Free Republic

The Obama administration's top intelligence official privately told employees last week that "high value information" was obtained in interrogations that included harsh techniques approved by former President George W. Bush. "A deeper understanding of the al-Qaida network" resulted, National Intelligence Director Dennis Blair said in the memo, in which he added, "I like to think I would not have approved those methods in the past." The Associated Press obtained a copy. Critics of the harsh methods—waterboarding, face slapping, sleep deprivation and other techniques—have called them torture. President Barack Obama said Tuesday they showed the United States "losing our moral bearings"...

Joe Biden racks up two more entities he's affronted: the Knights of Columbus and the state of Ohio. As to the former, they send him this letter objecting to his comments on Church abortion doctrine. As to the latter, he's insulted Ohio State's Buckeyes football team which is akin (or worse than) calling the Green Bay Packers' home turf "Lombard Field." Isn't he living proof that time spent in the Senate has no relationship to common sense, street smarts, or the ability to stay out of trouble? If you were trying to disprove the notion that wisdom comes from experience,...

Raymond lashes out on final plan Times Staff Reports AUSTIN - State Rep. Richard Raymond (D-Laredo) delivered scathing comments over the latest congressional redistricting map produced by the Republican leadership in Texas early Thursday morning. "Make no mistake. This final plan was cobbled together with backroom deals and brute pressure from Washington power brokers," Raymond said. "The architects of this plan will be remembered for their willingness to ignore Texas Senate tradition, for violating Texas House rules of procedure, as well as their complete disregard for historic communities of interest and for consigning the interest of Hispanics and other minorities...