House passes ban on waterboarding.
By on Dec 13th, 2007 at 2:50 pm
House passes ban on waterboarding.
In a 222-199 vote, the House today passed the FY2008 Intelligence Authorization bill, which bans waterboarding and confines the CIA “to the interrogation tactics permitted by the Army Field Manual on Human Intelligence Collector Operations. Rep. Jerrold Nadler’s (D-NY) remarked, “[This] means no more torture, no more waterboarding, no more clever wordplay, no more evasive answers, no more dishonesty.” Watch it:
Yesterday, 30 retired generals and admirals wrote to Congress and urged lawmakers to ban waterboarding.
UPDATE: Full roll call vote HERE.
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
Guantanamo
Health Care
Immigration
International Relations
Iraq
Justice
LGBT
Lieberman
Limbaugh
Media
Military
O'Reilly
Obama
Palin
Pelosi
Politics
Race
Radical Right
Religion
Steele
Stimulus
Tea Parties
Technology
Terrorism
Veterans
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
199 voted for , my god what a sick country
December 13th, 2007 at 2:52 pmMembers of the GOP Senate will oppose it; W will threaten to veto it; Reid will back down. Thanks for voting, House members, but this unfortunately is the new world order.
December 13th, 2007 at 2:53 pmA signing statement will take care of this, should they even get a veto proof majority.
December 13th, 2007 at 2:55 pmAnd if Emperor Bush would obey the Geneva Conventions and our own laws, this particular law would have been unnecessary.
December 13th, 2007 at 2:55 pmRighty: “Those 30 Generals and Admirals are all pussies, and I support the troops, and respect the military”
100% Incoherent. 100% of the time.
December 13th, 2007 at 2:56 pmi am glad to see that 199 made their votes public.
it’s going to be fun when they get what they voted for.
December 13th, 2007 at 2:56 pmOh God, the numbers didn’t even register with me. 199 against? Unbelievable.
December 13th, 2007 at 2:57 pmBanned waterboarding, huh? Two words: Signing statement.
December 13th, 2007 at 2:58 pmYup, this crop is as bad or worse as our darkest dreams.
December 13th, 2007 at 2:58 pmSeems like an empty gesture. The Democrats are unwilling and unable to stand up to the Bush administration. They will collapse into a fetal position and cry that Bush doesn’t respect them or the people he represents once Bush threatens to veto it. And the Democrats will be right. Bush doesn’t respect Congress or the people he represents.
http://13martyrs.blogspot.com/
December 13th, 2007 at 2:59 pmDo we have a roll call? I want to know who.
December 13th, 2007 at 3:00 pmFirst Cheney will wipe his ass with the bill, then Bush will run it through his shredder.
December 13th, 2007 at 3:01 pmWaterboarding was already prohibited by the McCain amendment to the 2005 Detainee Treatment Act, which barred “cruel, inhuman, and degrading treatment of detainees.”
President Bush, of course, issued a signing statement on December 30, 2005 making it clear he would decide what constituted “cruel, inhuman, and degrading treatment.”
For more background, see:
December 13th, 2007 at 3:01 pm“Bush Signing Statement, Gonzales Perjury Concealed Torture Policy.”
The Bush administration will instruct the Justice Department to refuse to prosecute anyone who breaks it. The republicans might as well go for some good will among their constituents and vote in favor of it.
December 13th, 2007 at 3:01 pm“[This] means no more torture, no more waterboarding, no more clever wordplay, no more evasive answers, no more dishonesty.â€
Laws haven’t stopped them before, why now? People doing these things think the laws don’t apply anyway or else there wouldn’t be a need for this. Just start holding people accountable, please.
December 13th, 2007 at 3:01 pmYeah… WTF is this gong to do ???
tell this to the innocent Gitmo Bay victims tortured for 5 years without a trial…………
and probably under water as we read this!
December 13th, 2007 at 3:01 pmPrediction:
The corporate media will go into overdrive on the list of 80 baseball players who used steroids. But they won’t even mention the 199 congresspeople who give a thumbs up to torture.
December 13th, 2007 at 3:03 pmwhat this does is legalise everything before hand, It passes and Bush vetoes . so he dont count blah blah blah
December 13th, 2007 at 3:03 pmAs we’ve all seen with this Administration, over-infested with lunatic neocon chickenhawks, it’s going to do whatever it damn well wants, regardless of whether or not it’s actions are clearly illegal
Only cowards order, or endorse, torture
There are some questions that haven’t been answered by torture-loving ‘tards like Alan Dershowitz
Is it acceptable to rape, torture and murder children if trying to get information from their parents?
What redress is available for those wrongly tortured, do they get to torture those who ordered their initial torture?
If not, why?
December 13th, 2007 at 3:03 pmDo we have a roll call? I want to know who.
Comment by Bluedahlia — December 13, 2007 @ 3:00 pm
I usually go to vote-smart.org for these things. The data isn’t up yet. (Might be elsewhere online, though.)
