Geez, Was The Senate Democrats Torture Report Politicized?

In preparing their report on the CIA torture program, did the Senate Democrats present an objective survey or promote their preferred narrative? We get a surprising answer from a surprising source - here we go, from the NY Times:

Did the Torture Report Give the C.I.A. a Bum Rap?

By DAVID COLE  FEB. 20, 2015

WASHINGTON — IN December, when the Senate Intelligence Committee issued its long-awaited report on the C.I.A.’s detention and interrogation program, it seemed to confirm what I and many human-rights advocates had argued for a decade: The C.I.A. had started and run a fundamentally abusive and counterproductive torture program. What’s more, the report found that the C.I.A. had lied repeatedly about the program’s efficacy, and that it had neither disrupted terror plots nor saved lives.

And the switcheroo:

But the principal lesson drawn by countless commentators in the initial news cycle — that torture does not work — was reached before nearly anyone read the full report and responses by the C.I.A. and the Republican members of the committee. The report and responses amount to 828 pages. I’ve now had a chance to read the documents in full. And I suspect the C.I.A. was treated unfairly.

...

The area of dispute concerns the report’s “headlines” — namely, that the C.I.A.’s tactics did not work, and that the agency repeatedly lied about that. The report focuses on 20 prominent instances in which the C.I.A. claimed that information obtained from detainees they subjected to coercive tactics helped identify high-level terrorists and disrupt terrorist plots. The committee concluded that every such claim was a misrepresentation.

When one places the C.I.A.’s accounts of the 20 cases side by side with the committee’s accounts, however, the truth is far from clear. In each instance, the C.I.A. makes a credible case that information it obtained after using coercive tactics played an important role. The C.I.A. says, for example, that 75 percent of the information that led to the capture of Ali Saleh Kahlah al-Marri, who pleaded guilty to conducting research on explosives for a potential terrorist attack, came from the interrogation of Khalid Shaikh Mohammed, the 9/11 mastermind, who was waterboarded 183 times. Information from Mr. Mohammed, the C.I.A. claims, also helped it capture several other key Qaeda terrorists, disrupting their efforts to kill innocent civilians.

Similarly, the C.I.A. maintains that intelligence extracted from Abu Zubaydah, the first person subjected to the coercive techniques, contributed significantly to the arrests of multiple terrorists, including Mr. Mohammed; Jose Padilla, an American who planned to set off explosions in high-rise apartment buildings; and Ramzi bin al-Shibh, said to have helped organize the 9/11 attacks. The committee contended that the most useful information from Mr. Zubaydah actually came while the F.B.I. was questioning him, using noncoercive tactics before he was waterboarded. But the C.I.A. points out that Mr. Zubaydah had been subjected to five days of sleep deprivation, a highly coercive and painful tactic, when the F.B.I. interrogated him.

The committee repeatedly asserted that critical information was obtained not from C.I.A. interrogations but from detainees in “the custody of a foreign government.” In detailing how the United States located Osama bin Laden, Senator Dianne Feinstein, Democrat of California, who led the committee, cited seven such instances. But she did not even acknowledge the likelihood that the other governments, to which the C.I.A. was regularly rendering suspects for torture, used techniques even more abusive than the C.I.A.’s. Her account is hardly evidence that torture doesn’t work.

Without the underlying documents, it’s not possible to resolve the competing claims, but many of the C.I.A.’s responses appear plausible on their face. At a minimum it is possible that the C.I.A.’s tactics did help it capture some very dangerous people planning future attacks.

That conclusion in turn casts doubt on the committee’s other main finding — namely, that the C.I.A. repeatedly lied about the program’s efficacy.

Wow. Is it possible the Senate Democrats simply embraced their original talking points rather than presenting a fair report, and that the media lapped it up?

NY Times readers and no one else will be surprised.

 

Comments

[Porchlight]

How did she and her crew end up in Coronado? Did they take a wrong turn at Albuquerque?

[rich@gmu]

and on the drive over to Coronado did she happen to notice all the big boats in the harbor? maybe all the US Navy signs?

[rich@gmu]

and good grief on the redesign of the National Review.

thing is unreadable.

[Danube on iPad]

She was very young and seemed a bit out of her element. Hope she does well.

[DrJ]

rich,

and good grief on the redesign of the National Review.

thing is unreadable.

