Sen. Ted Kennedy (D-Mass.) was years ahead of the curve when it came to Take Your Dog to Work Day. The constant presence of his three Portuguese water dogs in his Russell building office helped humanize their owner and brought a sense of fun to a workplace known for rules and formalities.

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One of the highest-ranking Democrats in the Senate expressed displeasure on Sunday with Attorney General Eric Holder's decision to investigate the use of torture under the Bush administration, arguing that a Senate probe into the matter should be completed first.

Senator Dianne Feinstein, who chairs the Senate Intelligence Committee, told CBS' Face the Nation that the timing of Holder's move was "not very good."

"The intelligence committee has underway now a total look at the interrogation and detention techniques used for all the high value detainees," she said. "We are well along in that study and I'm trying to push it along even more quickly at this time. We are not going to be deterred from completing this study. And candidly, I wish the attorney general had waited."

Feinstein did not specifically object to the notion of examining the use of torture by the Bush administration. She did, however, suggest that the appointment of a special prosecutor to conduct a preliminary investigation into the topic would lead to misinformation and confusion about what actually took place.

"Every day something kind of dribble out into the public arena, very often it has mistakes," she said. "Very often it is half a story. And I think we need to get the whole story together and tell it in an appropriate way."

For example, Feinstein highlighted the debate over the efficacy of using torture on terrorism suspects. "It did produce some information," she said. "But there is a great discrepancy and I think a good deal of error out there in what people are saying it did produce. And we need to straighten that out and the only thing that is going to straighten it out is a really comprehensive look at it."

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Living in the Hollywood Hills in recent days has felt like being heartbreakingly close to some surreal 24-hour disaster movie set. You turn a corner on Mulholland Drive and see crowds gathering with cameras around their necks and expressions of shock on their faces. Instead of "photographers" seeking to grab a shot of Britney Spears -- as many were doing here not so very long ago -- these photographers appear to be concerned citizens attempting to capture images of the surreally ominous yet strangely majestic-looking clouds of smoke coming from fires on nearby mountains.

This playlist goes out to all of our neighbors who are being impacted by the raging California wildfires -- and to heroic firefighters everywhere.

"The Unforgettable Fire" - U2
"My Hero" - Foo Fighters
"Who By Fire" - Leonard Cohen
"Shine Your Light" - Robbie Robertson
"Fire On The Mountain" - Rob Thomas
"Heroes" - David Bowie
" Cinder and Smoke" - Iron & Wine
"Brave & Strong" - Sly & The Family Stone
"Into The Fire" - Bruce Springsteen
"Walk Through The Fire" - Peter Gabriel
"Smoke" - Ben Folds Five
"Fire Escape" - Diane Birch
"Jump Into The Fire" - Harry Nilsson
"He Ain't Heavy, He's My Brother" - Neil Diamond
"Smoke & Ashes" - Tracy Chapman
"No Smoke Without Fire" - James Hunter
"Smoke Detector" - Rilo Kiley
"Lyin' In A Bed Of Fire" - Little Steven & The Disciples of Soul

In a strong pushback against claims made by former Vice President Dick Cheney, Sen. John McCain insisted on Sunday that the use of torture on terrorism suspects violated international law, didn't work, and actually helped al Qaeda recruit additional members.

"I think the interrogations were in violation of the Geneva Conventions and the convention against torture that we ratified under President Reagan," said the Arizona Republican. "I think these interrogations, once publicized, helped al Qaeda recruit. I got that from an al Qaeda operative in a prison camp in Iraq... I think that the ability of us to work with our allies was harmed. And I believe that information, according go the FBI and others, could have been gained through other members."

The senator, appearing on CBS' Face the Nation, offered his assessment just hours after Cheney defended the use of torture during an interview with Fox News Sunday. Host Bob Schieffer pushed McCain to explain how it was that an al Qaeda member had told him that the use of torture helped them recruit.

Relaying a conversation that he and Sen. Lindsey Graham, (R-S.C.) had with a jailed "high-ranking member of al Qaeda," McCain replied that pictures of detainee abuse at Abu Ghraib had allowed the terrorist organization "to recruit thousands of young men."

And yet, despite acknowledging that the use of torture was counter-productive and in violation of international law -- laws that have been ratified by the United States -- McCain still insisted that the Obama Justice Department was wrong to launch an investigation into the matter.