December 13th, 2007 at 3:04 pmLaws haven’t stopped them before, why now? People doing these things think the laws don’t apply anyway or else there wouldn’t be a need for this. Just start holding people accountable, please.
Comment by Bob — December 13, 2007 @ 3:01 pm
The only thing that’ll stop them is impeachment. And the one honest man advocating it, is, at this very moment, not being allowed to particpate in the Iowa Democratic Presidential debate.
December 13th, 2007 at 3:05 pmThe corporate media will go into overdrive on the list of 80 baseball players who used steroids. But they won’t even mention the 199 congresspeople who give a thumbs up to torture.
Comment by 2MillionLightYearsToAndromeda — December 13, 2007 @ 3:03 pm
No doubt.
December 13th, 2007 at 3:06 pmBut they won’t even mention the 199 congresspeople who give a thumbs up to torture.
BUT WE CAN , GET THEIR NAMES AND I WILL POST THEM TO
China
December 13th, 2007 at 3:09 pmIran
Iraq
Russia
The corporate media will go into overdrive on the list of 80 baseball players who used steroids. But they won’t even mention the 199 congresspeople who give a thumbs up to torture.
Comment by 2MillionLightYearsToAndromeda — December 13, 2007 @ 3:03 pm
Well it’s our national pastime.
(don’t ask me which one)
December 13th, 2007 at 3:09 pmThe saddest thing is that Congress HAS to pass a ban on something that is already by US Law considered torture and is already illegal.
Why isn’t Impeachment on the table for an obvious breaking of the Law?
December 13th, 2007 at 3:09 pmGonna miss waterbaording… Luckily, I have this to remember it by.
December 13th, 2007 at 3:10 pmhttp://tshirtinsurgency.com/node/12
But they won’t even mention the 199 congresspeople who give a thumbs up to torture.
BUT WE CAN , GET THEIR NAMES AND I WILL POST THEM TO
China
Iran
Iraq
Russia
I WILL MAILBOMB EVERY NEWSPAPER WORLDWIDE AS I ALWAYS DO STRAIGHT TO THE EDITORS
December 13th, 2007 at 3:11 pmIf the Democratic opponents of the Republicans who voted against this measure do not bring it up every day during the 2008 elections, then the Democratic Party does not deserve the privilege of ruling either House in Congress.
Give ‘em the bird! Vote for a third!
December 13th, 2007 at 3:12 pmGee, thanks, fellas. Goodonya.
However, it’s ALREADY against the law, and it has been for several decades.
December 13th, 2007 at 3:12 pm199 voted for , my god what a sick country
Comment by Bush Cover Ups — December 13, 2007 @ 2:52 pm
I haven’t seen a roll call on this vote yet (although the numbers split suggests that Repubs voted against, Dems voted for), but one possible legitimate reason for voting against this bill is to assert that waterboarding is ALREADY illegal. By “making” it illegal, it gives the White House ammunition to say that it was legal before, when they were doing it.
Bu I suspect that the 199 who voted against it were really mostly people who believe that real life is like the TV show “24″.
December 13th, 2007 at 3:14 pmNAME AND SHAME THOSE WHO VOTED FOR TORUTURE
December 13th, 2007 at 3:15 pmWell Finally!
Next i want Congress to pass legislation outlawing murder. I know there are existing laws, but come on, first degree, second degree, manslaughter, yikes, what’s a lawyer to do, not to mention the Preznit. I want a law that is unequivocal. Name every American citizen by name.
As of this date, _________, it will be against the laws of the United States of America to kill the following people:
Ann Aaron
Brian Aaron
Frank Aaron
Charly Able
Gladis Able, etc.
List each name of every American citizen.
December 13th, 2007 at 3:15 pmGeez…..i wanted to play waterboarding. Someone told me it was like swimming.
December 13th, 2007 at 3:17 pmComment by 2MillionLightYearsToAndromeda — December 13, 2007 @ 3:03 pm
You are correct. It didn’t take long to fulfill your prophecy.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/
Top story: steroid use
December 13th, 2007 at 3:17 pmVote story: no where (yet to be found)
This is “Interrogation for Dummies”. Waterboarding is already illegal.
December 13th, 2007 at 3:17 pmUnited Nations Convention Against Torture
Ratified by the US
Article 1
1. Any act by which severe pain or suffering, whether physical or mental,
GUILTY LETS BOMB THE US
December 13th, 2007 at 3:18 pmUh, it is already illegal, as in against the law…so this is making it like, “Double Against the Law”?
The representatives that voted against this should also join Bush and Cheney at the Hague Trials for them supporting torture.
Bush/Cheney/199 members of congress
Hague Trials ‘09
Buck Fush
December 13th, 2007 at 3:18 pmwe need a new coalition to rid America of an evil dictator
December 13th, 2007 at 3:20 pmoh well it means now i can’t believe that I thought I was going to drown anymore. Back to Streisand torture, i hope they don’t ban that… there will be nothing left.
December 13th, 2007 at 3:21 pm39
yeah we have a few here in Illinois that need to be overthrown.
