The Senate Judiciary Committee just voted 11-8 to approve the nomination of Michael Mukasey as Attorney General. He now heads to the full Senate for a vote. Sens. Charles Schumer (NY) and Dianne Feinstein (CA) were the only Democrats to join all nine Republicans in voting for the nomination.
UPDATE: Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV), who has promised to vote against Mukasey, said he expects a confirmation vote before Thanksgiving.
And Schumer and Fienstein have rolled on their backs, awaiting their belly-rubs from their masters…
November 6th, 2007 at 10:33 amThey’d better count their pieces of silver to make sure they got 30.
November 6th, 2007 at 10:33 amWhat a DISGRACE! FASCIST F***S!!
November 6th, 2007 at 10:36 amand we expected, what, reason to prevail? how do i get on the Democrats’ do not call list?
November 6th, 2007 at 10:38 amAll right, it is time to organize a primary challenge for both Schumer and Feinstein.
We have to stop being our own worst enemy.
Seeing red, AGAIN.
November 6th, 2007 at 10:39 amThank you, Schumer and DiFi. Kiss any hope of my supporting either of you goodbye (and I live in Callyfornia).
Cheers,
November 6th, 2007 at 10:40 amFu*king GODDAMN TRAITORS! Waterboard EVERY SINGLE one of those motherfuc*ers that voted that traitor in.
November 6th, 2007 at 10:41 amAnd there it is. The Senate Judiciary Committee just condoned the use of torture.
This isn’t the America I grew up in and read about in the history books. It’s not even close.
November 6th, 2007 at 10:43 amYet another Democratic disgrace. Is anyone in this government willing to go to the mat to defend the Constitution of the United States?
Schumer will happily work Gonzo over in front of the cameras, but can’t muster the spine to reject his twin in private? Pathetic!
November 6th, 2007 at 10:43 amDisgraceful.
Schumer was trying to save face. What was Feinstein trying to do? I don’t think she’s up for re-election this cycle… But I wouldn’t be surprised if another big contract comes her husband’s way… back in April 03, he got a 600 million contract from the Army for his company…
SF Gate
November 6th, 2007 at 10:43 amThe only good I see coming out of this is the fact that the whole Senate can now vote (that “up or down” thing) and, hopefully, vote NO.
November 6th, 2007 at 10:44 amFeinstein must go. She has shown her true colors many times. I do not understand what is wrong with schumer. Is he trying to plan for some future event? I mean there is only a year left to go for this administration, why give BushCo. any breaks at all? They should just not let him have anything at all anymore. So what if the GOP starts saying there obstructionists. GOP’rs aren’t going to vote Democrat. Democrats are going to vote more but this knida crap just makes you want to stay home. The best to hope for is for GOP’rs to just not vote or vote for a third party.
November 6th, 2007 at 10:45 amSchumer is my senator and I will not be voting for his reelection. Feinstein is DTM as well. Her position on telecom amnesty is maddening as well. She flat out sucks.
November 6th, 2007 at 10:48 amWhen is Feinstein up for reelection?
November 6th, 2007 at 10:48 amSo, which Democratic Senator will lead the filibuster of this confirmation? Anyone? anyone? any . . . oh, why bother.
November 6th, 2007 at 10:49 amI would hope and expect that there will be further debate of both the nominee and the torture issue when this goes to the floor. I do not condemn Schumer or Feinstein for their votes. It could be very healthy for this to get a full airing in the Senate.
The issue is less about the new AG than it is about administration policy. It is time to have that debate and the people in the cross-hairs should be GDumbya and Darth Cheney — not some washed-up former judge looking for a 14-month job.
November 6th, 2007 at 10:49 amPlease correct the Title as it should read
FEINSTEIN & SCHUMER APPROVE WATERBOARDING
Sad state of affairs when CNN poll shows 29% do not think waterboarding is torture and a full 40% of Americans think it is OK for our government to waterboard.
This country is ripe for a facist dictatorship. Kinda feels like 1930’s Germany.
