Kristol: ‘I’m Ambivalent’ And ‘A Bit Of A Squish On Torture,’ But I Support Bush’s Use Of It
Kristol: ‘I’m Ambivalent’ And ‘A Bit Of A Squish On Torture,’ But I Support Bush’s Use Of It
On the Daily Show last night, host Jon Stewart asked Weekly Standard editor and New York Times columnist Bill Kristol if he is “a torture guy.” “Waterboard or no waterboard,” probed Stewart.
“I’m ambivalent on torture,” replied Kristol. “I’m a bit of a squish on torture.” After saying he “respects” Sen. John McCain’s (R-AZ) position that torture is “unwise and unnecessary and wrong for the U.S. to do,” Kristol made the case for allowing the United States to torture through waterboarding:
On the other hand, it does seem that the three people who seem to have been waterboarded, gave up, perhaps, very important information that may have prevented further attacks. So I think it would be a tough call.
Watch it:
The use of torturous interrogation techniques like waterboarding is not something to be “ambivalent” about and Kristol’s “on the other hand” defense of it is misleading.
Last week, CIA Director Gen. Michael Hayden confirmed the identity of the three detainees that were waterboarded by the CIA: Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, Abu Zubaydah and Abd al-Rahim al-Nashiri. The contention that Abu Zubaydah provided “very important information” after being waterboarded has been disputed by the FBI:
While CIA officials have described him as an important insider whose disclosures under intense pressure saved lives, some FBI agents and analysts say he is largely a loudmouthed and mentally troubled hotelier whose credibility dropped as the CIA subjected him to a simulated drowning technique known as waterboarding and to other “enhanced interrogation” measures. [...]
FBI officials, including agents who questioned him after his capture or reviewed documents seized from his home, have concluded that even though he knew some al-Qaeda players, he provided interrogators with increasingly dubious information as the CIA’s harsh treatment intensified in late 2002.
Kristol should follow his “squish” instincts when it comes to torture. Not only do intelligence experts say that it is “ineffective” because it “often produces false information,” but, in the words of Colin Powell, it causes the world to “doubt the moral basis of our fight against terrorism” while putting “our own troops at risk.”
Transcript:
JON STEWART: But I really wanted to know, are you a torture guy, before we left. What are you thinking? Waterboard or no waterboard?BILL KRISTOL: I’m ambivalent on torture, I’ve got to say. I’m a bit of a squish on torture. I respect Senator McCain and he says it’s unwise and unnecessary and wrong for the U.S. to do. On the other hand, it does seem that the three people who seem to have been waterboarded, gave up, perhaps, very important information that may have prevented further attacks. So I think it would be a tough call, if you, one were in a position of responsibility, in all honesty.
STEWART: You know what? That sounded awfully human.
KRISTOL: I try to be, once every few months. About once every six months when I’m on your show. When I’m on your show, that’s my moment for humanity.
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A bit of a "squish"?! Hey, he said it not me!
February 13th, 2008 at 11:54 amKristol: ‘I’m Ambivalent’ And ‘A Bit Of A Squish On Torture
- - Once again, some jokes just write themselves.
February 13th, 2008 at 11:56 amHopefully he'll try it let us know....WHAT a loser...
February 13th, 2008 at 11:56 amI'm sorry...but O'Reilly is a sorry excuse for a human.
And I'm still in anguish over the Senate approving telecom immunity to go along with that torture.
February 13th, 2008 at 11:56 amKristol is still repeating the soundbite that the three people (that we know of) who were waterboarded gave us "very important information".
If we waterboard three people and all of them give us very important information, why are the "intelligence experts" continuing to claim that waterboarding is ineffective because of the false information that results from it?
It's far more plausible that Kristol has absolutely no idea what, if any, information was gleaned from these waterboarding sessions, let alone how valuable it was. Of course, having nothing to say on a subject hardly keeps him from talking.
February 13th, 2008 at 11:59 amI’m sorry…but O’Reilly is a sorry excuse for a human.
- - Don't apologize for O'Reilly. Or Bill Kristol either. ;)
February 13th, 2008 at 12:00 pmIf waterboarding worked on those 3 the administration has admitted it waterboarded, we'd see the video tapes and transcripts. Instead, we hear our "leaders" tell us that such and such happened, valuable information was extracted. Prove it, or shut up and stop reporting it.
February 13th, 2008 at 12:00 pmSo, Bill K thinks it is just fine if Bush BREAKS THE LAW, thanks for clearing that up Bill.
Buck Fush
February 13th, 2008 at 12:01 pm"On the other hand, it does seem that the three people who seem to have been waterboarded, gave up, perhaps, very important information that may have prevented further attacks. So I think it would be a tough call".
The operative word here is "perhaps". That's the hallmark of this administration and it's neocons ... "perhaps", "maybe" ,"might" .... rarely do they provide any conclusive evidence to support their claims.
BS by any other name remains BS.
