There's no wiggle room when it comes to methods of interrogation, such as waterboarding, that raise palpable, and unavoidable questions about whether this government will find it in its power to nuance torture such that it becomes what this president has called "enhanced alternate" methods by which to extract information with coercion, and in violation of Geneva and international law. The days of letting glorified yes men, and evaders-in-chief slip through the cracks with a wink and a nod are over. Even if we deny accountability, and culpability, the rest of the world will hold us responsible, if not in our lifetimes than for generations to come.
Kudos to the senator from Massachusetts, Senator Kennedy, for actively, and eloquently opposing Michael Mukasey's nomination for Attorney General. That Senators Feinstein and Schumer have said they will vote in support of Mukasey is a frightening statement about the kind of America our grandchildren will have to look forward to whether Democrats or Republicans win election, and hold office. No one who supports an ethos that consists of "the ends justifies the means," and the exercise of force over dialogue, deserves to sit in the Oval Office.
If a former First Lady, Nancy Reagan, could get as much mileage as she did out of the phrase "Just Say No to Drugs," it's time for those who represent all Americans, in Congress, to stand up, once and for all, and "Just Say No to Torture." As Voltaire once said, "Common sense is not so common." Stop the madness; stop it now
Follow Jayne Lyn Stahl on Twitter: www.twitter.com/jaynelynstahl
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Remember, if we don't give the Prez everything he asks for, we are enabling terrorists and putting Americans at risk!
What has this country come to? I used to be proud of my country (and being from Texas). No more.
Can we keep a little wiggle-room for when Bu$h, Cheney and the rest of this criminal cabal are out of office so we have the tools in order to interrogate them effectively?
Please, please? :)
But the critical point here is that Bush, in Mukasey, has clearly chosen a candidate who will be as bad at running the Justice Department as Bush needs him to be. Bush did not settle for less than that, and will only ever do so if a way is found to force the issue. Chuck, Diane, once you hit “bad enough”, there is no “worse”. That’s just your excuse for the willing complicity in a continuing travesty.
Now comes a more important test, though. It is indisputable that the Mukasey appointment can still be defeated, and that there is a raft of compelling reasons for someone on the Democratic side to take the lead in insuring that it happens. Filibuster! If necessary filibuster the entire goddamned remainder of the Bush term into oblivion. Someone needs to at least act like they understand the importance of trying to derail this wild assed bunch of money and oil crazed maniacs masquerading as real government officials.
Yeah, it wouldn’t be easy, but if this appointment goes through, or Bush wins even a one more controversial point in a cakewalk, then there simply is no important reason for a single incumbent to be returned to Congress.