With clear definitions in place those in charge of interrogation will have the guidance needed to do their jobs. No more guessing or relying on competing legal theories.

I hope the President signs this bill. It's not that I necessarily agree with it but it serves the country well to know what the rules are.

It's not so fun when the flip flop is on the other foot.

As I said James, you're going to get a lot of practice between now and Nov 5.

Real torture is watching liberals(in either party) slowly destroy this country with their nihilistic secular religion.

Getting rid of the CIA might not be a bad idea. You should check out Legacy of Ashes by Tim Weiner.

Also, the State Department's intelligence service was the only one that was correct about Iraq not possessing WMD and about Hussein not having any significant links to al-Qaeda.

The diplomats will use their skills to sweet talk all they come in contact with so there will be no possible chance that anyone would want to attack the US. Kumbaya.

Keep spinning, James. As Kevin Drum points out, McCain clearly knows what he has to do to shore up the rather angry and unconvinced base of the Republican party. I give you full marks for your ability to ignore the obvious, but regardless of whether he technically has enough votes to "wrap up" the nomination, you'd have to be deaf and blind to not notice the rather large number of discontents within the Republican ranks.

And this statement of yours, it now appeals to the swing voters he'll need in November. ??? Torture appeals to the swing voters? In what reality do you live in? If you really believe that by weaseling on torture McCain is appealing to swing voters, I guess you mean the swing voters within his own party.

I attended Frank Luntz's dial group of 30 undecided — or sort of undecided — Republicans in St. Petersburg, Florida, last night...and it was a fairly astonishing evening. Now, for the uninitiated: dials are little hand-held machines that enable a focus group member to register instantaneous approval or disapproval as the watch a candidate on TV.

....When John McCain started talking about torture — specifically, about waterboarding — the dials plummeted again....Down to the low 20s, which, given the natural averaging of a focus group, is about as low as you can go. Afterwards, Luntz asked the group why they seemed to be in favor of torture. "I don't have any problem pouring water on the face of a man who killed 3000 Americans on 9/11," said John Shevlin, a retired federal law enforcement officer. The group applauded, appallingly.

As Kevin points out, McCain needs those pro-torture votes in the Republican base that are rather pissed off with him. He knows which side of his bread is buttered...

Still, keep the spin up James. Practice makes perfect.

I figure you're gonna need to be doing a lot of this "explaining" by the time Nov 5 rolls around.

McCain has vocally and consistently worked to limit torture, even though it has been damaging to him politically. It would be odd, to say the least, to suddenly switch positions now that he's got the nomination wrapped up and it now appeals to the swing voters he'll need in November.

Keep hope alive, James. Keep hope alive.

I figure you're gonna need to be doing a lot of this "explaining" by the time Nov 5 rolls around.