I seriously wonder what the Republican Party and its operatives hope to gain by trying to defend and normalize torture as a policy tool. There are a number of possibilities, none of which are particularly heartening. The first is that torture was so widespread and so widely accepted by the Party during its time in … Read more
Nate Silver notices that, of the various oppositional poses that Republicans had to choose from, they have seemed exclusively to pursue the libertarian one. They embraced the tea-party movement, which originated in libertarian circles; they proposed an alternative budget notable for its fantastical belief that you can cut taxes and balance the budget at the … Read more
The government has opened 20 criminal investigations into the TARP program. Bankers screwing people out of money? I never thought I’d see the day! Snark aside, honestly, what else would you expect? It was a large amount of money being dispensed with in a short time in a period of national emergency; it’s very easy … Read more
I think the safest and most succinct way I can react to the news that Khalid Muhammad was waterboarded 183 times in March 2003 by CIA interrogators is by making a flippant pop culture reference: Even Jack Bauer wouldn’t have done it. The only other safe, mature, profanity-free reaction I can offer? Alex, here’s proof … Read more
While I share your horror, Elise, I wish I could share your surprise. It’s hardly as though the United States (and especially the CIA) has kept its hands clean up until now. From our campaigns against Native Americans, to dropping two atomic bombs on civilians, to all the nasty and still-classified things we did in … Read more
I couldn’t help but wryly note that the New York Times published a time-pegged article on the state of play in marijuana politics for April 20th. “420” is a common slang term for marijuana, and April 20th (4/20) is, according to the article, often accordingly known as the “High Holiday”. I don’t actually think that … Read more
Yesterday Richard Garwin spoke in the Science Center about the role of nuclear energy in the country’s energy future, and I was once again amazed at how clearly the numbers demonstrate our nation’s strong need for nuclear energy. If we want to stem global warming and continue to grow our economy at a strong pace … Read more
Yesterday Richard Garwin spoke in the Science Center about the role of nuclear energy in the country’s energy future, and I was once again amazed at how clearly the numbers demonstrate our nation’s strong need for nuclear energy. If we want to stem global warming and continue to grow our economy at a strong pace … Read more
I agree with the Zoey’s points about Iran’s incentives to accept American diplomatic outreach. But I would take her conclusion further. It wasn’t just Bush’s failure to be “attuned to geopolitical realities” that prevented this sort of progress; it was his failure, on a deeper level, to respect or conceptualize properly the purpose of diplomacy … Read more
So apparently McCain’s strategist, Steve Schmidt, is recommending that Republicans drop their rabid opposition to gay marriage. I think the “rabid” part is right; it’s certainly not netting them any votes. Strategically, however, I think it’s wise for them to not just give in entirely; it’s hardly as though there’s a clear majority of Americans … Read more