Via Glenn Greenwald, Scott Horton discusses the recent uncoerced confession by George W. Bush of war crimes:

Sure, we waterboarded Khalid Shaikh Mohammed, former President George W. Bush reportedly said on Tuesday.

Horton reports on the reaction to this by former CENTCOM commander Joseph Hoar:

Waterboarding is torture. John McCain has said it’s torture. We have prosecuted foreign and American military personnel for waterboarding. We even prosecuted a sheriff in Texas for waterboarding. Waterboarding is torture and torture is a crime. [. . .] It is shocking that former President George W. Bush said he would use waterboarding ‘again [. . .]

In our names.

Speaking for me only

According to news reports in Peru, Joran Van der Sloot's mother, Anita Van der Sloot, is heading to Peru to support her son. (Google translation here.)

The article also states Joran will be moved to Miguel Castro Castro prison after being charged and sentenced. (My prior post on the prison is here. )Authorities have delayed his trip to the hotel to walk them through events due to security. It is now scheduled for tomorrow.

In other reports, Joran's Dutch attorney says Joran told his mother his confession was coerced.

More thread.

Florida Governor Charlie Crist, running for Senate as an Independent after facing sure defeat in a GOP primary, now faces an important decision:

After more than five weeks of waiting, Florida Governor Charlie Crist now has the most controversial bill of the 2010 Florida legislative session; and he promises a quick decision. The health care bill includes amendments that would require women seeking an abortion during the first trimester to undergo an ultrasound exam and pay for it. The bill would also require women to view the live ultrasound image or have it described by a doctor unless they could prove they were victims of rape, incest, or domestic violence.

Crist can solidify support with women, Democrats and moderate indies by vetoing the bill. As for the bill itself, it is a disgraceful intrusion on women's privacy. And it is unnecessary for enforcing the Hyde Amendment type restrictions already current Florida law. As the Palm Beach Post Ed Board explained:

Writing about the America's Future Now! conference going on in DC this week, David Dayen writes:

Surly is about the best word to describe this conference in Washington after the first day. Speaker after speaker excoriated the trajectory from the political sphere as too accommodating, too solicitous, and not enough. [. . .] Attendees expressed that they can no longer – if they ever could have – expect this Administration to do the right thing, and that they must be pushed aggressively from the outside. “Uncomfortable” was a word I heard a lot. “When you treat Chris Dodd and Barney Frank like they’re your buddies, you’re doing it wrong,” said Rob Johnson, economist with the Roosevelt Institute. “You have to get under their skin. They are part of that resilient structure in DC.”

Dayen complains that no real "solutions" have been offered. Perhaps so. But in my view it is important that this message - that pols are pols and do what they do - be absorbed and accepted. If this conference is spreading that message, it is doing a good thing. Yes, 'then what?' is an obvious question. But the first step to solving a problem is recognizing that it exists.

Comments closed. Please continue the discussion in the new open thread.

Speaking for me only

The runoff election for the Democratic nomination for Senate in Arkansas is today. Bill Halter appears to be the favorite over incumbent Blanche Lincoln.

The Celtics host the Lakers in Game 3 of the NBA Finals tonight. The series is tied 1-1.

The World Cup starts in just 3 days.

Open Thread.

The jury in the Rod and Robert Blagojevich trial will be picked this morning.

Then, opening arguments will begin. The prosecutor is expected to be low-key and to the point. Team Blago lawyer, Sam Adams likely will take longer, and he'll tell a story. The opening argument is like the preview of coming attractions in the movies. It's what you expect the evidence to show. Adams will be fired up. He's a story-teller.

If I lived in Chicago, I'd try to attend every day. it will be interesting, particularly when the co-operators testify, all of whom got sweetheart deals in exchange for testimony that sinks Blagojevich.

I'm rooting for Blago. And his brother Robert. Among the things you might not have know about Blago's accomplishments in office: [More..]

El Comercio.pe is reporting Joran Van Der Sloot has confessed to killing Stephany Flores. [Google translation here.] Keep in mind the Google translations are very poor.

The motive, according to the report: When he came back from getting coffee, she was examining his computer looking for information about Natalee Holloway, he got angry, snapped, grabbed her and killed her. The report says she died instantly.

The video is in Spanish, but it includes photos of the hotel room and what purports to be Stephany's body on the floor, fully dressed. (Would they show that, or is it a re-enactment?) She's fully dressed.

NBC now repeating the story here, which it says it got from La Republica here (Google translation here.) [More...]

There was a big explosion here just before dinner as a power sub-station blew about 1/2 mile away.

An Xcel power substation near National Jewish Hospital and Rose Medical Center exploded about 6:30 p.m. knocking out power to more than 37,000 customers, causing traffic jams and bringing curious spectators out across much of east Denver.

The explosion sent flames shooting 70 feet into the sky, said Denver Fire Lt. Phil Champagne. At 7:30 p.m. the flames were under control, Champagne said.

The TL kid was driving down the street from it and said there were two really loud booms and then flames and black smoke shot up really high in the sky. I was on the phone and didn't even hear it, but my power has been going on and off all night.

This is the second time in three weeks Xcel has had major problems. At least I have my iPad with its 10 hour battery and 3G for when the wi-fi goes out.

In any event, as I check on the news I've missed, here's an open thread, all topics welcome.

Update 6/7/10, 10:30 pm: Peru news reports say Joran has confessed, details here.

*****

I'm still following the confusing reports from Peru on Joran Van der Sloot. My Spanish is getting better by the day because the Google and other online translators are pretty awful, and I've found that by reading the Spanish, I get a more accurate sense, even accounting for the words I don't know. Also, their pronouns are often wrong and in the wrong place making it hard to figure out who they are talking about. It's clearer to me reading the Spanish.

That said, while I can understand most of the written Spanish, I'm not able to translate it into English, so especially when pressed for time (like now) I may move to summaries, with links to the Spanish. From what I gather today: [More..]

Just when I thought I was out, they pulled me back in. Reburied workwise.

Open Thread.

Update (TL): I'm off to the jail. I'll miss Charlie Sheen's plea coverage at 4pm MT. Last night's post with what's expected to happen is here.

***

Original Post: Agency Drops Helen Thomas For Israel Remarks

Via Politico, Helen Thomas' agency, Nine Speakers, has dropped her as a client due to her recent remarks on Israel.

It is with a heavy heart that Nine Speakers, Inc. announces its resignation as the agent for Helen Thomas, Dean of the White House Press Corps.

Ms. Thomas has had an esteemed career as a journalist, and she has been a trailblazer for women, helping others in her profession, and beyond. However, in light of recent events, Nine Speakers is no longer able to represent Ms. Thomas, nor can we condone her comments on the Middle East. Nine Speakers will continue to enthusiastically represent all of our other current and future clients.

At least one of their other clients, Craig Crawford, says the agency made the right decision. Others highly critical of Thomas: Lanny Davis and Ari Fleischer. [More...]