I agree, though at least it loads more quickly. Sadly, there has been a trend on many web sites to add big pictures and put less content on each page. It is my understanding that yahoo started the trend, and I suspect it is intended to give a product that renders well on smartphones.

The web site that have gone this way, in addition to NRO: the San Francisco Chronicle, the San Jose Mercury News, and the Sacramento Bee. I no longer read any of them, and I have let them know why.

And there are many others.

With that, to bed.

[rich@gmu]

http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/charge-clintons-turned-the-state-department-into-a-racket-to-line-their-own-pockets/article/2551448

it always comes down to money with them ...

[jimmyk]

I also want to endorse JohnH's bookmarklet solution at 11:02pm. I already had the one that jumps to the bottom of the page, but the one that jumps to the last page of a thread seems to work. I also hadn't known about CR's trick to get to the right end of the address bar, but the bookmarklet thing is the best. Just one finger tap to get to the last page.

Now if we can just get the narcisolator working again....

[daddy]

daddy,

Do they ever consider the fault lines that run along the northeast coast (Palisades, N.J. is on the edge of one.) It could be that the land is slightly sinking, rather than the sea rising.

Of course not, Miss Marple,

To consider the subsidence and uplift of land masses and sea floors via earthquakes and rift-lines and tectonic plates, etc, would be to seriously consider the ideas put forth by young Charles Darwin back in 1835-1845, following the Voyage Of The Beagle, in his excellent Geological theorizing on the creation of Coral Reefs, or on the various elevation changes of the South American mountain ranges.

The Left is much more interested in juvenilely smearing Conservatives by slinging out the meme that Conservatives are too stupid to believe Darwin, rather than themselves actually listening to Darwin's arguments or even knowing what the arguments that he actually made are.

[Threadkiller]

http://www.latimes.com/opinion/op-ed/la-oe-mcmanus-ted-cruz-20150225-column.html

Again?

[Threadkiller]

Danube, you looked great! They cut you off before your wisecrack.

You noted that "they didn't have much of a defense" and they cut away.

[Extraneus]

Netanyahu turns down meeting with Senate Democrats

Sens. Dick Durbin, D-Ill., and Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., on Monday invited Netanyahu to meet in a closed-door session with Democrats during his visit. He declined the invitation on Tuesday and expressed regret about the politically fraught tone of his trip.

"I regret that the invitation to address the special joint session of Congress has been perceived by some to be political or partisan," Netanyahu wrote. "I can assure you that my sole intention in accepting it was to voice Israel's grave concerns about a potential nuclear agreement with Iran that could threaten the survival of my country."

Netanyahu said to meet with Democrats "at this time could compound the misperception of partisanship regarding my upcoming visit."

More than a half dozen House and Senate Democrats have said they will skip the speech, calling it an affront to President Barack Obama and the administration as they engage in high-level negotiations with Iran over its nuclear program. Vice President Joe Biden will be traveling and has no plans to attend the speech.

[henry]

CBS? gender pay gap a myth. Are we in bearded Spock territory?

[Jeff Dobbs]

A quick search of the NBC San Diego website leads me to believe that they do not have a video of DoT's interview available.

Maybe I missed it, or maybe there's another way to find the video.

I was going to auto-tune it.

[Captain Hate]

How will McTurtle betray us today?

[Captain Hate]

The Repuke handbook:

https://www.conservativereview.com/commentary/2015/02/8-rino-rules

[Jane]

Megyn Kelly is on vacation - I'm rarely offended by sexism but TK has a unique ability to change that.

[Janet - I wish my family had a poncho]

Wonderful thread.

Jim Miller, Love the song!

Loved Dr.J's letter -
Here's a link to Kerry's WSJ piece - http://www.wsj.com/articles/john-kerry-our-plan-for-countering-violent-extremism-1424305659

narciso's 10:26 about the Swede going to fight for ISIS - his name - Michael Skråmo
Skramo! Hah!
"According to Sweden’s Expressen newspaper, he converted to Islam in 2005, after which he travelled widely in the Islamic world, learning Arabic and studying the religion."

Oops! He studied Islam & then went to fight. Yo, Imam Kerry, Imam Obama...how do you reconcile THAT?

