New York Times editorial board GETS IT!

With a hat tip to teacherken, at Daily Kos, here's what the Times says:

The Bush administration’s assault on some of the founding principles of American democracy marches onward despite the Democratic victory in the 2006 elections. The new Democratic majorities in Congress can block the sort of noxious measures that the Republican majority rubber-stamped. But preventing new assaults on civil liberties is not nearly enough....

It will require forceful steps by this Congress to undo the damage. A few lawmakers are offering bills intended to do just that, but they are only a start. Taking on this task is a moral imperative that will show the world the United States can be tough on terrorism without sacrificing its humanity and the rule of law.

Today we’re offering a list — which, sadly, is hardly exhaustive — of things that need to be done to reverse the unwise and lawless policies of President Bush and Vice President Dick Cheney. Many will require a rewrite of the Military Commissions Act of 2006, an atrocious measure pushed through Congress with the help of three Republican senators, Arlen Specter, Lindsey Graham and John McCain; Senator McCain lent his moral authority to improving one part of the bill and thus obscured its many other problems.

These are the tasks:

Restore Habeas Corpus

Stop Illegal Spying

Ban Torture, Really

Close the C.I.A. Prisons

Ban Extraordinary Rendition

Tighten the Definition of Combatant

Screen Prisoners Fairly and Effectively

Ban Tainted Evidence

Ban Secret Evidence

Better Define ‘Classified’ Evidence

Respect the Right to Counsel

Halt the federal government’s race to classify documents to avoid public scrutiny

Apologize to a Canadian citizen and a German citizen, both innocent, who were kidnapped and tortured by American agents

Close the Guantánamo camp

Read the entire editorial for full explanations. I would add one thing: begin aggressive investigations, with the clear possibility of their leading to impeachment proceedings!