McCain slams Giuliani’s waterboarding comments.
By on Nov 5th, 2007 at 2:48 pm
McCain slams Giuliani’s waterboarding comments.
When asked about his views on waterboarding this weekend, Rudy Giuliani said he used similar “intensive questioning” as a prosecutor in New York to elicit information from the mafia. Yesterday, Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) denounced Giuliani’s comments: “When someone says waterboarding is similar to harsh interrogation techniques used against the mafia in New York City, they do not have enough experience to lead our military.”
View Most Popular
Advertisement
What We're About
What We're Fighting For
What We're Fighting Against
Featured
Subscribe to the Progress Report
Topic CloudView topics sorted by popularity
Afghanistan
Bachmann
Beck
Boehner
Bush
Cheney
Civil Rights
Congress
Corporate Ethics
Dobbs
Economy
Education
Election
Energy
Environment
Ethics
Fox News
Gingrich
Global Warming
Health Care
Immigration
International Relations
Iraq
Justice
LGBT
Lieberman
Limbaugh
Maddow
McCain
Media
Military
Obama
Palin
Pelosi
Public Plan
Race
Radical Right
Religion
Sports
Steele
Steve King
Stimulus
Tea Parties
Technology
Women's Rights
Visit Our Affiliated Sites
Reports
In-depth studies on select topics
Got a hot tip?
Have a hot news tip? We'd love to hear from you. Use the form below to send us the latest.
ArchivesBlog Roll
I never thought I would say this, but, I agree with McCain. Anyone who would say such a thing does not have enough experience to lead our military.
November 5th, 2007 at 2:52 pmThe torture issue will be McCain’s swan song but it’s one he is most knowledgable on. I hope he hammer’s Guiliani on this issue every chance he has.
November 5th, 2007 at 2:52 pmLet’s get McPain and JulieAnnie in a World Wrestling Match ring, maybe a cage match, and let’s watch the old farts really slam each other.
November 5th, 2007 at 2:55 pmEvery now and then McCain starts making sense again. I’m sure it’s only temporary.
November 5th, 2007 at 2:57 pmTher’s a big difference between ‘intensive questioning’ that a prosecuter does(I’m guessing in the courtroom), and waterboarding.
What. An. Idiot.
November 5th, 2007 at 2:58 pmRudy should be waterboarded, just for an attitude adjustment, if nothing else.
November 5th, 2007 at 2:58 pmAnd when a US Senator votes to confirm an Attorney General nominee who refuses to say, on record, that torture is illegal, does not have enough experience to lead our military.
November 5th, 2007 at 3:00 pmHi Chris L, (#1 comment)
I agree with your comment. My only problem is that McCain has wavered back and forth so much on waterboarding that he’s worse than a rocking chair.
November 5th, 2007 at 3:00 pm#7, Torture should be waterboarding. Sorry.
November 5th, 2007 at 3:01 pmIf Rudy is admitting that he did ANYTHING “similar” to waterboarding as a prosecutor, this should be of concern to decent people everywhere.
WHY are Republicans supporting this man???
November 5th, 2007 at 3:03 pmTheresa; sorry to correct you, but in the world according to Bush: “the United States does not torture.”
November 5th, 2007 at 3:04 pmI agree with your comment. My only problem is that McCain has wavered back and forth so much on waterboarding that he’s worse than a rocking chair.
Comment by MapleStreet — November 5, 2007 @ 3:00 pm
#
Agreed.
November 5th, 2007 at 3:07 pmTheresa; sorry to correct you, but in the world according to Bush: “the United States does not torture.â€
Comment by Uncle Ho — November 5, 2007 @ 3:04 pm
Someone needs to explain to Bush and 9iu11ani that syllogism doesn’t work that way.
November 5th, 2007 at 3:12 pmI really fail to see what the issue is here actually since “waterboarding” is illegal according to the Geneva Conventions. Why are we continuing to debate it at all? The Geneva Conventions, of which the US is a signatory, states it very clearly – let’s face it: how many ways will Bush attempt to define torture to save his own ass at this point? He engaged in torture and it’s highly illegal and should be/will be punished for it.
The continuation of debate surrounding the waterboarding is moot at this point. We agreed to NOT engage in it according to the Geneva Conventions and here Bush Cabal is attempting to further define what waterboarding is…..that issue was decided the moment we signed onto the Geneva Conventions – end of story.
November 5th, 2007 at 3:14 pmI think it a leap of faith of McCiain and anyone else to assume a megalomaniac like ghouliani didn’t use torture including waterboarding on his detainees. Torture is a cult of republicanism fetish, it is NOT a means to an ends other than fulfilling the domination and sadism fetish.
