Remember when talkers on the right became so irate over Dan Rather's report (based in part on documents that may have been fabricated) that George Bush skipped out on some of his National Guard service? As BTD discussed here, the stink about the allegedly forged documents distracted the public from the underlying issue: whether Bush actually reported for duty.

Distraction is what the GOP does best, and its roaring umbrage cowed CBS. Anxious to prove that it had no liberal bias and to appease the corporate interests to which both CBS and the GOP are beholden, CBS "investigated" Rather and limited his work, effectively forcing his resignation.

Rather sued, claiming the rigged investigation violated his contract and damaged his reputation. According to this report, Rather has uncovered evidence to support that claim. [more ...]

This is so much the very definition of irony:

Team Obama, after all but offering SecState to Senator Clinton, is expressing EXASPERATION with the Clinton camp for the difficulty in getting a clean vet on President Bill Clinton’s many entanglements. . . . Given that everyone's mystified by how deliberately public the Clintons have made this once secret process . . . [G]enerally the sense among the no-drama Obama world is: This is well on its way to winning best Oscar for drama.”

The irony of leaking to Mike Allen your complaints about "Clinton drama" is too freaking rich. Obviously Allen's Obama team contacts are NOT part of the NO DRAMA part of the Obama team.

And from the actual No Drama Obama Team:

[T]here's been no delaying, there's been no acrimony . . . Clinton and her team have acted professionally and appropriately.

By Big Tent Democrat, speaking for me only

The New York Times today joined TalkLeft and a host of others in asking Gov. Tim Kaine of Virginia to pardon the Norfolk Four.

I've yakked enough. Your turn.

This is an Open Thread.

. . . a college football playoff:

Kroft: I have one last question. As president of the United States, what can you do, or what do you plan to do, about getting a college football playoff for the national championship?

. . . Mr. Obama: This is important . . . I think any sensible person would say that if you've got a bunch of teams who play throughout the season, and many of them have one loss or two losses, there's no clear decisive winner that we should be creating a playoff system. Eight teams. That would be three rounds, to determine a national champion. It would it would add three extra weeks to the season. You could trim back on the regular season. I don't know any serious fan of college football who has disagreed with me on this. So, I'm gonna throw my weight around a little bit. I think it's the right thing to do.

This has to be at the top of the agenda. My previous post on this paramount issue here.

By Big Tent Democrat, speaking for me only

Here is Obama on 60 minutes giving the unequivocal answer we wanted to hear:

A response to this has been 'Bush said we do not torture.' My reply - Barack Obama is not George Bush. I could not ask for a better answer.

By Big Tent Democrat, speaking for me only

Josh Marshall just can not shake it. Now, I am not in favor of Hillary Clinton for Secretary of State, not because she won't do a fine job, but because I think she would be more valuable to President-Elect Obama and the nation in the Senate.

Marshall clearly opposes Clinton for State, perhaps even on the merits. But instead of making those arguments, he embraces the Clinton Derangement of the Media and the Right Wing and makes it about the Clinton Foundation:

Kroft: There are a number of different things that you could do early pertaining to executive orders. One of them is to shutdown Guantanamo Bay. Another is to change interrogation methods that are used by U.S. troops. Are those things that you plan to take early action on?

Mr. Obama: Yes. I have said repeatedly that I intend to close Guantanamo, and I will follow through on that. I have said repeatedly that America doesn't torture. And I'm gonna make sure that we don't torture. Those are part and parcel of an effort to regain America's moral stature in the world.

Obama can do these things on Day 1. Of course, closing Gitmo will take some time to do but announcing its closing can happen Day 1. And torture ("enhanced interrogation" as John Brennan describes it) can end and must end immediately. No ifs and or buts.

By Big Tent Democrat, speaking for me only

Greg Craig was named White House counsel. Marcy Wheeler is not pleased.

My take is somewhat different than Marcy's. Craig was trying to justify Barack Obama's flip flop on telecom immunity when he spouted nonsense about FISA expiring. I think he knew that what he was saying was pure nonsense. But then, the real issue is that Greg Craig does not tell the truth and thinks most of us are idiots or do not care about the truth when it comes to Obama. But, in Craig's defense, it seems true that many do not care about the truth when it comes to Obama and warrantless wiretappping, telecom immunity and other such issues. Of course, we do not know YET where Obama will end up on these issues. But I submit that that is precisely the problem.

Update - I am told that on 60 Minutes, Obama was quite forceful on the issue of torture and on closing Gitmo. This is terrific and important news. I will post a transcript and/or video when it becomes available.

By Big Tent Democrat, speaking for me only

Wisconsin's Green Bay Packers fans live for three things (four if you count wearing cheeseheads): alcohol, football championships, and beating (ideally sweeping) da Bears (in pro football's longest consecutive game rivalry). Although you are free to discuss any of those (and the links) in the comments, this post focuses upon the alcohol link. (Coincidentally, though, native Packers fans defeat native Bears fans in per capita beer consumption. We're number one!)

Wisconsinites loves us some beer. And brandy. The elitist New York Times with its fancy east coast values is aghast to learn that a 12 year old child can belly up to a Wisconsin bar and order a Miller Lite, so long as mom or dad or some reasonable facsimile is present and gives permission -- and provided the bartender will serve the kid (more likely in rural taverns where the bartenders own the place and aren't inclined to lecture their patrons about their parenting skills). Wisconsinites are equally aghast to learn that in other states, parents can't bring their children along on a tavern crawl. What kind of family values are those? [more ...]

An accurate and pointed observation by Scott Horton:

What makes a bad prosecutor? It’s simple: Does the prosecutor’s longing for the public limelight, his aspirations for public office, come to overwhelm his dedication to justice, to simply doing the right thing? It’s said that a famous chief prosecutor from Dallas, Henry Wade, summed up the thinking that goes into a really bad prosecutor like this: “any prosecutor could convict a guilty man, but ... it takes a real pro to convict an innocent man.”

Good prosecutors go about their jobs by blending duty, respect for the law and ethics with compassion and understanding. Average prosecutors just try to muddle through the day without upsetting the boss or a judge. There are many more good and average prosecutors than there are bad ones (although the bad ones are far from a tiny minority).

A few prosecutors stand out in their dedication to justice. Horton and the Wall Street Journal both call attention to a district attorney who has been repeatedly praised at TalkLeft: Craig Watkins in Dallas. [more ...]

Tell us what they are yakking about (Hillary at State). I'll be back this evening hopefully.

Oh by the way, how about them Gators?!

One last thing, here is Glenn Greenwald concern trolling again on John Brennan. (I am joking about the concern trollling. I was attacked last week by the Obama Bots for voicing the same concerns.)

This is an Open Thread.