December 13th, 2007 at 3:24 pmThe 199 that for should immediately be taken out of the house chamber and waterboarded on the capitol steps.
WHAT MORONS
December 13th, 2007 at 3:25 pmComment by Bush Cover Ups: 199 voted for, my god what a sick country
Comment by Bluedahlia: Do we have a roll call? I want to know who.
No need to look it up. The answer’s pretty easy, really. Guess how many Republicans there are in the House right now. Go on, take a wild guess.
December 13th, 2007 at 3:27 pmUmm… Why did Kucinich vote ‘no’?
December 13th, 2007 at 3:27 pmUh, it is already illegal, as in against the law…so this is making it like, “Double Against the Law�
It’s doubleplusungood.
December 13th, 2007 at 3:28 pm44.Kucinich voted no because this is a farce. Waterboarding was and has always been illegal, and is therefore already banned. This now makes it seem like it was legal, but now we’ve made it illegal. Stupid sham.
December 13th, 2007 at 3:31 pm46. Good answer, so who brought this to the floor for a vote?
December 13th, 2007 at 3:34 pmmmm…WTF with Kucinich? He is a very very smart guy, I hope he talks me out of this one.
December 13th, 2007 at 3:39 pmHey Joneser.. you never answered my questions on the other thread. What are you doing back here… Choose to ignore?
December 13th, 2007 at 3:40 pmStop the world I wanna get off
December 13th, 2007 at 3:40 pmJust looked at the roll call, why the hell would Kucinich vote no??
December 13th, 2007 at 3:42 pmAnybody>>?
Ooops, maybe I should have kept up reading previous posts??
December 13th, 2007 at 3:43 pmWaterboarding is specifically mentioned and banned in Army Field Manual 2-22.3 where it states that the practice is illegal under US Law
So why the fck does it need to be banned again and why are these criminals not being arrested?
December 13th, 2007 at 3:45 pmThere’s somethin’ wrong with the world today
I don’t know what it is
Something’s wrong with our eyes
We’re seeing things in a different way
And God knows it ain’t His
It sure ain’t no surprise
– Aerosmith
December 13th, 2007 at 3:48 pmWhy is the Dem House playing into this bullshit???? What in the hell is going on?
December 13th, 2007 at 3:50 pmKucinich votes in this manner quite often. You have to listen to what he says to understand his vote. You only have two choices, YES or NO. They don’t offer you OTHER (please explain) ____________ .
December 13th, 2007 at 3:51 pmDoes anyone see a pattern here?
:|
A disturbing one?
Comment by BARTLEBEE — December 13, 2007 @ 3:43 pm
Not so disturbing as just pathetic.
December 13th, 2007 at 3:51 pm49 Comment by jpoke42 — December 13, 2007 @ 3:40 pm
what was the question?
December 13th, 2007 at 3:51 pmI voted ‘aye’
December 13th, 2007 at 4:01 pmThe 199 against is sickening, but thank GOD they voted for Americans to act like Americans again.
Comment by BARTLEBEE
You seem to have an awful lot of faith in stupid, lazy fellow Americans that let us get into this mess in the first place. I myslef don’t see anything having changed, in order to warrant a renewed faith in their behavior, just a lot of whining and hand wringing.
The only chance we will have, is if there is some sort of terrorist attack, just before the election, the President pulls the trigger on NSPD-51, and then proceeds to suspend the elections. If that happens, then expect all those Southern boys, that have been training and stockpiling weapons for several decades, and a good portion of the police and military, to do something about solving the problem. It’s beyond fixing with votes, protests or posting on blogs/forums,.
December 13th, 2007 at 4:02 pm“199 voted for , my god what a sick country
Comment by Bush Cover Ups — December 13, 2007 @ 2:52 pmâ€
Leave it to a “progressive†to find something to complain about, even when they get their way.
Comment by O. Bigfoot
Yeah, how dare he comment on the depraved and deteriorating moral character of elected officials, and by their example, the image of America.
Sieg Heil!!!
F****ing idiot.
December 13th, 2007 at 4:05 pmJust looked at the roll call, why the hell would Kucinich vote no??
Anybody>>?
Comment by RUCerious — December 13, 2007 @ 3:42 pm
Because it is already illegal and this vote is a sham that Bush can use as cover that it was “previously not illegal”.
December 13th, 2007 at 4:06 pmWhy do “progressives†hate the United States but coddle our enemies?
Comment by O. Bigfoot — December 13, 2007 @ 4:09 pm
I fought for this country, bled for this country and still bear the scars as well as titanium holding my leg together to this day.
December 13th, 2007 at 4:15 pmI have killed more real terrorist than you have ever seen in your pathetic life, you cowardly fascist piece if sh!t.
Comment by O. Bigfoot — December 13, 2007 @ 4:14 pm
See most of the world doesn’t form their opinions of the US based on blog sites, they form them based on our foreign policy. So if in fact our image is being tarnished you may wish to begin there
December 13th, 2007 at 4:19 pmThe image of America is being destroyed by people the likes of you, who feel that our elected leaders are “depraved†and “have a deteriorating moral characterâ€. But appear to have no problem with terrorists attacking civilian targets within our nation, or cutting off the heads of our fellow countrymen.
