Congress legalized Torture

[Ry]

crooks and liars

Congress gives Bush the right to torture and detain people forever
By: Glenn Greenwald on Thursday, September 28th, 2006 at 5:27 PM


Following in the footsteps of the House, the Senate this afternoon approved the bill which vests in the President the power of indefinite, unreviewable detention (even of U.S. citizens) and which also legalizes various torture techniques. It is not hyperbole to say that this is one of the most tyrannical and dangerous bills to be enacted in our nation’s history.

The final Senate vote was 65-34. The Democrats lacked the votes for a filibuster and therefore did not attempt one. Twelve (out of 44) Senate Democrats voted in favor of this bill, while only one Republican (Chafee) voted against it. The dishonorable list of Democrats voting for the bill: Carper (Del.), Johnson (S.D.), Landrieu (La.), Lautenberg (N.J.), Lieberman (Conn.), Menendez (N.J), Nelson (Fla.), Nelson (Neb.), Pryor (Ark.), Rockefeller (W. Va.), Salazar (Co.), Stabenow (Mich).

One can look at the Democrats’ conduct here in one of two ways. On the one hand, it is true that the Democrats disappeared from the debate until today, all but hiding behind John McCain in the futile hope that he would remain steadfast in his opposition to the White House. Once the Democrats designated McCain as the Noble and Wise Torture Expert who spoke on their behalf, it became very difficult for them to oppose the "compromise" bill whereby McCain predictably capitulated and gave the Bush administration virtually everything it wanted. Democrats painted themselves into this corner by failing forcefully to advocate their own position against torture and indefinite detention.

Nonetheless, it is simply a fact that virtually every Republican in the House and the Senate (with one sole exception in the Senate and only 7 in the House) voted in favor of this tyrannical bill, while Democrats overwhelmingly opposed it (in the House, 160 Democrats voted "no," while 34 voted "yes"). With those facts assembled, it is fair to say that the Republicans are the party of torture, indefinite and unreviewable detention powers, and limitless presidential power, even over U.S. citizens on U.S. soil. By contrast, Democrats have largely opposed these tyrannical, un-American and truly dangerous measures. Even if Democrats didn’t oppose them as vociferously as they could have and should have — and that is plainly the case – this is still a meaningful and, at this point in our country’s history, a critically important contrast.

[Ry]

Get rid of these Democrats

Carper (Del.),
Johnson (S.D.),
Landrieu (La.),
Lautenberg (N.J.),
Lieberman (Conn.)
Menendez (N.J),
Nelson (Fla.),
Nelson (Neb.),
Pryor (Ark.),
Rockefeller (W. Va.),
Salazar (Co.),
Stabenow (Mich)

[adam1]

This increased rate of tyranny is insane... you'll have to update ur book.. damn!

I'm sure Blair will be all too happy to expropriate innocent people over... we in the UK will have to wait and see.

If it starts happening, I will be fearing for my life as a result of a US law, that is crazy.

[Ry]

Yes I said in my book that they would try and legalize it. Notice something that the Democrats who voted for the torture bill seem to have in common?? All Zionist

[Crim]

It's very simple, they are trying to take our freedom away before we know it, and once we figure it out we will be punishible by death for protesting the goverment.

They are trying to hurry so that it will be too late for us to do anything about them, thats why we must act quickly as well.

[Dissent]

It's very simple, they are trying to take our freedom away before we know it, and once we figure it out we will be punishible by death for protesting the goverment.

They are trying to hurry so that it will be too late for us to do anything about them, thats why we must act quickly as well.

I bet the American people dont care about this bullshit as long as it protects their "freedom", whatever that means. This country is gonna get what they deserve. I'll be going to the Mexican consulate for dual citizenship in two weeks. Not that Mexico is any safer than the US, but its much cheaper out there.

[Crim]

I plan on mocing to Argentina, or traveling to a buddhist monestary to study Chi.

That is of course unless a revolution occurs, which I will without a doubt be a part of.

[Ry]

Well they can not arrest you without a charge based on any vague definition of fighting terrorism, and now they can torture you and Bush saud anyone who questions 911 is a terrorist. They legalized torture even when they have been illegally doing it anyway, in order to shut us up. They are trying to scare us into silence.

We are a threat to them.

[Crim]

They can arrest you for whatever they want to, they can arrest the entire country, who's going to stop them?

They can do whatever they want. they already have the power they dont need our support anymore.

[Ry]

They can arrest thousands but it wount stop us. If they arrest too many too quicky it will start revolts.

I think if Republicand don't lose control of congress this november that there could be city revolts.

We are at a boiling point.