November 6th, 2007 at 10:51 amOur “Democracy” is broken. Democrats and Rebublicans don’t represent the people anymore.
November 6th, 2007 at 10:52 amWhen is Feinstein up for reelection?
Comment by lefty
2012 and speculation is she will not run again. She is my representative. Sorry, I mean she occupies that seat but DOES NOT represent me. She is a WAR PROFITEER and a DISGRACE.
November 6th, 2007 at 10:53 amIt is now exactly a year since the big Democrats victory in last year’s elections.
November 6th, 2007 at 10:54 amPeople believed Democrats will do a lot since they took over beginning this year. But when you look at what Democrats accomplished vs. what the voters wanted and were promised,it is really pathetic.
The reason that Democrats won was mainly to stop this war in Iraq..now you see Democrats working hand in hand with Bush to start another war in Iran, instead.
While Pelosi kept saying:”no blank checks”, Bush never was denied a dime of the moeny he requested.
Speaker Pelosi needs either to step down or do her job that she promised the American people.
The real devil is not Feinstein & Schumer…it is the system glitches that allow the corporate influence to rule.
As a CA constituent I called Feinstein’s office to voice my opinion. Her phones were ringing off the hook all day yesterday and it was hard to get through…guess is, she didn’t listen to me or any of her constituents. Would I ever vote for her again? Not in a pig’s eye…but she is probably slated for retirement at the end of her current term and is now feathering her retirement bed with corporate cronyism.
November 6th, 2007 at 10:55 amApparently a LOT of people are unhappy with Sen. Feinstein. Her website link for e-mail has crashed.
November 6th, 2007 at 10:56 amCowards and traitors.
Water boarding is too good for them.
November 6th, 2007 at 10:57 amWhen is Feinstein up for reelection?
Comment by lefty — November 6, 2007 @ 10:48 am
Feinstein was just re-elected in 2006. This means she’s up again in 2012. She’s been hinting that this is her last term, though (she will be 79 in 2012).
November 6th, 2007 at 10:57 amHow much longer are we going to cave in and give Bush what he wants? I hope Schumer and Feinstein get voted out along with all the Republican rubber-stampers. It’s time we took a stand about what being American means. It’s time we stood up for the US Constitution. It’s time politicians actually listened to the people again.
November 6th, 2007 at 10:58 amLittlefoot sez:
Wrong. Unlike this administration, Fan of Man does not claim that torture is a reliable method of extracting intelligence.
November 6th, 2007 at 10:59 amDiFi and Schumer may have killed their careers with that vote.
November 6th, 2007 at 11:03 amHey, if it’s good enough for our elected representatives, it’s good enough for our enemies, right?
its good for all republicans and looks like a couple of dumbasscrats too…. you ready for your waterboarding bigfoot?
November 6th, 2007 at 11:03 amI’d like to introduce Cheney and Bush to some “swimming lessons”
November 6th, 2007 at 11:04 ambigfoot, you are too stupid to realize that waterboarding doesnt yield truth, it yields “I’ll say anything to make this stop.” did your parents abandon you?
November 6th, 2007 at 11:05 amSenate Judiciary Committee now must all be impeached! The charges will be “derelection of duty” by their oath of office to uphold the laws of this country. And, in the case of covering Bush’s a$$, it would be called “obstruction of justice” by this defacto exoneration.
Bush may have a signing statement to fall back upon; Congress has “nada” to fall back on when impeachment charges are brought against them by the people.
November 6th, 2007 at 11:07 amI say “waterboard them all” so they can totally empathize with the torture they’ve just condoned.
November 6th, 2007 at 11:07 amWe can kiss these United States of American “good bye”. It’s now officially “over” for this democracy – against the people and our constitution.
November 6th, 2007 at 11:08 amI hope Schumer and Feinstein rot in hell for the greed and ass-kissing they’ve just done. I hear legitimate candidates vying for their seats right now. Feinstein and Schumer are also officially “history”.
November 6th, 2007 at 11:09 amLet’s begin digging the real dirt on Schumer and Feinstein and see how their pro-Israeli war profiteering fits into their votes, shall we?
