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As David already discussed, constitutional-law expert Jonathan Turley joined Rachel last night to discuss the fate of top Bush administration figures involved in "harsh interrogation techniques." The White House has indicated that Bush will not be issuing blanket pardons, but the Wall Street Journal later reported that that's because it's "unnecessary" to do so.

Turley makes a critical point in the interview -- namely, that the moral burden of torture is on the backs of each one of us until these people are brought to justice. And it will be profoundly immoral to let them go:

"We have third world countries that when they have found that their leaders committed torture war crimes, they prosecuted them. But the most successful democracy in history is just, I think, about to see war crimes, do nothing about it. And that's an indictment not just of George Bush and his administration. It's the indictment of all of us if we walk away from a clear war crime and say it's time for another commission."

Turley lays out a powerful case that's pretty hard to argue with. A wave of reconciliation and forgiveness seems to be sweeping Washington, but sanctioning torture and destroying America's moral credibility around the world is something that can't simply be ignored. I'm not opposed to a commission per se, but the commission MUST be granted sweeping investigatory powers and a mandate to prosecute any and all wrongdoing found to have been committed. Anything less is unacceptable.

Full transcript below the fold:

(h/t Heather)

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Empirically speaking, Barack Obama possesses a special kind of charisma that inspires and uplifts people, as evidenced by the talk of an Obama baby boom due to the euphoria surrounding his election. What I don't get is the diametrically opposite reaction that the Clintons, both separately and together, seem to evoke in The Villagers. Chris Matthews' obsession is long documented, and there's no one better to get your unhinged, irrational Clinton hatred on with than the drink-soaked popinjay Christopher Hitchens.

Let's keep score, shall we? Hitch is the guy that has been cheerleading the Iraq invasion and occupation (still does, as you can see from the video). Cheering arguably the biggest blunder of foreign policy we've ever committed and one that most people understand to be an epic fail. And he's on to criticize Bill Clinton--who will NOT be a member of Obama's cabinet--and while highly imperfect, did manage to lead the country to a prosperity and global status that we can only distantly and fondly remember. Why? Doesn't his continued support of our actions in Iraq speak for his judgment and grasp on reality?

And can I just object right here and now to the misogynistic and patronizing framing? Apparently the meme is that Hillary is too ambitious and self-serving to actually serve Obama's agenda. Based on what? Running a bare knuckle campaign? I don't think that if his primary rival had been a man that this would come up at all. The media was falling all over itself to talk about how cordial the meeting between Obama and McCain was yesterday. And what does it imply about Obama's strength that the assumption is that Hillary would railroad him (presumably with Bill, because to hear the media talk, you'd assume they were some sort of Machiavellian conjoined twins)? It's completely insulting on many levels.

The back-stabbing Bill and Hillary meme (one entirely conceived by GOP strategists, dutifully regurgitated in the media and swallowed sadly all-too-often by otherwise smart liberals) has gotten so out of hand that as Eric Boehlert reports for Media Matters, Fox News is already openly contemplating how Obama needs to fire her. For a job that (as of this writing) she has not been announced for and that does not take effect for another two months. Strike anyone else as premature?

From emailed press release:

MSNBC has voted for four more years of Keith Olbermann and the top-rated "Countdown with Keith Olbermann," it was announced today by Phil Griffin, President, MSNBC. The new four-year agreement calls for Olbermann to continue as host of "Countdown;" additionally, Olbermann will play a prominent role in MSNBC's coverage of all major news events. He will also continue to co-host NBC's "Football Night in America" studio show.

"Keith Olbermann is at the core of MSNBC's current success," said Griffin. "'Countdown' is our signature program and I'm thrilled that we're going to be able to bring it to Keith's loyal viewers for another four year term."

"I'm delighted that we can continue to lock Countdown into the nation's political dialogue through at least the next election," said Olbermann. "Personally, I noticed that as of about six weeks ago, I'd been doing this show longer than I did SportsCenter, so it's delightful to have a true home."

In October 2008, "Countdown with Keith Olbermann" had its best month ever in the key Adults 25-54 demographic, and is up a tremendous 170 percent in A25-54 from Oct. 2007 and up 180 percent in total viewers. "Countdown" continued its dominance over CNN at 8 p.m., out-rating "Campbell Brown" by 35 percent in A25-54 and 41 percent in total viewers. Excluding coverage of the presidential debates, "Countdown" is the #3 top-rated show in cable news in A25-54. "Countdown" is also the #1 cable news show among young viewers, Adults 18-34.

Since the last presidential election in 2004, "Countdown" has seen dramatic ratings increases, up a huge 238 percent among Adults 25-54 and 206 percent in total viewers.

Congratulations, Keith! I like to think that C&L played a small part in your success.

