The Torture Report

The Torture Report

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Massimo Calabresi frames the debate over the report:
What effect will assigning blame have? The CIA says it is so burned by the EIT program that it is permanently out of the business of interrogation and Dianne Feinstein, the hawkish head of the Senate Intelligence committee, says that’s fine. The purpose of her report, she says, is to ensure such a program is never again acceptable to Americans. But plenty of others, from ex-CIA officer Jose Rodriguez, to former Vice President Dick Cheney, to former CIA chief Michael Hayden, say the program should be available for use if there is another major attack on the U.S. Even Obama’s CIA chief says only that the EIT program is not now “appropriate,” suggesting it might be in other circumstances. Ultimately, the report’s value lies in answering that simple question: should we ever do it again?
Republicans are for torture. That is what they are saying when they attack the release of the report while at the same time defending the actions of the torturers employed by the US government on the orders of President Bush and Vice President Cheney. And their answer to that question from Mr. Calabresi is "Absolutely." And that is because they have no morals. No conscience. The truly disturbing thing about this report is not the revelations of what they did in our name, but how many Americans will just shrug, or join the Republican critics. Come inside to read the report.
Tuesday Open Thread [12.9.14]

Tuesday Open Thread [12.9.14]

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A new CNN/ORC poll finds 50% of Americans “believe Republican control of both chambers of Congress will be bad for the country, and a majority say it will in fact cause more gridlock in Washington.” Further, 68% of Americans polled say the GOP isn’t cooperating enough with President Obama, while 57% say it’s Obama who’s not cooperating enough with the GOP. And 100% of me is sick and tired of an American public that expects bipartisan cooperation. Liberals and conservatives, represented by Democrats and Republicans, respectively, don't agree on much, and the public either needs to stop expecting them to agree, or they should stop electing divided government.
In Praise of DMV And the People Who Work There

In Praise of DMV And the People Who Work There

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The next time someone makes an ad hominem attack on state workers, please commend to them the people who work at DMV. In my case, the facility just south of Wilmington off of Rt. 13 across from Casablanca. I had to take my car through inspection today,  and I'd lost my registration card. So, before going through the lanes, I stopped inside to get a new card. They have a help desk right inside to route people to the proper services, two people answering questions. I told them my problem, and I was told that there was no need to get a card just for inspection, just let the inspectors know. I went through inspection. When I got to the inspector who handles checking the lights and emissions, I recognized him.  He's been there forever. Many years at the Bancroft facility, and now here. Working a tough job in all kinds of weather, breathing in all those fumes. Always very professional and always has a kind word.  When I last went through two years ago, I got a chance to talk to him, and he's had all kinds of health issues. Yet here he is, doing a great job.  When I think of why state employees deserve good pay, I think of him. I dare any of those reptilian Rethugs from Chateau Country to do his job for even one day. Then, I was able to handle the entire transaction of getting the new registration and tag w/o leaving my car. Using the Jetsons technology.  Don't think it took more than three minutes. I almost look forward to going to DMV now. A wonderfully crafted customer-centric system and great workers. When you consider the range of issues and the range of clients they deal with, you just have to take your hat off to them.
Ninth Street Book Shop: Bryan Stevenson To Speak At The Queen

Ninth Street Book Shop: Bryan Stevenson To Speak At The Queen

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Via ninth street book shop - which you should totally shop at.
Bryan Stevenson, who was born in Milford, DE, will speak at a free public event at the Queen Theatre (500 N Market St) on Monday, Dec. 15th from 5:00--7:00 pm.  His memoir, "Just Mercy," is a powerful indictement of the inequities of our justice system and a call for action.  Following his presentation, he will be autographing copies of his book ($28) that will be available for purchase either there or at our store. 500 N Market St in the Olympia Room at the Queen Theatre Wilmington, Delaware
The Pandora household is trying to clear our calendar to attend. Hope to see everyone!