February 13th, 2008 at 12:01 pmWhen you get bad information, you have to waste resources vetting it, or you make bad decisions based on this. What about this is so hard to understand?
When you torture someone, you may well get good information, but then it's followed with useless information, and finally bad information that becomes increasingly far-fetched. And it gives you no mechanism to tell them apart.
Why then, in a world of limited resources, would you spread yourself thinner trying to sift the bad torture data from the good torture data?
This leaving aside all the moral and reciprocal arguments against it.
February 13th, 2008 at 12:04 pmMissmolly - you are correct, they have claimed over and over again that they got "Valuable Information".
Ok, if they had that "Valuable Information" they certainly have not proven it, and if they indeed had it, they would be bragging about it constantly.
And with how the Bushies have lied so often, you would have to take anything they say with a grain of salt.
Buck Fush
February 13th, 2008 at 12:05 pmI love Jon Stewart but why does he give these a$$wipes a platform? McCain has been on how many times? All these conservative nutjobs he has on. And he usually does a good job but I didn't catch much of his fire here. And he should have ripped into this guy.
Jon, I am disappointed.
February 13th, 2008 at 12:05 pmKristol: ‘I’m Ambivalent’ About The Constitution And ‘A Bit Of A Squish On The Law,’ But I Support Bush’s Violation Of It
February 13th, 2008 at 12:06 pm"While CIA officials have described (Abu Zubaydah) as an important insider whose disclosures under intense pressure saved lives, some FBI agents and analysts say he is largely a loudmouthed and mentally troubled hotelier whose credibility dropped as the CIA subjected him to a simulated drowning technique known as waterboarding and to other “enhanced interrogation†measures. […]"
So now the Republican Talking Point will be: There was no way to know what he DIDN'T know until we waterboarded him, therefore waterboarding works...even when it doesn't.
By extension, since there's no way to be sure ANY of us aren't ij cahoots with al Queda, any of us can be waterboarded at any time to prove we know nothing. Because otherwise...they won't know what we don't know.
In related news, Arthur Miller just rolled over in his grave and on top of his copy of the Crucible.
February 13th, 2008 at 12:07 pmKristol: “I’m a bit of a squish"
LOL, that's it, I will from now on refer to Kristol as "Squish Bit". What a fantastically fitting name.
February 13th, 2008 at 12:11 pmno way would i have watched this creepy liar if he weren't on
my beloved daily show... it was like that sensation in my mouth
and throat after swigging a huge dose of robitussin... gag...
SOOooo glad they came out with the mucinex...
February 13th, 2008 at 12:13 pmVery dissapointed with The Daily Show for not showing more of this interview. Hopefully in the full version Jon flattened Kristol's talking points. The smug smiling face on the neo-conservative PR Machine during his non-committal on torture was a perfect advertisement to the death and destruction caused by the Iraq war - complete ambivalence
February 13th, 2008 at 12:13 pmI present to you the reason why the GOP is collapsing under its own corruption.
"I am ambivalent on torture"
The leading light of the Neo-conservative punditocracy is 'ambivalent' on torture.
-GSD
February 13th, 2008 at 12:13 pmso william the bloody admits it IS torture, and supports it.
jesus called and said get ready, he's coming back soon!
February 13th, 2008 at 12:14 pmSituational Ethics.
February 13th, 2008 at 12:15 pmnotice all those qualifiers in that statement, that ONE sentence:
On the other hand, it does seem that the three people who seem to have been waterboarded, gave up, perhaps, very important information that may have prevented further attacks.
February 13th, 2008 at 12:16 pm“I’m ambivalent on torture,†replied Kristol.
Is Kristol angling for a job as the next Attorney General?
February 13th, 2008 at 12:17 pmBilly Squishco
February 13th, 2008 at 12:18 pmJon, I am disappointed.
Comment by Ms_Joanne — February 13, 2008 @ 12:05 pm
i read something that salved my anger about that...
during the writer's strike, most dems would not cross picket lines...
does that help?
February 13th, 2008 at 12:20 pm#12, your kidding, right? Bill K speaks to and for a huge number of conservative Americans, and how he sees issues IS important to me. I don't agree with him, but I certainly was glad I got to see him in unfriendly territory on A Daily Show. Now, I would NEVER watch him on Bill O, or Hannity, because they'd just have a mutual admiration society interview. The fact that Jon Stewart invite people he adamantly disagrees with onto his show, and gives them a fair chance to discuss issues is a sad commentary on the state of political discourse in this country. It's unfortunate that the best open dialog on important political issues has to come from a comedy program, and not "real news" programs. I look forward to other conservative guests, and I assume John McCain will come on "The Daily Show" in the coming month more than once.
February 13th, 2008 at 12:20 pmHey Frank M, remember this?
Bush defends interrogation practices: 'We do not torture'
February 13th, 2008 at 12:21 pmSo where do you draw the line, Kristol?
