In sympathy with Majority Leader (and GW Grad) Harry Reid’s effort to deny that there is sufficient evidence to investigate torture, I give you this picture of a similar effort by a canine representative.
The key in holding opposing positions in your mouth at the same time is total flexibility. Warning: Much like four tennis balls, the act of arguing that “no one is above the law” but some crimes are the “right thing to do” can risk choking.
Thanks for Patty C for the picture.
Whether final determinations are made showing individuals were ‘rightly’ held, or especially wrongly, these detainees are no doubt angry and probably ‘unstrung’, as well.
Prior to forking over any large settlement checks for pain and suffering, I strongly suggest the US actively participate in their rehabilitations.
Incidentally, Worthington has still never been to Gitmo…
Following is an interview with Binyam Mohamed on his torture at Bagram and Gitmo. This torture continued until he was released.
Here is a message of Reid, Pelosi, Dick. Holder and Obama:
“Binyam Mohamed: These seven years has taught me a lot. I’ve learnt things which I didn’t even know, things that I couldn’t have learnt except through this experience. Putting your head down because of fear, that shouldn’t be an excuse not to do your duty. There’s oppression here. We have to stand up to it.”
We aren’t putting our heads down. Obama and Holder do your duty.
http://www.andyworthington.co.uk/2009/03/28/guantanamo-bagram-and-the-dark-prison-binyam-mohamed-talks-to-moazzam-begg/
raff,
The Doctor would never leave the TARDIS in the hands of such a dubious character.
rafflaw,
That’s great about your grandson. As to remembering torture is illegal, I just heard something amazing on NPR, amazing because they usually won’t even call torture, torture. Ted Koppel said the debate about torture is over. It’s against the law. He’s going to speak about this on TOTN today. I’m sure they’ll have a torture supportor (or two) on as well, but having Ted Kopple say this so bluntly is a real start to counteract Dick Cheney’s claims.
“I’ve never wished anyone dead, but there are obituaries that make me smile.”
— Clarence Darrow
Mike S. and Mojo,
Nice job!
alex –
Did you get your feelings hurt, sweetie? Get over it. You’re a tough conservative wack-job who supports torture. Did this offend your delicate sensibilities? Jokes? Really?
How about a little water-boarding? Are you tough enough to deal with it? Or are you going to cry the way you cry about a comic’s jokes?
Wow … tell this wimp some jokes and see how long it takes before he cracks.
Baby wants his momma …
“What was his crime? Hoping that Obama’s policies – which he views as socialist – will fail.”
Alex,
I thought her joke was not only funny but courageous. Rush
Limbaugh is a misogynist, racist pig, who has made his money appealing to people’s worst natures. The Washington Press Corps represents not a free press, but a gaggle of transcribers who allowed the Bush/Cheney Crime Family to loot the Middle Class, start a phony war for profit, killed thousands of our soldiers to get the oil companies a good Iraq deal, tried to lower benefits for our injured returning soldiers, broke the law against torture and committed treason to the Constitution by breaking their oaths to uphold it. This press corps slavishly supported the Bushies and found equivalencies that didn’t exist. They gave equal weight to unfounded arguments against global warming and did the same between evolutionary theory and intelligent design.
The kissed Bush’s patrician behind, while they slandered Clinton for sexual dalliance. They allowed the most ridiculous impeachment hearing in history to take place and yet closed their mouths while Bush killed hundreds of thousands of Iraqi’s for no good reason. How could Ms. Sykes remarks not be shocking to them, since most of them have been kissing Rush and Rove’s asses for so long.
Not funny: Barack Obama laughs at Wanda Sykes “joke” about wanting Rush Limbaugh dead
May 10, 2009
Reuters Correspondent
What was Wanda Sykes thinking? Perhaps more to the point, what was President Barack Obama thinking when he laughed and smiled as the comedienne wished Rush Limbaugh dead?
Although the Left is reporting her White House Correspondents’ Dinner speech as “taking shots” at Limbaugh and mocking everyone, that’s a gross misrepresentation of what turned into a hateful and disgusting diatribe.
I was at the dinner and I began by laughing at Sykes’s gentle teases about the press loving Obama so much they never capture him on film smoking but often seem to get him on the beach.
It was amusing when she quipped that Obama trying so hard to be all things to all men that the next thing is he’ll be seen mowing the White House lawn.
But the speech took a very ugly turn when she laid into Limbaugh.
This is what she said: “Rush Limbaugh said he hopes this administration fails, so you’re saying, ‘I hope America fails’, you’re, like, ‘I dont care about people losing their homes, their jobs, our soldiers in Iraq’. He just wants the country to fail. To me, that’s treason.
“He’s not saying anything differently than what Osama bin Laden is saying. You know, you might want to look into this, sir, because I think Rush Limbaugh was the 20th hijacker. But he was just so strung out on OxyContin he missed his flight.”
She then concluded: “Rush Limbaugh, I hope the country fails, I hope his kidneys fail, how about that? He needs a good waterboarding, that’s what he needs.” Obama seemed to think this bit was pretty hilarious, grinning and chuckling and turning to share the “joke” with the person sitting on his right.
There’s not much room for differing interpretations of what Sykes said. She called Limbaugh a terrorist and a traitor, suggested that he be tortured and wished him dead.
What was his crime? Hoping that Obama’s policies – which he views as socialist – will fail.
That’s way, way beyond reasoned debate or comedy and Obama’s reaction to it was astonishing.
Imagine if a comedian “joked” that Obama was a terrorist who was guilty of treason and should be tortured and allowed to die. There would justifiably be an outcry.
But when the “joke” comes from a liberal, Obama-supporting comedienne and the target is a right-winger then the likes of Hilary Rosen and Donna Brazile are on CNN saying it’s just comedy and Limbaugh is “fair game”.
And Obama laughing when someone wishes Limbaugh dead? Hard to take from the man who promised a new era of civility and elevated debate in Washington.
Watch the video. What do you think?
http://blogs.telegraph.co.uk/toby_harnden/blog/2009/05/10/not_funny_barack_obama_laughs_at_wanda_sykes_joke_about_wanting_rush_limbaugh_dead
Wayne Jarvis,
Thank you for that very interesting insight.
Jill,
Thanks for the comment about my grandson. He is growing like a weed and really getting a personality. I also agree with your comments on the fact that torture does not produce actionable intelligence, but let’s not forget that it is also illegal.
Alex,
You may want to return to Earth now. Your trip to Venus has been cancelled and Dr. Who wants his phone booth back.
RE: Harry Reid’s Grudge Against GW
Prof. Turley didn’t mention the best part. The best part was that GW had no clue about the grudge and asked him to speak at the law school “diploma ceremony” in 2005 (which is different than a graduation ceremony. I don’t really get it. Whatever.)
Reid accepted the invitation.
He then proceeded to air all of his then-35-year-old dirty laundry in his speech. The grads were pissed. The law school faculty had dropped jaws. One of the deans had to rush the microphone when Reid was finished in order to defend the honor of a former colleague. It was like a Andy Kaufman stunt. Or a WWF heal turn. It was pretty awesome.
Anyhow, his “lesson” was that he was learning to forgive and be a bigger man. That a legitimate “bigger man” probably wouldn’t air his dirty laundry in front of thousands of people celebrating a graduation ceremony was completely lost on him.
Reid is a dumbass (and a petty one at that).