GOOD THING THE ERA OF BUSH IS OVER! Obama Administration Invokes State Secrets Privilege in Anti-Torture Lawsuit. ‘Cause if Bush did this, it would be a sign of lawlessness, and incipient fascism. [Well, sure, if Bush did it. — ed. Yeah, that’s what I said.]

Plus, Glenn Greenwald: “Obama fails his first test on civil liberties and accountability — resoundingly and disgracefully. . . . What makes this particularly appalling and inexcusable is that Senate Democrats had long vehemently opposed the use of the ‘state secrets’ privilege in exactly the way that the Bush administration used it in this case, even sponsoring legislation to limits its use and scope. Yet here is Obama, the very first chance he gets, invoking exactly this doctrine in its most expansive and abusive form.” Meet the new boss, yada yada. Some of us are more surprised about this than others . . . .

UPDATE: Much more at Memeorandum. And this comment from reader Douglas Mortimer: “So. Greenwald concludes that the Obama administration has adopted this litigation position for the obvious (to him) reason that they advocate having Executive Branch officials being able to act above and beyond the reach of the rule of law. Now why, pray tell, would they want a ruling like that? He makes it sound like they are simply squeamish about a prosecution of those GOP officials. However, the real justification couldn’t be bare and blatant self-interest and future self-protection of President Obama and his officials for doing the same things, could it? Could it?” Greenwald has shown a touching naivete where Obama is concerned, though it appears to be wearing thin.

ANOTHER UPDATE: “Change, hope, and torture coverups.”