"I believe the president was right when he said we ought to go forward and not back," he said. "I worry about the morale and effectiveness of the CIA. I worry about this thing getting out of control and us harming our ability to carry out the struggle we are in with radical Islamic extremism."

"For us now to go back," McCain added. "I think would be a serious mistake."

WATCH:

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The Cash for Clunkers concept isn't just for used cars anymore. Toys R Us is introducing their own version of Cash for Clunkers called the Great Trade-In. It's no surprise that secondhand baby gear use is on the rise during the recession, but Toys R Us wants to call attention to the fact that many of the used items circulating could be damaged or not compliant with the newest safety standards.

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Where were all the weeping fans, the artists who hail him as their hero, the radio DJs who can't stop playing his music? Where were they 10 years ago? Oh right. Everyone thought Michael Jackson was a freak - a plastic surgery addicted child molester. His last studio album "Invincible," released 2001, failed to garner true hit single because radio stations refused to play the songs. Music critics tore him to shreds. He was blackballed. People made fun of him, he was considered a washed-up, has-been, crazy person.

The success of "Thriller," which as sold over 110 million copies worldwide and counting, can never be matched. ("Invincible," for the record managed to sell respectful 13 million copies worldwide to date. No artist can keep up that kind of string of hits. But, he put his heart and soul into every new recording he did, but judgment had already been cast before anyone heard the music.

He was a desperate man in pain and everyone threw stones at him. Now it's fashionable to be a Michael Jackson fan. Radio stations now play his music on heavy rotation. His albums are flying off the shelves. Urban Outfitters even carries a commemorative vinyl collection that hipsters can frame and put on their walls. Suddenly the entire world has rediscovered Michael Jackson. He's dead damn it. Imagine what this kind of love would have done for him while he was living? Maybe then he wouldn't need drugs to sleep.

Michael's body was still warm when celebrities, music execs, family members and even his personal staffed whored themselves to TV news programs professing to be Michaels' best friends. People who didn't even know him were releasing statements. Where were these so called best friends when Michael needed an intervention? Needed help? Nowhere. Yes, some tried, and Michael would not listen -- so keep trying!!!

Things had gotten so strange in Michael's world, that before he signed with AEG to do a string of concerts, one management company was trying to convince him to be 'virtual Michael.' No joke - they were going to set up a 3D Internet portal so Michael could interact with the world without leaving his house. That's enough to make anyone feel nuts.

The AEG deal gave him new life. It brought him back to what he does best - perform, be in front of fans, be around humans. Only the inner sanctum at AEG believed in him. The public and the pundits were waiting for him to fail. Many fans who bought tickets to the sold out concerts just wanted to go to see a historic spectacle, hoping they would witness a car crash.

We killed Michael Jackson. We helped create his gilded cage and then we rejected him. Death serves you well Michael, the world is finally acknowledging the amazing force of nature you were. You changed the face of music. Rest in peace.

More on Michael Jackson

Two of Ted Kennedy's closest friends in the Senate said on Sunday that they thought his widow, Vicki, would make a great temporary replacement for him should the Massachusetts legislature allow for a gubernatorial appointment.

Appearing on CNN's State of the Union, Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-Utah) said that Vicki "ought to be considered" for her late husband's post.

"She is a very brilliant lawyer," said Hatch. "She's a very solid individual. She certainly made a difference in Ted's life, let me tell you. And I have nothing but respect for her."

Speaking over phone later in the segment, Sen. Chris Dodd (D-Conn.), Kennedy's closest ally in the chamber, also offered his backing for a theoretical Vicki Kennedy appointment.

"We talk frequently. Whatever Vicki wants to do, I'm in her corner," said Dodd. "She knows that. She has expressed to me her own reluctance to do that. But she could change her mind. And if she did I'm for it. I think she'd be great, I think Orrin's right, she brings talent and ability to it... we can certainly use her in the Senate. But leave it up to her. She has a lot on her mind right now. And, frankly, I leave it up to her decision-making process."

Vicki Kennedy, as Dodd noted, has indicated reluctance to take over her husband's spot in the Senate. Moreover, there is no guarantee, at this point, that the opportunity will present itself. The Massachusetts legislature must first change the current law to allow the state's governor to make a temporary replacement until a special election can be held. At this point, CNN's John King said during the segment, it seems "increasingly likely" the legislature will take action.

Here's video of Hatch this morning:

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