Out of My Mind

James Ridgeway explains the loopholes in the anti-torture agrement with the administration. (Was about to say "with W" but who would believe W actually ever acts independently of his handlers? Certainly not here with this issue. "Mr. Bush's national security adviser, Stephen J. Hadley, who has negotiated with the senator for weeks....")

If you're too lazy to make the jump, short answer is: real big.

Too, how do you overtly forbid covert acts? In a zen sort of sense, if they're not admitted to, they couldn't have happened.

So you're really talking a rule firm as a limp noodle, or a security blanket. Feh.

Bottom line is that McCain is a tease, occasionally saying something really seductive. But it's a lie; the guy, as a senator, has never, ever really walked the walk. In a way, he's hollow; there's frequent party line-following, occasional seductive lip service -- and that's it.

And this is just another example.

This "amendment" of his is so empty of substance, one would think the administration was against it because it doesn't believe in law and would only ignore it anyway.

And here's the administration's utter and complete dishonesty and lack of any good faith:

''Obviously, we'll study the law carefully,'' Mr. Gonzales said. ''And to the extent that we have to conform our conduct in any way, we will do so. People need to understand what the limits are. And if people don't meet those limits, they're going to be investigated and they're going to be held accountable.''

(As quoted in the Times.)

Really?? None that was considered in the course of negotiation?? Is this @$$hole and idiot or thinks we are or at least the administration's Kool-Aid drinkers are? It's a completely imbecilic statement, sensible only to a wingnut.