Posted on 10/07/2005 1:01:42 PM PDT by FairOpinion
The Bush administration pledged yesterday to veto legislation banning the torture of prisoners by US troops after an overwhelming and almost unprecedented revolt by loyalist congressmen.
The mutiny was the latest setback for an administration facing an increasingly independent and bloody-minded legislature. But it also marked a key moment in Congress's campaign to curtail the huge powers it has granted the White House since 2001 in its war against terrorism.
The late-night Senate vote saw the measure forbidding torture passed by 90 to nine, with most Republicans backing the measure. Most senators said the Abu Ghraib abuse scandal and similar allegations at the Guantanamo Bay prison rendered the result a foregone conclusion.
The administration's extraordinary isolation was underlined when the Senate Republican majority leader, Bill Frist, supported the amendment.
The man behind the legislation, Republican Senator John McCain, who was tortured as a prisoner in Vietnam, said the move was backed by American soldiers. His amendment would prohibit the "cruel, inhumane or degrading" treatment of prisoners in the custody of America's defence department.
The vote was one of the largest and best supported congressional revolts during President George W Bush's five years in office and shocked the White House.
"We have put out a Statement of Administration Policy saying that his advisers would recommend that he vetoes it if it contains such language," White House spokesman Scott McClellan warned yesterday.
The administration said Congress was attempting to tie its hands in the war against terrorism.
The veto would be Mr Bush's first use of his most extreme legislative option. But senators pointed out that a presidential veto can be overturned by a two-thirds majority in both houses.
For now the amendment's fate depends on negotiations between the Senate and the lower chamber, the House of Representatives, which is more loyal to the administration.
But senators said they were confident that most of the language would survive and that the issue could pose an extremely awkward dilemma for the president.
The amendment was attached to the $440 billion (£247 billion) defence spending bill and if Mr Bush vetoes the amendment, he would have to veto the entire bill.
That would leave America's armed forces in Iraq and Afghanistan short of cash as early as the middle of next month.
It's an outrage that 90 out of 100 US Senators voted for this.
Related Threads:
Senate Supports Interrogation Limits (90-9 vote to protect terrorist detainees)
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1497443/posts
Nine Explain Interrogation Votes (The 9 Brave Ones That Voted Against McCain)
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1498545/posts
I seriously doubt it will be vetoed
Hi. We've been debating this on the other thread. Bush hasn't veteod ONE bill in 5 years. Let him veto it, the Senate has enough votes to override his veto.
The fact that this vote took place late at night tells you all you need to know about it. The Senate never votes during the day on anything that they know will be unpopular with the general public. With each passing day, I think my tagline becomes more and more relevant.
Bush knows that this bill is like cuting off one hand and putting a ring on the other.
I support Bush on this...refreshing.
Go W, go.
I detest every one of the 90 traitors that voted to sacrifice American civilians' lives to Political Correctness.
And to have the key info, that people ask right here:
Here's a link to those who voted for / against
http://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=109&session=1&vote=00249
The only NAYS were as follows:
NAYs ---9
Allard (R-CO)
Bond (R-MO)
Coburn (R-OK)
Cochran (R-MS)
Cornyn (R-TX)
Inhofe (R-OK)
Roberts (R-KS)
Sessions (R-AL)
Stevens (R-AK)
It's amazing that Republican lawmakers who are supposed to believe in personal responsibility are looking to have the President clean up their mess.
They want to campaign on something that he has to veto.
I think this stinks.
This is the whole root of the frustration over the budget. These weak-kneed goobers think that they have to tell their constituents that the brought home the pork. But they want the President to clean up and veto the spending so that they can take credit for keeping the budget down and bringing prosperity.
I am not impressed.
I'd like to why our Senate fat cats took their summer break without getting the Defense budget to the POTUS. It is now 7 days into FY-06.
You know, if Bush is finally going to wield his veto power, maybe he should do it on something that isn't veto proof?
Does the Gang of 14 have the votes for the override? I'm guessing no in the House...
Does the Gang of 14 have the votes for the override? I'm guessing no in the House...
My guess is that the ACLU and their friendly courts would drive so many trucks through all of those loopholes that before long it would be illegal for the Defense Department to hold ANY prisoner for ANY reason.
(Steel bars are so "degrading," you understand.)
The first veto won't be on spending.....what a shame.
This Amendment is NOT in the House Bill. This is a message by President Bush, that the Republicans better strip this amendment from the final defense bill, in conference to reconcile the House and Senate versions.
The Senate added this to the Defense bill. The House passed the Defense bill some time ago.
I bet they don't. Voting for a bill and voting to OVERRIDE your own President's veto are very different things. Good thing too. It's a really bad bill.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.