Surf’s up on the Left after Sen. John McCain voted against a bill that would force the Central Intelligence Agency to adhere to limitations in the US Army Field Manual when interrogating terrorists. The reaction of the misnamed ThinkProgress was typical:
John McCain: He was against waterboarding before he was for it.
Kevin Drum opines that Maverick has folded in the face of “a conservative base that’s righteously pissed off and not afraid to let you know it,” complete with a cool anecdote about a focus group’s disapproval of McCain’s anti-waterboarding rap.
Few report what McCain said in voting against the bill:
McCain, who had championed applying the interrogation limits to the military in previous legislation, implied that the bill would restrict the CIA’s flexibility to use legal interrogation methods.
“We have said in our law  . . . that we would allow the CIA to use additional techniques that were not in violation of the anti-torture convention, that were not in violation of the Geneva Conventions, that were not in violation of the Detainee Treatment Act†(PL 109-148), he said.
Nonetheless, McCain  a former Vietnam War prisoner who was tortured for five and a half years in Hanoi  said waterboarding is “illegal, and I oppose it.â€Â
So McCain can still claim to be against waterboarding, but willing to give the CIA some wiggle room on forced nudity and use of dogs.
Now that’s Mavericky!
I don’t get the “we”. Is that some McCainian royal We or is he talking about some other bill he co-sponsored? I dunno. But let’s preserve this form thinkprogress…
Cause for real I think it’s true that for every nicey-nice we pass on behalf of the terrorists we pretty ineluctably pressure allies for whom the threat is exponentially more existential to do the same, which really I think is a lot of the Left’s game on these issues.
Give my Mac a break, will ya????
Remember….Can we elect an empty suit not qualified for the job? YES WE CAN!!!
;-)
Normally I’d suspect someone posting under the name “JoJo the Dog Faced Boy” to be a troll, but, hey, it is a “progressive” site.
Oh. *from* … But also sometimes it’s good to remember that thinkprogress is the blog of Hillary ad George Soros’ Center For American Progress.
*and* Christ. It’s early here.
i think…mccain is likely preserving some wiggle room for things like this.
there are a whole cless of neurohormones we can use for establishing a benevolent framework for skilled vocal interogation.
which is not technically torture but shud work much better than waterboarding.
Sparkle – I will start giving him a break when he starts acting like a conservative. Hell, I would settle for him acting like a Republican.
RWS,
I am pointing out that he hasn’t necessarily flip-flopped on waterboarding, as the Left claims.
I think torture is one subject that McCain should be able to speak and vote on with authority. Ever been hooked up to a telephone generator?
bob – Nobody is saying that he should not be able to speak or vote with authority on ANY topic. Your comment comes dangerously close to the chicken-hawk BS that the Leftists like to toss around.
Ever been hooked up to a telephone generator?
No, but I will agree to be waterboarded if you let me take a car battery and a pair of jumper cables to your genitals. Deal?
RWS,
I am pointing out that he hasn’t necessarily flip-flopped on waterboarding, as the Left claims.
HYou keep telling your self that and maybe by magic it will come true.
Hi JD
Sorry to learn of your chicken hawkedness.
Oh, look: chamberpot is back.
Oh, look: chamberpot is back.
your name calling is lacking magee. I expect better from wingnuts at pw. McCain has flip flopped himself into a knotted pretzel. But he is closer to full membership in the party of torture.
and you can show where this is sanctioned in an FM?
bedpan – I thought you had left because we were mean to you.
Since I was in the USAF, you kind of missed the mark there. You are consistent, shirtlifter.
#
Comment by JD on 2/14 @ 12:09 pm #
bedpan – I thought you had left because we were mean to you.
Since I was in the USAF, you kind of missed the mark there. You are consistent, shirtlifter.
Mean. no. disgusted maybe. Since you served, I stand corrected. I was a rigger with the 82nd airborne so maybe I’m a dovehawk, or something.The truth is I miss your creative namecalling {you are very good} as data coined. Shirtlifter ? a fantasy of yours?
My intentions are not to amuse you, grasshopper, but to mock you.
I am insouciant like that.
“My intentions are not to amuse you, grasshopper, but to mock you.”
LOL
I know, but as it goes, sometimes the best [or worst] of intentions go awry. I could return the favor, but I appreciate the fact this wingnut blog allows for we moonbats to challenge it when few others do.
BTW “grasshopper” is a compliment to a peace loving librul.
Then I shall refer to you as grass-smoker, you peace luvin hippy shit.
#
Comment by JD on 2/14 @ 2:14 pm #
Then I shall refer to you as grass-smoker, you peace luvin hippy shit.
I gave up smoking grass thirty years ago to save a few brain cells. As for “peace luvin hippy shit” Your flattery is unbecoming. LOL
Must… not… take… bait…
come on Mcgehee, I threw up a big fat softball and your not going to take a swing?
Thundermug.Henceforth your moniker shall be ‘Thundermug’
I vote for bedpan. and clearly, the damage has already been done, and appears irreversible.
#
Comment by Rusty on 2/14 @ 4:44 pm #
Thundermug.Henceforth your moniker shall be ‘Thundermug’
I like it. And your new moniker JD shall be “Lastword Always”
Henceforth your moniker shall be ‘Thundermug’
I like it.
Heh.
http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=thundermug
#28
You expected it to be annoyed? The recepticle for nightsoil has never been emptied. Hence the severe lack of reason.
B Moe
You have the wrong thundermug
Thundermug Neapolitan Mastiffs
Ain’t they pretty?
See what happens when you take the bait?
#32
Much like a child that has used said contents to express themselves on a convenient wall.