McCain spokeswoman Jill Hazelbaker noted that McCain believes that waterboarding is already banned by the Detainee Treatment Act of 2005, which includes an amendment he wrote barring inhumane treatment of prisoners. The act prohibited cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment for all detainees in U.S. custody, including CIA prisoners.
Here is another part of the article that I don't think you read. McCain wrote the amendment against torture.
Enough of that. Next up, there is a Democrat debate tomorrow night. This one should be good. Last time I thought they were going to start singing Kumbaya. Hillary has to take her best shot.
Then why vote against the Manual that says so? Why urge Bush to veto the bill?
Duplicity.
I hate debates.
Something is wrong here. War, disease, death, destruction, hunger, filth, poverty, torture, crime, corruption, and the Ice Capades. Something is definitely wrong. This is not good work. If this is the best God can do, I am not impressed.
Also, the McCain Amendment's anti-torture provisions were modified by the Graham-Levin Amendment, which was also attached to the $453-billion 2006 Defense Budget Bill. The Graham-Levin Amendment permits the Department of Defense to consider evidence obtained through torture of Guantanamo Bay detainees, and expands the prohibition of habeas corpus for redetainees, which subsequently leaves detainees no legal recourse if they are tortured. [6]
Critics say these two actions deflate the McCain Amendment from having any real power in stopping torture by the United States Government, and these were the true reasons why President Bush "conceded" to McCain's demands. Yet, this was largely ignored by the mainstream media, who instead credited Bush's concession to "overwhelming Congressional support" for the measure. [7] [8]
Something is wrong here. War, disease, death, destruction, hunger, filth, poverty, torture, crime, corruption, and the Ice Capades. Something is definitely wrong. This is not good work. If this is the best God can do, I am not impressed.
The wiki article only reinforces the fact that he has been a one man crusader against torture. Even McCains critics do not attack him on his principles. They can only quarrel with his policies.
Then he should urge Bush to sign the bill instead of pretending that his amendment is any kind of protection.
Something is wrong here. War, disease, death, destruction, hunger, filth, poverty, torture, crime, corruption, and the Ice Capades. Something is definitely wrong. This is not good work. If this is the best God can do, I am not impressed.
This has become too picayune for me. Your assertion that McCain favored torture is obviously not correct. I'm not too crazy about any members of Congress, but McCain has done more to prevent torture than anyone else.
I'll wait till after the debate tomorrow and post my thoughts here. As I said, I hope it's a good one.
Beagle wrote:This has become too picayune for me. Your assertion that McCain favored torture is obviously not correct. I'm not too crazy about any members of Congress, but McCain has done more to prevent torture than anyone else.
I'll wait till after the debate tomorrow and post my thoughts here. As I said, I hope it's a good one.
I'm sorry Beags. It's not often I will weigh in on a volatile topic (and politics is so volatile!), but I have to agree with Min.
Being a former full tme and now part time resident of Arizona, McCain's positions through the Keating Five and his 'role', lobbyists, and now the torture issue, along with other matters, I don't buy what this guy is selling at any level.
Do not get me wrong, I'm not in favor of anyone in the field at the moment, but this one is ol' boy politics at it's best.
The only thing he hasn't done is dig up Ronnie and prop him up as an endorsement while waving the flag.....
That having been said.....I'm with you, I hope the debates are a good one....we need it, but I'm not holding my breath for any of them.
We've Got Fossils - We win ~ Lewis Black
Red meat, cheese, tobacco, and liquor...it works for me ~ Anthony Bourdain
I don't buy what this guy is selling at any level.
And I'm not asking you to. My comments here have not been about promoting John McCain, but the primaries in general. The recent exchange is only about Min posting an article and claiming that McCain was in favor of torture.
Min clearly made a mistake. If you or Min can show any evidence that he has done anything other than try to prevent torturing prisoners, please show me.
Other than that, Michelle, I'm staying away from beating the drum for him. The mechanics of politics are more interesting than the individuals.
BTW, He was one of two people that were absolved of any wrongdoing in the Keating 5.
BTW, He was one of two people that were absolved of any wrongdoing in the Keating 5.
I beg to differ:
Mr. Keating had taken over the Lincoln Savings and Loan Association and used its federally insured deposits to gamble on risky real estate and other investments. He pressed Mr. McCain and other lawmakers to help hold back federal banking regulators.
For years, Mr. McCain complied. At Mr. Keating’s request, he wrote several letters to regulators, introduced legislation and helped secure the nomination of a Keating associate to a banking regulatory board.
By early 1987, though, the thrift was careering toward disaster. Mr. McCain agreed to join several senators, eventually known as the Keating Five, for two private meetings with regulators to urge them to ease up. “Why didn’t I fully grasp the unusual appearance of such a meeting?” Mr. McCain later lamented in his memoir.
When Lincoln went bankrupt in 1989 — one of the biggest collapses of the savings and loan crisis, costing taxpayers $3.4 billion — the Keating Five became infamous. The scandal sent Mr. Keating to prison and ended the careers of three senators, who were censured in 1991 for intervening. Mr. McCain, who had been a less aggressive advocate for Mr. Keating than the others, was reprimanded only for “poor judgment” and was re-elected the next year.
Very well Michelle. Relatively speaking, I think he came off pretty well. Strange though, Bob Bennett, a Democrat lawyer and brother of Bill Bennett, was just on Hannity and Colmes a while ago. He was an investigator of the Keating 5, and just said how he recommended that McCain be dropped from the investigation because he had done nothing wrong.
He didn't mention any reprimand. He went on to say what a principled man McCain was, A lot of Democrats like him a lot as he has crossed the aisle to get legislation. Even with Ted Kennedy.
For myself, I can't believe he is going to be the nominee. Because he is such a maverick, he is not well liked in the Republican party.
This is a very interesting election year.
Thanks for joining the discussion Michelle. It sounds like we're both a couple of news hounds.
I think the torture discussion is over. That's good.
TOLEDO, Ohio - John McCain emphatically denied a romantic relationship with a female telecommunications lobbyist on Thursday and said a report by The New York Times suggesting favoritism for her clients is "not true."
By now everyone has seen this story. Smear campaign? I don't think so. I'm smelling a pretty crafty move on McCains part.
Being seen with a hot blond can only help his image...I'll give you that.
Something is wrong here. War, disease, death, destruction, hunger, filth, poverty, torture, crime, corruption, and the Ice Capades. Something is definitely wrong. This is not good work. If this is the best God can do, I am not impressed.
We all know how dirty politics are played. For instance, Hillary making the plagiarism charge against Obama on the eve of the Wisconsin primary. Or McCain stating that Romney wanted timetables for an Iraq pullout on the eve of the Florida primary.
If there is a rumor from a decade ago on McCain, it seems that the NY Times did him a favor and got it out at a time when it won't hurt him. And tomorrow, the news will be about tonights debate.
I think there is some winkin' and noddin' going on.