Comment by O. Bigfoot — December 13, 2007 @ 4:14 pm
No the image of America is being destroyed by the Neocons who are sh!tting on the constitution, and by fascist cowardly pieces of sh!t like you that support them.
I swore an oath to defend the Constitution against all enemies, foreign and domestic. You fit the definition of domestic enemies to the Constitution.
December 13th, 2007 at 4:19 pmGuess it’s time for those of us who love and support the United States to get writing and calling our Senators to have this bill killed.
Why do “progressives†hate the United States but coddle our enemies?
Comment by O. Bigfoot — December 13, 2007 @ 4:09 pm
A better question might be “Why is O. Bigfoot so astonishingly stupid?”
You still haven’t explained why WaterboardingUSA is so different from WaterboardingEveryoneElse, but then you can’t, can you?
December 13th, 2007 at 4:19 pmComment by Wayne — December 13, 2007 @ 4:15 pm
Wayne, I wish that we were allowed to click ‘Recommend’ more than once, so I could give you a hundred ‘Recommend’s for that response. Thank you for shoving O.Bigfoot’s big foot up his ass, and thank you once again for your service to our country.
December 13th, 2007 at 4:21 pmThe Bureau of Redundancy Department has spoken outlawing the illegal.
Now lets see how the Administrative Branch enforces the laws passed by the Legislative Branch.
December 13th, 2007 at 4:22 pmThe image of America is being destroyed by people the likes of you, who feel that our elected leaders are “depraved†and “have a deteriorating moral characterâ€. But appear to have no problem with terrorists attacking civilian targets within our nation, or cutting off the heads of our fellow countrymen.
Comment by O. Bigfoot — December 13, 2007 @ 4:14 pm
Idiot. America’s image is damaged by jackbooted fools like you, not by people with actual morals.
December 13th, 2007 at 4:22 pmComment by Jane E. Schneider — December 13, 2007 @ 4:21 pm
Thanks Jane =)
December 13th, 2007 at 4:29 pmAnd now for something really stupid -
ANY Comment by O. Bigfoot
Guys and gals, you can’t fix stupid, and Bigbutt is most defiantly so stupid that nothing could fix that idiot…cept for maybe, nah, can’t type that.
Bush/Cheney/Bigbutt
Hague Trials ‘09
Buck Fush
December 13th, 2007 at 4:33 pmWayne, I wish that we were allowed to click ‘Recommend’ more than once, so I could give you a hundred ‘Recommend’s for that response. Thank you for shoving O.Bigfoot’s big foot up his ass, and thank you once again for your service to our country.
Comment by Jane E. Schneider — December 13, 2007 @ 4:21 pm
I gave him one for you, Jane.
December 13th, 2007 at 4:33 pmThanks Jane =)
Comment by Wayne — December 13, 2007 @ 4:29 pm
You’re welcome, my friend.
December 13th, 2007 at 4:36 pmI agree, its already illegal to torture (including waterboarding), but do your really think the majority of the nay voters reasoned it the way Kucinich did?
If you do, I have a bridge in Alaska I’d like to sell you.
December 13th, 2007 at 4:36 pmIs it me or is there something wrong with the roll call link? I don’t see any names there.
December 13th, 2007 at 4:38 pmThe image of America is being destroyed by people the likes of you, who feel that our elected leaders are “depraved†and “have a deteriorating moral characterâ€. But appear to have no problem with terrorists attacking civilian targets within our nation, or cutting off the heads of our fellow countrymen.
Comment by O. Bigfoot — December 13, 2007 @ 4:14 pm
If I didn’t already know that you actually believe the crap you spew, I’d take this as a joke. But you really do believe it, and that is just another sad commentary on conservative Americans. You complain that we are astonished that so many people in our representative government condone the use of torture which, despite what that former CIA agent said, has never produced reliable results (and note the word “reliable”.) But for you to make the totally ignorant statement that we “appear to have no problem with terrorists attacking civilian targets within our nation, or cutting off the heads of our fellow countrymen” almost borders on libel. Find me proof where I have ever said that I condone anything the terrodists have done. Not someone else, me. Because your accusation was against all progressives and liberals in general, and that includes me. So show me proof that I ever condoned what you said I did, or else retract your statement and apologize for your ignorance.
Seriously, you have no idea what you’re talking about.
December 13th, 2007 at 4:40 pmThe image of America is being destroyed by people the likes of you, who feel that our elected leaders are “depraved†and “have a deteriorating moral characterâ€. But appear to have no problem with terrorists attacking civilian targets within our nation, or cutting off the heads of our fellow countrymen.
Comment by O. Bigfoot
December 13th, 2007 at 4:41 pmOh, sh*t, there’s a Muslim at my door looking to cut my head off… gotta run!!!
Because you’re in Iraq, and Bin Ladens in Kashmir.
Comment by BARTLEBEE — December 13, 2007 @ 4:34 pm
Exactly.