Sadly, this news comes not without some detractors. Broadcasting & Cable worries that without a Bush administration to be outraged by, Keith and fellow "liberal darling" Rachel Maddow will be without boffo ratings material. Talk about being laughably clueless. It wasn't partisan rantings that made viewers come to MSNBC, it was having someone intelligently cover the news and provide context instead of dutifully regurgitating White House talking points. I am sure that Keith (and Rachel...and The Daily Show, come to that) will find ample news to keep viewers interested. And I'm sure that there will be moments of criticism towards the Obama administration as well. We're not blinded by partisan loyalty on our side.

Want further proof that honest coverage of news is appreciated? Look at this slideshow of the Obamas and Bidens on Election Night. What channel is the Obama team watching? Hint: It's not Fox. I'm just sayin'...

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While talking about the new administration, Joe Scarborough was talking them up by saying these aren't the kind of people to "flip you off" or say "f--- you", except there weren't any dashes in what he said. A few minutes later he starts to apologize about it, but Mika didn't think he actually said it. Well it turns out he did and they even got tons of emails about it.

This isn't Joe's first time doing this. Yesterday was the two year anniversary of him dropping another F-Bomb while talking with Tucker Carlson.

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Already Barack Obama is changing the world, as MSNBC's Jim Maceda says there is a "global euphoria" about President-elect Barack Obama:

Maceda: I've covered a few U.S. presidential elections from abroad and I have never, ever seen anything that comes close to this kind of global euphoria, be they local nationals here in Britain or in France.

Maceda goes on to talk about the disrespect American's have been experiencing overseas and says that has been lifted with the elections of Obama.

Keith's final Campaign Comment imagines an alternative, parallel reality where Barack Obama made the verbal gaffes that McCain has made and poses the question, would Obama be considered a realistic candidate for the office? And if not, why should anyone consider McCain a realistic candidate?

We all know exactly what would be happening tonight if Senator Obama had made all those mistakes, contradictions, gaffes, Freudian slips, and hypocritical pronouncements. He would have long since ceased to be taken seriously by any measurable part of the voting public, as a viable, responsible, self-aware, mentally vigorous, non-dangerous, non-risk. We'd all be going home to our beds well before midnight tomorrow night.

But while all that is hypothetical, this is not: This cascade of incompetence and irresponsibility I have enumerated tonight -- all the sound bites, all the foot-in-mouth moments, all the no-brainers-gone-wrong - all these, John McCain has said. No hyperbole and no hypotheses are required.

This is who John McCain has showed us he is.

Transcripts below the fold:

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All's fair in love, war and politics for Chris Matthews. And there is one particular theme that he just can't seem to let go of, and he's asked absolutely every guest on Hardball for the last week the same thing, as evidenced by this clip from last Wednesday: Doesn't John McCain deserve respect or credit for not invoking Reverend Wright in the waning days of the campaign?

Think about that. McCain has flailed wildly over the last few months, calling Obama a friend to terrorists, a socialist, a Marxist, a communist among many, many other attempts at smears, but somehow we're all supposed to be impressed that he doesn't bring up Rev. Wright? Nevermind that he has 527 support doing it for him, the fact that McCain himself doesn't say anything is praiseworthy to Chris Matthews. Should we likewise be impressed that McCain hasn't actively encouraged his supporters to call Obama the n-word, even though they've managed very well on their own? What other non-actions should we praise McCain for, Tweety?

Meanwhile, whatever restraint McCain may have displayed in this matter was utterly nullified by the massive last-minute ad buy by Republicans, running an anti-Obama ad featuring Wright, that ran incessantly on cable TV (notably MSNBC) the last couple of days.

And finally, though I know C&L readers already know this, but I harbor a secret hope that a Hardball producer reads C&L and can maybe just clear this up for Matthews, as he has bought the Fox-driven Rev. Wright smear hook, line and sinker, here is the full context of the snippet that FNS played over and over to show Wright's "anti-American hatred." I would hope that if Matthews had actually ever saw this video, that he'd admire McCain's reticence just a little bit less.

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Rachel Maddow goes through some of the dirty tricks we've already seen happening in various locations across the country and empowers us all to not let anyone steal your vote.

After eight years of perhaps the most incompetent government in American history, we‘ve got one way to fix it now, one way to exchange a president who is more despised by his own people than any other president in the time that polls existed. Choose who you will, but do not give up the power to choose by letting anyone or anything stop you from voting.

Transcripts below the fold

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It's getting harder and harder to be a Republican flack these days. Poor Ed "Who the F@&# is that guy?" Rogers summons up his very best Lee Atwater training to throw whatever he can at Barack Obama, but the uncharacteristically pugnacious Bob Shrum isn't having it.

Even Chris Matthews is finding the whole thing laughable:

ED ROGERS: Obama, rather, is able to get away with platitudes. He says things like, you know, we‘re for justice, and we‘re for peace, and we‘re for prosperity.

MATTHEWS: No, he says unity. (LAUGHTER) He says unity.

ROGERS: Unity is a platitude.

MATTHEWS: It is?

ROGERS: Yes, it is. (CROSSTALK)

MATTHEWS: Well, why doesn‘t your party use it?

