Interesting Daily Kos diary on "English Only" / English as official language efforts over our history. Contra to a stupid bit on Al Franken, these things also are not just pointless symbolic moves. As shown in the 2000 election with complaints about the lack of adequate translators at polling booths, the Senate provision can very well block translation of essential materials in various government related contexts. If it has no effect, and the proposed measure does reject translations when not otherwise required by law, the Kos diary still suggests why its a bad idea.
The editors at the Washington Post, at times bashed as being too soft on Bush, is on point respecting Gen. Hayden's refusal to say in open session if waterboarding was an acceptable interrogation technique.
The right one would have been simple: No. ... What's more, his administration has quietly taken the view that waterboarding could actually be consistent with a ban on cruel, degrading and inhumane treatment. Now Gen. Hayden refuses in public to forswear the use of such barbaric treatment. The damage done by such silence to America's global standing and long-term interests is incalculable.
The Washington Post also had an interesting article on "Military Prison's Closure Is Urged" by the U.N. It also referenced the recent rioting in Gitmo, raising an "A-Team" like moment and a new term for me, "sponge grenade." Also, an "earning my paycheck moment" by Tony Snow: "everything that is done in terms of questioning detainees is fully within the boundaries of American law."
On a lighter note, Thailand (no surprise) has a "Miss Tiffany" beauty contest starring transvestites. Not bad. It's hard to be a woman sometimes, especially for a man.