Gov. Bob McDonnell (R-Va.) has long been on almost everyone's short list for the Republican vice presidential nomination. But now McDonnell's national security credentials have come into question, thanks to his mishandling of a bill passed by the Virginia General Assembly.

In considering whether to back a clearstandard for treatment of detainees,Republicans have the opportunity to reassert their own best traditions and principles.

Hill conferees filed the National Defense Authorization bill last night, which means the conference agreed upon final language. The bill has enjoyed its share of controversy over a detainee provision, but another viciously fought battle included a provision to sanction the Central Bank of Iran. You remember the Central Bank?

McCain was briefed in detail more than once on enhanced interrogation, so he knows full well that enhanced techniques were not used to gain intelligence from detainees — they were used to compel their cooperation.

The two year investigation of the CIA's Rendition, Detention and Interrogation program are now complete. The investigation found nothing, but has still done great harm to American intelligence agencies.

The Obama administration's Guantanamo task force found that 95 percent of those held at Guantanamo are confirmed terrorists, and while the press may have used the report to vindicate Obama, Congress is not buying the spin.

President Obama is reportedly considering releasing several senior Taliban leaders from Guantanamo Bay as an enticement to get the Taliban to the peace table. If he does so, he will do tremendous harm to American national security — and to his prospects for reelection this fall.

I can't remember a more stunning rebuke of a president by a congressional leader than Speaker John Boehner's refusal to agree to Barack Obama's demand that he summon a joint session of Congress to hear the president's latest speech on the economy. It illustrates several of the weaknesses of this presidency.