Darn, now I have to go back and watch it again. I had the very strong impression that torture was an integral and indispensable aspect of the process that lead to OBL. Not as in, “We tortured him and he told us where to find the bastard…,” but more like “That guy gave us some information because he had been tortured and didn’t want to go through that again, and his info led to the discovery of a phone number, and that phone # led to a location, which we staked out and finally located a person that had been mentioned by another person under torture who was a courier for OBL, and we followed him home and viola, there he was so we smoked him.”

I’m a little foggy on the details, but had the very strong impression at the time that the movie was saying clearly that without torture Jessica Chastian wouldn’t have been able to finger OBL.

That’s what the CIA wanted, to exculpate themselves individually and organizationally, and to legitimize and rationalize torture.

Can’t tell you enough how much I appreciate the work that you, Marcy Wheeler, Jeff Kaye and others do on human rights issues like this.

I did see the movie when it came out on DVD and, despite the pass it was given (as objective) by some reviewers who should know better, it clearly and emphatically implies that torture was indispensable in tracking down OBL. The making of this film constitutes CIA torture porn, and ranks right up there with the destruction of the torture tapes in the gummint’s efforts to sanitize horrific, illegal and counter-productive human rights abuses.

It’s hard to categorize this film, but “Propaganda in the Tradition of Soviet Realism” is how I would start the trailer.

Thank you Kevin for again pointing out the truth behind the lies Obama uses to obscure his perfidy on many issues.

Cue KOS, Ezra, Matt Y, et. al. to drag out the “poor, powerless president Obama, the mean old Congress made him (not) do it.” Just like telecom immunity, shutting single-payer out of the HC debate, covering up international war crimes, and many, many others. By this time poor Barry must be the most powerless person in the whole U S of A. Even his former COS (who is a POS) ran up behind him and sliced him off at the knees.

Possibility #1. Then the other guys could pass their legislation with a simple majority too. Horrors. The fact that Repubs always get their disputed legislation passed (see Bush tax cuts, AUMF) anyway does not seem to enter the discussion Corrolary #1. The role of the Senate is to block the “tyranny of the majority.” I guess that means even a 90% majority as in the case of expanded background checks. Thank goodness we have patriots like Wayne LaPierre and Mitch McConnell to protect us. I’m sleeping better now.

Possibility #2. Both parties are bought and paid for by the wealthy and corporate elite. (Eric Holder’s remark that it is very difficult to prosecute even obvious fraud and illegal activities by big banks, because they might bring down the whole international financial system is instructive here. “Too big to fail means too big to jail.” It also means “I need their campaign contributions.” Just ask Chuck (Carried Interest)Schumer.) However, the Dems have to pretend they represent the little guys in order to maintain the kabuki that feeds the Sunday Talking Heads and other great works of fiction on the teevee and in our national print “news” media. But it would be tragic if any progressive, or even democrat, sponsored legislation passed so there has to be a way for Republicans to stop them even from the minority position. For their own good. Notice that dems filibuster much less frequently than the other guys, and they’re always making deals on the filibuster that depend on the “good will” of Republicans to only use the filibuster responsibly and constructively. This is not the Charlie Brown-Lucy-football scenario, it’s much more cynical than being duped by your own naivete.

I suggest that your problem is that you are thinking logically, and assuming that Dems actually want what they say they want. Like most reasonable, honest, decent people. Not suggesting the need for any immediate, therapeutic intervention here; the vote on cutting Social Security will probably straighten you out.

Changing the filibuster rule was the first thing I thought of after this joke vote. But then I thought of Harry…. and how happy he and Mitch looked after reaching their historic compromise…, and how he didn’t do anything when Mitch kept blocking Barry’s appointments…, and how impotent and pathetic the “”"Progressive”"” Caucus is and…then I passed out with a triple scotch in my hand.

C-CPI is unrelated to the debt, it is bad policy on its face, it is opposed by every sector of the electorate except the 1%, and it is political disaster for dems who embrace it. I was very disappointed to see Jared Bernstein shilling for the beltway CV on the news hour the other day. One of the few (former) Obama economic team policy advisors for whom I formerly had some respect.

I’m with Howard Dean on this one and have so informed my dem congresscritters:

“On Sunday night, Dean tweeted that the restoration of some defense sequestration cuts contained in Obama’s budget proposal were a step too far when coupled with the president’s entitlement cut proposal that progressives like Dean are already livid about….

“I just think that’s unacceptable,” Dean said. “If this passed I would have to reevaluate if I belong in the Democratic Party. If this were passed with Democratic votes, I think it would be impossible to be Democrat.”

“I would have to oppose any Democrat that is supportive of this,” Dean added.

The good news is that Barry’s budget answers the two burning questions that everyone has been asking:

1. How steep is Barry’s learning curve? Ans: About as steep as the lower 60%’s increase in income over the past 30 years.

2. How stupid does Barry believe democrats are? Ans: Dumb as a box of rocks, as befits us “fucking retards.”

+1+

Word.

Also, too, what Digby said. All day yesterday and today.

But don’t worry, there are still real leaders in the democrat party, e.g. Harry Reid is going to get rid of the filibuster. For real this time, if the bad guys don’t approve some of Barry’s appointees. Right now. I’m serious. 10…9…8…7…

Vonnegut saw clearly through the smoke and mirrors of increasing corporate control. Obama is succeeding in transforming the Dem party into granfalloon. If you wish to study a granfalloon, just remove the skin of a toy balloon.

Have to disagree that Mittens would have been necessarily worse, at least on economic policy. The Republicans don’t really care about deficit reduction and they damn sure aren’t dumb enough to alienate their base of olds by cutting the SS lifeline. Note that even Paul Ryan did not propose the c-cpi or other cuts to SS. Note also that Boehner, Cantor,Ryan, and McConnell have all rejected Barry’s overture for a Grand Sellout.

Now that they got a Dem president to endose cuts to signature Dem social insurance programs, they can just sit back and watch the Dem party split and self destruct.

“They are also breaking out the sandpaper condoms right now. They want to rub the 99%’s noses in it in a way they never did before.”

Nice image. I was thinking along the lines of the puppy and the newspaper, but the sandpaper condom on the nose thing is really too perfect.

“Gotta hand it to O. His fascist project is working fine.”

I get that old Tweety tingle up my leg when you use the F word.

Yeah, except Dems would have opposed President 47 percent. They’ll bow to Barry, as Pelosi has done already. The Mittster never would have proposed this monstrosity.

It will be fun to see how the Obots rationalize and spin this betrayal of nearly a century of signature Democratic social policy. Look for at least 13 dimensions.

Love your screen name. How about “no piece, no war”? Truly, ’tis a very special day in this best of all possible worlds, no?

IOW, the worst is yet to come. Barry is just warming up the (Peterson Institute) crowd. Just so.

Yeah, what he said. But don’t cut my social security.

“…the focus will be on electing Good Democrats in 2014…” You mean like Nancy, Steny, Durbin, et.al.?

C’mon now. April fools is only one day. You ARE joking, right.