December 13th, 2007 at 4:41 pmBush abandoned Afghanistan, letting Osama Been Forgotten go, in order to invade Iraq for a bunch of lies. Now the Taliban is in control is 50% of Afghanistan, again.
And Osama is hiding at the border of Pakistan laughing his ass off at Bush’s stupidity.
Comment by gummitch — December 13, 2007 @ 4:33 pm
Good, he’s earned more than just ‘recommends’ and ‘thanks’ from all of us true Americans.
December 13th, 2007 at 4:41 pmBlah, blah, blah, blah, bah…
Comment by BARTLEBEE
Give the paranoid gibberish a rest already.
Since 9/11, over 120,000 Americans have been murdered in the United States.
If you want to find some nonsense to be paranoid about, at least have the common sense to pick something that is at least statistically worth worrying about.
And if you’re really worried about nukes making it here, than you should go crying to your President who insists on keeping open borders on the south.
*rolls eyes*
December 13th, 2007 at 4:53 pmGee, didn’t Congress pass the McCain anti-torture amendment, only to see President Bush issue a signing statement in which he reserved the “right” to torture?
As long as impeachment is off the table, Bush will do whatever He wants and America will remain the world’s most powerful terrorist state.
December 13th, 2007 at 4:55 pm*rolls eyes*
Comment by JPV — December 13, 2007 @ 4:53 pm
ha ha ha
careful JPV, Bartlebee gets all his information from his infallible dictionary.
December 13th, 2007 at 4:58 pmI think Osama is in Saudi Arabia waiting the CIA officers and the cameramen to film another video.
December 13th, 2007 at 5:06 pmComment by O. Bigfoot: The image of America is being destroyed by people the likes of you, who feel that our elected leaders are “depraved†and “have a deteriorating moral characterâ€.
Well, I’ll be! At least you cons are finally waking up to the fact that America’s reputation in the world has been all but destroyed. Now all that remains is for you to get the causes of it clear in your mind.
It’s the actions, both here and abroad, of our elected representatives which have done the damage and, yes, depravity is not too strong a word for it. The world sees what our government does with perhaps more clarity than we do because their information, by and large, isn’t filtered through media which has been largely co-opted by the government.
The only thing that gives the rest of the world any hope at all about a reversal of America’s degenerate slide into an expansionist fascist state is the voices of many in this country, and not just progressives, which are raised in protest. We give the world a reason, albeit a small one, to hope that all is not lost here.
But appear to have no problem with terrorists attacking civilian targets within our nation, or cutting off the heads of our fellow countrymen.
Are you so blind and, frankly, stupid as to believe any of us would view this as anything other than an outrage? Remember how we all - ALL - felt after September 11th?
Nobody wants that, not even the Iranians. Remember the pro American vigils in Tehran? Remember the French, those “terrible” French, saying, “We are all Americans now”?
What an outpouring of support and sympathy and good will there was in the wake of that tragedy! All gone now and not because of American voices raised in protest of our government’s actions but because of the actions themselves.
December 13th, 2007 at 5:07 pmOsama with nukes in Pakistan?
Why bother doing that?
He just needs to call the Russian mob to get him a 1970 nuclear submarine that can perform transatlantic launches.
December 13th, 2007 at 5:11 pmSome terrorist hemorrhaged life saving information after being waterboarded for 30 seconds and the left has a hissy fit. 30 seconds is nothing compared to all the terrorists being killed on the battlefields. This “torture” debate has always been a joke to rational people who understand war, especially when some of you people think it is moral to let americans die rather than torture a captured al queda big shot. Thankfully, no one really listens to you people.
December 13th, 2007 at 5:14 pmComment by BARTLEBEE: We LOVE America, but we don’t have to tell treasonous pigs like you that.
The problem with these cons like, but far from limited to, Bigfoot is they think that in order to love America it’s necessary to hate everyone else – and act accordingly.
December 13th, 2007 at 5:15 pmOh guys, pay no attention to BigMouth. He can’t help it if he is stupid. He is hired and paid to come onto Progressive sites and spew his stupidity. You see, he is stupid because he goes to Liberty University or Pat Robertson U or some other idiotic, phoney evangelical “school” that teaches nothing except loyalty to Bush the Incompetant, because he can’t get into a regular school. He is hired to come here and the schools give him credit for it. It doesn’t matter what he writes or how incoherent it is, just so long as he spews hatred for real Americans and defends the destroyers of America. That is his job description. So, don’t be so hard on him. After all, it’s hard to get a real job here anymore, so he has to take what he can get. Remember, he gets credits towards his Summa Cum Stupid diploma.
December 13th, 2007 at 5:19 pmComment by ClintonWasImpeachedAndDisbarred
*yawn*
December 13th, 2007 at 5:20 pmHe just always “pops up†whenever some idiot decides to invent things I never said, and then attack me for the things he invented.
Comment by BARTLEBEE — December 13, 2007 @ 5:01 pm
did i invent something?
you’ll also notice my comment was to JPV, so I hardly see how it was an “attack” on you.
