The XX Factor: What women really think.

Politics in the New Era of Responsibility

Thanks, Dahlia, I knew Cornyn was playing games with Hillary's Cabinet confirmation (first his delay over transparency, then being swayed in a “private conversation”).  Now I know why: Just a little demonstration of how we play hardball up on the Hill, Mr. Obama.

Holder’s testimony that waterboarding is indeed torture opened the way for legal consequences for interrogation techniques used under the previous administration. Now Cornyn wants the attorney general nominee to walk back the cat by agreeing to not prosecute. The problem for the Texas Republican senator is he just looks like a thug. Like Secretary of State Clinton, Holder will be confirmed with or without Cornyn’s support. I imagine the torture investigations will make their way through one or two newly constituted committees in the 111th Congress, so the terribly busy new Justice Department won't need to waste resources for a while. Cornyn's weeklong delay of Holder is so bullyish, though, I'm tempted to say, let the witch hunt begin.