November 5th, 2007 at 3:15 pm.
Now we also discover something we’d suspected from the outset: It was Bush at the head of the “chain of command” to okayed torture at AbuGhraib. Again, another incidence of overt “torture” according to the Geneva Conventions which Bush will be brought to justice for. And I’m certain there will be more – many more charges against him and each member of his administration – before this is settled.
November 5th, 2007 at 3:16 pmWant to know what’s really sad? Bush and Cheney will get away with every single unhanded and illegal thing they have done.
They will not be held accountable by the next President.
November 5th, 2007 at 3:17 pmit is a mistake to continue to refer to the Geneva Conventions. By that quaint document: the US Constitution, once a treaty is ratified its precepts become US LAW!!!!!!
November 5th, 2007 at 3:17 pm.
I don’t pin any laurels on McCain for stating the obvious – waterboarding is “torture” no matter how you dice it. All McCain is doing is citing the law according to the Geneva Convention. For this, McCain should be cannonized??
Have things deteriorated to such a nadir that when an individual speaks the Truth, he becomes considered for “sainthood”??
All he’s doing is stating the obvious and reminding everyone of the law.
November 5th, 2007 at 3:17 pmunhanded = underhanded. Sheesh.
November 5th, 2007 at 3:18 pmtoasterhead; unfortunately, you are correct.
November 5th, 2007 at 3:18 pmWaterboarding was adopted as a means of torture and is technically against the “law” as stated by pluege above.
November 5th, 2007 at 3:18 pmRudy Giuliani is a small-time thug and conman making his play for power. He’s a liar, a cheat and a pimp for the neo-cons.
But …McCain is worse. He makes me sick. He’s a panderer of the first order, one of the biggest GOP whores on the planet.
He – of all people, he who experienced torture personally – ought to be the one leading the charge to STOP the confirmation of another Torture Czar in the Bush administration.
Instead, he will meekly vote to confirm him – putting his party loyalty and his search for power over what is the right and moral thing to do.
Whore. Panderer. Hypocrite. Appeaser.
Shame on you, John McCain!!
November 5th, 2007 at 3:19 pmSo we’ve just permitted dear ole Mukasey to skirt around the law with the Judiciary Committee’s vote. Nice, real nice! Now we have congressmen whom Bush has draw into the cesspool who will fry along with him as well.
That’s the plan: Get as many Congressmen, preferably Democrats, to support lawlessness and then when the people insist on bringing these thugs to justice, it will involved the entire Congress! Now that’s a pretty nifty coup if you ask me.
November 5th, 2007 at 3:20 pmDo prosecutors interrogate suspects? Never heard of that before. I thought police and detectives interrogated and then give the results to prosecutors to determine if there is enough evidence to take to trial. Am I wrong on this? Never saw that on Law and Order. Maybe we should ask Fred Thompson.
November 5th, 2007 at 3:20 pmFor this, McCain should be cannonized??
Comment by Veritas — November 5, 2007 @ 3:17 pm
Yes, if you mean “fired out of a cannon into a safety net.”
I think 9iu11ani should be cannonized, too, but without the safety net. I’m sure he’d appreciate the anti-entitlement statement it makes.
November 5th, 2007 at 3:21 pmIt is interesting that McCave can denounce the unqualified crossdresser candidate Rudy about waterboarding (which MCave has every right to condemn Rudy since he is a vet and Rudy is not.) yet he won’t comment on Mukasky’s views on waterboarding and vote for Mukasky AG nomination.
November 5th, 2007 at 3:21 pmIt might be a good thing if Representatives and Congresspeople have term limits, perhaps they could hold on to their ethics and objectivity and not follow party line blindly.
November 5th, 2007 at 3:24 pmWhat the people need to do on this blog and any other blog they frequent is to drive the point home that “co-conspirators” will be held accountable to the people as well – these include Congressmen who support the continuation of these lawless activities. We need to pressure Congress that they will be held as “complicit co-conspirators” under the law.
We also need to make crystal clear to our representatives that they stand, at this moment, in total “derelection of duty” of their oath of office in NOT bringing impeachment charges against Bush & Cheney when they have a huge list of definite, substantiated “impeachable offenses”.
November 5th, 2007 at 3:25 pmToasterhead: Let’s “cannonize” all of the thugs!
November 5th, 2007 at 3:25 pmWhen a Repuke congressman either “obstructs justice” or “aids and abets” by their public support of illegal activities, this should be noted for future charges against them.
November 5th, 2007 at 3:26 pmP.S. Vis-a-vis: Impeachment. Tomorrow Kucinich brings the impeachment of Cheney to the floor with 22 other co-signers.