February 13th, 2008 at 12:21 pmYou don't know if your suspect has good information, so you torture him and think you'll find out. How do you know what you learn is not desperation from a drowning prisoner? There is no evidene that good intel was provided by these or any other prisoners who were waterboarded - if there were, we wouldn't be hearing from dozens of interrogation experts who testify that torture is not a reliable means of gathering intel.
I'm with Ms_Joanne. I do not understand why Jon Stewart continues to give this toad so much face time. Quite honestly, if I ever had the chance to meet Stewart and ask him a single question, this would be it.
February 13th, 2008 at 12:21 pm"While CIA officials have described him as an important insider whose disclosures under intense pressure saved lives, some FBI agents and analysts say he is largely a loudmouthed and mentally troubled hotelier whose credibility dropped as the CIA subjected him to a simulated drowning technique known as waterboarding and to other “enhanced interrogation†measures."
It sounds like they grabbed an al Qaeda groupie who liked to talk about the band, but didn't even know where the next gig was.
February 13th, 2008 at 12:22 pmYou DO realize that these people are not human? In a prior life, they worked at Nazi concentration camps and justified it. And they are tolerated by many. What a sorry, sad excuse for a country this is.
February 13th, 2008 at 12:23 pmFrank M is correct! In fact, he does not even take it far enough. We need to round up all the bleeding heart, America hating liberals and force them into re-education camps. If they don't renounce their unpatriotic ways, we should cut out their hearts to feed to the true, red-blooded America loving Republicans to make them stronger. If these hearts are for us alive, they should be for us dead.
/sarc off
February 13th, 2008 at 12:23 pmFrank M is half right... the pathetic part...
February 13th, 2008 at 12:23 pmzathrus @ 12:20 pm - very good point... and i agree...
jon has always had an occasional righty guest on...
February 13th, 2008 at 12:24 pmbut it has been more frequent lately
I look forward to other conservative guests, and I assume John McCain will come on “The Daily Show†in the coming month more than once.
Comment by zathrus — February 13, 2008 @ 12:20 pm
This would be a great argument if Stewart really put Kristol on the spot and called him for being the loathsome slime that he is, for being wrong 100% of the time and just generally for being worthless. But he's always jovial with Kristol and Billy obviously has a great time pretending to be smart and cool.
February 13th, 2008 at 12:24 pmPerhaps Stewart hopes that Kristol, and thereby the Neocon Right, will be revealed to a larger audience as the frauds Kristol & Co are by constant exposure.
February 13th, 2008 at 12:25 pmKristol: ‘I’m Ambivalent’ And ‘A Bit Of A Squish On Torture,’ But I Support Bush’s Use Of It
Do you think Billy boy realizes he just accused Bush of war crimes?
February 13th, 2008 at 12:26 pmdoes that help?
Comment by katy — February 13, 2008 @ 12:20 pm
No. :-(
February 13th, 2008 at 12:28 pmFrank M, the sad troll, thinks William the Bloody is "kowtowing to the bleeding heart politically correct crowd" because he won't admit that torture is a fine example for this nation to set (as well as fun to fantasize about).
Silly little Francis must assume that William the Bloody is kowtowing because William the Bloody kowtows so frequently -- on invading Iraq, on bombing Iran, on the great triumph of the Bush years, on the glorious outing of a covert CIA agent in wartime -- yeah, William the Bloody has a real reputation for giving a squirt of piss for what the "bleeding heart politically correct crowd" thinks.
On the other hand, the alternate explanation is that William the Bloody has a smidgen of conscience... but the evidence doesn't support that, either. Maybe Francis is right.
February 13th, 2008 at 12:28 pmOn the other hand, the alternate explanation is that William the Bloody has a smidgen of conscience...
Uhm, doubtful.
Probably more like distancing himself from future Hague action.
After all, he is the chairman of PNAC whose homepage says that they are all about American global domination.
February 13th, 2008 at 12:31 pmI love how our "piss-soaked, I'm skeered" troll can post and prove what vile, immoral, unamerican, slim these Bush ass lickers are.
They truly show how wrong they are about everything. They sure help in bringing out the people to vote for Dems instead of the criminal repukes.
Thanks for the help, Frank Moron, keep pissing your pants and hiding under your bed.
Buck Fush
February 13th, 2008 at 12:31 pm"But he’s always jovial with Kristol and Billy obviously has a great time pretending to be smart and cool."
Comment by gummitch —
Kristol knows that Stewart's comedy schtick is self-effacing humor. He takes advantage, by mirroring Jon's style while presenting his talking points. That's why he uses all the qualifiers when discussing torture: to make himself sound less the ideologue. Stewart knows there is an audience disgust factor with Kristol's appearances - people tune in to see what outrageous lie he'll spout next.
February 13th, 2008 at 12:31 pmDo you think Billy boy realizes he just accused Bush of war crimes?
Comment by shoeless — February 13, 2008 @ 12:26 pm
Do you think Billy boy realizes?
