FLASHBACK: Ted Kennedy Vs. John Ashcroft (VIDEO)

Attackerman:

As we dig through the latest rounds of torture disclosures, it's instructive to remember a moment from June of 2004. In the aftermath of the Abu Ghraib revelations, it came to light that the abuse of detainees received legal sanction from the Department of Justice two years earlier, through a series of memoranda asserting constitutional justifications for wartime abuse. John Yoo and Jay Bybee were not yet household names. Very few people, even in Washington, knew who David Addington was. John Ashcroft was the great progressive bete noire, and it wouldn't be known for another two years that for all his flaws, he resisted even further abuses from his hospital bed three months earlier, an act of patriotism of the highest order.

Read the whole story: Attackerman

Comments

[sviolette]

05:34 AM on 08/27/2009

This is the first time I've seen this questioning. I've always loved his brothers but this gives me reason to respect this man as equal to his brothers. This man deserves all of the praise he will get in the next few days and more.

Ashcroft was actually sqirming in his seat. like a scolded school kid. Perfect.

[Sleepyjohns]

01:01 AM on 08/27/2009

That. Was. Awesome.

I forgot all about that exchange.

What's that Mr. Ashcroft? Are you invoking Executive Privilege? Answer the question.

And he named Yoo and Hibee. Noy-ice!

[gonzaga43]

10:41 PM on 08/26/2009

OUTSTANDING___Just late--2004.

[lily31]

02:41 PM on 08/26/2009

He was tenacious when it came to upholding the constitution; he came prepare and did not flinch from asking the tough questions nor in giving his opinion without equivocation!

He was a man of generous talents and spirit! May his passing inspire young men of similar intelligence, work ethic. courage and compassion to enter public service. Oh, and I forgot, wit!!

[austin4]

11:28 AM on 08/26/2009

Ashcroft Li ed like a Rug.......

[helonias]

11:27 AM on 08/26/2009

But JA is a born agin and prays in church very Sunday

[StarDagger]

10:18 AM on 08/26/2009

AWESOME!!

Lion of the Senate tearing apart a Sith general!

We all now know that that crap didnt fly and was illegal, I'm looking forward to the convictions!

Kennedy is not dead as long as Compassion, the Rule of Law and Universal Health care are honored in our country, Yes,We can!

S*D

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[DestinationsUnknown]

10:16 AM on 08/26/2009

Please - someone should also put up the clip with him on the floor debating the decision to invade Iraq-

Him and Senator Byrd-

Unbelievable!

[John Fudrow]

10:11 AM on 08/26/2009

How could he have nailed everything down so clearly yet still have no one else back him on this? Now that we have seen the memo's we know that he was accurate with surgical precision.

We were lied to again and again by the Bush/Cheney regime. Ashcroft committed a heinous obfuscation of the truth when he claimed the administration doesn't support torture when any reasonable individual would have viewed the contents of those memoranda as nothing short of inhumane guidelines.

Sweeping this under the rug won't solve anything. Prosecute and set an example.

[littlepuffycloud]

09:57 AM on 08/26/2009

The exchange was one of Senator Kennedy's finest moments. And Ashcroft's worse.

RIP Senator Kennedy. You'll be missed but never forgotten.