November 5th, 2007 at 3:27 pmRudy Giuliani was a MAYOR. What an ego to think that being mayor of NYC gives you the experience and knowledge to be president. McCain is right on this one, Giuliani is revealing that in his delusional world his limited experiences have prepared him to do anything.
November 5th, 2007 at 3:33 pmIt’s clear that those radioactive seeds that cured Rudy’s prostrate cancer also took care of that other tumor between his ears.
November 5th, 2007 at 3:34 pmIf Rudy is admitting that he did ANYTHING “similar†to waterboarding as a prosecutor, this should be of concern to decent people everywhere.
WHY are Republicans supporting this man???
Comment by missmolly — November 5, 2007 @ 3:03 pm
Cause they are terrified of Hillary and think Rudy can beat her. That is all I can figure, along with a very weak Republican field of candidates.
November 5th, 2007 at 3:35 pmHurray for John McCain, he finally stood up for something he believes in. He’s been so busy kissin the right’s azz, he forgot who he was. Rudy (Azz Kissen, Neo Nazi) Guiliani should be ashamed of himself, but he’s not. This little man and I mean little in every since of the word, will do or say anything to get power. The stupid religious conservatives who will sell their soul to support Rudy Fruitty Guiliani are just as bad. Neither them or Judie has any morals at all. They like their hero, change with the win and are so nasty when it comes to judging others. So good for Johnny comes lately, but it’s nice so see him pull his head out and see the light.
November 5th, 2007 at 3:35 pmP.S. Vis-a-vis: Impeachment. Tomorrow Kucinich brings the impeachment of Cheney to the floor with 22 other co-signers.
Comment by Veritas — November 5, 2007 @ 3:27 pm
Since it is “priveleged”, does that mean Pelosi HAS to schedule a vote?
November 5th, 2007 at 3:36 pmIf you didn’t read Saturday’s article in the New York Times about Giuliani and Bernie Kerik, go read it. Giuliani has claimed that his leadership is characterized by his ability to choose good people under him – but he ignored indications that Kerik was corrupt, and employs an accused pedophile priest at Giuliani Partners (and won’t disclose the nature of his work, but the former priest is a childhood friend who secured Giuliani’s annulment from his first wife/cousin). Even Kerik, in his autobiography, described joining Giuliani’s inner circle in the 1990’s as just like being “made” in the mafia.
November 5th, 2007 at 3:40 pmToasterhead: Let’s “cannonize†all of the thugs!
Comment by Veritas — November 5, 2007 @ 3:25 pm
I like this plan and I’m excited to be a part of it.
November 5th, 2007 at 3:42 pmDo prosecutors interrogate suspects? Never heard of that before. I thought police and detectives interrogated and then give the results to prosecutors to determine if there is enough evidence to take to trial. Am I wrong on this? Never saw that on Law and Order. Maybe we should ask Fred Thompson.
Comment by APEC not OPEC — November 5, 2007 @ 3:20 pm
If the NYPD had a torture room down in some catacomb, you can pretty well bet that Rudy would have been down there winding the rack and loading up the iron maidens.
In reality, though, his “intensive questioning” probably meant getting close enough to defendants that he was spraying them with his death breath. Yeesh. Creeped myself out.
November 5th, 2007 at 3:44 pmCause they are terrified of Hillary and think Rudy can beat her. That is all I can figure, along with a very weak Republican field of candidates.
Comment by Keltoi — November 5, 2007 @ 3:35 pm
Why are they terrified of Hillary? She’s even further to the right than Bill was, and he was the best Republican president in history! and why would they place any faith in Rudely, after he ran from her during the senatorial campaign? It’s no damn wonder Republicans can’t govern.
November 5th, 2007 at 3:52 pmIf Rudy get’s the nomination there will be an endless run of crossdressing incidents.
My guess is the republicans are hoping it’s Hillary. They will pull out the old arguments they used against her husband and they hope there will be enough old hatred of Bill left in this country to win as the lesser of 2 evils.
November 5th, 2007 at 3:52 pmCause they are terrified of Hillary and think Rudy can beat her. That is all I can figure, along with a very weak Republican field of candidates.
Comment by Keltoi — November 5, 2007 @ 3:35 pm
If all a person relies on for information is what they get from the media, Rudy is a plausible tough-guy candidate. In 2001, he was the icon of American courage and strength and there was never a breath of criticism to be found anywhere in the news.
