News Nuggets 143

I wasn't in the mood for anything light-hearted as a picture today -- so I went with this.

"It depends on how you define 'torture'..."  No, it doesn't.  The definition is actually really clear.  Per American Heritage.

Radio Rage: On Assassination Jokes and 'Liberal' Conspiracy Theories (Camille Paglia) from Salon

While I routinely disagree with Paglia's take on things, today she captures some of my own sense of unease.

"The assassination jokes and "liberal" conspiracy theories on talk radio could be an ominous sign of things to come."

Cheney: "We Are What We Are" (Garrison Keillor) from Salon

"It is just a whole lot more satisfying to be part of a militant righteous minority than to be in the anxiety-ridden confused majority -- to be a nightrider and ambusher rather than one of the people in the long wagon train -- to be free to juke around and say wild stuff and know that it doesn't make a dime's worth of difference."

Obama's Multifront Efforts Are What These Times Requires (Editorial) from the Kansas City Star

"President Barack Obama has drawn criticism in his first 100 days for trying to do too many things at once to repair the country.  But the first African-American commander in chief doesn’t have much choice. "

Congress's Torture Bubble (Op-Ed Editorial) from the New York Times

The House and Senate intelligence committees — created at that time — were designed to be the “eyes and ears” of the full Congress on significant intelligence activities. These committees were entrusted with the faith of the American people to oversee aggressive intelligence operations done in all of our names, and to ensure that they are necessary, effective and consistent with American laws and values."

Waxman, Markey Announce Breakthrough on Climate Change Bill from Roll Call

WOW!  The Capitol Hill daily, Roll Call, seems to no longer be subscriber only!

"Democrats on the House Energy and Commerce Committee have reached a deal on the most contentious aspects of cap-and-trade legislation for carbon emissions and plan to unveil the bill on Thursday, Chairman Henry Waxman (D-Calif.) said Tuesday night."

Washington state, California Ponder High-Speed Rail Line from the McClatchy News Service

Interesting insight into how the high-speed rail conversation is moving forward out west.

"Washington state and California officials have held preliminary discussions about a high-speed, state-of-the-art rail line that would connect San Diego and Vancouver, B.C., with trains that could travel in excess of 200 miles per hour."

A Republican Chorus Struggles with Tone from the New York Times

"A party and a conservative movement that over the years have been home to a parade of optimistic figures in American politics — like Ronald Reagan and Jack Kemp, who died last week — is increasingly worried about coming across as downbeat or angry."

Republicans vs. Bureaucrats (Thomas Frank) of the Wall Street Journal

"The government and its bureaucrats are, to the right, ever a malign force -- jealous, power-hungry and greedy. But it's hard to blame someone for failing after you've worked so hard to make them fail."