This stuff didn't work for Mr. Skramo - “global conversation,” “best practices,” “global partnership,” “proactive,” “concrete alternatives,” “empowering leaders,” “transform the environments,” “building alternatives,” “identify the zones of greatest vulnerability,” “tailor our efforts,” “target our resources,” “envision a future,” “positive progress,” “funnel more resources, creative ideas and energy,” “catalyze a global effort,” “but let me be clear,” “send a clear signal,” “we will not cower,” “we will prevail” and “we charge forward.”

[henry]

Awwww, SEIU upset it didn't get to disrupt RTW committee hearing. Only one dimwit got arrested trying to stay overnight in the Capitol. Full senate hearings today, vote expected midnight or so.

[Captain Hate]

I'm really hoping that McTurtle's craven surrender will convince voters who reluctantly identify with the empty husk of the Repuke party to rally around Walker to send an unmistakable message to the GOPe that their efforts to give us another Romney are DOA. The entire party apparatus needs to be gutted from piehole to asshole.

[James D.]

I'm with you, CH.

"gutted from piehole to asshole" works really well as a mission statement, I think!

[Jeff Dobbs]

Janet:
Oops! He studied Islam & then went to fight. Yo, Imam Kerry, Imam Obama...how do you reconcile THAT?

Mandate Common Core standards for an Islamic-based curriculum worldwide.

[Captain Hate]

I want all the Repuke apologists to answer one simple question: What does the GOP stand for? Because it certainly isn't about honoring their oath to support the Constitution.

[Janet - I wish my family had a poncho]

Good thing we have Big Environment to be on the lookout for Big Oil.

Great line, Rich.

[Neo]

What does white privilege mean today? In part, it means to live in the world while being given the benefit of the doubt.

There once was a shanty town outside of Johannesburg, South Africa called "district 6" (this may have been the inspiration for the sci-fi movie 'District 9').

The government decided that district 6 was in such poor shape that they discriminated against them by building beautiful new apartment buildings to live in and then bulldozed district 6 to the ground.
The new residents, used to cooking outside with an open fire, then set upon tearing out all the wood from the apartments to use for their fires. This meant all the doors, window frames and markey wooden floors were removed ... within the first two months.

Perhaps it's just that 'white privilege' means knowing how to live in civilized society.

[FTL]

What does the GOP stand for?

You know how the democrat party created and now perpetuates victimhood and Free Shit Army plantations for the votes they need to get the power they use to rob us blind?

GOPe does the same to us for the votes they need to get the power they use to rob us blind.

[Miss Marple]

Good morning!

Don't know if this was posted yesterday, but here's another State Department problem:

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2968009/State-Dept-official-charged-soliciting-minor.html

He's the head of their counter-terrorism group.

[Toto, I don't think we're in...Hey, where were we anyway?]

So, Grijalva? There's something ranking in Washington and I can smell it all the way over here.

[Extraneus]

Ben Carson hires national finance director ahead of potential campaign

Why?

[Janet - I wish my family had a poncho]

Yes, kim...

http://weaselzippers.us/215183-dems-launch-campaign-to-out-climate-denier-politicians-and-academics/

These people are gonna hunt you down & force you to believe. Shut up & do whatever they say!
FTA - "Arizona Democratic Rep. Raul Grijalva, the ranking member of the House Natural Resources Committee on Natural Resources, is demanding that seven universities reveal the funding sources of affiliated scientists who are skeptical of man-made global warming."

Being funded by taxpayer money (YOUR money) & "green" advocacy groups is considered neutral funding. Heaven forbid anyone or any business is allowed to push back against the radical environmental agenda. We just have to do what they say & shut up.

a bit on Big Climate Expert Raúl Grijalva - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ra%C3%BAl_Grijalva

"Grijalva was born in Tucson, Arizona, and graduated from Sunnyside High School in 1967. He is a 2004 inductee to the Sunnyside High School Alumni Hall of Fame. He attended the University of Arizona and earned a bachelor's degree in Sociology. While at the University, he was a member of Movimiento Estudiantil Chicano de Aztlán (MEChA) which, at that time, was a radical group identified with the separatist “Aztlán ” ideology. Grijalva also served as a leader of the Chicano Liberation Committee and other Chicano groups. ..."

[clarice]

The Tumulty interview is interesting, The WaPo regularly attacks Republican wives for being unfashionable--often using Robin Ghivens to do the savage attack--or that they spend too much on their clothing--Ann Romney's blouse or Nancy Reagan's clothing--they never do this to Democrat wives. To men this may not mean much but it is very hurtful to those attacked.

