Teary Eyed Moralist Hypocrites

http://yidwithlid.blogspot.com/2009/05/video-of-pelosis-press-conference.html
Anyone watching House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's news conference this week had to feel some what sorry for her. Her repeated denials and then admission of knowledge of water boarding is a classic example of political flip flopping.


She basically had two choices. She could have done the right thing and admitted that in 2002 as the then ranking house member on the intelligence committee she had to be completely aware of what the CIA was doing in its attempts to glean any information possible to prevent any further attacks on the country.

Or she could deny knowledge of the enhanced interrogation techniques to curry favor with the teary eyed moralist hypocrites in her party who now want to prosecute anyone associated with establishing methods to extract information from an unrepentant mass murderer. Of course, she chose door number 2.

Jump in the way back machine and consider what had happened. Not only did we have the tower attacks but we had also had a long string of attacks against us off shore. Couple that with the anthrax attacks which started on 9/18/01 and we were a nation under mental siege wondering what catastrophe might be next.

Any public official, particularly the ranking member of the house intelligence committee would certainly want to be on top of any and all measures that were being taken to protect the country. If they weren't then a thinking person would have to question whether or not that person was fit to be in government.

Speaker Pelosi did not admit to being fully engaged in the CIA's intelligence gathering effort. Instead, she says that she was far removed from the process and only briefed once on the subject. She further says that she was lied to and congress was mislead by the CIA. (One can only wonder how the CIA will retaliate.)

For many of us the issue of water boarding is a tempest in a teapot. The continued referring to it as "torture" is somewhat misleading when you consider that some of our own troops are subjected to it during training.

But now that a big deal has been made out of it and certain portions of the political spectrum want to have a full airing of the issue then it is only fair that all of the officials involved should come under scrutiny including the people who condoned it but now deny knowledge of it and now want investigations and show trials .

In addition, now that the President has released portions of the interrogation documents he ought to heed former Vice President Cheney's call for release of what information was gained.

Victoria Toensing writes in today's Wall Street Journal a very informative piece regarding the lengths which the Bush justice department went to establish a legal framework to authorize enhanced interrogation while at the same time restricting measures that would inflict harm on the prisoner.

Ms. Toensing concludes the piece with the following, "There should be a rule that all persons proposing investigation, prosecution or disbarment must read the two memos and all underlying documents and then draft a dissenting analysis."
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB124243020964825531.html

Not Their Year

Every once in a while you know the hand writing is on the wall and that your team is flawed in many ways and that the hoped for achievement of a championship is simply wishful thinking.

For some that is enough for them to jump off the band wagon and move on to the next best thing. In this case that would mean abandoning the Celtics and focusing on the Red Sox.

The Celtics aren’t going to repeat this year as NBA champions and we all know why. With the Big Ticket, Kevin Garnet as well as Leon Powe sitting on the sidelines, both with knee injuries it would seem that this is the Year of Lebron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers.

It is inevitable that our team is going to get eliminated and according to Charles Barkley it is going to happen in this, the second round of the playoffs against the Orlando Magic. Since it is too painful to watch the Green lose I have been considering turning the station and letting the inevitable happen. Apparently, the Celtics have other ideas.

Despite the fact that they are undermanned and must be exhausted after the epic seven game series that included a record 7 over times against the youthful Chicago Bulls, the defending champs are not going quietly.

After losing game 1 to the Magic and giving up the home court advantage it seemed as though Superman Dwight Howard and the Magic would go to Orlando and fashion a 3 games to 1 advantage. Well they held serve in the first home game but on the strength of a Glen Davis buzzer beater in game 4 the Green are home tonight having snatched back the home court advantage and giving the Magic a lot to think about.

Although there is a temptation to wonder what could have been had Garnet been healthy it is worthwhile to note the benefits that have emerged as a result of the team being so thin in man power. Who knew that Rajon Rondo was this good? His point guard leadership was proven last year in the playoffs but he might very well be elevating himself to one of the best 2 or 3 point guards in the league. How many six foot guards anywhere are averaging double digits in rebounds?

Big Baby Davis is the other youngster that has emerged during these playoffs. How can a man over 300 pounds be so agile? His work in the practice gym is obvious as he has gone from having a maybe jump shot to become a pretty consistent and reliable scorer inside 20 feet.

They aren’t going to repeat as champions but they are certainly over achievers, proud champions and a pleasure to watch. It would be appropriate for them to face the heir apparent in the Eastern finals.