No surprise: the Democrats failed to deliver on a fundamental principle. For those who want to stop the U.S. torture program, not all is lost, however. Let the whole episode be a warning to would-be torturers that the whole world knows of their deeds, and that the discussions of criminal liability are no longer happening only in the corners of coffee houses among lefty campus groups.

That talk is now on the front page of the NY Times. Former military and CIA officials have come out against the torturers.

For those who insist on disappearing people into secret prisons to be tortured: know that one day the law will catch up with you. It ‘s already getting close.