[AliceH]

Did someone mention David Kahane? via twitter:

David Kahane ‏@dkahanerules 3m3 minutes ago

Fearless 2016 prediction: Walker/Martinez vs. Faucahontas Warren/commie to be named later. 42-state wipeout for the good guys.

[Old Lurker]

I stand with Cap'n at 8:10.

[Janet - I wish my family had a poncho]

Don't know if this was posted yesterday, but here's another State Department problem:

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2968009/State-Dept-official-charged-soliciting-minor.html

He's the head of their counter-terrorism group.

Whatever happened to Howard Gutman - "Among the allegations are claims that Howard Gutman, the US ambassador to Belgium, solicited sex from prostitutes and children in a public park."

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/northamerica/usa/10114694/US-state-department-accused-of-covering-up-prostitution-investigation.html

He was replaced as ambassador, but was he ever prosecuted?

[clarice]

Hey, I missed that interview with DoT..If anyone can get it online I want to see him--Imagine star of stage and screen! XOXO

[Janet - I wish my family had a poncho]

The Tumulty interview is interesting,

Which link is that?

[Miss Marple]

Janet,

You have a good memory. I had forgotten about that guy. I don't know if he was prosecuted or not.

State seems to me to have an inordinate number of pervs, incompetents, and general lay-abouts.

[Janet - I wish my family had a poncho]

never mind ...here it is again - http://www.breitbart.com/big-journalism/2015/02/24/wapos-tumulty-flails-in-attempt-to-defend-hit-job-on-jeb-bushs-wife/

[James D.]

Tumulty writes about about politics for the WaPo. By definition, she's a lying, corrupt hack.

And of course there's no double standard at all in going on and on about Jeb's wife spending tens of thousands of her own dollars a decade ago; but we never heard much about where the money came from when Hillary spent millions of dollars for the lavish wedding of her daughter to the son of a convicted felon.

[Captain Hate]

Last night I took one for the "maintain marital stability" team and reluctantly went with Mrs H to see "Still Alice" which is about a Columbia professor's battle with early onset Alzheimers. I think whoever made this movie did so thinking that they could throw up whatever emotion laden crap they wanted to about a topic like this and nobody would say a discouraging word, and judging from the reactions by the crits at Rotten Tomatoes they were nearly right. But this was thin stuff to serve up on the big screen; more fitting for a Hallmark Hall of Fame television approach imo. Everything was pretty much boilerplate and, no matter how well done, still down the line with no surprises. The only thing that stuck out for me was that Alec Baldwin, playing the husband of the victim, came off as a jerk who was way too invested in his career to entirely devote himself to the travails of his wife. I don't know if the part was entirely written that way and his inner a-hole shone through or what, but I still found it amusing.

In case I haven't made it abundantly clear, I would not recommend this.

[Jeff Dobbs]

clarice:
or that they spend too much on their clothing--Ann Romney's blouse or Nancy Reagan's clothing

In 2008 the RNC spent $842M on Palin's wardrobe!!1!!11!

[jimmyk]

This is how the National Journal reported on laughed at McConnell:

With the Homeland Security Department set to shut down on Saturday, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell on Tuesday offered Senate Democrats everything they wanted. And then, as with mice and cookies, they asked for some more.

Someone needs to remind me what the grand strategy was in the first place of last year funding everything except DHS through 9/30.

http://www.nationaljournal.com/congress/mitch-mcconnell-announces-a-vote-on-a-clean-dhs-funding-bill-is-coming-20150224

[Extraneus]

Someone needs to remind me what the grand strategy was in the first place of last year funding everything except DHS through 9/30.

DublinDave would probably be the best person to answer that.

[Threadkiller]

Thanks for the link, Jimmy. I have been scratching my head trying to figure out what "clean bill" has been sent from the House. Since all spending Bills must originate in the House, the Senate can only amend something from them, not create one on its own.

Democrats will need to agree to McConnell's new plan for the DHS funding bill to move forward. The minority—or at least six of its members—will have to agree to allow the Senate to take up the House-passed DHS bill, which Democrats have already voted down four times. The House bill currently includes several amendments defunding Obama's executive actions on immigration from the past three years, but McConnell has promised that he would move to remove them once Democrats agree to get on the bill.

