The document, released Monday by the Justice Department, says one interrogator said a colleague had told Khalid Sheikh Mohammed that if any other attacks happened in the United States, “We’re going to kill your children.”

Another interrogator allegedly tried to convince a different terror suspect detainee that his mother would be sexually assaulted in front of him – though the interrogator in question denied making such a threat.

Attorney General Eric Holder will appoint a prosecutor to decide whether anti-torture laws were broken in prisoner abuse cases involving CIA interrogators and contractors. Holder will reportedly name John Durham to lead the inquiry. Durham is a career Justice Department prosecutor from Connecticut.

QUESTION: Why do you continue to support a Nazi policy as Obama has expressly supported this policy? Why are you supporting it? [...]

FRANK: On what planet do you spend most of your time? … You want me to answer the question? Yes. You stand there with a picture of the President defaced to look like Hitler and compare the effort to increase health care to the Nazis. My answer to you is, as I said before, it is a tribute to the First Amendment that this kind of vile, contemptible nonsense is so freely propagated.

Frank concluded: “Trying to have a conversation with you would be like arguing with a dining room table.”

“It does us no good to incite fear in people by saying that there’s these end-of-life provisions, these death panels,” Murkowski, a Republican, said. “Quite honestly, I’m so offended at that terminology because it absolutely isn’t (in the bill). There is no reason to gin up fear in the American public by saying things that are not included in the bill.“

Yesterday, the Washington Post’s Ezra Klein spoke with Sen. Johnny Isakson (R-GA), a member of the Senate’s Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. Isakson “co-sponsored 2007’s Medicare End-of-Life Planning Act and proposed an amendment similar to the House bill’s Section 1233 during the Senate HELP Committee’s mark-up of its health care bill.” He told Klein that the “death panel” talk is “nuts”:

KLEIN: How did this become a question of euthanasia?

ISAKSON: I have no idea. I understand — and you have to check this out — I just had a phone call where someone said Sarah Palin’s web site had talked about the House bill having death panels on it where people would be euthanized. How someone could take an end of life directive or a living will as that is nuts. You’re putting the authority in the individual rather than the government. I don’t know how that got so mixed up. [...]

It empowers you to be able to make decisions at a difficult time rather than having the government making them for you.

Isakson, who has also expressed support for a public health care option, has been promoting advance care planning for years. In 2005, while citing the case of Terri Schiavo, Isakson teamed with state lawmakers to publicly sign a personal “Directive for Final Health Care” to encourage Georgians to discuss their personal wishes for end-of-life care. And Isakson isn’t the only GOP senator who supports the provision; Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME) “sponsored a virtually identical initiative this spring.”

Political Animal’s Steve Benen concludes: “Assorted wingnuts and Tea Baggers may not believe the administration, Democrats, objective news sources, or the plain black-and-white text of the legislation, but they should at least be willing to consider reality from one of the Senate’s most conservative members.”

Media Matters for America’s Jamison Foser was able to turn up a list of Republican town halls with a quick Google search: “Well, I like to help FOX out when I can, so here’s a list of town halls that includes Republicans.”

GRASSLEY: In countries that have government-run health care, just to give you an example, I’ve been told that the brain tumor that Sen. Kennedy has — because he’s 77 years old — would not be treated the way it’s treated in the United States. In other words, he would not get the care he gets here because of his age. In other words, they’d say ‘well he doesn’t have long to live even if he lived another four to five years.’ They’d say ‘well, we gotta spend money on people who can contribute more to economy.’ It’s a little like people saying when somebody gets to be 85 their life is worth less than when they were 35 and you pull the tubes on them.

Listen:

“Many Americans are under the delusion that we have ‘the best health care system in the world,’” wrote the New York Times editorial page in 2007, but “the disturbing truth is that this country lags well behind other advanced nations in delivering timely and effective care.” Among developed countries, the United States has the 10th highest death rate among cancer patients, higher than Spain and Sweden.

But the larger problem Grassley ignores is cost. For Kennedy, access to health care is not an issue. Among most Americans, however, staggering health costs prevent more than half of U.S. patients from gaining access to medical care. Last year, 38 percent of U.S. patients did not receive recommended treatment compared to 11 percent in Canada and 6 percent in the U.K. And even among Americans with insurance, 43 percent of adults with chronic conditions nevertheless had access problems because of cost.

BECK: If anyone thinks that it would be a good idea to turn violent, think again. It would destroy the Republic. They have awakened a sleeping giant. But just one lunatic like Timothy McVeigh could ruin everything that everyone has worked so hard for. Because these people in Washington won’t pass up the use of an emergency. Look how the media ran with the abortion doctor killing. They tried to pin that despicable act on Fox in general and specifically Bill O’Reilly and me. …I don’t want to ever hear from our own Americans, anyone voicing some sort of Muslim-extremist type justification.

Watch it:

Washington Monthly’s Steve Benen writes: “Beck has spent months — literally screaming and crying — insisting that the president is a socialist/fascist/communist/racist who’s trying to destroy the country through totalitarian means. Major media outlets have plenty of irresponsible voices, but Beck has been unique in his insane rantings. It wasn’t hard to imagine some of his viewers/listeners getting so worked up, they might at least consider doing something dangerous.”

KING: This is not a major issue among the American people. I think the last poll showed 14 percent see health care reform as being a major issue. …I think this is a metaphor of the president having gone too far, too fast, and really not living up to his campaign promises of governing from the center. But we have to avoid acting as if we won this battle. Right now the voters are turning somewhat against Barack Obama. It doesn’t mean they are coming toward us. We have to play this, I believe, very effectively but not be going for the kill.”

Watch it:

King was referring to a NBC/Wall Street Journal poll released last week that showed health care is the third highest priority for the public, behind job creation (38 percent) and the deficit (17 percent). But as HuffPost’s Sam Stein notes, “Being the third highest ‘top priority’ is hardly synonymous with being a minor issue.” When NBC/WSJ tallied the respondent’s first and second priorities, “health care shot up to a tie for second place, at 32 percent.” In addition, Time Magazine and Gallup found that more than 70 percent of the public wants health care reform.

WILLAMS: I’m just stunned by it. I don’t understand it. I think in that situation, people are just saying things to stir the pot or to create an audience for themselves, because I don’t see it. There’s no reality to that. [...]

So, I think a lot of that is simple grandstanding, making outrageous statements, provocateur Glenn Beck at his best. But I don’t think there’s any reality to it. There’s a big difference between a personality show and a news show. And that’s a personality-driven presentation.

Watch it:

Williams added that Obama has a white mother, was raised by white grandparents, and that “he’s gone to schools that were majority white from the time he was in prep school, through Columbia and Harvard.” Williams concluded: “Barack Obama never behaved in any such way that would make you think that he espoused or believed or held to his heart some racist attitudes.” (HT: News Hounds)

About a third of Americans think the best job for Palin is homemaker (32 percent), while nearly one in five see her as a television talk show host (17 percent). Vice president of the United States comes in third (14 percent), followed closely by college professor (10 percent), with president coming last (6 percent).

Republicans think the best job for Palin is vice president (27 percent), followed by homemaker (18 percent), talk show host (14 percent), president (12 percent) and professor (7 percent).

According to the Fox poll, 51 percent of Americans have a negative view of Palin, compared to 38 percent who say they have a favorable opinion of her.

Fuhrman is best-known for having been convicted of perjury stemming from his testimony on the witness stand in the O.J. Simpson murder trial when he lied about having made racist remarks in the past. Fuhrman was subsequently investigated by the L.A. Police Department and found in 1997 to have been allowed to “act out his prejudices” toward minorities and female cops while serving as a police officer.

Fuhrman declared “Sgt. Crowley has absolutely nothing to apologize for. Professor Gates has everything to apologize for. And the president should publicly apologize to Sgt. Crowley for his comments.” Fuhrman went on to tell Hannity that Gates “hindered” Crowley’s investigation, “challenged him, assumed he was racist solely because he was white,” and warned that’s how “riots start.” Hannity then asked whether Gates was guilty of racial profiling:

HANNITY: What does it say about Professor Gates? Is he the one that racially profiled here?

