Today's winner is Vermont US Senator Patrick Leahy. He gets the award for the following-
The Senate Judiciary Committee chairman called Wednesday for the establishment of a nonpartisan "commission of inquiry" to investigate allegations of wrongdoing against former Bush administration officials in their prosecution of the war on terrorism. Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Patrick Leahy has called for a commission on torture allegations.It seems to me Senator you know 'the truth', so what's the use of a commission. Would it make us look weaker or stronger to our enemies? I think it would be weaker, if your allegations are true. How does that help the people you were elected to represent by making them vulnerable? Scoring political points for your party is more important!Nothing "did more to damage America's place in the world than the revelation that our great nation stretched the law and the bounds of executive power to authorize torture and cruel treatment," Sen. Patrick Leahy said at the start of a committee hearing.
American "detention policies and practices from Guantanamo Bay [Cuba] and Abu Ghraib [Iraq] have seriously eroded fundamental American principles of the rule of law," he added.
The Bush administration repeatedly denied engaging in torture.
"The United States of America does not torture," President Bush said on more than one occasion, particularly after it was revealed that some detainees underwent waterboarding, in which strapped-down detainees are led to believe they are drowning.
Waterboarding is strictly prohibited by the U.S. military but was allowed for non-military agencies under the Bush administration.
Two days after his inauguration, Obama issued an executive order revoking the Bush order that allowed such interrogation techniques and requiring that all agencies abide by the Army Field Manual for interrogations.
Leahy, D-Vermont, called for the "truth commission" to have a "targeted mandate" focusing on issues of national security and executive power. He said it should look specifically at allegations of "questionable interrogation techniques," "extraordinary rendition" and the "executive override of laws."
He added that the commission should have the power to issue subpoenas and offer immunity to witnesses "in order to get to the whole truth."
Doug at Below the Beltway writes- "Why not focus on the future, Senator?" For failing to do that, I name Vermont US Senator Patrick Leahy today's Knucklehead of the Day.
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Congress, Democrats, Knucklehead of the Day, Politics, Senate
Comments (12)
Another Patriot like Joe Mc... (Below threshold)1. Posted by epador | March 7, 2009 8:14 AM | Score: 2 (2 votes cast)
Another Patriot like Joe McCarthy we do not need.
1. Posted by epador | March 7, 2009 8:14 AM |
Score: 2 (2 votes cast)
Posted on March 7, 2009 08:14
2. Posted by Gmac | March 7, 2009 9:56 AM | Score: 2 (4 votes cast)
McCarthy was correct though, the US government was indeed riddled with Soviet Bloc agents as proved by KGB & NVD records just recently released. Comparing the actions of McCarthy to those of Leahy are opposites in what was and is trying to be accomplished here.
Senator Patrick Leahy makes lots of noise but when it really comes time to doing anything of substance all he's done is disclosed classified intelligence and it looks like he's trying to do that again.
2. Posted by Gmac | March 7, 2009 9:56 AM |
Score: 2 (4 votes cast)
Posted on March 7, 2009 09:56
3. Posted by joh | March 7, 2009 9:57 AM | Score: 2 (2 votes cast)
To paraphrase Napoleon, vanity made the commission; truth was only a pretext.
3. Posted by joh | March 7, 2009 9:57 AM |
Score: 2 (2 votes cast)
Posted on March 7, 2009 09:57
4. Posted by Justrand
| March 7, 2009 10:30 AM | Score: 4 (4 votes cast)
The tradition in America of peaceful and orderly transition of power, from one Administration to the next hangs by a thread!
I do NOT want to see this practice go forward by EITHER side!
A very easy extrapolation if Leahy was to be successful:
- Some number of Bush officials are indicted
- plea bargains and pardons save many from jail, but some are incarcerated
- the Republicans are OUTRAGED
- eventually Republicans come back into power
- Some number of OBAMA officials are indicted
- plea bargains and pardons save many from jail, but some are incarcerated
- the DEMOCRATS are OUTRAGED
- eventually DEMOCRATS come back into power
lather...rinse...repeat
EVERY Administration is going to do things that the NEXT Administration could, if they chose, portray as "criminal". Kangaroo Kourts are very easy to start...they are very difficult to stop!
4. Posted by Justrand
| March 7, 2009 10:30 AM |
Score: 4 (4 votes cast)
Posted on March 7, 2009 10:30
5. Posted by OLDPUPPYMAX | March 7, 2009 10:51 AM | Score: 3 (3 votes cast)
But Leahy IS focusing on the future--the future of the democrat party, the leftist agenda and the Marxist takeover of the United States.