November 6th, 2007 at 11:09 amOnly the democrats with a “hidden Israeli agenda” and “blood for oil” profiteering voted aye.
November 6th, 2007 at 11:10 amWell, well, well, I hope Senators Schumer and Feinstein are proud of themselves for voting for TORTURE.
WHAT A DISGRACE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
They should just step down now, as this will effectively end their credibility! Watch!
HEY DEMOCRATIC SENTATORS AND CONGRESSPERSONS– STOP ENABLING GW BOGUS AND THE LIE FACTORY AND START STANDING UP FOR AMERICA AND THE CONSTITUTION OR YOU WILL BE VOTED OUT! YOU CAN COUNT ON IT!
It’s not just Republican obstructionists that are responsible for Congress’s abyssmal approval ratings! Democratic ENABLERS are also to blame, and will be voted out!
AMERICANS HAVE HAD ENOUGH!
November 6th, 2007 at 11:10 amDE-AUTHORIZE, DE-FUND, RE-DEPLOY
It’s safe to say that the dems who voted aye have much to lose in voting no……profits along with a bit of good ole’ blackmail, shall we say?
November 6th, 2007 at 11:11 amquestionauthority: This is precisely why the number of registered Independents is growing every day. It will soon become “the people vs. the establishment”. 36% and growing on days like today thanks to the spineless, ass-licking dems like Schumer and Feinstein.
November 6th, 2007 at 11:12 amSchumer and Feinstein need to be pitched out of office – impeach these traitors to the constitution out immediately!
November 6th, 2007 at 11:13 amBIGFOOTINTHEMOUTH –
you have to be one of the dumbest individuals to appear online:
http://www.cnn.com/2007/POLITICS/11/06/waterboard.poll/
Pay attention to the date: 11-06-2007 retard.
Asked whether they think waterboarding is a form of torture, more than two-thirds of respondents, or 69 percent, said yes; 29 percent said no.
November 6th, 2007 at 11:14 amComment by Veritas
November 6th, 2007 at 11:14 amIt already IS People v. Establishment!
Democrat vs. Republican is yet another media myth and strategic distraction.
** AMERICA **
1776 – 2007
RIP
November 6th, 2007 at 11:14 amIt’s good to see that some Democrats, at least, have accepted the will of the mainstream and are supporting the current President’s agenda.
Now, on to full Senate confirmation!
Comment by O. Bigfoot — November 6, 2007 @ 11:09 am
Would it then be OK for Al-CIAda to now waterboard/torture American soldiers if they are captured?
November 6th, 2007 at 11:15 amLittlefoot sez:
The earth is round. Back when people though the earth was flat, it was still round.
waterboarding is torture, regardless of the opinions of American citizens. Waterboarding is not torture by virtue of uninformed public consensus…it is torture because it fits the stringent definition of torture as laid down by the United Nations.
Based on these numbers, it is truly a sad state of affairs…not because so many Americans approve of torture, but because so many Americans are so completely ignorant of the realities of the situation. Claiming these numbers as some sort of mandate for the legality of torture is a fatally flawwed argument, as well as being completely reprehensible in the bargain.
November 6th, 2007 at 11:19 amI just sent my official “I will be for someone else in the next election due to my extreme disapproval of your latest cave to Bush” e-mail to Sen. Schumer. Not that he cares.
November 6th, 2007 at 11:21 amI just sent Chuck a letter to express how disgusted I am!
I know it doesn’t do any good, but at least I feel….nope, don’t feel any better either.
To paraphrase a friend of mine (Captain in the USMC – going to Iraq for his 3rd tour): “Republicans are like a pedophile abusive father; but Democrats are like a mother that pretends not to see so she can ignore it and hope it goes away”. Both are just as guilty.
November 6th, 2007 at 11:26 amIf waterboarding isn’t torture and therefore aren’t illegal these “methods†aren’t either:
Put plastic wrap over a guy’s nose and mouth until he passes out.
Put him naked in a freezer until he passes out from hypothermia, then revive him.
