Glenn Greenwald writes a very good, nuanced piece on what was good and not so good from the Obama Administration yesterday on the torture issue. I also liked Digby's statement:

All of these cases were brought about by public and political pressure. It occurs to me that this is the only way it can happen in our broken political system --- that a president never willingly investigates itself, of course, but also never wants to investigate its predecessor either (the Democrats usually for fear of starting an endless vendetta, the Republicans usually for fear of setting a precedent.) They must be made to do it.

With respect to the Bush torture regime, it's obviously very difficult for the administration to take on the intelligence community unless there is a large public constituency demanding action. It's risky on all the levels mentioned above but also risks alienating a very important bureaucracy with a lot of very special power. I recognize that it's not easy, especially for a Democrat, although I think it's so important to the future security of the nation that I would have hoped the president would use some of his political capital to prove that the United States is a country of laws not men.

Speaking for me only. This is an Open Thread.

I watched Keith Olbermann's Special Comment and Jonathan Turley's appearance on Rachel Maddow's show and they both make a compelling case for prosecution on the torture issue.

And yet . . . I can't bring myself to condemn Obama on this. My stomach is churning about it and I want at least a Truth Commission but I am having a hard time blasting Obama on this. I am continuing to cogitate on the matter. For the record, my first post as a FPer at daily kos was about torture and Alberto Gonzales. So shouldn't I be outraged? Yes, and yet I can empathize with Obama here. Maybe I shouldn't, but I do.

You folks reach any conclusions? In any event, here is an Open Thread.

Low wattage tv tonight -- only American Idol for me. Who's going home?

Update: Matt and Lil Rounds in bottom two. I think Matt should go home. Update: Matt's at the bottom, and the Judges save him -- Simon very reluctantly. The other six cheer. Why? Now two will get sent home next week. This new "save" business is silly.

I see the Obamas filed their tax return. The White House has released it here (pdf). Aside from his high income, I find it interesting that Malia's and Sasha's tuition for the year cost $47,000. President Obama also announced plans to simply the tax code to remove the dread from April 15.

Update: We're getting 12-18 inches of snow beginning tomorrow. No spring for us.

This is an open thread, all topics welcome.

I know we are supposed to be making fun of the Tea Party thing, and they are significantly compromised by being so associated with the Republican Party, but I have to give credit for citizens getting involved in the debate. Sure it's forwarded by GOP astroturfing, and it would be silly to ascribe any political significance to it (after all, even under the most generous estimates, the nationwide totals will be around 20,000 "protesters" (who voted for Republicans in the 2008 election) in a country of 300 million), but I can not bring myself to ridicule folks who are arguing for their viewpoint.

This is an Open Thread.

What's as dreaded as going to the dentist? How about the moment before you open your tax return after getting it back from the accountant and finding out how much money you owe?

American Idol begins here in just a few moments. Dancing With the Stars (elimination night) and Biggest Loser (makeover night) should also be good.

What's on your agenda or mind this evening?

This is an open thread, all topics welcome.

Is anyone besides me watching Dancing With the Stars or "24" tonight? If not, what are you watching?

This is an open thread.

While I recognize Tiger is the greatest golfer of all time and I root for Lefty, could CBS' coverage of the Masters have been more embarrassingly fawning yesterday? Tiger never really had even an outside shot to win and after Mickleson took a 5 at the 12th, he was pretty much done too. There were 3 guys well ahead of them and it seemed as if CBS was rooting for them to fail. Really bad broadcasting. In the end, it was an anticlimactic finish, as Kenny Perry kicked away a 2 shot lead with 2 to play and Cabrera basically parred his way to victory. Pretty lousy tourney overall.

This is an Open Thread.

What's on your menu today? Martha Stewart is cooking:

Ham from costco,lemon meringue pie,rack of lamb,scalloped potatoes,artichokes,asparagus etc.

Why Costco hams? Martha tweets:

Hams are antibiotic free,lightly smoked over applewood-very similar in taste to the good old Kurowycky hams no longer made

I'm not a ham eater or a vegetarian (although I made Kitchari today (split moong beans and basmati rice -- with tumeric, cinnamon sticks, cardomon pods, bay leaves, cloves, cilantro and ginger heated in ghee).

What do vegetarians eat on Easter? Check out Vegan Soul Power by a vegan law student --it's filled with great photos and what looks like good recipes.

Here's an open thread. What's the best thing you cooked or ate today? Or, talk about something else, your choice.

Someone is on TV talking about politics. I regret to say I do not know who. And now for something completely different - the Obamas get a dog:

The first family has settled on a first pet -- a 6-month-old Portuguese water dog that the Obama girls are naming Bo. The selection was one of the White House's most tightly kept secrets. President Barack Obama's daughters, 10-year-old Malia and 7-year-old Sasha, picked a black and white pup, a White House official speaking on the condition of anonymity told The Associated Press Saturday night. The dog is a gift from Sen. Edward M. Kennedy, D-Mass., who owns several Portuguese water dogs himself.

(Emphasis supplied.) Happy Easter to the observant.

Tiger double bogied the first hole today in the third round of The Masters. You can watch the play at Amen Corner and 15 and 16 at the link. TV coverage starts at 3:30 pm EST.

This is an Open Thread.

.... maybe you were kidnapped,
Tied-up, taken away, and held for ransom

That's me today only thankfully, unlike Captain Phillips, I'm imprisoned only by motions and tax return deadlines.

Anyone remember Grand Funk Railroad and "I'm Your Captain"? A better version is available here. (link got truncated, now fixed.)

This is an open thread, all topics welcome.

The Masters started today. All eyes on Tiger. I root for the Spanish brat, Sergio. And Lefty. But watching Tiger is watching the greatest golfer of all time and it is not even close (Nicklaus comes next on longevity grounds, Hogan on peak performance in '53.)

This is an Open Thread.