5. Posted by OLDPUPPYMAX | March 7, 2009 10:51 AM |
Score: 3 (3 votes cast)
Posted on March 7, 2009 10:51
6. Posted by joh | March 7, 2009 11:17 AM | Score: 2 (2 votes cast)
EVERY Administration is going to do things that the NEXT Administration could, if they chose, portray as "criminal".
Yep, and what happens it that one day an outgoing administration doesn't step down, that way they don't have to face any charges.
It's all been done before with the predictable dire consequences.
Gee, so Rome went from a Republic to an Empire? Hmm, I wonder if in hindsight ordering Julius Caesar back to Rome to face trial was such a good idea? Maybe he might not go peacefully, maybe he might bring an army? Naw! Never happen here!
What blows me away is that these idiots either don't know of don't care. Maybe they're all fascists that are actively seeking the destruction of our democracy.
I can't explain it otherwise.
6. Posted by joh | March 7, 2009 11:17 AM |
Score: 2 (2 votes cast)
Posted on March 7, 2009 11:17
7. Posted by GarandFan | March 7, 2009 11:44 AM | Score: 2 (2 votes cast)
Let the Kangaroo Kourt begin!
I don't think it would take long for the majority of people to see where this would go. Leahy is so fucking stupid he doesn't see the backlash that would come from the public. You'll notice that Obama isn't even standing nearby on this one.
7. Posted by GarandFan | March 7, 2009 11:44 AM |
Score: 2 (2 votes cast)
Posted on March 7, 2009 11:44
8. Posted by Chad Cline | March 7, 2009 12:11 PM | Score: 2 (2 votes cast)
Hasn't 'Torture' already changed since the Obama admin. I don't think anything will come from a commission other than wasted time, and in turn wasted money. However, that has never stopped politicians before. This is all a game to them. It's like a football team. A horrible football team. They all jockey for position until they think they can score. Meanwhile, the fans are pissed they wasted their money on such an awful game. These guys need to stop thinking about the longevity of their careers. Instead, consider the people. Sacrifice yourselves and make a statement that say's 'I'm a truthful politician that wont play this shitty game anymore.' The truth will set them free.
8. Posted by Chad Cline | March 7, 2009 12:11 PM |
Score: 2 (2 votes cast)
Posted on March 7, 2009 12:11
9. Posted by Justrand
| March 7, 2009 12:36 PM | Score: 3 (3 votes cast)
Chad Cline: "These guys need to stop thinking about the longevity of their careers. Instead, consider the people. Sacrifice yourselves and make a statement that say's 'I'm a truthful politician that wont play this shitty game anymore.' The truth will set them free."
Odds of:
- being hit by lightning: 576,000 to 1
- winning the lottery: 11,441,304,000 to 1
- your house being hit by a meteor: 182,138,880,000,000 To 1
- these morons deciding to "consider the people" and NOT launch "Truth Commissions"???: the sum of the other 3 sets of odds SQUARED!!
sorry, Chad Cline, but math is math! :)
9. Posted by Justrand
| March 7, 2009 12:36 PM |
Score: 3 (3 votes cast)
Posted on March 7, 2009 12:36
10. Posted by STaylor | March 7, 2009 2:09 PM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
Of course the fact that the Obama Administration has quietly said that rendition, wiretapping and Gitmo (which had no Human Rights Violations BTW) are all OK with them (Gitmo in the short term anyway) will not have any effect on these idiots.
One wonders when Obama will be investigated for these "war crimes".
10. Posted by STaylor | March 7, 2009 2:09 PM |
Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
Posted on March 7, 2009 14:09
11. Posted by paul walker | March 7, 2009 2:50 PM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
If Leahy got "The Knucklehead of the Day award" as many times as he deserved it, this award would have been retired long ago with the trophy in Leahy's permanent possession prominently displayed for all to see
11. Posted by paul walker | March 7, 2009 2:50 PM |
Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
Posted on March 7, 2009 14:50
12. Posted by SPURWING PLOVER | March 7, 2009 2:57 PM | Score: 1 (1 votes cast)
Where were these same bunch when BILL CLINTON was selling our nattions greatists TOP SECRETS to the chicoms for illegal campain contribtions why were they not wanting to press and charges USLESS DEMACRATIC LIBERALS SUCK BIG TIME
12. Posted by SPURWING PLOVER | March 7, 2009 2:57 PM |
Score: 1 (1 votes cast)
Posted on March 7, 2009 14:57