Real ID is so damn annoying. Somehow I cannot point to my valid driver's license and valid passport and say "okay give me my Real ID," I gotta compile a bunch of documents--including something with my SSN, which does not in any way confirm I am who I say I am!--to re-do everything again.

Gah, Idiocracy is so painful to think about. It's such a common and useful cultural touchstone, but, well, that opening is straight-up eugenics. And it's the one thing the movie got wrong! The genetics clearly don't matter, people are choosing this path, they're cheering for societal decline.

No, the opposite. Holder granted complete immunity to everyone who relied on a Bush OLC memo.

It's a bullshit theory the Bush admin invented to do crimes and the Obama admin adopted to excuse their failure to prosecute crimes.

In practice, yes, Holder used his prosecutorial discretion so that reliance on an OLC memo became complete immunity from prosecution, an immunity so complete they would never even take the argument to a judge to rule upon it.

Because their conduct was outside the OLC memos. No "golden shield."

To people acting within the OLC memos, Holder granted them complete immunity from prosecution.

Holder endorsed the baseless, lawless theory invented by the GWBush admin that OLC memos are the supreme law of the land.

I have not misremembered it.

As AG Holden himself said, "I made clear at that time that the Department would not prosecute anyone who acted in good faith and within the scope of the legal guidance given by the Office of Legal Counsel regarding the interrogation of detainees."

That's immunity.

Me too, it's so moving to see AI slop honoring the great Charlie Kirk 😭🫡🇱🇷

I always chuckle at the description "independent investigation conducted by an outside law firm."

Uh, no, that's not how legal ethics work. The law firm is not "independent." It has a client to whom it owes loyalty.

That client being... the company it's investigating. 🙃