Wednesday, September 27, 2006

Stopping the GOP Torture Bill (11:00 am)

Matt Stoller at MyDD says “The Senate is where this bill can be stopped. The key Senators to move are the Maine Republican Senators, Olympia Snowe and Susan Collins. If we can shift them, we can stop this bill from being passed.”

Susan Collins
461 Dirksen Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510
Phone: (202) 224-2523
Fax: (202) 224-2693

Olympia Snowe
154 Russell Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510
Phone: (202) 224-5344
Toll Free: (800) 432-1599
Fax: (202) 224-1946

posted by Brian Zick | start the discussion

Patriotism: Saying “No!” to Torture (8:43 am)

House Dem Louise Slaughter has posted a diary at dailykos.

We are at a crossroads today, and I fear that we will not by judged kindly by future Americans for what my Republican friends want us to do today.

This bill sends a clear message to both our friends and our enemies about what kind of people we are.

It shows them whether or not we are really willing to practice what we preach about freedom, democracy, and human dignity.

It is moments like this one when we reveal our true colors, and our real values.

Sadly, M. Speaker, those watching today will conclude that when the going gets tough, America’s leaders are willing abandon our values…

…abandon them in favor of thuggish tactics they hope might make them safer for a little while.

via Atrios, who also says Durbin is stepping up.

posted by Brian Zick | start the discussion

Tuesday, September 26, 2006

George Allen Withdrawal Watch (11:44 pm)

Virginia bloggers Virginia Centrist and Not Larry Sabato detect the scent of toast.

Virginia Centrist says the over/under on George Allen withdrawing is 13 days.

via Matt Stoller at MyDD, who thinks it’s unlikely.

posted by Brian Zick | start the discussion

Retired US Intelligence Officers Oppose GOP Pro-Torture Legislation (4:10 pm)

Josh Marshall has posted a copy of the letter sent today to Senate Judiciary Committee Chair Arlen Specter and Ranking Member Pat Leahy, which contains the views of former U.S. Government and military officials who served in the CIA, in the Army, in the Air Force, at the Department of State, and the FBI. It represents a consensus view that torture is an ineffective and immoral practice that injures our ability to combat the threat of terrorism.

posted by Brian Zick | start the discussion

Republicans Vote Against Secret Session to Review National Intelligence Estimate (11:49 am)

Raw Story reports:

House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) has called for a secret session to review the National Intelligence Estimate, which some contend has found that the Iraq war has made America less safe from terrorist attacks, RAW STORY has learned.

The House has defeated the motion, 207-170, with just one Republican and one Independent breaking an otherwise party-line vote. Many Republicans and Democrats chose not to cast a vote.

“I don’t know how anyone could vote against it,” Pelosi told reporters in a conference call immediately after the vote. “What they’re saying by voting against this is, ‘Spare me the facts, spare me the truth.’”

Pelosi’s office has created a continually updated YouTube Playlist, featuring House Democrats commenting on the National Intelligence Estimate.

In this clip, Pelosi offers her motion for the secret session

via Tracy Van Slyke

posted by Brian Zick | 1 comment

Jack Carter Op-Ed Condemns GOP’s Un-American Pro-Torture Legislation (9:31 am)

Matt Stoller at MyDD calls attention to Nevada Democratic Senate candidate Carter’s commentary.

There is no doubt that torturing people is un-American. There is no doubt that unfettered eavesdropping on Americans by the executive branch is un-American. There is no doubt that holding prisoners without due process is un-American.

These are the spear marks our attackers left, every bit as much a wound as the gaping hole in New York’s skyline. These were inflicted, not by suicide bombers, but by Fear – the opponent of Values and the “other” weapon in the terrorists’ arsenal.

We must defend our families and our values as fiercely as we attack our enemies. Our government must fight Terrorists, but our Values must battle Terror. These principles define us. They make us American more than geography ever did.

This administration does not appear to understand that being “serious about fighting this war” requires us to defend our values. Defense of our values is not a sign of weakness, it’s the foundation from which we launch our attack.

posted by Brian Zick | start the discussion

Bolton Confirmation Still Dead (8:49 am)

Steve Clemons reports:

The last pre-election loophole through which John Bolton’s confirmation might have snuck through the Senate Foreign Relations Committee was at 2:15 this afternoon at a previously called “business meeting” of the Committee.

That meeting has been cancelled — and with it even the dimmest chance of John Bolton being confirmed as US Ambassador to the United Nations.

Some have said that another effort could be mounted during a lame duck session of Congress, but there are several Republicans who will not feel bound by the White House in that circumstance; Dems as well — who will vote against cloture on the floor of the Senate were it to get out of Committee then.

So, it’s over.

posted by Brian Zick | start the discussion

Inhumanity “In the Name of Science” (8:16 am)

In These Times senior editor Silja Talvi reports on medical experimentation done to persons in captivity, “with as little notice, oversight or intervention as possible,” and concludes that “Medical testing in prisons should be brought to a halt—at the very least until quality prison health care for every single inmate is a reality.”