Whitehouse: We have responsibility to investigate Bush administration (warning: stupid-ass popup with sound, because this is Salon)

Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse, D-R.I., was on the floor of the Senate Wednesday, calling for the establishment of a commission to investigate torture and perhaps other misdeeds committed during the Bush administration. Whitehouse sits on the Judiciary Committee, which may set up the commission, as well as the Senate Intelligence Committee, which makes him privy to some of the administration's darker secrets.

From Whitehouse's floor statement:

As we work toward a brighter future ahead, to days when jobs return to our cities, capital to our businesses, and security to our lives, we cannot set aside our responsibility to take account of where we are, what was done, and what must now be prepared. We also have to brace ourselves for the realistic possibility that as some of this conduct is exposed we and the world will find it shameful, revolting. We may have to face the prospect of looking with horror at our own country’s deeds.

I have just agreed to go out on Friday night with some work colleagues. Why have I done this? Why can't I learn to say no?

Would drinking be good or bad in this situation?

We may have to face the prospect of looking with horror at our own country’s deeds.

The British government must have been aware of what is going on either. We are ashamed too.

Would drinking be good or bad in this situation?

They'll be drinking I guess, I don't have anything in common with most people of my own age and I'll feel like a spare part. Just wanted to vent my frustration at myself!

From a recent conversation: Global warming is a hoax to get our money. Also, we have only a tiny impact on it. And therefore we can't really do anything to mitigate it. Also, it's totally arrogant of us to think we could. And nobody can say 100% certainly what would fix it. Therefore we should do nothing. Also, humans are adaptable and coal's not such a bad thing.

I love them, they're sweethearts, they're willing to have a conversation about it, but OH MY GOD. And I can't even say, "Okay, here's some data on it" because they've already decided that anyone who says differently must be corrupted by the liberal media which is out to get their tax dollars or something, and who really cares if Bangladesh floods? People shouldn't build their houses so close to sea level anyway.

ARRRRRGH. Whew. Better, thank you!

And what's so horrible about being more environmentally conscious anyway? Even if the climate doesn't change, it's still nice to have cleaner air and water.

Even if the climate doesn't change, it's still nice to have cleaner air and water.

One might think "conservatism" would include conserving (or preserving) our environment.

Well, it used to, anyway.

And who the heck is making money working against global warming? I believe the largest profit on record went to an oil company last year, so those anti-Global Warming money-grubbers clearly have a ways to go.

I did mention that, climate aside, burning coal affects the air we breathe.

I also tried to make the point that, although it's often phrased as a moral issue, it may be more useful to consider it as an economic issue. Should, shouldn't, whatever -- how much will it cost if we have to relocate New York? Yes, the Earth has had many different climates -- how much money will it take to adapt to a different one?

They're a little more receptive to that, actually -- I think the "save the Earth" rhetoric turns off a lot of... well, a lot of conservative teenagers, anyway. It smacks of "hippie commie peaceniks", who apparently never thought a right thought ever.

And who the heck is making money working against global warming?

Clearly, the fact that you are asking this question means you have been brainwashed by Big Solar.