The Conservative Cave
Current Events => The DUmpster => Topic started by: BannedFromDU on May 13, 2009, 07:13:20 PM
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Better Believe It Donating Member (1000+ posts)
Wed May-13-09 05:58 PM
Original message
Nancy Pelosi The Torture Enabler
Pelosi The Enabler
by Robert Scheer
Nancy Pelosi is no Dick Cheney, nor a George W. Bush. She was neither the author of a systematic policy of torture nor has she been, like Cheney and most top Republicans in Congress, an enduring apologist for its practice. It is a nonsensical distraction to place her failure to speak out courageously as a critic of the Bush policies on the same level as those who engineered one of the most shameful debacles in U.S. history.
But what she, and anyone else who went along with this evil, as lackadaisically as she now claims, should be confronted with are the serious implications of their passive acquiescence. Why did she not speak up, or if it were a matter of a lack of reliable information, demand an accounting from the executive branch, as befits a leader of the loyal opposition in Congress?
If the ranking Democrat on the House Intelligence Committee, and later House Democratic leader, lacked the authority to publicly question a policy of torture, then how can we condemn, indeed imprison, ordinary soldiers who thought it their duty to follow orders?
Even though Abu Zubaydah had been waterboarded 83 times before the September 2002 briefing of Pelosi, she now claims she was told only that the practice might be used and that it had been approved by the Bush Justice Department as legal. Wasn’t that approval in itself sufficiently alarming to justify a strong and public dissent? Certainly that would have been the appropriate response when Pelosi aide Michael Sheehy, along with Rep. Jane Harman, D-Calif., were informed by the CIA in no uncertain terms five months later that Zubaydah had been subjected to specific “enhanced†methods including waterboarding. Pelosi admits to possessing that information, but according to one of her aides quoted in Politico, after Harman’s letter questioning the practice received “no response†from the CIA, “there was nothing more that could be done.â€
Why not? Does the CIA or the White House that directs its activities stand above the law without any congressional restraint, as mandated by the U. S. Constitution that Pelosi has sworn to uphold?
By acquiescing to the cover-up of unpleasant truths in the treatment of prisoners, Pelosi contributed to the betrayal of the ideal of public accountability that is the bedrock of our system of governance, which Congress is charged with protecting.
Please read the complete article at:
Much hypocrisy, as usual (http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x8404825#8404879)
theoldman (1000+ posts)
Wed May-13-09 06:09 PM
Response to Original message
7. So lets put Bush, Cheney and Rumsfeld in prison.
We can then reprimand Pelosi and anyone else who had information on torture. All the people who voted for Bush should be chastised. This would be fair treatment to me.
jeremyfive (22 posts) Wed May-13-09 06:18 PM
Response to Reply #7
Prison? Take 'Em Out, I Say.
Take em out where? To Sizzler? Cold Stone?
Or kill them?
Anyone want to venture a guess?
(sorry,Skinner...I have a screencap, too)
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Yet these little goose stepping morons would let the taliban murder everyone they could just because we are the evil ones. Ironic that they hate the US so much yet never dare to leave her protections or give up one right to live under someone elses rule.
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Ha, $kammer had one of his goons delete the message.
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jeremyfive (22 posts) Wed May-13-09 06:18 PM
Response to Reply #7
Prison? Take 'Em Out, I Say.
Note/reminder to DUmmies...the Secret Service takes threats to ex-Presidents and VP's just as seriously as they do to the current President.
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With 22 posts he is either a troll or a moron. Not that we haven't seen the same stuff from 10K+ posters too though.
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We can then reprimand Pelosi and anyone else who had information on torture. All the people who voted for Bush should be chastised.
What am I going to do??? I'm so scared. Someone hold me.
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Just as long as you little turds have the guts to "chastise" me in person!
PM me if you need the address, ya little prick!
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Just as long as you little turds have the guts to "chastise" me in person!
PM me if you need the address, ya little prick!
Can I PM ya for you addy, too? I want to watch! Even pay $35 or so per ticket! :tongue: