any even cursory investigation into the highly illegal activities of the Republican regime will bring Washington down in flames due to "partisanship" let alone prosecution of those responsible for the development and implementation of the criminal enterprise known as the Bush era torture program. Democrats, like a long battered prisoner with no hope of escape then immediately begin to dutifully comply and announce right off the bat that nobody who engaged in this highly illegal criminal activity in the CIA would be investigated or prosecuted because they did it "in good faith" and the administration holds fast to the notion of not prosecuting "policy disputes" as though breaking the law is a legitmate policy that is defensible. The Republicans do this because they know full well they are guilty and are terrified they may be held responsible for their crimes and so they immediately threaten the Democrats with political armegeddon for even thinking about enforcing the law. Terrified Democrats respond by cowering and backing away from their responsibility while trying to save face. It's absurd, yet it is exactly the dysfunctional pattern we have seen (and been the victims of) over and over again.

On health care, the Republicans let it be known that any genuine effort to reform health care in this country will be met with such fury and megadeath that once again, Washington will burn in the partisan fires stirred up by those nasty liberals and for good measure they wag their fingers at the Democrats and scream that single payer is not even to be discussed in any form or else!!!! Why do they do this? Well, they understand that if the Democrats actually tried to represent the interests of the people (which is what they bamaboozle people into thinking every couple of years) there's a damn good chance we'd end up with some form of single payer health care like every other civilized country on earth and they don't want that. God forbid! So they threaten the cowardly Democrats who dutifully obey their orders (out of fear and weakness)and both the new President and numerous Senators make it clear that the only subject up for debate will be some form of subsidy program for private insurance (which will be of little help to the average American but a prospect for huge profits for the insurance companies) instead of even any discussion of the actual options we have as a nation--the chief option being single payer. Once again, the same dysfunctional pattern of behavior on the part of both parties.

On the economy we see Republicans raising hell over the stimulus bill and the President's budget which will plunge the nation into irretrievable debt because it costs about 3 trillion dollars altogether. They threaten to adopt a scorched earth policy that will leave Washington in ruins if Democrats continue down this profligate path of "governemnt spending". They do this because they are terrified that if Democrats actually follow through on their promises to attend to the needs of the nation and not just of the rich that the Republican Party will never regain power and they are absolutely correct! So, dutifully, Democrats modify the stimulus package, cut back on the budget, etc... to mollify the Republicans who, naturally, will never be mollified. Democrats also start hesitating about the budget and whether we can really afford to start taking care of our basic infrastructure, the schools, hospitals, roads, bridges, and so on. Meanwhile the Republicans say nothing about the tens of trillions of dollars being literally handed over to Wall Street's crooked rulers with no strings attached. It's unlmited, free money for the biggest con-men and fraudsters that ever lived! And the welfare for Wall Street program dwarfs anything being borrowed to pay for the budget or stimulus. Democrats do this to demonstrate that the Republican Party isn't the only party capable of prostituting itself to the rich and powerful at the expense of the common man even while Republicans claim the Democrats are wanting to impose a socialist state upon the people.

I think this illustrates the pattern we have been seeing, but getting back to torture specifically, I agree with you TheraP that we should all continue applying whatever pressure we can on the subject. I do believe there will be continued international pressure applied as well and I'm glad of it.

But I think the thing that will be required to keep the torture issue on the front burner and to really hold the feet of the administration to the fire (sorry for the torture allusion)is for there to be ongoing, direct action that forces the question and that exposes the administration and the Democratic Party's hypocritical efforts to sweep the issue under the rug. Otherwise, that is almost surely what is going to happen. At least, there is no reason to believe, thus far, that they will not succeed in sweeping it under the rug barring ongoing intervention of the public and the international community in demanding the US government do it's duty and carry out the law.

That comment reads as if I selfishly care only about my profession, but as anyone who reads here knows, I've tirelessly written against torture. This, however, was a comment sparked by the post to which it responded.

And I recommend that post for its good presentation of the facts.