President Obama (oh, how I love to write those words) yesterday signed an executive order repudiating the Bush administration's practices of torture, extraordinary rendition and all those other vile actions of the past seven years. His executive order reaffirmed that the United States will abide by Common Article 3 of the Geneva Conventions (the Convention Against Torture).

I believe we have -- finally -- a leader who follows through on his promises.

On another front, the Ledbetter Fair Pay Act passed the Senate, with all Democrats and a few crossover Republican women voting for it. That's the bill that guarantees the right of equal pay for equal work applies, with the statutory limitations period beginning anew with the issuance of every discriminatory paycheck.

As Michelle Obama said during the campaign, for the first time in many years I can truthfully say I'm proud to be an American.