The torture question

With Hayden confirmed as CIA director, I have to wonder whether and how he answered Senator Feinstein's question on waterboarding, if he feels its use is acceptable in interrogation. Not that I'm obsessed with that tactic in particular, mind you, but because it gets at the important constitutional question of the validity of Presidential signing statements.

The Senate has abdicated its responsibility to maintain a balance of power if it did not get a straight answer on the question, as it ought to at every opportunity remind the administration that our system is one ruled by laws, not fiat.