If the Dems go along, the original Bill will get opened for debate.

Maybe there is still a clever plan afoot.

Maybe not.

[Strawman Cometh]

Someone needs to remind me what the grand strategy was in the first place of last year funding everything except DHS through 9/30.

I expressed my umbrage at the time, and later when Kevin W made a ridiculous remark about those of us who disagreed with this strategy. If DoT can get out of make-up, maybe he can reiterate how the fund it all and no-shutdown strategy is going to Save the Republic.
New study out how anger causes heart attacks, so I'm trying to keep it low-key.

[Janet - I wish my family had a poncho]

I saw a film years ago about Alzheimers - Away From Her.
they made the husband a jerk in that one too.

In reality, it is easy to look like a jerk when you have to care for someone 24-7.
Any "no" or "I'll get to it later" seems cruel.....but I tell you what, it is hard to say "yes, right away" all the time.

[Captain Hate]

New study out how anger causes heart attacks, so I'm trying to keep it low-key.

Jobs created or saved for cardiologists by NuGOP.

[Miss Marple]

Strawman,

An excellent example is Mark Levin, who ended up having a bypass several years ago. I always worry that he is going to keel over in the middle of one of his rants.

[Jim Miller]

Credit where due: The local TV stations hve been running respectful stories on the kidnapping of Reverend Phyllis Sortor.

And she does seem like an awfully sweet, and very admirable, lady, whether or not you share her religious beliefs.

(in contrast, they don't care at all for the proprietor of Arlene's Flowers.)

[Captain Hate]

In reality, it is easy to look like a jerk when you have to care for someone 24-7.

Far be it from me to criticize anybody else's reactions in an area where I would surely fall short many times, but what I'm describing was different.

[James D.]

Maybe there is still a clever plan afoot.

There's ALWAYS a clever plan. Us rubes just don't understand that Our Betters are playing 12-dimensional chess, thinking three election cycles ahead, and so on and so forth.

If a few million more people come into the country illegally, suck up a few billion dollars in resources, and fill up jobs that un or underemployed American citizens might have taken, oh, well. You can't make an omelet, etc.

Right?

[Ignatz]

--Any "no" or "I'll get to it later" seems cruel.....but I tell you what, it is hard to say "yes, right away" all the time.--

Yes it is, but if you don't want any regrets you'll move heaven and earth to say "yes" even if at the time you think it will kill you.

[Janet - I wish my family had a poncho]

Sorry, Captain. I haven't seen "Still Alice". Your comment just got me thinkin'.

Obamacare makes me think about that too...just where are all the wonderful people that are gonna lovingly take care of everyone?

[Ignatz]

--DublinDave would probably be the best person to answer that.--

The unfortunate fact is WeeDavey is right that Republicans are weak kneed pussies compared to Dems.
Most of our elected officials are and no small part of the electorate who keep putting WKPs in office are.
There seem to be about 5 GOPe don't-make-any-waves-and-they'll-leave-us-alone Melbatoasters to every well informed JOM type who knows exactly what kind of creeps we're dealing with on the left.

[Strawman Cometh]

They're in the shadows, Janet, waiting for the rest of us to see the light as cast by the Great JEF 0 and The Chamber of Commerce

[Buckeye]

CH

Just read your review of "Still Alice".

What matters is if Mrs. H liked it. If she did, you are not finished taking one for the team until you thank her for the wonderful evening.

[Extraneus]

Hillary Clinton 'gave in' to China says Chen Guangcheng

As she prepares for a possible presidential campaign, Hillary Clinton faces embarrassing revelations over her handling of a diplomatic crisis between China and the US

Hillary Clinton’s account of one of her crowning moments as secretary of state has been flatly contradicted by a leading Chinese activist.

Chen Guangcheng, a blind lawyer who escaped house arrest and caused an diplomatic crisis between China and the US by taking refuge in the American embassy in Beijing in 2012, accused the Obama administration and Hillary Clinton of “giving in” to Chinese negotiators.

His escape to the embassy coincided with a visit by Mrs Clinton to Beijing.

The lawyer, who was eventually allowed to go the US to study, made the claims in a damning new memoir that is likely to stir controversy over Mrs Clinton’s record at the State Department as she prepares for a potential presidential run in 2016.