February 13th, 2008 at 12:31 pmComment by PatrioticLiberalChristian — February 13, 2008 @ 12:23 pm
PLC
February 13th, 2008 at 12:31 pmKristol: ‘I’m Ambivalent’ And ‘A Bit Of A Squish On Torture,’ But I Support Bush’s Use Of It
Do you think Billy boy realizes he just accused Bush of war crimes?
Comment by shoeless — February 13, 2008 @ 12:26 pm
Probably not, but he DID.
"You're either WITH McCain and Bush, OR
February 13th, 2008 at 12:32 pmYou're with America and the TRUTH"
Kristol doesn't have to come out and declare anything. All he has to do is sit there and smirk and get a "squishy". He knows Congress doesn't have the spine to do anything about Bush's behavior, and that George will continue to do whatever he wants w/ impunity.
The problem isn't so much Kristol's kind, although they don't help. It's the gutless enablers in Congress.
February 13th, 2008 at 12:32 pmWaterboard this bastard.
February 13th, 2008 at 12:32 pmWaterboard this bastard.
Comment by gkam
Waterboard his kids. Then we'll see how squishy he is.
February 13th, 2008 at 12:34 pmComment by ralph the wonder llama — February 13, 2008 @ 12:31 pm
RTWL?
February 13th, 2008 at 12:35 pm#44
February 13th, 2008 at 12:35 pmRight now, Congress is passing yet another law telling Bush to stop breaking the law.
Kristol is a waste of skin.
February 13th, 2008 at 12:38 pmThis would be a great argument if Stewart really put Kristol on the spot and called him for being the loathsome slime that he is, for being wrong 100% of the time and just generally for being worthless. But he’s always jovial with Kristol and Billy obviously has a great time pretending to be smart and cool.
Comment by gummitch — February 13, 2008 @ 12:24 pm
Well, it is a comedy show. Much as we enjoy the biting political satire, let's not forget that The Daily Show is not supposed to be news, and Jon Stewart is not supposed to be doing the job of the mainstream media. His primary job is to make us laugh, not to nail policymakers to the floor. I don't want him to be a liberal O'Reilly.
I prefer the way he lets people like McCain or Kristol make their points in a more cordial environment - they tend to slip up, get off message, and reveal their true, frightening intentions.
February 13th, 2008 at 12:39 pmI support the use of torture on Billy-Bob Idiot.
February 13th, 2008 at 12:40 pmI could`nt help but notice everytime B.K. said anything contrary to what we know to be lies he would smile like he new what was he was saying is a lie.He licks more reich wing boots than Mann Coulter and Bush Limbaugh.What is wrong with these people that they spew lie after lie, they lie so much now they can`t help but believe what they say anymore is true.Their spin on things is spinning REICH(right) into the Ground.
February 13th, 2008 at 12:44 pmHas Bush issued a signing statement yet, shoeless?
February 13th, 2008 at 12:44 pmComment by John Kerry — February 13, 2008 @ 12:44 pm
Sorry, but the experts all say it doesn't.
February 13th, 2008 at 12:45 pmNo. :-(
Comment by Ms_Joanne
sorry...
February 13th, 2008 at 12:47 pmWhy do people who insist on calling America "the greatest nation on God's gree Earth" also insist that America has to behave like the worst?
February 13th, 2008 at 12:47 pmEven Kristol is kowtowing to the bleeding heart politically correct crowd instead of proudly embracing what needs to be done for the good of this country.
Comment by Frank M — February 13, 2008 @ 12:16 pm
you do mean he should blow his teeny little brains out, right? torture doesn't work, but neither does Kristol, nor any other repuke; they show up and steal.
February 13th, 2008 at 12:48 pmIt's called "denial", belac, and it's one hell of a powerful drug...
February 13th, 2008 at 12:50 pmTorture works on my kids and grandmother.
Stupid Comment by John Kerry
What an idiot.
February 13th, 2008 at 12:51 pmWhy do people who insist on calling America “the greatest nation on God’s gree Earth†also insist that America has to behave like the worst?
Comment by belac — February 13, 2008 @ 12:47 pm
Whenever people refer to America as "the greatest nation on Earth" I like to respond with "at what?"
February 13th, 2008 at 12:52 pmIt's also bad intelligence...
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A2302-2005Jan11.html
February 13th, 2008 at 12:53 pm"A bit of a squish" .
Perfect. Like the dog crap he stepped in, sniffed, touched, tasted and then pronounced, "Not half bad"!
February 13th, 2008 at 12:56 pmFrankie: Just how many pairs of jackboots have you worn out with your goose-stepping?
February 13th, 2008 at 12:57 pmTorture works.
Comment by John Kerry
There you go. The expert has spoken. I'm glad you cleared that up for us.
February 13th, 2008 at 12:58 pmA troll sez: "Torture works."
It does, if by "works" you mean to demean the person being tortured, demean the person doing the torture, establish a justification for others to torture our people, instill fear (i.e. to terrorize), and alter the moral underpinnings of our democracy.
