Creepy Joe™ and the craven empty Democratic leaders

Glenn Greewald explains why Creepy Joe™ must go, and why the Democrats in Congress don't seem to be up to the task.

As if we here in Connecticut didn't know.

Torture, wiretapping and the rule of men

Take the time to read this excellent essay by Glenn Greenwald about the relationship of torture of prisoners defined as "terrorists" and the passage of the FISA bill. He'll convince you that our political leaders have capitulated to government criminals who have convinced them to create a country run by the rule of men, and not by the rule of laws.

Greenwald makes the argument that people who complain about the lawlessness implicit in torture and warrantless wiretapping are marginalized as shrill, hysterical leftists who don't understand the threat of terrorism, and who are getting caught up in the minutiae of laws which don't really affect the great majority of law abiding citizens. This is an argument that even our ally and friend Colin McEnroe (WTIC-AM) has made when callers have forwarded debate on the FISA issue.

Greenwald also recommends the already-acclaimed new book on torture and the Bush administration, The Dark Side, by New Yorker investigative journalist Jane Mayer.

Phew, safe for another two weeks

Yeah, like you I was feeling a little shaky that he Protect America Act was going to expire on February 1.

After all, how would we know who the untrustworthy amongst us were if they weren't tapping our phones.

Now it seems that those grating statesmen, Harry Reid, Mitch McConnell and George Bush have agreed to extend our protection against terrorist monsters (actually extend our ability to eavesdrop on the party line), and to protect us good muhricans against the fear of terror.

As always, Jane Hamsher and Christy Hardin Smith at Firedoglake, and Glenn Greenwald at Salon have been doing an amazing job deciphering the arcane politics of how our leaders are screwing us with our own screwdrivers.