Put him in an oven until he passes out from hyperthermia and again revive him.
Put him in a pressure chamber and then relieve the pressure suddenly so he gets air bubbles in the blood stream, I understand that is incredibly painful.
Put large stones on his chest until he can’t breathe, wait until the last spark dies out on the EKG, and resucitate him.
Thank God and Baby Jesus for Bush. I was afraid that I was doing something wrong in my basement. Hey I’m no Dahmer, I just didn’t like that kid throwing snowballs at my car.
November 6th, 2007 at 11:31 am“Republicans are like a pedophile abusive father; but Democrats are like a mother that pretends not to see so she can ignore it and hope it goes awayâ€. Both are just as guilty.”
Comment by DanCaveman — November 6, 2007 @ 11:26 am
Man oh man does that ever ring true!
November 6th, 2007 at 11:32 amSounds about right to me nanlichi! From what I’ve heard, waterboarding is a supervised drowning after all. Apparently, as long as the person can be revived it’s not torture.
“Having been subjected to this technique, I can say: It is risky but not entirely dangerous when applied in training for a very short period. However, when performed on an unsuspecting prisoner, waterboarding is a torture technique – without a doubt. There is no way to sugarcoat it.
In the media, waterboarding is called “simulated drowning,” but that’s a misnomer. It does not simulate drowning, as the lungs are actually filling with water. There is no way to simulate that. The victim is drowning.”
http://www.nydailynews.com/opinions/2007/10/31/2007-10-31_i_know_waterboarding_is_torture__because.html
November 6th, 2007 at 11:36 amTRAITOR Bush and his PNAC criminals, along with enablers like Feinstein and Schumer have mad it OK for ANYONE to TORTURE
US troops ANYWHERE.
So, if they DO get tortured, remember that TRAITOR Bush the MURDERER coxucker PUNK made it possible.
Sincerely,
NRA Gun Nutes
Comment by Arn Gunnutes — November 6, 2007 @ 11:22 am
But……..The if that happens, the howl from Standard People will be “We are the chosen ones, we are a Christian Nation”. Aha….Just like the witches, warlocks, midwives, mushroom and ergot eaters, herbalists, and gays from the Inquisition.
The enemies of the people:
Fundmentalists
Wall Street especially Defense Contractors
Cowboys
From Revelation 8:7 to give a bit more insight into the insanity of these people:
The first angel sounded, and there followed hail and fire mingled with blood, and they were cast upon the earth: and the third part of trees was burnt up, and all green grass was burnt up.
November 6th, 2007 at 11:38 amLet’s all show S&F our appreciation in the primaris if/when they run for reelection!!!!!
November 6th, 2007 at 11:44 amLittlefoot sez:
Same idiotic screed that Buchanan tried to pass off last night on Live With Dan Abrams.
Torture is already illegal, genius. There’s no need to specifically ban a procedure that already fits the legal definition of torture. Otherwise, all torture is fair game. Is that really the position you’re endorsing?
November 6th, 2007 at 11:49 amO. Bigfoot: I guess then it doesn’t bother you that now, WE are EXACTLY like the terrorists we’re so afraid of.
Well, you immoral fool, it may not bother YOU – but it bothers the HELL out of me.
November 6th, 2007 at 11:53 amHey, if it’s good enough for our elected representatives, it’s good enough for our enemies, right?
Comment by O. Bigfoot — November 6, 2007 @ 10:56 am
There is little difference, since your puke-filled corporate rapists have bought our reps out and turned them against America and Americans, which you no loger qualify as , bigfoot. You’re a traitor, and you’re not the mainstream, but a lunatic fringe, who will be targeted when Americans take their country back from you and your treasonous animal associates. Waterboarding will be the least of your worries, although there is no doubt that a coward like you would give up his family within 30 seconds.
November 6th, 2007 at 11:56 amHowever, if given the choice of having my testicles cut off, my hands cut off, or my head sawed off, I’ll take the waterboarding prior to release.
Comment by O. Bigfoot — November 6, 2007 @ 11:47 am
Of course you will, you gave up using your testicles or your head long ago, so your hands are useless as well.