February 13th, 2008 at 1:04 pmEven Kristol is kowtowing to the bleeding heart politically correct crowd instead of proudly embracing what needs to be done for the good of this country.
Comment by Frank M — February 13, 2008 @ 12:16 pm
You believe TORTURE is good for THIS country? Or YOUR COUNTRY, because THIS COUNTRY is the USA, we don't TORTURE, we don't act like TERRORISTS and we don't have room for NAZI/FASCIST F**KERS LIKE YOU! Get OUT of our country you POS P*SSY!
February 13th, 2008 at 1:05 pmTorture works.
Comment by John Kerry — February 13, 2008 @ 12:44 pm
Only if your GOAL is to produce PAIN and UNRELIABLE SH*T! But an S&M FREAK and F**KED UP P*SSY like YOU probably needs to put other people in pain, so you can avoid what a POS *SSH*LE you ACTUALLY ARE! DUM BASS! You are NOT an American you FILTH!
February 13th, 2008 at 1:07 pmThese guys are only interested in torture as a means to radicalize Arabs in order to produce more fanatics that can be recruited for yet more Israeli Mossad "false flag" operations.
Just watch "The Power of Nightmares" for further proof...
http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=power+of+nightmares&search_type=&search=Search
Both Sayyid Qutb, the founder of modern Islamic Fundamentalism, and Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, the REAL leader of Al Qaeda, both became radicalized after years of torture.
February 13th, 2008 at 1:07 pmjon has always had an occasional righty guest on…
but it has been more frequent lately
Comment by katy — February 13, 2008 @ 12:24 pm
He is throwing a spotlight on the BegBuglicans and Cockroaches, for all to see. This is the same as Neo-Cons and Neo-Libs posting at TP. We get to gaze into the inner workings of their twisted minds, and realize how truly demented they all are. Even the Liberals posing here as Neo-Cons, such as John Kerry, are important for psychological profiling.
February 13th, 2008 at 1:08 pmJK knows, his cat stopped crapping behind the couch after he strung it up by its tail for a week.
February 13th, 2008 at 1:08 pmHe is throwing a spotlight on the BegBuglicans and Cockroaches, for all to see. This is the same as Neo-Cons and Neo-Libs posting at TP. We get to gaze into the inner workings of their twisted minds, and realize how truly demented they all are. Even the Liberals posing here as Neo-Cons, such as John Kerry, are important for psychological profiling.
Comment by Brain From Planet Arous — February 13, 2008 @ 1:08 pm
February 13th, 2008 at 1:12 pmUhm...say what?
While I'm sure this administration DOES torture, they don't actually have to torture, and I'm not really sure the goal is torturing terror suspects for information -- since they must know it doesn't work.
I think the true goal is to let the American people know that it's possible they torture and/or rendition people, thereby sending all of us the message: "It could happen to YOU."
February 13th, 2008 at 1:12 pmYou believe TORTURE is good for THIS country? Or YOUR COUNTRY, because THIS COUNTRY is the USA, we don’t TORTURE, we don’t act like TERRORISTS and we don’t have room for NAZI/FASCIST F**KERS LIKE YOU! Get OUT of our country you POS P*SSY!
Comment by republicans hate facts — February 13, 2008 @ 1:05 pm
Well, RHF, I know we agree on 99% of everything, and you do have a direct approach to these Fascist-Lovers, and this is no exception. I have not heard one peep from these wannabe Hitler/Gehlen stink-bombs why did the USA execute and jail Japanese who used waterboarding and torture against US military. I have asked this question countless times and the only answer I get it, "We are at war with a new enemy". They are truly a sociopathic/psychotic lot. OH, BTW RHF, I would like to call a truce with you, as we are really on the same side :)
February 13th, 2008 at 1:15 pmNo, you guys misunderstand Troll JK.
When he says "Torture works", he means when he's having trouble getting his little soldier to stand at attention, he just thinks about torturing al Qaeda or small animals, disabled people, whatever ... and Bingo!
Fantasies about torture: the poor troll's Viagraâ„¢
February 13th, 2008 at 1:15 pmUhm…say what?
Comment by Ms_Joanne — February 13, 2008 @ 1:12 pm
John Kerry has to be a liberal/progressive, and posing as a Neo-Con. I do the same on FreeRepublic, but in reverse. It is the Stephen Colbert school of parody.
February 13th, 2008 at 1:17 pmMake no mistake about it: George W. Bush and his band of inept fools are not going to leave office easily. They will only go kicking and screaming. If 15% of Americans want them to stay on past their term - they will think of a way to do it.
I pity the fools like JK. Their little, insignificant lives have nothing to look forward to, so they live vicariously through their heros: The Neocons. Losers looking up to losers.
February 13th, 2008 at 1:19 pmIf we as Americans accept this treatment of ANYONE from our government then we should not be surprised when our government uses these tactics against their own populice. If there's one lesson each and everyone of us should have learned from NAZI Germany is a government capable of instituting these crimes against others eventually institutes them against their own people.