Oh boy, that's just not flying, Eddie, is it? Undaunted, Rogers launches into the tired redistribution of income meme (Um, hello, Ed? Social Security, Medicare, fire departments, police departments...what do you think those are, you hack?), claiming that Obama doesn't have a plan--just an ideological belief.

Teh stoopid, it hurts. What is "you don't raise taxes" except ideological mumbo jumbo, especially when McCain is spinning mightily to distance himself from Bush?

ROGERS: McCain is a legitimate opponent of the status quo in Washington, period. He should get credit for that. He always has been. He‘s not for more of the same. And, yet...

MATTHEWS: He said he supports the Bush tax cuts.

Seriously, Ed. This desperate flailing about just isn't working. Even Chris Matthews, for whom politics trumps all, isn't buying it.

Transcripts at MSNBC.

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On Morning Joe, Peggy Noonan said, "I am not one of those 'you must vote' people." This should come as no shock since Republicans always lose when we have a larger turnout, but her argument is that voters should be more educated. She even raises the question of rather the vote of an 18 year old should count the same as a 70 year old business owner.

A simple question to Noonan. What would become a good caliper for judging the level of knowledge before someone could vote? Would it consist of knowing the duties of the Vice-President?

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Appearing on Morning Joe, Lawrence Eagleburger was going full force at rolling out the old GOP talking point that Barack Obama doesn't have the foreign policy experience to be Commander in Chief. Lawrence O'Donnell quickly fired back asking about the foreign policy experiences of governors Reagan and Bush. Eagleburger tried to avoid the question by saying "what's your point?", but O'Donnell pressed until Eagleburger changed his talking point to saying he "didn't agree" with the foreign policy of their opponents.

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Above all else, Chris Matthews loves the game of politics. As show after show prove, he makes no value judgments, applies no moral compass. Playing the game well is admirable, even if your character is not. But every once in a while, reality creeps into the discussion and Matthews reacts to the net result of treating life as a game of partisan one-upsmanship. Such as it was on Monday, as Matthews spoke to conservative talk show host Michael Smerconish -- who rather surprisingly endorsed Obama last week -- about Rush Limbaugh's racist reaction to Colin Powell's endorsement of Obama.

I don't know how you get into this tribalist talk. We could make all kinds of assumptions, but we have no knowledge of a person's inner beliefs. ... You know what drives me crazy? When somebody says 'well, I know you're Catholic, so you must believe this.' Or 'I know you're Jewish, you must believe this.' Or 'I know you're black, you must believe this.' Give us all a break, Rush. Let us think. Let us think. Let us decide.

I'd like to think that he is waking up to the nastiness of the right but sadly, as my buddies at MM's Country Fair point out, Chris Matthews has a history of "tribalist talk" himself.

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Due to the ongoing hatred and vile nature of the McCarthy McCain/Palin campaign and Republican politicians and pundits, Keith Olbermann is moved yet again to another Special Comment. This time, Olbermann castigates the entire notion 'Us vs. Them' notion that the Republican Party mouthpieces have been perpetuating in their support for John McCain's candidacy. And worse, for someone who has made his ability to reach across the aisle in a bipartisan manner a mainstay of his campaign, John McCain's allowing his proxies to divide Americans into "good" and "bad" camps shows how far he has slid from his "maverick" days.

(Senator McCain,) I disagree with you on virtually every major point of policy and practice.

And yet I do not think you "anti-America." I would not hesitate to join you in time of crisis in defense of this country.

Fortunately you did not echo this chorus of base hatred.

But neither have you repudiated it.

What is "pro-America", Senator?

Transcripts below the fold:

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Norah O'Donnell was in Kansas City, Missouri during the debate yesterday with a panel of undecided voters. Their responsiveness to the candidates on the specific issues of McCain's invoking of Bill Ayers and Obama's tying McCain to George Bush was emblematic of the greater take on the debate as a whole.

Look at the red line signifying registered Republicans. As McCain goes on the attack about Ayers, it drops below the horizon into negative territory, side by side with the Independent vote. As the voter O'Donnell interviewed said, the whole Ayers issue has been dealt with and it's just beating a dead horse.

But more telling, look at that same red Republican line when Obama says that the country can't afford another 8 years of Bush policies. Up, up, up! No matter how petulantly McCain tries to distance himself from Bush, it's clear that the voters aren't buying it for a minute.

Holy FSM, I love Rachel Maddow. And not in a little way; I mean pick-her-up-and-carry-her-on-my-shoulders kind of love. And I love her even more for the gracious way that she deals with neo-con former Bush speechwriter David Frum.

Frum, who unbelievably has the nerve to sit in judgment of anyone when his carefully crafted propaganda led us into an unnecessary war, employs the Republican tried and true method of creating false equivalencies to defend the indefensible tactics of the McCain campaign. And his target isn't the expected Barack Obama or even Bill Clinton, but Rachel Maddow herself.

That's right. Frum -- who by the way, has only a glancing relationship with facts -- has the bad manners in addition to flawed thought processes to tell Maddow that using snark and humor in her news show brings down the national dialogue just as much as McCain and Palin's race baiting and fear mongering.

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