November 6th, 2007 at 11:57 amyou opinion simply does not matter. You have been overruled, and the will of the mainstream prevails.
comment by bigfootinmouthdisease
Don’t know how 40% can be “the mainstream”. Sounds like right-wing math to me!
“Asked whether they think the U.S. government should be allowed to use the procedure to try to get information from suspected terrorists, 58 percent said no; 40 percent said yes.”
November 6th, 2007 at 12:01 pmFine* American Waterboarding by Feinstein-Schumer LLC. *we use only Vichy Sparkling Mineral Water…
November 6th, 2007 at 12:06 pmAs expected, the Senate Judiciary Committee voted 11-8 to send the nomination of Judge Michael Mukasey to the full Senate for confirmation as Attorney General. As the AP reports, Democrats Chuck Schumer (D-NY) and Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) provided the decisive votes after accepting “his assurance to enforce any law Congress might enact against waterboarding.” Sadly for Schumer, Feinstein and the American people, Congress in 2005 already passed a law express forbidding waterboarding and other interrogation techniques amounting to torture. And President Bush already issued a signing statement declaring he would ignore it.
For the details, see:
November 6th, 2007 at 12:42 pm“Waterboarding the Constitution: Mukasey and Bush’s 2005 Signing Statement.”
Who is on this Judiciary Committee? I know my Senator Russ Feingold from Wisconsin voted No.
November 6th, 2007 at 1:11 pmMukasey’s got one foot on a banana peel and the other in the grave so how much damage can this old man do at this point? After all, we had years of a “faux AG” in Gonzo but it’s always good to watch a weasel squirm in public, like Michael Mukasey’s been doing. The more people who observe his weasel squirm and Bush’s threats regarding his confirmation, the more people will vote Dem in 08. Let them do all the damage they want to and will do right now.
The international tribunal will still get Bush and his cohorts the moment they leave office. Mukasey’s proven himself to be a subordinate of King George that’s all. He will have zippo respect from the people of this country after this ridiculous “side show” of his.
Welcome to another day in “Bushland: The Largest Circus in the World”.
November 6th, 2007 at 1:12 pmThen it’s really no big deal, is it? Why all the wailing and gnashing of teeth?
Comment by O. Bigfoot — November 6, 2007 @ 1:04 pm
The problem is this….These sociopaths and their boot licker Democrat enablers can do a lot of damage in 14 months, such as Declaring Martial Law or Attacking another country or two on cooked intelligence.
This “debate” over whether waterboarding is torture is like having a debate on whether methedrine is a stimulant or depressant. I mean, even the CIA itself, not known as a humanitarian organization, says it is torture.
We should not complain when Americans are tortured according to your logic. It’s a friggin’ torture fest. YeeeHawwwww!! We can televise the torture, and believe me, some of the Skin-Head Nazis that are beginning to dominate our culture will cheer it on.
Oh, I forgot one more thing………What if the person you are torturing is innocent?
November 6th, 2007 at 1:12 pmAIPAC contributions:
Feinstein, Dianne (D) this year $31,500, lifetime $146,342
No real surprise Diane’s pro-war, pro-torture.
Clinton, Hillary Rodham (D) this year $37,118, lifetime $56,118
And I wouldn’t expect much anti-war support from Hillary, either.
November 6th, 2007 at 1:12 pmA nice protracted fight in congress will do more damage to the Republiscum party so let it drag one ad infinitum – who cares?
November 6th, 2007 at 1:13 pmMcE: Precisely what we were looking for – a vested pro-Israel interest by some of the high rollers in Congress: Feinstein and Clinton.
Thanks for the info. Now let’s spread it everywhere we can.
November 6th, 2007 at 1:14 pmWhat’s the gig on Schumer? His name alone makes the case – now let’s find his “dirt”.
November 6th, 2007 at 1:14 pmMcE: Precisely what we were looking for – a vested pro-Israel interest by some of the high rollers in Congress: Feinstein and Clinton.
Thanks for the info. Now let’s spread it everywhere we can.