February 13th, 2008 at 1:19 pmJohn Kerry has to be a liberal/progressive, and posing as a Neo-Con. I do the same on FreeRepublic, but in reverse. It is the Stephen Colbert school of parody.
You're a kinder person than I. I think he's just an a$$hole. :-)
BTW, what is a neo-lib?
February 13th, 2008 at 1:21 pmComment by Zooey — February 13, 2008 @ 1:12 pm
February 13th, 2008 at 1:21 pmI disagree, I think this administration is inept enough to actually believe that they are doing the right thing, that Jack Bauer could save the world if we'd only untie his hands and that bad guys always wear black hats and have vaugely English accents... that's the scariest thing about their message
If there’s one lesson each and everyone of us should have learned from NAZI Germany it's that a government capable of instituting these crimes against others eventually institutes them against their own people.
Comment by Bozo The Neoclown — February 13, 2008 @ 1:19 pm
That would be the important point to make here, wouldn't it, Bozo?
February 13th, 2008 at 1:21 pm“It could happen to YOU.â€
Comment by Zooey — February 13, 2008 @ 1:12 pm
I agree COMPLETELY, Z. That's ALWAYS the point of abusive behavior...
And YOU could be next! Brusch Uber Alles!
February 13th, 2008 at 1:23 pm“You’re either WITH McCain and Bush, OR
You’re with America and the TRUTHâ€
--2008 Election Bumper Sticker
February 13th, 2008 at 1:23 pmWhen he says “Torture worksâ€, he means when he’s having trouble getting his little soldier to stand at attention, he just thinks about torturing al Qaeda or small animals, disabled people, whatever … and Bingo!
Fantasies about torture: the poor troll’s Viagra™
Comment by ralph the wonder llama
Anyone who is pro-torture should be investigated by law enforcement.
February 13th, 2008 at 1:24 pmZooey: Hiya! I strongly urge you and everyone else to read this book if you haven't already. The End Of America by Noami Wolf
February 13th, 2008 at 1:26 pmComment by The Republic of Stupidity — February 13, 2008 @ 1:23 pm
Thanks, TRoS. I'll catch up with you later. :)
February 13th, 2008 at 1:27 pm"That would be the important point to make here, wouldn’t it, Bozo?
Comment by The Republic of Stupidity"
I think is is, R. The fact of the matter is, when we begin to qualify our moral standard with thinking, "they deserved to be waterboarded" or "it's for the greater good", later on it become difficult to stop qualifying our standards and easier to rationalize what's going on until it's too late.
February 13th, 2008 at 1:27 pm"Where one burns books, there eventually one burns people."
February 13th, 2008 at 1:28 pmHeine
In total agreement w/ yer last statement, Bozo.
That is indeed the very crux of the issue.
And Uncle Ho, too!
February 13th, 2008 at 1:32 pmZooey: Hiya! I strongly urge you and everyone else to read this book if you haven’t already. The End Of America by Noami Wolf
Comment by Uncle Ho — February 13, 2008 @ 1:26 pm
Seconded.
February 13th, 2008 at 1:32 pmZooey: Hiya! I strongly urge you and everyone else to read this book if you haven’t already. The End Of America by Noami Wolf
Comment by Uncle Ho — February 13, 2008 @ 1:26 pm
Hi, Uncle Ho! I read it recently, and it scared the bejeebus out of me.
Better run, that bus won't wait for me. :-)
February 13th, 2008 at 1:32 pmA topical torture scenario with questions:
Just in from CNN-Pakistan authorities have found/arrested three people who supported the Bhutto suicide assassins. They are said to be questioning them to find more information.
Assuming that the Musharaf people use torture, what are the changes that these three people will implicate Musharaf?
What is the chance that Bill Kristol will believe anything coming out of the torture process?
February 13th, 2008 at 1:34 pmThere will however be a high probability they implicate their own mothers, before dying, that is.
February 13th, 2008 at 1:35 pmAssuming that the Musharaf people use torture, what are the changes that these three people will implicate Musharaf?
If they do implicate him do you thank anyone will ever hear of that?
February 13th, 2008 at 1:35 pm.
So reguardless of how TORTURE makes Billy feel, he still supports its use.
BILL KRISTOL SUPPORTS THE CONTINUED USE OF AN ILLEGAL ACT...
T O R T U R E!!!
.
February 13th, 2008 at 1:36 pmAssuming that the Musharaf people use torture, what are the changes that these three people will implicate Musharaf?
Comment by HighPlainsJoker — February 13, 2008 @ 1:34 pm
Pretty high. Which is why the ISI will continue to torture them until they get an answer they want to hear.
February 13th, 2008 at 1:37 pmThe six detainees at Guantanamo that were recently charged with the 9/11 attacks - were they tortured? I think I read that at least one of them was subjected to waterboarding, a.k.a. simulated-drowning technique.
