The Red Phone In Cheney's Secret Lair Is Ringing

...because GOP Rep. Aaron Schock of Illinois just crossed a big, fat line on torture.

Appearing on Hardball just now, Rep. Aaron Schock (R-IL) defended the use of waterboarding -- and unlike other GOPers, he openly used the word "torture."

"I would not limit our intelligence agencies' ability to get information from people," said Schock. "If they have a ticking time-bomb or some critical piece of information that can save American lives, I don't believe that we should limit waterboarding or quite frankly any other alternative torture technique, if it means saving Americans' lives."

Really.  So, you admit we torture.  You admit we do torture, and that we should continue to torture if you deem it necessary.  You admit we're freely in violation of the Geneva conventions and decades of international conduct standards because you find it inconvenient.

And you're admitting this on national television.

You know, Dick Cheney's actually shot people for less...

But hey...Eric Holder's got you covered I'm sure.