The firefighters that criticized him later were drowned out by his firefighter sockpuppets by a media pretending to be “objective”. I’ve yet to see anything substantive in the MSM about his behavior as mayor, other than the occasional reference to his messed-up personal life. None of the stupid decisions that led to chaos on September 11 are ever raised, nor are the decisions afterward that so thoroughly p!ssed off the FDNY and NYPD. For those people not living in New York during his years as mayor, he’s Mr America.
November 5th, 2007 at 3:56 pm“Creeped myself out.”
Comment by gummitch — November 5, 2007 @ 3:44 pm
Yeah, thanks, gummitch, ya creeped me out, too. (shudder)
November 5th, 2007 at 3:58 pmMy guess is the republicans are hoping it’s Hillary. They will pull out the old arguments they used against her husband and they hope there will be enough old hatred of Bill left in this country to win as the lesser of 2 evils.
Comment by hellinabucket — November 5, 2007 @ 3:52 pm
Y’know, I think it is a jumping off the high dive moment for the Repubs. On the one hand, the DO think there is residual Clinton fatigue, so they want to run against Hillary. On the other hand, she may win the general, and the idea of Bill back in the WH drives them mad.
I am hoping like crazy there is still some fluidity in the situation and Obama can overtake her.
November 5th, 2007 at 4:00 pmMy guess is the republicans are hoping it’s Hillary. They will pull out the old arguments they used against her husband and they hope there will be enough old hatred of Bill left in this country to win as the lesser of 2 evils.
Comment by hellinabucket — November 5, 2007 @ 3:52 pm
Bill has a ton of good will left and not a lot of hatred. Hillary, on the other hand, has been well and thoroughly hated since 1993. Conservatives hated her for daring to act like she had a role in the White House and most of them are still convinced she’s the reincarnation of Emma Goldman, regardless of how she’s actually voted as a Senator.
November 5th, 2007 at 4:02 pmIn Rudy Giuliani’s mind:
1. NYPD = US Military
November 5th, 2007 at 4:04 pm2. Mafia = foreign countries
3. Times Square = Superfund sites
4. Streets = Interstate Highway System
5. Harlem = the South
6. Squeegee Men = Terrorists
7. Central Park = National Park System
8. Firefighters = Homeland Security
9. Subways = Amtrak
10. Staten Island = rural America
“If all a person relies on for information is what they get from the media, Rudy is a plausible tough-guy candidate.”
Comment by gummitch — November 5, 2007 @ 3:56 pm
Did anyone watch the Hart Research Focus Group thing on C-SPAN recently, where a group of mostly Republicans from Virginia were asked their positions on various issues and Republican candidates? It was scary. Few of them seemed familiar with the candidates and their positions, some hadn’t even heard of a few of the candidates. Most only had a general idea that Rudy is a tough anti-terrorist guy who would protect the “homeland”. Despite the fact that the majority of the people in the group, when asked to use one word to describe their impressions of the candidates, used words like “cold” and even “slimy” to describe Rudy, quite of few of the dozen or so people ended up agreeing that they would still vote for Rudy if Hillary was the Dem nominee. How f-ing frightening is that? After they were done, several political reporters who had watched agreed that many of the groups’ opinions were based on erronious information. Well, duh!
November 5th, 2007 at 4:07 pmIn Rudy Giuliani’s mind:
1. NYPD = US Military
2. Mafia = foreign countries
3. Times Square = Superfund sites
4. Streets = Interstate Highway System
5. Harlem = the South
6. Squeegee Men = Terrorists
7. Central Park = National Park System
8. Firefighters = Homeland Security
9. Subways = Amtrak
10. Staten Island = rural America
Comment by gulfwargrunt — November 5, 2007 @ 4:04 pm
THAT is funny!
November 5th, 2007 at 4:08 pmFor once, McCain and I agree…but will he vote for Mukasey’s appointment to lead the DoJ?
November 5th, 2007 at 4:08 pmwhen asked to use one word to describe their impressions of the candidates, used words like “cold†and even “slimy†to describe Rudy, quite of few of the dozen or so people ended up agreeing that they would still vote for Rudy if Hillary was the Dem nominee.
Comment by Jane E. Schneider — November 5, 2007 @ 4:07 pm
Which is why it blows my mind the Dems seem intent on nominating her! She must have a political machine even more powerful than it appears.
November 5th, 2007 at 4:10 pmWhich is why it blows my mind the Dems seem intent on nominating her! She must have a political machine even more powerful than it appears.
Comment by Keltoi — November 5, 2007 @ 4:10 pm
“The Dems”? Who are “the Dems”?
HRC has assembled a huge war chest and has been planning this entire operation since before Bill left the White House. She has called in lots of markers and has an enormous amount of clout.