December 13th, 2007 at 5:20 pmI agree, its already illegal to torture (including waterboarding), but do your really think the majority of the nay voters reasoned it the way Kucinich did?
When I saw the 199 “nays” I figured it was a straight party line vote since that’s the number of Republicans in the House. Maybe “Ol’ Freedom Fries” Jones voted “Yea” and the rest of the Republicans voted “nay”. Does anyone have a count of D’s vs. R’s on this vote?
December 13th, 2007 at 5:20 pmPS “Clinton was Impeached by fascists like you, but is still a better President than Bush could even imagine being”……………………………#106 goes for you too! Now get back to flipping burgers!
December 13th, 2007 at 5:23 pmComment by boreas — December 13, 2007 @ 5:20 pm
http://clerk.house.gov/evs/2007/roll1160.xml
December 13th, 2007 at 5:24 pmnewpantaloons
You went straight to being rude, in typical leftist fashion.
I dont’ flip burgers, I make a 150K a year, thank you very much.
Anyway, we all know this is yet another symbolism-over-substance vote aimed at placating to the dopey code pink types. If the Senate is dumb enough to pass this ban too, then fortunately the President will likely slap a veto on it.
Even if waterboarding is “torture”, its just a little water on the face. Get over it. It works, that much has been clearly proven.
December 13th, 2007 at 5:33 pmBART, Bin Laden’s family is rich beyond comprenhension.
What you describe is very possible, and perhaps I’m going out on a limp, but I think that IF Saudis and the US wanted OBL dead, he would have been on a bodybag a long time ago (there is info that he has been dead along time ago). China is the only country where CIA spies haven’t been able to penetrate.
In my opinion, OBL works for the US, maybe not directly but come on, HE is a CIA guy…and once you are in you never leave.
December 13th, 2007 at 5:35 pmEven if waterboarding is “tortureâ€, its just a little water on the face. Get over it. It works, that much has been clearly proven.
Comment by ClintonWasImpeachedAndDisbarred — December 13, 2007 @ 5:33 pm
No it isn’t! It is actual drowning, and if it isn’t done right, the subject can die.
Why do you feel that violence is the answer to the world’s problems? Haven’t you ever heard the saying “Violence begets more violence”? And where did you learn that we supposedly got reliable information from waterboarding Zubaydah? Our government? Do you believe everything the Bush administration says?
December 13th, 2007 at 5:41 pmIt prohibits eight methods, including waterboarding.
STILL NOT GOOD ENOUGH
December 13th, 2007 at 5:42 pmI dont’ flip burgers, I make a 150K a year, thank you very much.
Comment by ClintonWasImpeachedAndDisbarred — December 13, 2007 @ 5:33 pm
Don’t thank us, we wouldn’t pay you $150 a year for whatever the hell you do besides make idiotic comments here.
December 13th, 2007 at 5:44 pmComment by dim wit: http://clerk.house.gov/evs/2007/roll1160.xml
Thanks.
December 13th, 2007 at 5:46 pmI dont’ flip burgers, I make a 150K a year, thank you very much.
Comment by ClintonWasImpeachedAndDisbarred — December 13, 2007 @ 5:33 pm
in your dreams.
December 13th, 2007 at 5:49 pmThose 199 dark souls should rot in hell. What has happened to this country I love. What have we become?
December 13th, 2007 at 5:53 pmDie from waterboarding? Not if its done properly. It only *simulates* drowning and it doesn’t leave any physical damage. Just scary, as I’ve read. Did you know that our own troops undergo waterboarding as part of their training? Honestly, the enemy is performing actual tortures, perhaps you should protest that.
Meanwhile, I find the selective outrage from the left a bit amusing. 30 seconds of waterboarding likely saved lives (according to Brian Ross and John Kiriakou), and you have a problem with that. Its just silly to me. The moral position is to save lives, and it was reported that no other interrogation techniques worked on those few al queda guys.
I really have no problem with waterboarding the enemy. What, we can kill them but not scare them with waterboarding? The whole argument is just funny to me.
December 13th, 2007 at 5:53 pmComment by BARTLEBEE: For some reason, Bush and his followers talk about “getting the terrorists who struck usâ€, but when we suggest they consider going after them for a change, they make speeches about why they have to kill other people instead.
“And there’s an old poster out West that says, ‘Wanted: Dead or Alive.’”
“So I don’t know where he is. You know, I just don’t spend that much time on him.”
December 13th, 2007 at 5:55 pmEven if waterboarding is “tortureâ€, its just a little water on the face. Get over it. It works, that much has been clearly proven.
Comment by ClintonWasImpeachedAndDisbarred
May god have mercy on your black soul, assuming you have one to have mercy on. You are truly an evil human being.
December 13th, 2007 at 5:57 pmEvery one of those 199 who voted against this bill just gave their Democratic opponent in the 2008 election a very big gift. I can see the ads right now,
“Congressperson XXXX voted against making waterboarding illegal, they support torture and the harm it does to this great country. Do you really want a torture advocate as your Congressperson?”
