Former President George W. Bush proudly proclaimed this week “Yeah, we water-boarded Khalid Sheikh Mohammed . . I’d do it again to save lives.” Fortunately, he will not be given another chance but, due to the actions of President Obama and Attorney General Holder to bar any investigation or prosecution of torture, future presidents may well indeed to do it again.
Bush’s remarks came at the Economic Club of Grand Rapids. These comments follow Vice President Dick Cheney and Karl Rove virtually bragging about torture during the Administration, here. This shameful moment belongs not to Bush but to Obama who worked to block the fulfillment of our domestic and international obligations to prosecute such offenses. We will continue to have torture discussed casually as just another tough-guy policy choice. Because it would have been politically unpopular to prosecute people for torture, the Obama Administration has allowed officials to downgrade torture from a war crime to a talking point.
For the story, click here.
Former Federal LEO: “Mr. Bush, Mr. Obama, their staffs, and their followers have unequivocally demonstrated that the Rule of Law and Treaties mean nothing.”
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Um… that’s kinda’ a broad brush there friend. I am a supporter in that I voted for him (and will again if the alternative is a McCain/Palin-clone) and and had high hopes for my brand of change but short of storming the WH I don’t know what his supporters could do; e-mails and telephone calls haven’t worked. Many of us (we?) supporters want nothing so much as a return to the rule of law.
I would though like a clear playing field for him and a greater opportunity for significant change where ever possible. For us not him. A playing field without the obstructionist party of “hell no!” and the Blue Dogs.
Like BIL I have seen a direct correlation between cities burning and fundamental social/political change and maybe that is what will happen again; that seems to be what it takes. I’m not even sure that would do it though because the infrastructure for repression has been greatly refined over the last couple of decades.
So what should we do with these guys to get them to talk, offer milk and cookies??? If your family’s life was directly impacted by the information a criminal had, what would you do? Where we sit, we are far removed from the impact, so we see it as wrong. But is it???
Byron: “vlf2112: who is Turdblossom? There are so many candidates from the Bush years.”
Buddha Is Laughing: “Byron, That’s Bush’s nickname for Rove.”
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Wikipedia has an overly long entry for Rove IMO. It should read simply “George W. Bush [freaking GEORGE W. BUSH!] nicknamed him “Turdblosson”; think about it.”
🙂
Pandering to the crowd. A lot of Dutch Reformed with a lot of money.
Home of AmWay owners Dick and Betsy DeVos. Betsy sister of Erik Prince principal of Blackwater.
Pandering to the crowd.
“…still crazy after all these years” Paul Simon
Turdblossom – “where ever he goes, something comes up”.
FFLEO. I am not what you in the US would call a republican. But you Sir are my kind of Republican.
Back to the original thread. These torturers always give the same old “ticking bomb” excuse. A right load of 8/3 pi r cubed.
As any fule kno, someone who is being tortured will only say what the torturer wants to hear – the truth does not come into it. The oportunities for a genuine bad guy to tie up his enemies resources on wild goose chases are enormous.
Any terrorist group worth the name (along with special forces units) give training on how to react under torture.
Hey at least he’s being honest. Honesty is not something commonly found in today’s politians.
Thanks, Buddha!
Does anyone know where the Texas Tot came up with Turdblossom??
This shows that Mr. Bush never learned any lesson. How pathetic he is.
FFLEO,
We all suffer when the law becomes lawless. Eventually those in governance will find out the hard way that this kind of blatant injustice will utterly destroy them as well. Our streets may be ablaze and anarchy in bloom, but those responsible will be choking on their cake as Rome burns. That’s the pattern history shows to me.
Mr. Bush, Mr. Obama, their staffs, and their followers have unequivocally demonstrated that the Rule of Law and Treaties mean nothing. Even highly respected legal scholars such as Professor Turley are powerless to do anything whatsoever except to illustrate, condemn, and lament about such violations of law.
Most times, I wonder why we even care or bother because those wielding the power in big government are going to do whatever they want. The law really does not matter—only the powerful misfits’ legal interpretations matter.
I am fortunate that I am in my 6th decade of life and that I lived when most people respected the law. I fear that if I were a young man in today’s world, I would not be the law-abiding absolutist that I have been my entire life.
I have stated this before; I am a Republican and I despise Mr. Bush and his crew. I voted for Mr. Obama; however, I now have nothing but utter contempt for everything about him and for which he stands. One man is a pathetic, imbecilic, ultra religious halfwit who started the rapid decline of this once great Nation, while the other is an educated—although exceptionally naïve and untrustworthy—liar who continues the moral, ethical, and legal decline by perpetuating many of Bush’s insane, corrupt, and illegal practices.
Byron,
That’s Bush’s nickname for Rove.
vlf2112:
who is Turdblossom? There are so many candidates from the Bush years.
Buddha: Your comment is certainly more accurate than mine!
Although traitorous, vile, evil, and incompetent all apply as well.
For once Tootie, we are in complete agreement.
I would just add the the following modifier: criminal idiot.
He is such an idiot.
It’s amazing the kinds of things Republican leaders brag about.
It’s amazing the kinds of things Democratic leaders choose to ignore.
“This shameful moment belongs not to Bush but to Obama who worked to block the fulfillment of our domestic and international obligations to prosecute such offenses.”
Well said, Professor. I am beyond disappointed that Obama has given Dubya, Darth, and Turdblossom a free pass on torture. I also find that not only should Obama be ashamed, but we as a people should be ashamed for allowing the Bush Cabal of Criminals to not only torture, but for not holding them accountable.
My disgust for the Bush Crime Family knows no bounds.