The barbarization of America continues unabated. Here are a few basic, simple, easy –to-understand news items as illustrations.

Via Digby, a one-stop shop for information about the criminality and lunacy of the republican Party:

Who could have ever predicted this?

Attorney General Michael Mukasey refused Friday to give Congress details of the government's investigation into interrogations of terror suspects that were videotaped and destroyed by the CIA. He said doing so could raise questions about whether the inquiry is vulnerable to political pressure.

In letters Friday to leaders of the House and Senate Judiciary committees that oversee the Justice Department, Mukasey also said there is no need right now to appoint a special prosecutor to lead the investigation. The preliminary inquiry currently is being handled by the Justice Department and the CIA's inspector general.

"I am aware of no facts at present to suggest that department attorneys cannot conduct this inquiry in an impartial manner," Mukasey wrote to Sens. Patrick Leahy of Vermont and Arlen Specter of Pennsylvania, the top Democrat and Republican, respectively, on the Senate Judiciary Committee. "If I become aware of information that leads me to a different conclusion, I will act on it."

That’s right. The nation’s Top Law Enforcement officer™ who used to teach law at a prestigious law school, and who has spent 18 years on the bench deciding legal matters, has no idea what torture is, even though what constitutes torture is enumerated in the laws of the United States.

I’m not a lawyer. I don’t pretend to be one, but I learned in my first year of college, while studying Constitutional Law, that International Treaties entered into by the United States are laws binding upon the nation, and have the effect of law inside the country. It’s true, you could look it up. It’s in the second paragraph of Article VI.

Meanwhile the House votes on a bill outlawing torture, and 189 members of the political party of G_d hisownself vote against outlawing the torture.

WASHINGTON (AP) — The House approved an intelligence bill Thursday that would prohibit the CIA from using waterboarding, mock executions and other harsh interrogation methods.

The 222-199 vote sent the measure to the Senate, which still must act before it can go to President Bush. The White House has threatened a veto.

An awake man would find it fascinating that members of the largest criminal enterprise in the United States today endorse the actions of Heinrich Himmler and Tomoyuki Yamashita.

Down here in the 18th Century we’re having a big legal discussion about whether it’s right to chain up juveniles when they’re brought into court.

U.S. District Judge Donald Middlebrooks…considers the legality of Palm Beach County's policy of shackling all children brought into juvenile courts on criminal charges.

In a two-hour hearing Friday, Middlebrooks struggled to understand exactly when and why shackles are used and what Public Defender Carey Haughwout would suggest to assure others in the courtroom remain safe if the shackles are removed.

Haughwout, who filed the federal lawsuit in August after her pleas to county juvenile judges and an appeals court failed, said she was prepared to have lawyers testify about how the policy prevents children from getting a fair trial and the psychological trauma it heaps on youngsters, many of whom are poor and have suffered from lifetimes of abuse.

However, rather than discussing – you know – the actual fucking issues, Judge Middlebrooks appears to have been distracted by the issue of whether the process has been properly served.

Instead, the hearing centered mostly on thorny legal issues of whether the lawsuit was filed properly and whether Haughwout has other options - short of federal intervention - that could resolve the issue.

"What federal right are you seeking to impose to take the unusual step of a federal court telling a state court how to act?" Middlebrooks asked.

Haughwout said her office has tried to persuade juvenile court judges that most youngsters aren't a threat, that they don't need to be restrained with leg irons and handcuffs that are secured to a chain around their waists.

Sure. Why would we worry about prejudicing the jury if we can brutalize the kiddies? Those of us who actually have memories that span more than four days remember the last time a Federal court was asked to decide a local matter.

You’ll be surprised to learn that children charged as adults (yes, we do that down here) are treated more humanely.

[T]eens charged with such serious crimes that they are tried as adults are treated more gently. Adults are restrained only with leg irons. That means they can hold documents, write notes to their attorneys, wipe tears from their eyes or blow their noses.

Tears? They actually allow these criminals to cry? Disgraceful!

Charles Fahlbusch, an assistant attorney general who represents the Department of Juvenile Justice, said the configuration of courtrooms makes it easier to control adults. Adult offenders waiting for hearings are seated in jury boxes with sheriff's deputies at each end. There are no jury boxes in juvenile courtrooms, he said.

That’s what we need in juvenile courts! Holding pens.

But, according to America’s foremost expert on the handling of children, chaining them up is the proper solution. On Thursday night, Bill O’Reilly, the 21st century’s answer to Cotton Mather, proclaimed that it is appropriate to chain up children in the basement for 18 months if they dare to send photos of themselves to their friends. Crooks and Liars has the video clip and the money quote.

Bill, steer out of this skid quickly - very quickly! Right now you’re getting worked up over the thought of chaining naked 13 year old girls in the cellar for maybe 18 months. Stop while you still can!”

The image must be more exciting than a wet hard loofah to this pervert.