I hear that if they are found guilty they may be executed at Guantanamo.
Will the public see any of the trial?
February 13th, 2008 at 1:42 pmThese people are a giant, rotting, festering pustule on the face of America.
February 13th, 2008 at 1:42 pmBy now, those pustules have spread to other parts of the body too, Leftside.
February 13th, 2008 at 1:43 pmThe only parts of the trial we'll be allowed to seem Mary, are the moments when Brusch brags about keeping us safe, as the "terraists" are put to death, on Nov 3, 2008.
February 13th, 2008 at 1:46 pmmary, I would't count on it being on the Court TV channel.
February 13th, 2008 at 1:47 pmThat's "we'll be allowed to SEE, mary"
February 13th, 2008 at 1:48 pmThe six detainees at Guantanamo that were recently charged with the 9/11 attacks - were they tortured? I think I read that at least one of them was subjected to waterboarding, a.k.a. simulated-drowning technique.
Comment by mary — February 13, 2008 @ 1:42 pm
The CIA has admitted to waterboarding Khalid Sheikh Mohammed and "aggressively interrogating" Mohammed al-Qahtani. I don't know anything about the other four.
February 13th, 2008 at 1:49 pmYou’re a kinder person than I. I think he’s just an a$$hole. :-)
BTW, what is a neo-lib?
Comment by Ms_Joanne — February 13, 2008 @ 1:21 pm
Classically, it comes from 18th and 19th century Political/Economic thought that the way to economic freedom is a liberal policy. Some of modern Libertarian ideas cross into Neo-Liberalism. In the modern context, politicians like Hillary and Bill Clinton, and Joe Lieberman would be Neo-Libs. Their domestic policies might be opposite to Neo-Cons, but foreign policy is decidedly the same. Dismantling of state sponsored economics is also another variation, such as Pinochet and Margaret Thatcher. Strangely, some people refer to Reagen as Neo-Lib. Personally, I go with the modern version.
February 13th, 2008 at 1:53 pmfrom the NYT:
"The official added that the military prosecutors had decided to focus on the Sept. 11 attacks in part as an effort to try to establish credibility for the military commission system before a new administration takes the White House next January."
Is it all just for politics then?
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/02/09/us/09gitmo.html?_r=1&hp&oref=slogin
February 13th, 2008 at 1:55 pmIs it all just for politics then?
Comment by mary — February 13, 2008 @ 1:55 pm
Need you even ask?
February 13th, 2008 at 1:56 pmIs Kristol actually a jellyfish?
February 13th, 2008 at 1:57 pmHave something against jellyfish, tom?
February 13th, 2008 at 1:58 pmDismantling of state sponsored economics is also another variation, such as Pinochet and Margaret Thatcher. Strangely, some people refer to Reagen as Neo-Lib. Personally, I go with the modern version.
Comment by Brain From Planet Arous — February 13, 2008 @ 1:53 pm
It's also the economic policy behind the IMF's structural adjustment policies and the "Washington Consensus" for Latin American economic reform in the early 1990s. Both of which were largely miserable failures in the development sense.
February 13th, 2008 at 2:00 pmcomment by Bozo
That's the same rationalisation Nazis used for justifying Auschwitz.
February 13th, 2008 at 2:01 pmHave I mentioned that I love this place!
I live to learn! I see lots of googling in my near future. :-) THANKS!!
February 13th, 2008 at 2:03 pmIt’s also the economic policy behind the IMF’s structural adjustment policies and the “Washington Consensus†for Latin American economic reform in the early 1990s. Both of which were largely miserable failures in the development sense.
Comment by toasterhead — February 13, 2008 @ 2:00 pm
Yes, very much so. Here is a good link to what Toasterhead and I are talking about:
http://www.bidstrup.com/economics.htm
February 13th, 2008 at 2:06 pmI think I've seen every one of Kristol's TDS appearances, and I can't imagine being less impressed with someone who holds forth as an expert on American politics. john (yosemite sam) bolton makes a better showing for himself that the Wizard of Wrong.
February 13th, 2008 at 2:08 pm"comment by Bozo
That’s the same rationalisation Nazis used for justifying Auschwitz.
Comment by Uncle Ho "
Bingo! and that's the paralell I was trying to draw.
February 13th, 2008 at 2:11 pmTorture works.
Comment by John Kerry
Fool tool troll JK thinks that just because he says something, it must be true. There is a category of mental illness where this is one of the symptoms. Perhaps it will recognize that it has a problem and seek help.
February 13th, 2008 at 2:17 pm“The official added that the military prosecutors had decided to focus on the Sept. 11 attacks in part as an effort to try to establish credibility for the military commission system before a new administration takes the White House next January.â€
Is it all just for politics then?
http://www.nytimes.com/ 2008/ 02/ 09/ us/ 09gitmo.html?_r=1&hp&oref=slogin
Comment by mary
Of course it is. Do you really think it is a coincidence that they finally get around to prosecuting someone at Gitmo right before a national election. Not likely.
