California's Democratic Senator Dianne Feinstein's decision to join Senate Judiciary committee Republicans in approving the nomination of Judge Michael Mukasey for Attorney General is nothing short of disgraceful.

Much like her decision to sponsor legislation that would desecrate the constitution by criminalizing flag burning, Feinstein has shown her true colors yet again.

Waterboarding, a torture technique that Mukasey refused to state unequivocally was just that, despite calling it "personally repugnant," has been considered a war crime for over a century under the United States and international law.

Committee Chairman Patrick Leahy, refused to vote in favor of Mukasey, stating that: "The president says we do not torture, but had his lawyers redefine torture down in secret memos in fundamental conflict with American values and law."

By contrast, Feinstein claimed to be "troubled" that Mukasey wouldn't call a spade a spade -- or a torture technique a torture technique. Troubled? How did she feel about the torture at Abu Ghraib prison? Uncomfortable, perhaps?

According to NPR's Eric Weiner, the Nazis apparently did not use waterboarding because they didn't give a damn about public opinion and simply used harsher interrogation techniques that left scars or killed their victims. Since waterboarding causes extreme physical suffering it conveniently leaves no marks. I wonder if Ms. Feinstein would consider lightly sprayed shower gassing a torture technique if they turned the gas off before the victims die. And guess what? No scarring!

But Senator Feinstein is better than that, isn't she? She'd probably find it a tad disconcerting.

No scarring indeed. Fortunately the same can't be said about Feinstein's legacy.

Clinton Fein can be emailed at