The very real legal quandary presented by Michael Mukasey acknowledging that waterboarding is torture.
Karen Hughes, the Under Secretary of State for Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs – the woman essentially in charge of making sure the rest of the world really likes America – announced on Wednesday that she would be retiring from her post by the end of the year. In today’s episode of TPMtv we take a look back at just how wildly successful she has been in promoting America’s image abroad over the past few years …
Todd Gitlin: Maureen Dowd, the Demonic Dominatrix, and a Feline
U.S. Rep. Tom Udall (D-NM) may run for Pete Domenici’s open Senate seat after all.
Strange bedfellows: Wingnut bloggers and MoveOn launch campaign against Fox News.
Is it newsworthy when the Vice President gives a speech and makes no mention of Iran. Should it be?
This isn’t just a rhetorical question. There certainly may be reasons I’m not aware of. But why does Blackwater need silencers in Iraq? If they’re conducting offensive missions, sniping, raids, etc., it would make sense. But for purely defensive security missions protecting State Department employees? Again, not just a rhetorical question — it’s certainly not my area of expertise. I’d be curious to hear from folks who know more about the subject.
The fact they appear to have smuggled them into the country doesn’t weigh heavily in favor of an innocent explanation.
Sen. Ted Kennedy will vote against confirming Mukasey.
That brings to four the number of Democrats on the Senate Judiciary Committee who have announced their intention to vote against Mukasey. The remaining six–Leahy, Kohl, Feinstein, Feingold, Schumer, and Cardin–have not announced their intentions.
Late Update: We’ve updated our chart and highlighted the senators who sit on the Judiciary Committee.
Greg Sargent, on the long history between Tim Russert and the Clintons.