December 13th, 2007 at 6:00 pm“Clinton was Impeached by fascists like you, but is still a better President than Bush could even imagine beingâ€
“newpantaloons
You went straight to being rude, in typical leftist fashion”.
Oh, really? What’s this?
“especially when some of you people think it is moral to let americans die rather than torture a captured al queda big shot. Thankfully, no one really listens to you people”.
Comment by ClintonWasImpeachedAndDisbarred
Typical. All you trolls think it is fine to come on here and be a rude a**hole, but if someone says something back to you, then “Oh my”!
I guess it’s just typical ‘right wing’ fashion’.
And, by the way, it DOESN”T work. It has been proven not to work and why don’t YOU try it and get back to me?
December 13th, 2007 at 6:02 pmComment by ClintonWasImpeachedAndDisbarred
*Bigger yawn*
December 13th, 2007 at 6:02 pmDie from waterboarding? Not if its done properly. It only *simulates* drowning and it doesn’t leave any physical damage.
Comment by ClintonWasImpeachedAndDisbarred
You are too ignorant for words. You have no idea in the world what you are talking about. 90% of your post is nothing more than the lies that your RNC masters have told you to say. I would love to see you waterboarded.
December 13th, 2007 at 6:03 pmEven if waterboarding is “tortureâ€, its just a little water on the face. Get over it. It works, that much has been clearly proven.
Comment by ClintonWasImpeachedAndDisbarred
What irony is this? Clinton (consentually) splattered Monica’s face and you right wingers had a hissy fit. You even named your sorry self after the event.
But now when actual Americans are disgusted by the torture tactics this President will use and you say “get over it”
Well I say the same to you regarding your moniker. Get over it!
December 13th, 2007 at 6:05 pmbilbobaggins
It seems that you feel I’m evil because I don’t mind waterboarding terrorists, although you stated that you want to see me waterboarded too. Must be that weird lefty anti-logic again.
Its funny to me how some of you self-righteous comments spew your sanctimoneous lectures about how violence is bad, etc, and yet you fail to see how it is truly moral to waterboard a terrorist for 30 seconds to save the lives of innocents. Its an insaine argument, and a very weak one at that. I think that’s why most people outside of the leftosphere don’t really care about this and kind of laugh at those code pink dopes.
December 13th, 2007 at 6:12 pmComment by ClintonWasImpeachedAndDisbarred — December 13, 2007 @ 5:53 pm
You are way too ignorant to engage in intelligent discourse.
Ever you ever heard of “the moral high road”? Do you honestly think that just because someone does it to one of ours that it’s okay to do it to one of theirs? Do you understand why it’s a crime? (And despite the fact that Bush will veto the anti-waterboarding legislation just passed, it was and still will be illegal.) I don’t think you do understand, because you are too unaware of reality and humaneness to understand.
December 13th, 2007 at 6:14 pmComment by ClintonWasImpeachedAndDisbarred — December 13, 2007 @ 6:12 pm
You have NO proof, save what a lying administration says, that torturing anyone has saved a single life. Not one bit of proof.
December 13th, 2007 at 6:16 pmI see the first comment anticipated me. 199 opposed…..what a sick country.
December 13th, 2007 at 6:22 pm“ClintonWasImpeachedAndDisbarred”, I’m dying to know: What year do you think this is??
December 13th, 2007 at 6:26 pmBartlebee, you should read how waterboarding is performed. You sound kind of silly.
Wayne A. Schneider,
Obviously waterboarding worked, that’s why its used. Honestly. The CIA agent who was there doing the interrogations said that it worked and that it saved lives. Brian Ross also reported the same thing with regards to waterboarding Kalid Sheik Mohammed; that it saved lives. You can’t just assume that people who you don’t agree with are automatically liars.
Regardless, you people can sit on your high horse stroking your “moral highgroud” while looking down your nose at the rest of us realists. I am fine with that. I clearly understand that the moral position is to waterboard some terrorists for half a minute if it saves lives of even one American. Its really that simple. Other, better democrats like Truman and FDR understood what it meant to have to get your hands dirty to protect your citizens from harm. Truman dropped two nukes on Japan and the country leveled cities like Dresden in Germany killing tens of thousands in order to save American lives. Its never as clear as black and white, and that’s why you won’t win this argument if you approach it as such.
December 13th, 2007 at 6:30 pmGeorge Bush, the US president, insists that the US does not engage in torture,
WELL MR BUSH WHATS IT GONNA BE
RED PEN
BLUE PEN
BLACK PEN
INVISIBLE INK PEN
December 13th, 2007 at 6:34 pmOne last response to CWIAD:
How can you possibly type so much bullshite with one hand?
December 13th, 2007 at 6:38 pmObviously waterboarding worked, that’s why its used. Honestly. The CIA agent who was there doing the interrogations said that it worked and that it saved lives. Brian Ross also reported the same thing with regards to waterboarding Kalid Sheik Mohammed; that it saved lives. You can’t just assume that people who you don’t agree with are automatically liars.
