The Democrats can’t have it both ways on torture. Neither can the Republicans.

So let’s get it all out on the table and see who knew what, when.

Republicans, on the defensive about torture committed during the Bush years, and worried about what might come out, have gone on the offensive. They claim congressional Democrats knew a lot more than they are willing to admit, and that if a housecleaning is in order, the Democrats deserve their share of the blame.

We wholeheartedly agree.

If Democratic leaders went along with the administration’s policies without doing everything they could to block it, they deserve to be called on it. …

But it raises another disturbing point. Congress practically has been stripped of its ability to check a rogue presidency by the executive branch’s ability to cite national security. We’ve seen the same thing in court, where if the government brandishes a “national security” consideration, apparently even the most heinous actions — including disregard of the law — can be covered up.

Well, to paraphrase an old saying, expose them all and let the voters — and perhaps the courts — sort them out.

— Pensacola (Fla.) News Journal