It's not enough for the congressional leadership to simply be on record as being outraged. It really won't do to strike a pose on this issue of torture, and simply stand by, while the process of justice deteriorates before our eyes.
There's been enough defensiveness, cowering, and accomodation in the ranks of Congress. Subpoenas, hearings, and investigations are the cures for what ails this country. The cause of justice will be set back, and the people's faith in democracy will suffer unacceptable damage, if those in Congress think they can play it safe and tiptoe through the last months of this administration.
Posted by Copeland at October 21, 2007 12:30 PMBoth John McCain and Lindsey Graham ... have been quite forceful against torture and have both been lied to by this White House.
Um, I wouldn't give them the excuse of being lied to by the White House. Both men are too smart to be fooled by the lying - their craveness is a deliberate decision on their part.
Posted by at October 21, 2007 07:45 PMSteve,
McCain and Graham talk a good game, yes, Graham was doing so again at the Mukasey hearings this week, but remember, when Democrats trusted them to negotiate the Military Commissions Act with the White House, they came up with a bill that gave the White House everything they wanted.
I'm convinced that Graham, in particular, it being deliberate duplicitous. In the hearings on the Military Commissions Act, all of the Military personnel, including his fellow JAG officers, testified that the proper way to proceed was to start with the Military Code of Conduct, and then made as few changes as necessary to bring it into conformity with dealing with terror suspects. Lindsey acted as if that testimony was just what he wanted to hear.
The administration witnesses insisted that what was required was for the committee to start with the Bush position and make as few changes as necessary to make everything statutorily legal.
In the end that is what Graham and McCain colluded to do - it was a real betrayal of the what the Military personnel indicated clearly they felt was necessary to preserve both competence and constitutionality.
Posted by Leah at October 21, 2007 09:46 PM