Comment by Veritas — November 6, 2007 @ 1:14 pm
Now watch the TP “progressives” call us who know this “Anti-Semites”. These are the same ones who follow the Bush Lie about 9/11, yet say EVERYTHING else he says is a lie.
The Likud/Zionist thumbprint is all over this. Torture is directly connected to foreign policy, and AIPAC is as dominant as oil profits and War Profiteering.
November 6th, 2007 at 1:21 pmletter i wrote to schumer this morning:
(you can write to him too!)
dear mr. schumer,
i read your opinion piece in the ny times this morning. you are wrong sir. you have sworn to uphold and protect the constitution of the united states of america. by voting in favor of mr. mukasey’s appointment as attorney general you have violated your oath of office. torture is against our laws. we are protected from it and it’s practice by our constitution. the prohibition against “cruel and unusual” punishment cannot be compromised. mr. mukasey has not stood up to vigorously defend this protection. in fact he has refused to answer the question! therefore you have no choice but to vote against his appointment. you did not do this. you did not protect our constitution as you promised you would do when you took office. you should be ashamed of yourself. you should resign. americans are becoming more and more discouraged and disappointed with their government. if you would like to the know the reason why go back and read your opinion piece in the ny times. then look in the mirror and ask yourself what a real american would do.
November 6th, 2007 at 1:34 pmJust to be clear: I’m very liberal, very progressive, not anti-semitic and not even anti-Isreal.
But when a politician does something that seems against their stated positions, I start following the money. AIPAC is one THE biggest lobbies in DC. Money does nothing but corrupt the process and anyone taking the money will eventually be corrupted (see Feinstein, Dianne).
November 6th, 2007 at 1:37 pmI think we need to jettison the whole Democrat/Republican joke and re-align ourselves to reflect the way it really is here in America: the Elites, (well-represented by the government); and the the rest of us (completely on our own).
November 6th, 2007 at 1:45 pmSurprise surprise who thought it would turn out any different?
November 6th, 2007 at 2:04 pm91 – we already have.
All the rest of it is just for show. Bread and circuses, baby. Bread and circuses.
November 6th, 2007 at 2:07 pmIt is not a surprise. Nancy Pelosi is a disapointment. The Democrats, once they got in, they became what they really are: Bush’s enablers. What a joke! Mukasey should be waterboard against his will, american style, and than asked if that was torture or not! Weak democrats! The US has become a FACIST STATE and they are blindly doing nothing! Shame! Shame! Shame!
November 6th, 2007 at 2:21 pmLiberals Are Filled With Hate sez:
Not spineless or cowardly…but actively complicit in this administration’s awful crimes. Steny Hoyer is just one of the traitors.
I love it when trolls refute themselves…such a time-saver.
November 6th, 2007 at 2:26 pmWhat a disaster. Feinstein and Schumer are bad Americans.
November 6th, 2007 at 2:33 pmWe really must speculate on the subject matter of the extortion photos and phone calls being held on Schumer and Feinstein.
To NOT speculate would be irresponsible.
So I’m betting for Schumer its a boy-toy in upstate NY.
For Feinstein I’m seriously leaning toward a drunken hit and run.
Of course, these are just speculations…
November 6th, 2007 at 2:33 pmOk…I am trying not explode from the ignorance of this, but this isn’t a thread about “the most desirable torture (if I had to choose). It is about TORTURE BEING WRONG and not having an Attorney General that will hedge on the issue to protect those EXERCISING TORTURE!
November 6th, 2007 at 2:37 pmWell Schummer suggested Mukasy so it would be tough to not stand by him. Feinstein who knows? Maybe needs something for California. Is she up for re-election I hope?
November 6th, 2007 at 2:40 pmAs a non-American (repeat) very liberal it saddens me to see progressive people lower themselves to personal attacks on those who disagree with them. Either ignore “trolls” or provide rational, non-attacking responses. Person attacks only provide opportunity!!!
November 6th, 2007 at 2:51 pmOops ..personal attacks
November 6th, 2007 at 2:52 pm