FUHRMAN: First, there’s no racial profiling. That’s the most — that’s the most ignorant thing I’ve ever heard anybody say.

HANNITY: Did he have a racial predisposition?

FUHRMAN: He couldn’t have a racial predisposition unless somehow the radio gives him pictures of people before he gets there.

Watch it:

Fuhrman said on Fox News’ Hannity & Colmes two years ago that the “people” he “dealt with…for 20 years” will “kill somebody and go have some chicken at KFC.”

Last night on her show, Maddow issued a nonplussed response, asking whether a “tea-bagging queen” could “really be that kind of queen”:

MADDOW: Today on his radio show, CNN host Lou Dobbs called me a “tea-bagging queen” because I made fun of him on this show for helping into the mainstream the off-the-deep-end, wingnut, racist conspiracy theory that Barack Obama is secretly foreign and therefore secretly not really president. Mr. Dobbs continues to demand that the president produce his birth certificate — even though the president already has. …In the meantime we’re all left to sort out the deeply confusing nature of what it means to be called a “tea-bagging queen” by Lou Dobbs. A “tea-bagging queen”? What kind of queen would that be, exactly? And can a female person be that kind of queen?

For a politician who served in President Bush’s cabinet and who spent “his entire career in the orbit of the Bush family,” it’s a notable omission. In 2005, Portman gave up his congressional seat to serve as Bush’s U.S. Trade Representative and, later, as Office of Management and Budget Director. The AP wrote of Portman: “For an administration that cherishes loyalty, it’s difficult to find a more faithful supporter [of President Bush] than Rob Portman.” Bush, in turn, showered his “good friend” with praise:

I am here to say goodbye to a good friend. … Recently, Rob Portman came and told me that after 14 years of public service in Washington, he’s ready to head home to be with Jane and the family. I’ve known him for many years. There’s no finer man in public service than Rob Portman. He’s been a trusted adviser, and Laura and I are going to miss him. … I thank Rob for his service and good advice and, most of all, his friendship.

Self-described on his website as a “budget hawk,” Portman’s record under Bush proves otherwise. Over the period of Portman’s tenure, the budget deficit “nearly doubled.” The nation’s unemployment rate ballooned from 4.6 percent to 7.6 percent by the time Bush left office. Only 26 percent of Ohioans approved of Bush’s handling of the economy in 2008.

Now, Bush’s “trusted adviser” doesn’t seem anxious to acknowledge all the “good advice” he gave to President Bush.

“He has said he will introduce the legislation if the President does not retract and apologize for his comments,” said Jameson Cunningham, press secretary for McCotter, when asked if Obama had already addressed his concerns. “As of now, no apology has been issued.”

On Friday, Obama called the arresting officer an “outstanding police officer” and said he should have “calibrated” his words differently. A statement by the Cambridge police said, “It is clear to us…that the president respects police officers and the often difficult and dangerous situations we face on a daily basis.”

LIMBAUGH: I think Obama is largely misunderstood by a lot of people. … We’re finding out that this guy’s got a chip on his shoulder. He’s angry at this country. He’s not proud of it. […]

Let’s face it, President Obama’s black, and I think he’s got a chip on his shoulder. I think there are elements in this country he doesn’t like and he never has liked. And he’s using the power of the presidency to remake the country.

Watch it:

This is not the first time Limbaugh has characterized Obama as an angry black man. On his radio show in March, Limbaugh said Obama “has a chip on his shoulder, and his wife does too, and they are some angry people.” Limbaugh has also chastised people for being afraid to “criticize the little black man-child,” referred to Obama as “Barack the Magic Negro,” complained that he “disowned his white half” and warned that Obama is of “Arab-African” descent. Nevertheless, Limbaugh says race is not an issue for him.

He referred to a poll showing voters would assign blame 30 percent to the health industry, 22 to Republicans, 11 percent to Democrats and only 4 percent to Obama.