Quite frankly, the Democratic Party and the DLC have never paid much attention to what voters want in a candidate. If they had, the rank and file of Democrats wouldn’t have been stuck trying to make John Kerry look like a great presidential candidate.
November 5th, 2007 at 4:13 pm“Which is why it blows my mind the Dems seem intent on nominating her! She must have a political machine even more powerful than it appears.”
Comment by Keltoi — November 5, 2007 @ 4:10 pm
And it doesn’t help that the media will only focus on Hillary and Obama, with Edwards to a lesser degree. And because she is acting like she’s already the nominee, the media is, too. They (the media) don’t seem to remember what the mid-term elections indicated: that most Dems want our troops out of Iraq, and certainly don’t want war with Iran. Hillary is too hawkish for most of us progressives. I’m from NY, she’s okay as a Senator, but I don’t want her for President!
November 5th, 2007 at 4:16 pmI’m waiting for Romney, who has already sunk millions of his own money in to his (ego-fueled) presidential bid and has millions to spend, to start slamming Giuliani on TV in the meanest possible manner.
November 5th, 2007 at 4:32 pm“The Dems� Who are “the Dems�
Comment by gummitch — November 5, 2007 @ 4:13 pm
Well, whoever are answering these opinion polls, I guess. I hope they are wrong, and I have a feeling she is not neartly as inevitable as she seems, but polls that don’t have her mopping the deck with the other guys are hard to find.
November 5th, 2007 at 4:39 pmWell, whoever are answering these opinion polls, I guess. I hope they are wrong, and I have a feeling she is not neartly as inevitable as she seems, but polls that don’t have her mopping the deck with the other guys are hard to find.
Comment by Keltoi — November 5, 2007 @ 4:39 pm
The most recent press I’ve seen has at least hinted at the idea that she’s not bullet-proof, especially after the last debate. Her opponents are beginning to take a harder line with her pointing our some of her waffling and inconsistencies.
What worries me most is that the first primaries are right around the corner and there is so little time to continue this trend, if it even exists.
In my opinion, the greatest barrier is the press, with its horse race mentality and unwillingness to do any hard work. If she gets the nomination, the press will be the first to mock her and to do the work of the Republicans to retain the WH.
November 5th, 2007 at 4:44 pmIn my opinion, the greatest barrier is the press, with its horse race mentality and unwillingness to do any hard work. If she gets the nomination, the press will be the first to mock her and to do the work of the Republicans to retain the WH.
Comment by gummitch — November 5, 2007 @ 4:44 pm
Well, I kinda agree with you, but look at how Russert got himself a new one ripped because his questions were too pointed toward Herself. I am pretty sure Media Matters was bagging on him today, but I thought his questions were dead on. Media Matters seems like a front group for the Clintons, and they are supposedly Progressives. Hillary has much ju-ju.
November 5th, 2007 at 5:11 pmGummitch: “I’ve yet to see anything substantive in the MSM about his behavior as mayor, other than the occasional reference to his messed-up personal life.”
Just a few days ago, Paul Krugman wrote an article in the NYT about how nobody holds Rudy accountable for out-and-out lying to the public. That’s the only thing I’ve seen in the mainstream media critical of Rudy. Krugman is a treasure.
November 5th, 2007 at 10:51 pmKeltoi, for a different perspective on Tim Russert, I suggest you check out Bob Somerby’s “The Daily Howler.” Somerby uses the miracle of this new-fangled thing they call “transcripts” to show that Russert continually challenges Dems and questions their character while lobbing big fat softballs at all republican hopefuls. His central thesis, among other things, is that we have a pampered, millionaire media elite which doesn’t give a damn about the opinions and/or the needs of average Americans. They live on Nantucket. They go to cocktail parties with the powerful. They are what he calls a “plutocrat press corp.”
November 5th, 2007 at 10:55 pmKeltoi: “Media Matters seems like a front group for the Clintons, and they are supposedly Progressives. Hillary has much ju-ju.”
The guy who runs Mediamatters is David Brock, former right-wing hit-man who was part of the “Arkansas Project” in the 90’s and became disenchanted with the dishonesty and debauchery of the modern conservative movement. He doesn’t work for the Clintons, but he likes them.
November 5th, 2007 at 10:57 pm.
Q U E S T I O N:
And McCain is silent on Waterboarding because…?
Well, not being outspoken on the issue of torture and the president’s prerogative to commit war crimes from the man who’s not only vying for that title but also walked in a war prisoners shoes, one would think he might be a tad bit more adamant on the subject. I don’t see him fighting to stop torture.
NO?
.
November 6th, 2007 at 2:13 am