Posted on 06/21/2005 3:07:32 PM PDT by Tumbleweed_Connection
Sen. Richard Durbin (D-Ill.), who angered Republicans by comparing the Guantanamo Bay prison camp to Nazis, Soviet gulags, and Pol Pot's killers in Cambodia, apologized on the Senate floor Tuesday.
"Mr. President, I've come to understand that was a poor choice of words," said Durbin. "Last Friday, I tried to make this very clear that I understood that those analogies - the Nazis, Soviets, and others - were poorly chosen. I issued a release, which I thought made my intentions and my innermost feelings as clear as I possibly could," added Durbin.
Durbin's apology comes after Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist called him in a letter to Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid, to formally apologize on the Senate floor.
"If I read this to you and did not tell you that it was an FBI agent describing what Americans had done to prisoners in their control, you would most certainly believe this must have been done by Nazis, Soviets in their gulags, or some mad regime -- Pol Pot or others -- that had no concern for human beings," Durbin said in his controversial remarks.
Durbin was upset over an FBI memo describing the conditions of the Guantanamo facility, which included prisoners being chained to the floor, bombarded with rock music, and subjected to extreme cold or extreme heat, depending on whether the air conditioner was turned on or off.
One of the Chicago Times columnists says that Durbin has never had an original thought in his life, and is stupid enough that this fact does not bother him.
I do not call that an apology, he just said he was sorry if you were offended, but would continue to speak his mind (mouth off)
That was no apology! Mr. Mojo said it right.
I want a REAL APOLOGY. Not this ha*#-a*^ed nonsense. His "tears" don't mean anything to me.
Say it like Mr. Mojo says it!
"Mr. President, I've come to understand that was a poor choice of words,"
Kind of reminds me when liberals say that a murderer has "made a mistake".
I couldn't find the apology.
Maybe we should call Daley's office! LOL
Maybe Dean wrote it.
Durbin looks like a naked mole rat, except clothed.
You got that right! Senator Domenici acts like he's some kind of Mafia don, and he has the capos to back it up. I'm a longtime Republican, but the party in this state tries my loyalty all the time. They are so busy fighting among themselves that they can't it together to put decent candidates on the ballot for statewide offices.
I thought his claim that he had a "poor choice of words" missed the mark on so many levels.
His entire comment about treatment of prisoners was wrong. It was based on old reports. His concerns were not "legitimate". He was wrong that the incidents he mentioned from the FBI memo were "horrible", or that they were anything at all like what repressive regimes would do.
It wasn't his "words" that were a poor choice, it was his attack on America that was poor.
It was his TRUE FEELINGS that were wrong, not the way he expressed them. He was saying that he thought America was treating prisoners in Guantanamo as badly as a dictator would do.
Thursday he tried to deflect criticism by saying "We don't know if the people mistreating the prisoners were military". But he did say it was America.
He also gave a quote that said that it was the administration that should apologize for authorising TORTURE of prisoners. That was a lie as well. And he said that we rejected the Geneva Convention. That is a lie. THose quotes were played by Al Jazeera.
I actually don't doubt that Senator Durbin has a love for our country, and feels for the troops, and really wouldn't want to hurt the troops on purpose.
But he clearly wants to hurt the administration.
A "mere apology" didn't work for the Dims when Trent Lott apologized - - so Dirtbag, resign your post.....
""I've come to understand that was a poor choice of words," said Durbin."
In what bizzaro world does that count as an apology?
To Melanie Hunter:
Um, Melanie, dear, I think Durbin angered Americans, not just Republicans, you divisive liberal tart.
Your's truly,
Duke Nukum
He did apologize for the pain he caused.
"I'm sorry I said bad things that I don't retract."
"I'm sorry if you were hurt by my mischaracterization of our treatment of prisoners"
"I'm especially sorry to my democratic buddies who are getting heat because of what I said"
"I'm terribly sorry that some people understood exactly what I was saying and got upset with it"
I don't know. What ever happened to:
"Last Tuesday I said that America treated it's prisoners like brutal dictators. I was wrong. I apologize for my statements, and ask that they be stricken from the record. I will also step down from my leadership position to demonstrate the error of my comments."
"I yield the floor to Sen Lott"
He should at least have to "apologize" as many times as Trent Lott apologized for his remarks at Strom Thurmond's 100th birthday party--a private function, not the floor of the Senate. If the Senate is too late to censure him, and the Dems too anti-American to strip him of his post, he ought at least be made to grovel. And I do mean grovel!
He should at least have to "apologize" as many times as Trent Lott apologized for his remarks at Strom Thurmond's 100th birthday party--a private function, not the floor of the Senate. If the Senate is too late to censure him, and the Dems too anti-American to strip him of his post, he ought at least be made to grovel. And I do mean grovel!
Turban Durbin should now go over to Trent Lott and ask for advice on the best way to go about resigning his leadership post. Maybe another tearful resignation speech, or just slink away. What Durbin did is despicable, damaged the country and slandered our soldiers. He is not fit for leadership of anything.
Tony Snow announced today on his radio show that he is going to Guantamo Bay. He invited Durbin to go with him. You think he will take the offer? I doubt it
I dunno.. I've actually known Pete personally for about 40 years (He and my Dad were freinds and worked together on a lot of stuff). You'd think that would bring a little consideration rather than ONLY requests for money.....
But on the other hand; at least he votes the way I'd have him do 95% of the time. So, whaddya going to do???....
My checkbook does seem to have disappeared though, and I don't think I'm going to be able to find it again until maybe a month or so before the next general election.
And Bingaman's wife owns a business that is a tenant in one of my family's properties (I doubt thet Jeff is aware of that, though, so I doubt that is why I got any response at all)....
I think I'll see to it that her rent goes up significantly soon!!! :;-)
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