Quote of the Day

Joan Walsh

...the other GOP hypocrite has-been, Newt Gingrich, insists “the House has an absolute obligation to open an inquiry” into whether Pelosi is lying about the CIA lying to her. "I don't think the speaker of the House can lie to the country on national security matters," Newt intoned. Let’s get this straight: Gingrich and cronies oppose an investigation into whether the Bush-Cheney administration broke the laws against torture and also lied about it, but they’re pushing an investigation into whether Pelosi lied about whether the CIA lied? I see.

This is what's so insane about the Nancy Pelosi fracas: yes, she probably lied and deserves to be taken to task for it. But the reason Republicans are skewering her with such glee is that it gives them an out; they don't have to talk about the issue at hand, which is whether torture is morally wrong, whether it violates our nation's principles and blackens our reputation, or whether we should be angry that the previous administration lied and prevaricated on the subject for years. No, they just want to call Nancy Pelosi a moron and demand her resignation. Because, you know, lying is worse than...torturing and lying. Ladies and gentlemen, this is your Grand Old Party.