“So it seems to me that we have a responsibility to the Republican Party not to be seen as destroying or at least not talking about things that people believe are wrong with the present health-care system,” Grassley said.

Yesterday, Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-UT) announced he was taking himself out of bipartisan group of Finance Committee members drafting the health care bill. Left in the group are Sens. Max Baucus (D-MT), Jeff Bingaman (D-NM), Kent Conrad (D-ND), Olympia Snowe (R-ME), Mike Enzi (R-WY), and Grassley.

In the case where the father isn’t known, House Bill 252 would compel the woman to provide a list of names of people who may be the father in an effort to determine paternity. The bill also would make it a crime for women to lie about who the father is, and make it illegal for doctors to perform abortions without the father’s consent.

The bill would force a woman to have a child if the father does not agree to an abortion.

“That child should be born, not killed,” Adams said.

Adams first introduced the legislation in 2007. Already, this bill has at least 15 co-sponsors. Pro-Choice Ohio issued a statement saying Adams’ bill “is a clear attack on a woman’s freedom and privacy.” AJ at Feminists For Choice says the bill is “another mechanism for demonizing and isolating women who have sex.” (HT: Pam’s House Blend)

…if you think of it in human terms, there is a financial incentive that will be put in place, paid for by tax dollars, that will encourage women who are single parents, living below the poverty level, to have the opportunity for a free abortion. If you take that scenario and apply it to many of the great minds we have today, who would we have been deprived of? Our president grew up in those similar circumstances. If that financial incentive was in place, is it possible that his mother may have taken advantage of it?

Media Matters Action Network asks, “All of this raises the question for every Republican in the House: do they endorse Rep. Tiahrt’s comments, or not?”

STEELE: They love going back to George Bush and his deficit that was inherited. Great. I’ll take George Bush’s deficit right now of a trillion dollars over the 10 trillion dollars that this administration has created in just six months.

Watch it:

Steele is clearly confusing the difference between our national debt, which stands at roughly $11.4 trillion, and this year’s budget deficit, which just exceeded $1 trillion.

To help jog Steele’s memory, here’s a bit of a deficit recap: Bush inherited a budget surplus of $128 billion in 2001. Budget experts projected a $710 billion surplus for 2009 when he came into office. But the deficit soon exploded, thanks largely to the Bush tax cuts — which accounted for 42 percent of the deficit. When Bush left office, he handed President Obama a projected $1.2 trillion budget deficit for this year, the largest ever.

As for the debt, when President Bush took office, it was $5.73 trillion. When he left, it was $10.7 trillion.

Just last month, the New York Times published the results of an examination from the non-partisan Congressional Budget Office. The report, which examined federal spending stretching back almost a decade, found that Obama “is responsible for only a sliver of the deficits”:

About 33 percent of the swing stems from new legislation signed by Mr. Bush. That legislation, like his tax cuts and the Medicare prescription drug benefit, not only continue to cost the government but have also increased interest payments on the national debt.

Mr. Obama’s main contribution to the deficit is his extension of several Bush policies, like the Iraq war and tax cuts for households making less than $250,000. Such policies — together with the Wall Street bailout, which was signed by Mr. Bush and supported by Mr. Obama — account for 20 percent of the swing.

About 7 percent comes from the stimulus bill that Mr. Obama signed in February. And only 3 percent comes from Mr. Obama’s agenda on health care, education, energy and other areas.

Try as Steele might, this is blame shifting that just won’t work — especially after the Bush administration made it clear that “deficits don’t matter.”

He drew more applause from the mostly Republican legislators who packed a downtown Atlanta hotel ballroom when he said Obama needed to spend more time in Washington and less time traveling abroad.

“Our globe-trotting president needs to stop and take a break and quit gallivanting around,” Miller said, adding that White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel needs to put “Gorilla Glue” on his chair to keep him in the Oval Office.

In his speech, Miller fed the predominantly conservative crowd more right-wing rhetoric, claiming the U.S. is “printing money like we are the Weimar Republic” and labeling Obama’s decision to close the Guantanamo Bay prison “nuts.”