The idea that investigations and "looking back" at what appear to be obvious violations of U.S. and International Laws would somehow distract us from fixing the economy and the plethora of other problems plaguing the U.S. right now seems spurious at best. I was happy to see in print the obvious argument that the individuals tasked with the economic recovery would certainly not be distracted from their missions in order to perform what is the Justice Department's job. Unfortunately, the MSM talking heads consistently fail to bring up that simple point. It's not that difficult to notice that there are plenty of appropriate personnel available to look into potential crimes without burdening departments already fully engaged in such things as economic and energy policy.
I also enjoyed his asking the question "What political consensus?". What exactly is the downside risk of such probing, considering the Party of No hasn't joined in any of our reindeer games thus far anyway. If you want to be outside the process and obstruct in lock-step, then I guess that's your prerogative. If you want to tea bag each other to make yourselves feel better, then you are welcome to exercise that freedom, just as the majority of us are welcome to exercise our freedom to make fun of your efforts. However, when your focus on non-issues drives your party to the point of distraction and leaves you out of the dialogue, it is difficult at best to empathize with your complaints about the agreed upon course.
Krugman is also likely correct that many of the individuals currently calling for us to "just move on" (on both sides of the political spectrum, mind you) have a personal stake in not looking back. Many people were undoubtedly aware of the torturing. Some supported it vigorously, but perhaps just as culpable are those who stood idly by and did nothing to prevent it or at the very least publicize it.
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