White House Secretly Authorizes Torture

White House secretly authorized torture, the NY Time reported yesterday. Secret opinions issued by the Department of Justice in 2005 authorized a vast expansion of interrogation techniques available to the CIA, including painful remedies incorporating simulated drowning, "head-slapping" and exposure to frigid temperatures.

Shortly after Gonzalez was confirmed as Attorney General he issued a legal memorandum authorizing such tactics despite vehement objections from James Comey, who said the legal reasoning was flawed and they would all be ashamed when the world learned of the tactics.

Back in 2005 when Congress passed a so-called torture ban outlawing cruel and inhumane and degrading treatment the Justice Department quietly issued a second opinion that "declared that none of the CIA interrogation methods violated that standard."

The New York Times says it all happened when Jack Goldsmith was appointed head of the Office of Legal Counsel, who was supposed to be a "yes" man. He immediately took issue, however with the NSA wiretapping program and prompted the threat of massive resignations from the Justice Department including James Comey and John Ashcroft. To avoid such a problem in the future Alberto Gonzalez was the "ideal choice" to become Attorney General. It is a long article from the New York Times, but it is worth it. Read it here.

The rest is history. One wonders what will become of this story. Will Brittney go into rehab again so we don't have to wonder that our elected government is no longer responsive to its people and WILL do what it wants when it wants. This is not democracy. It is called fascism.

Gonzalez Resigns: Why Don't They All Go?

Gonzalez is resigning. Hail to the Gods or the Secularists, whichever you choose. The NY Times says he will announce his resignation this morning.

Attorney General Alberto R. Gonzales, whose tenure has been marred by controversy and accusations of perjury before Congress, has resigned. A senior administration official said he would announce the decision later this morning in Washington.

Mr. Gonzales, who had rebuffed calls for his resignation, submitted his to President Bush by telephone on Friday, the official said. His decision was not announced immediately announced, the official added, until after the president invited him and his wife to lunch at his ranch near here.

Check out Think Progress' analysis of how many times Gonzalez has said he will stay "to protect the kids" and other reasons. Word is Chertoff will replace him. Another incompetent who couldn't even visit New Orleans during the crisis of Katrina. He was at a conference in Atlanta and thought that more important.

GOP Ranking Member Giving Gonzalez Until Noon Today.

Arlen Specter, ranking member of the Judiciary Committee gave the White House 18 hours to resolve the controversy surrounding Alberto Gonzalez. Arlen Specter aides released a statement on Monday that suggests a bombshell is ready to explode if the White House does not explain the discrepancies. Part of the statement read:

“Given the difficulty of discussing classified matters in public, I think it is preferable to have a letter addressing that question [of Gonzales’ veracity] from the administration … by noon tomorrow, which will be made available to the news media,” Specter wrote in the statement. “The administration has committed to producing such a letter.”

Specter would not clarify, he only told the news media to wait. 50 minutes to go. Meanwhile the darkest member of this administration expressed his support for Gonzalez. He said: "I am a big fan of Al's."

Sounds like he wrote the epitaph for Gonzalez.

The Democrats to Introduce Impeachment Proceedings Against Gonzalez

A group of House Democrats will introduce a resolution calling on the Judiciary Committee to begin impeachment proceedings against Attorney General Alberto Gonzales.

Rep. Jay Inslee (D-WA) will sponsor the measure. It will be dropped in the hopper tomorrow. The Text of the Resolution is here. See ya Gonzo!