I guess you didn’t see some of the other interviews in which he admitted that he wasn’t present for the waterboarding, and admitted that he could not actually verify that Zubaydah gave up anything useful. So how can you conclude that waterboarding worked?
December 13th, 2007 at 6:39 pmHouse bans CIA interrogation methods
The US House has approved a bill that bans the CIA from using waterboarding, mock executions and other harsh interrogation methods.
The intelligence bill passed the House by a vote of 222 to 199. The bill still needs Senate approval before it can reach the White House, where President Bush has threatened a veto.
Bush claims the United States does not torture, but the administration will not disclose what interrogation methods it has approved for the CIA.
The measure requires intelligence agents to comply with the Army Field Manual, which bans torture in compliance with the Geneva Conventions on the treatment of prisoners of war.
The bill also blocks spending 70 percent of the intelligence budget until the House and Senate intelligence committees are briefed on the Israeli regime’s Sept. 6 air strike on an alleged nuclear site in Syria.
The 2008 intelligence budget is classified, but it is more than the USD 43b approved for 2007.
http://www.presstv.ir/Detail.aspx?id=34881§ionid=3510203
December 13th, 2007 at 6:39 pmSorry Wayne A. Schneider
Now your just being disingenuous. The point was that this CIA guy was doing the interrogations, and he knows more about this than you likely do.
Direct quote from CIA agent Joh Kiriakou:
Though the information wrenched from Abu Zubayda “stopped terrorist attacks and saved lives,” Kiriakou said he opposes waterboarding.
http://www.cnn.com/2007/POLITICS/12/11/agent.tapes/index.html#cnnSTCText
December 13th, 2007 at 6:47 pmSo, CWIAD – you are saying those 30 Generals and Admirals are, what? pussies? phony sodiers? Take your pick, ’cause there’s no way in hell you’re better fit to judge the matter than they are, and your suggestion to the contrary is the same or worse, than burning a flag or spitting on a soldier. Shame on you.
December 13th, 2007 at 6:59 pmHere’s an interesting tidbit from section 433 of the bill (see http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/F?c110:5:./temp/~c110THAmqe:e157100:):
“The Director of National Intelligence or the Secretary of Defense may prohibit the Inspector General of an element of the intelligence community specified in subparagraph (D) from initiating, carrying out, or completing any audit or investigation if the Director or the Secretary, as the case may be, determines that the prohibition is necessary to protect vital national security interests of the United States.”
The four “elements” listed in section (D) are the Defense Intelligence Agency, the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency, the National Reconnaissance Office, and the National Security Agency.
December 13th, 2007 at 7:34 pmPart of me says “Hurray! We’re a Nation of conscience again”. Another part of me is sickened that there are so many anti-American Republicans in Congress who aren’t true to America’s ideals.
December 13th, 2007 at 7:43 pmI did not find the word “waterboard” (or any word starting with “water”, or the word “torture”, in the bill H.R. 2082. I searched the printer-friendly versions of the five versions of the bill listed at http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/z?c110:H.R.2082: and titled “Intelligence Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2008.”
Does anyone have a reference to a bill that explicitly bans waterboarding?
December 13th, 2007 at 7:44 pmOn the same day the Repubs voted on how important Christmas is to them, they vote in favor of torture.
December 13th, 2007 at 9:06 pmSilent night
…torture night
My Rep voted NO. Imagine that.
December 13th, 2007 at 10:40 pm5 Republicans voted against torture, while 189 of them (along with 10 Democrats) voted for its continuation.
Jerrold Nadler (D-NY) claimed that this bill means “no more torture, no more waterboarding, no more clever wordplay, no more evasive answers, no more dishonesty,†but he is overlooking several things: a) a likely veto, b) an even more likely signing statement, and c) an almost certain deliberate flouting of the law by an increasingly lawless administration.
This entire shameful subject is a further reminder that Kucinich was right at the CNN debate last month: “Impeach them now!â€
For more, visit cognitivedissident.org.
December 13th, 2007 at 10:43 pm.
WHEN
DID
TORTURE
BECOME
LEGAL
that Congress has to go and make it illegal …
…A G A I N?
LAWS WERE BROKEN
So Congress makes new ones, instead?
And they say they’re holding just whom, accountable?
COLLUSION!
.
December 14th, 2007 at 1:26 am#104 – “Some terrorist hemorrhaged life saving information after being waterboarded for 30 seconds and the left has a hissy fit.” Comment by ClintonWasImpeachedAndDisbarred — December 13, 2007 @ 5:14 pm
Yet, another lie repeated by the right-whiners.
I guess you CAN fool some of the people all of the time! And the right-whiners swallow the lies like it was oxycontin!
December 14th, 2007 at 7:42 amWhat is the matter with these 199 people? They have lost their minds. How can this issue be about party affiliation? This is not a political issue it is a moral one. Isn’t voting against this political suicide? It should be.
I am unfortunate enough to be represented by one of these sickos. I have already emailed him (Rep. Brian Bilbray (R-CA)). Please email yours too. Call them out for what they are.
December 14th, 2007 at 2:19 pm