[Captain Hate]

LOL Buckeye; taking one for the team falls short of an impossible personality makeover.

[Extraneus]

(Right-click for the grandmotherly lizard face.)

[Buckeye]

CH

My wife says I have the same problem She has been trying to change me for 30+ years, to no avail.

I survive with "yes dear", and if that isn't appropriate then deny, deny, deny.

[Buckeye]

Would it make me a bad person to pray that Hillary! has a stroke that leaves her permanently unable to talk?

[Captain Hate]

Mrs H changed me in a lot of positive ways; I'm a pretty good cook, for example. Also I'm less of a slob about keeping the house clean. Those are things I could see an upside for.

[James D.]

Buckeye, I'd say that would actually qualify as an act of mercy - both for her, and for everyone in earshot of her.

[Old Lurker]

Cap'n & Buckeye, I have told the story before about returning to DC from our wedding back in the 70's. The new inlaws threw us a reception at the Ft. McNair Officers Club so all of their DC friends could participate. FIL was West Point '36 so there we a number of retired flag rank officers present, including one guy with more stars than I can recall, and his battle ax wife of 50 years, Alice.

At one point I found myself at the bar with the general, and as a newlywed I complimented him for having been married 50 years.

He said it had actually been quite easy. As the Commanding General, Alice allowed him to make all big decisions while she got to make all the minor decisions. Alice got to decide which was which.

[Rick Ballard]

I don't understand the emotional involvement today in this PRO WRESTLING TONIGHT!!! match between McTurtle/OrangeDrank and Cockeye/BOzo which won't be determined until Friday at the earliest.

If McTurtle/OrangeDrank succeed in making it blindingly obvious that responsibility for a shutdown falls on Cockeye/BOzo, is it a win? Is it a win if BOzo vetoes the current bill or is it only a win if he signs the bill? Is it a loss if he signs a clean bill and vetoes the supplemental restrictions?

[James D.]

I see Sally Kohn mentioned here sometimes. Such a lovely human being is she:

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2964063/Gay-mom-says-gay-want-daughter-gay-too.html

[Captain Hate]

OL, my 40th anniversary will be on August 30th. I think I've said it before here but it bears repeating: My mother in law once told me one of the smartest things I've ever heard, that marriages work because the participants work hard to make them work. If people *really* understood that before they tie the knot, the divorce rate would be a small fraction of its current status.

[Buckeye]

Unfortunately, the Republican machine doesn't see conservatives much differently than the Democrats see the Free Shit Army.

Bunch a tools to be played.

[Captain Hate]

If McTurtle/OrangeDrank succeed in making it blindingly obvious that responsibility for a shutdown falls on Cockeye/BOzo, is it a win? Is it a win if BOzo vetoes the current bill or is it only a win if he signs the bill? Is it a loss if he signs a clean bill and vetoes the supplemental restrictions?

There are a lot of questions to be answered with no guarantee that people will view things any more positively than a more direct approach.

[Strawman Cometh]

Wow, Captain, my 40th will be Oct. 25. But I didn't get any wisdom from my MiL, she divorced my FiL about 3 months after I married her daughter.

[Captain Hate]

Well you did something right, Strawman.

Outstanding comment at this Althouse link:

http://althouse.blogspot.com/2015/02/accusing-scott-walker-of-winking.html

Show me on the doll, Dana, where the bad man hurt you

[Janet - I wish my family had a poncho]

Here's a movie - http://www.thedropboxfilm.com/?utm_source=milkmoneymanhattendec&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=dropbox

A Theatrical Event Coming
March 3-5, 2015 - Plus a portion of the film’s proceeds supports Pastor Lee’s ministry.
"The Drop Box tells the remarkable true story of a courageous pastor named Lee Jong-rak. Over the past decade, Pastor Lee has rescued hundreds of babies who would have otherwise been abandoned on the streets of Seoul, South Korea. This powerful film shares the real-life account of a small group of Christ-followers who have sacrificed everything in order to care for the orphans in their midst as they embrace and protect their community’s most vulnerable children."

the trailer - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yTQ2VTf5vWc

[MarkO]

Here's the thing, I dated a girl named Dana.

[Extraneus]

Ex-IRS official Lois Lerner received $129,000 in bonuses, records show

Former IRS official Lois Lerner received $129,300 in bonuses between 2010 and 2013, records obtained through the Freedom of Information Act show.

