Sure, it was shocking and appalling when we heard about Gov. Rod Blagojevich, but now an even higher ranking official has been captured on tape making outrageous comments that should offend every American:
"I was aware of the program, certainly, and involved in helping get the process cleared, as the agency, in effect, came in and wanted to know what they could and couldn't do. And they talked to me, as well as others, to explain what they wanted to do. And I supported it."
(Questioner): In hindsight, do you think any of those tactics that were used against Khalid Sheikh Mohammed and others went too far?
"I don't."
It's bad enough when a political figure is so brazenly willing to violate the Constitution, let alone international law -- but to say so on tape, when he realizes that he's being closely watched by the American people? You almost have to wonder whether Vice President Dick Cheney is some kind of sociopath, or has some psychological desire to get caught.(Questioner): In hindsight, do you think any of those tactics that were used against Khalid Sheikh Mohammed and others went too far?
"I don't."
I hope that when the Obama administration gets around to figuring out what they're going to do with that pit-bull Patrick Fitzgerald, they consider him for legal counsel to that National Truth Commission.
Comment removed.
No . . . the President and Vice President took actions that they felt necessary to prevent future terrorist attacks against this county. Cheyney could work on KSM with a pair of pilers and a blow torch during half time of the Super Bowl, and I wouldn't care or be offended. What would Wil do . . . oh, that's right, give KSM a fair trial in open court. Yeah, that'll teach him. How is the view from the cheap seats?— ILikeIke- Comment removed.
Waterboarding KSM is more a violation of the Glass-Steagall Act than it is the Geneva Convention.— Mr. Smith- Will The Shill Bunch... so consumed with BDS that he will defend enemies of our country if it means he can practice some BushHate.— fafafooey
Did you see the interview on Rachel Maddow with Mr. Tamm, the Justice Department lawyer who recognized that the U.S. was illegally taping, using illegal rendition, and illegally torturing? He blew the whistle on the violations of the 4th Amendment (and FISA Act) a year ago. Apparently the Justice Department lawyers, focusing on the near at hand, thought that the Atty. General would be tried, convicted, and sent to jail for 5 years for condoning the acts, to which I say, "not too late!" I worry that a Truth and Reconciliation Commission would spend too much time on reconciliation and not enough time on punishing the wrongdoers. The Medal of Freedom ought to be stripped from around the neck of George Tenant and given to Tamm in appreciation for his efforts to save the civil liberties of Americans.
Had we been attacked these same mental midgets would have been screaming for Bush and Cheyney's heads. These guys were unlawful combatants and NOT US citizens and are not entitled to constitutional protections. When are you going to understand this is about our survival, not what the Eurotrash think of us. Who do you want on your side in a street fight, the ACLU or Bush? I'll take Bush. Hopefully this group of commies coming in January will learn this lesson quickly and not get thousands of people killed while worrying about political correctness and "fairness" (whatever that is).— georgel- "Yeah, that'll teach him. " Ah, now I understand. No matter that using torture produces unreliable information. No matter that the vast majority of interrogation experts discredit torture as ineffective and antithetical to effective interrogation practices. No matter that in advocating torture, the Bush administration has lost support world wide. No matter that in adopting torture as an official policy, the Bush administration has set handed jihadists the best recruiting tool possible. No matter that military experts like Powell tell us that torture undermines our effort to combat Islamic fundamentalism. No matter that using torture undermines centuries of stated principles of American leaders. What matters is whether we will "teach" a lesson to someone who will never spend another waking moment of his life free of shackles. Because, after all, what's to worry about sacrificing future American lives and our moral authority when you can extract some revenge and laugh about it with your Republican toady buddies?— Talking point sleuth
- To talking point sleuth: Read my post and the one before it.I know you feel superior with your lofty ideals, but this is a street fight, not a debating society. You can't negotiate with people who want you dead, and don't care if they die in the process. Screw world opinion. I would prefer to be feared than loved by my enemies. you must be related to Neville Chamberlain and Trudy Rubin. Remember, these people want you as dead as they want me. When will you morons realize that?— georgel
Yeah, I've heard that being instrumental in keeping America safe, and preventing another 9/11 from happening is one of the main identifiers of the sociopath.— jmc- Comment removed.
- "not what the Eurotrash think of us." So wait, I can't keep staight when Eurotrash opinion matters. Torturing people? It doesn't. Talking about former presidents? It does. Is that how it works?— etotheb
- more than ever, Cheney reveals himself for a churlish, brutish thug unfit for any public office in America.— excaliber
- Comment removed.
- It doesn't matter if Obama is a D or R. He made promising across the land to get elected. His task: keep those promises, get people & industry to spend to revive the economy, and stay clean. As a junior politician, he does not have the clout to protect himself from being clean. He sold his soul to get elected. - Also, he has been doing no favors to help his cause. He could have brought his way our by helping Dems with debt from the election, but chose not too. – Talk he is good at, but real leadership would have gotten the last 8 votes for the auto industry. He didn’t and cannot, his clout runneth empty.— Fisher
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About Will Bunch
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Will Bunch, a senior writer at the Philadelphia Daily News, blogs about his obsessions, including national and local politics and world affairs, the media, pop music, the Philadelphia Phillies, soccer and other sports, not necessarily in that order.
Will Bunch, a senior writer at the Philadelphia Daily News, blogs about his obsessions, including national and local politics and world affairs, the media, pop music, the Philadelphia Phillies, soccer and other sports, not necessarily in that order.
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