I have also been thinking about their destroying the waterboarding tapes. They want to enter the information they supposedly gained by waterboarding one of the detainees. So, how can they do that when they destroyed the tape? Now all we have is their word for it. I think if I was a judge I would tell them, "you show me an audio or video tape of the guy saying what you are saying he said or don't admit it into evidence".
February 13th, 2008 at 2:20 pmcompare these quotes if you will.
"There you stand with your law, here I stand with my bayonets. We shall see which prevails." - Adolf Hitler
"The Constitution is just a God damned piece of paper!" - George W. Bush
February 13th, 2008 at 2:21 pmbu$h IS a torturer and this pervert loves it. Did he get to watch their tapes, eat their pretzels, join their circle jerk?
February 13th, 2008 at 2:29 pmI'm wondering if the criteria for successful punditry is to be 180 degrees wrong on each and every pronouncement.
That gets you booked on all the talk shows, newspaper columns, etc.
What the hell is that about? If it were a business you'd have been fired umpteen times over?
If you were a teacher, you'd have been denied tenure.
If you were a horse, you'd have been put down.
I mean, what's up with this?
February 13th, 2008 at 2:30 pmJews LOVE it when Arabs are tortured!
February 13th, 2008 at 2:34 pmtorture isn't used to get information...it's used to terrorize...
February 13th, 2008 at 2:38 pmTorture works.
Comment by John Kerry — February 13, 2008 @ 12:44 pm
Did you spill this false info right after the first titty twister?
February 13th, 2008 at 2:44 pmhoho loves it when he tortures us with his racist blather.
February 13th, 2008 at 2:45 pmJoJo's back.
Let the flagging begin!
February 13th, 2008 at 2:48 pmComment by Freakaloin — February 13, 2008 @ 2:38 pm
Ding*ding*ding*ding... we have a WINNER!
And in the case of the Brusch Admin, it's prolly the closest some of them can come to "actual sex"...
February 13th, 2008 at 2:49 pmWell, if the little dear is ambivalent about torture, perhaps, he should volunteer for a little waterboarding experience to make up his mind? After all, inquiring minds should know.
February 13th, 2008 at 3:00 pmIf you watch the entire interview, Stewart actually ripped into him pretty good and they only got to the first talking point in the list that he drew up. Kristol also went on to say the economy was doing good, the war is going good, medicare is in good shape but they only had time to discuss the war which brought up the torture talk. Check out the whole interview at http://www.dailyshow.com.
February 13th, 2008 at 3:29 pmMonday night Stewart and John Oliver had a funny bit about torture. Stewart reminded him that we executed Japanese who waterboarded Americans. Oliver said it was okay if it prevented a catastrophic attack on your country. Stewart said we did drop two atomic bombs on them.
You had to be there.
February 13th, 2008 at 4:39 pmhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3gwqEneBKUs
John McCain's inspirational video. Had to share it with you guys. Enjoy it 'my friends!'
February 13th, 2008 at 4:46 pmrobertoroberto; thanks. The wheels are not only falling off the bus, the entire 'straight-talk express' is coming apart at the seams, and into the ditch.
February 13th, 2008 at 5:15 pmKeith, I saw that last night, priceless!
February 13th, 2008 at 6:05 pmJK: I bet that you also pour gasoline on puppies and strike a match on them too.
February 13th, 2008 at 8:33 pmJK; you are one sick mofo
February 13th, 2008 at 8:35 pmComment by John Kerry —
Another troll with a fictional service record.
February 13th, 2008 at 9:10 pmWhy does any care what this retarded neoassclown Billy Crystal says.
February 14th, 2008 at 9:41 pmIf it wasn't for his Dad no one would have every heard his name.
If anyone of us were as wrong on our job as he has been with his job (if that's what you want to call what this prissy little beneficiary of nepotism does) we ALL WOULD HAVE BEEN FIRED!
I just realized my mistake in post 137.
Billy Kristol's job is propaganda.
It makes no difference if he is wrong or mistaken because by it's very nature propaganda doesn't have to be factually correct,
That explains why he has never been fired despite having been wrong about almost every thing that comes out of his mouth.
Also I wish he would come out of the closet. I think with a lot of these neoclowns it the psychological issues from being in the closet that makes them so nutty and driven.
February 14th, 2008 at 9:48 pmyes there seems to be a pattern with these neoclowns either being closeted effeminate men or having other sexual hangups
The above mentioned Kristol, Tappy Mcwidestance from Idaho, Mitch McConnel, Lindsey Graham, Karl Rove, Rush Limbaugh, Alberto Gonzales, Mark Foley, Denny Hastert, what was the guy's name the Chairman of the GOP? oh yeah Ken Mehlman, and on and on Ad naseum. There is definately a pattern to these guys.
You even have to wonder about the leader of this particular cult;our ex-cheerleader/ commander in chief himself.
February 14th, 2008 at 9:57 pm