Over a three-year period, Lerner, the head of the tax-exempt division at the heart of the IRS targeting scandal, received a 25 percent retention bonus—averaging $43,000 a year—on top of her regular salary.

The federal government uses retention bonuses to incentivize valuable employees who are considering retirement or private sector jobs to stay at their agencies.

Former acting IRS commissioner Steven T. Miller recommended Lerner for a $42,000 retention bonus in December 2009, when she first became eligible for retirement.

“Ms. Lerner is eligible for retirement and as an attorney with extensive experience would likely command a much greater pay and benefits if she left the Service,” Miller wrote. “Without a retention incentive she will leave the Service.”

[Extraneus]

Miller said that there was no senior official ready to take over the position if Lerner left, and that “her unique blend of specialized technical expertise, broad organizational knowledge, and leadership skills cannot be matched.”

We now know what couldn't be matched.

[Extraneus]

Joseph Grant, the deputy commissioner of the tax-exempt division, approved the bonus. The second-level review of Lerner’s retention bonus was approved by Miller himself.

Both officials signed off on annual renewals for Lerner’s retention bonus in 2011 and 2012. Both officials would also later resign in connection with the targeting scandal.

[Beasts of England]

Dana Milbank is a member of Skull and Bones? Dang, henry, can you talk to the kewl kidz in The Tomb and tell 'em to tighten it up a little bit...

[James D.]

If the GOP had any sense at all, they'd be recording the ads right now that would air the first two weeks in April.

"Meet Lois Lerner. She's one of President Obama's handpicked IRS officials. She's one of the people who's responsible for deciding whether churches and nonprofit groups get audited or not. She was given $43,000 bonus each of the last three years. Your tax dollars paid for that. And remember, the deadline to file your taxes for this year is coming up next week!"

[Strawman Cometh]

MayBee has a cromulent comment on the Althouse post.

[Strawman Cometh]

another good one:
"... if I was asked whether Obama was a cannibal, I couldn't say definitely yes or no, because what do I know about what he eats?"

Agreed. But I will say that my dog went missing the last time he came to town.

[Buckeye]

"If the GOP had any sense at all"

Sense, especially common sense, in short supply these days.

[exdemocrat]

Ch - so would the marriage rate

[Jack is Back!]

Meanwhile over at Insty, there is that number 47% again:)

WHY RUDY GIULIANI’S REMARKS STRUCK A NERVE: Less than Half in New Poll Think Obama Loves America. “Nationally, only 47 percent of people think the nation’s leader loves America while 35 percent do not. . . . As for Americans themselves, love of country still runs deep: 90 percent of conservatives say that they love America, compared to 85 percent of moderates and 82 percent of liberals.”

[rse]

Well this will get people's blood pressure going. NSC is tied to both the federal Department of Labor and ED. This link's title does not agree with the actual title of the document which had an "Un-" prefix. http://www.nationalskillscoalition.org/news/blog/nsc-releases-new-report-on-job-driven-educational-pathways-for-authorized-youth-and-adults

Basically the fact that the DREAM Act was proposed or the XO enjoined is treated as irrelevant. Time to plug the holes to get full immigrant integration.

[exdemocrat]

Good post by althouse. And this [paraphrased] from the comments :

[4] things the left hates

1) Patriotism
2) Questioning their Patriotism

3) Christianity
4) Questioning their Christianity

[daddy]

Here's the thing, I dated a girl named Dana.

Me too, MarkO. Big coinky-dink!

[Jack is Back!]

A testicle sighting on Capital Hill.

Republican Threatens DC Mayor with Jail Over Marijuana Law | The Hill

http://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room/news/233778-republican-threatens-dc-mayor-with-jail-over-marijuana-law

Its Chaffetz:)

[Jack is Back!]

... Capitol Hill ....

[Buckeye]

Jack

The way the spend money, your first spelling was correct.

[Buckeye]

they

[Buckeye]

my spelling sucks

[Buckeye]

typing is a bit lame also.

[Porchlight]

I liked Iowahawk's take:

David Burge ‏@iowahawkblog

Media: How dare Scott Walker doubt Barack Obama's faith in Scott Walker's ridiculous invisible sky beard man

Pretty much.