Think Progress

Today on CNN, White House adviser Ed Gillespie defended attorney general nominee Michael Mukasey’s legal dodge on whether waterboarding constitutes torture. Mukasey called the technique “hypothetical.”

Gillespie similarly tried to claim that waterboarding doesn’t exist. “[F]irst of all, this technique, we don’t know that it’s used by the government or is used by the government,” he said. “That’s never been confirmed by the U.S. government.”

Host John Roberts called out Gillespie’s dodge, noting, “It’s widely held that waterboarding was what broke Khalid Sheikh Mohammed to get him to divulge all of the information that he had.” Gillespie simply replied, “[T]he fact is the government doesn’t confirm techniques regardless of whether they’re used or not used.” Watch it:

While Bush administration officials have refused to publicly say whether or not they waterboard detainees, CIA officials have repeatedly told the media that they have carried out this torture. Some examples:

– In one of the administration’s most high-profile cases, al Qaeda mastermind Khalid Sheikh Mohammed reportedly endured waterboarding two minutes — “far longer than any of the other ‘high-value’ terror targets who were subjected to the technique.” A former CIA officer called it an “extraordinary amount of time for ...   more »

FAIR Media Views

A new study adds statistical backing to the voluble comments at each of the rare hearings the FCC allows its public

The survey found 57 percent of respondents favored laws against a company owning a paper and TV station in the same market. That level of support was roughly the same among the political liberals, moderates and conservatives surveyed. "The results of this poll should come as no surprise to the FCC, since thousands have vocalized their opposition to weaker media ownership rules at public hearings held recently," said Beth McConnell, director of the [surveying] coalition.... The survey also showed 70 percent of respondents described media consolidation as a problem.

URL: FAIR Media Views

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FAIR Media Views

Veteran campaign misreporter Pickler recounts how Hillary Clinton "avoided direct answers to several questions" in a recent debate: "The New York senator wouldn't say how she would address the fiscal crisis threatening Social Security," for instance. But Clinton's response on Social Security is that there isn't a crisis. That's not avoiding a direct answer—it's questioning the premise of a bogus question. Clinton similarly lacks a plan for defending against space alien invasion--what kind of candidate is she?!

URL: FAIR Media Views

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Think Progress

In an impassioned speech on the Senate floor today, Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), a member of the Judiciary Committee, said he “will oppose” the nomination of Michael Mukasey to be Attorney General because of his refusal to explicitly say that waterboarding is torture. Watch it:

Another member of the Judiciary Committee, Sen. Dick Durbin (D-IL), also said today that he would oppose Mukasey’s nomination.

UPDATE: Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) sent Mukasey a letter today, co-signed by Sens. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) and John Warner (R-VA), indicating support for his nomination.

URL: Think Progress

Enclosure: http://video.thinkprogress.org/2007/10/WhitehouseMukaseyNo.320.240.flv
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Think Progress

Bernard Kerik, former NYPD commissioner and close friend of Rudy Giuliani, is now “being sued for allegedly stiffing a law firm on a $202,384.04 tab, after its lawyers helped keep him out of jail.” The suit comes as federal prosecutors are reportedly prepared to file charges against Kerik “that will likely include allegations of bribery, tax fraud and obstruction of justice.” Marc Mukasey, son of Attorney General nominee Michael Mukasey, has also been tasked by Giuliani “to keep an eye on” Kerik’s criminal investigation and “distance Giuliani from all” the allegations.

URL: Think Progress

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FAIR Media Views

Media reports that the GAO is measuring a decline in attacks in Iraq leave unmentioned something that was stated at the congressional hearing yesterday—that ethnic cleansing is no small factor in the decline.

In a hearing before the House Appropriations Committee...Joe Christoff of the Government Accountability Office stated that this recent reduction in violence should be taken with a grain of salt, as it coincides with increased sectarian cleansing and a massive refugee displacement: "We look at the attack data going down, but it’s not taking into consideration that there might be fewer attacks because you have ethnically cleansed neighborhoods, particularly in the Baghdad area." Christoff’s conclusions echo that of retired Gen. James Jones last month, who observed "progress" in a Shia-led ethnic cleansing campaign.

URL: FAIR Media Views

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