After six years of not being able to find his pen (well, except for 150+ signing statements, President Bush last Saturday exercised his prerogative to veto a measure for the...I think, ninth time since the balance of congressional power tipped ever so slightly to the Democratic side of the aisle. This time he vetoed a bill that would have taken torture off the table as a legal option for the Central Intelligence Agency.

(Sec. 327) Prohibits any individual under the custody or control of an IC element, regardless of nationality or physical location, from being subject to any treatment or technique of interrogation not authorized by the U.S. Army Field Manual on Human Intelligence Collector Operations.

Now, the good citizens of the United States of America have the obligation to exercise our prerogative to direct Congress to override that veto.

Doing so will say to the world that Mr. Bush does not represent our will in directing that torture may be authorized at his will — and will be one step back toward civilization (which he has inadvertently reminded us is not defined by technology, wealth or power but by...wait for it...civility).

You can sign a petition hosted by Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid at Give 'Em Hell Harry.

Senator Reid noted today:

George Bush has once again compromised the moral leadership of our nation. By vetoing a bill establishing a single, government-wide interrogation standard, the President has substituted his own judgment for that of the vast majority of military and foreign policy experts -- including Gen. David Petraeus, the U.S. commander in Iraq -- who all agree that torture is simply counterproductive.

Ironically, George Bush has warned against ignoring the advice of our commanders in Iraq -- while at the same time ignoring the Army Field Manual's determination that horrific tactics such as water boarding elicit unreliable information, put U.S. troops at risk and undermine our counterinsurgency efforts.

I hope you'll join me in signing the petition directing Congress to override the president's veto. When the followers lead, the leaders will follow. Lead on.