Category: The Dish

A fascinating interview with Darius Rejali, whose new book, "Torture And Democracy," casts a penetrating eye on prisoner abuse throughout history:

The historical record is clear. Waterboarding is torture, and yes focusing on just waterboarding is a distraction. Waterboarding is serious, but only the tip of the iceberg. There have only been three documented cases of waterboarding, but the CIA has subjected at least 30 others to “enhanced interrogation” as Director Hayden says, so there are other kinds of techniques as well. And there are unaccounted prisoners last seen in US custody as well as secret prisons out there where these things continue to happen.

One day we’ll know more, but the historical record now shows that American interrogators and soldiers, whether authorized or not, have used forced standing, forced kneeling, sleep deprivation, exposure to extremes of heat and cold, beatings on the soles of the feet, sexual humiliation, and psychological coercion, as well as some cases, electrotorture. So it would be a mistake then to confuse the forest from the three tallest trees in it. Waterboarding highlights the huge dangers of torture, but it is only the beginning of political literacy not the end of it.

Kevin Henry:

Have we learned nothing from the tragic events of 1998, when, under the watch of President Morgan Freeman, this nation was plunged into chaos, and hundreds of millions of people died at the hands of the deadly Wolf-Beiderman space rock? The mere fact that this country is even considering putting another black man, Barack Obama, in the Oval Office proves that we have not.

David Wilhelm, Clinton’s ’92 campaign manager, backs Obama.

"He beat me. I certainly would be glad to get his advice. I don’t think I’d want to revisit how he did it. And I mean that. Not about South Carolina. I mean I don’t feel like reliving my defeat," – John McCain on Karl Rove.

Ajijic, Mexico, 5.45 pm.

Hillary goes negative in Wisconsin:

The election campaign heats up:

The political advertisements provide a revealing lens on the campaign strategies of Pakistan’s political parties.  The People’s Party has been light on policy, though it has long been associated with the pro-poor slogan "Roti, Kapra, Makan" (Bread, Clothing, and a Home), and bullish on its newest martyr, Benazir Bhutto.  Before Benazir’s murder, the PPP mobilized the masses with a charismatic populism, and this approach has only intensified afterward.  Both the Muslim League-Quaid and Muslim League-Nawaz present themselves as results-oriented governors behind far-reaching economic development and humanitarian projects.  Both try to say, "We get stuff done."  But while the PML-Q lacks a popular base and a central figure, Nawaz Sharif has a loyal following in northern Punjab and transformed from a Zia-protege to a man of his own semi-charismatic self.  He has long been the development guy, but now Sharif also seeks to be the defender of the judiciary, media, and inflation-struck poor and middle classes.

Yglesias says Clinton still has some strength:

…the most recent poll of Ohio shows Clinton with a big lead, and considering the convincing nature of Clinton’s wins in states like Arizona, Oklahoma, and California I think you need to assume she’ll win there until we see some kind of poll offering clear evidence to the contrary. Obama’s put together a string of impressive wins, but it’s still the case that in the Democratic Party women outnumber men, whites outnumber blacks, working class people outnumber college educated professionals, and senior citizens outnumber under-thirties. Under the circumstances, Clinton continues to be in a strong position.

All salient points. But this is a campaign. Campaigns are dynamic. They have mood and momentum. On both, the Clintons are in more trouble than they have ever been in an election before (barring Bill’s failed re-election as Arkansas governor).

"After an impressive 24 quarters of economic growth, it only took newly anointed Speaker Pelosi and her liberal colleagues less than one year to hobble a previously growing economy," – Tom Feeney.