Posted on 01/05/2006 4:12:39 PM PST by new yorker 77
Reject assertion he has right to waive rules to protect US security
WASHINGTON -- Three key Republican senators yesterday condemned President Bush's assertion that his powers as commander in chief give him the authority to bypass a new law restricting the use of torture when interrogating detainees.
John W. Warner Jr., a Virginia Republican who chairs the Senate Armed Services Committee, and Senator John McCain, an Arizona Republican, issued a joint statement rejecting Bush's assertion that he can waive the restrictions on the use of cruel, inhuman, and degrading treatment against detainees to protect national security.
''We believe the president understands Congress's intent in passing, by very large majorities, legislation governing the treatment of detainees," the senators said. ''The Congress declined when asked by administration officials to include a presidential waiver of the restrictions included in our legislation. Our committee intends through strict oversight to monitor the administration's implementation of the new law."
Separately, the third primary sponsor of the detainee treatment law, Senator Lindsey O. Graham, Republican of South Carolina, told the Globe in a phone interview that he agreed with everything McCain and Warner said ''and would go a little bit further."
''I do not believe that any political figure in the country has the ability to set aside any . . . law of armed conflict that we have adopted or treaties that we have ratified," Graham said. ''If we go down that road, it will cause great problems for our troops in future conflicts because [nothing] is to prevent other nations' leaders from doing the same."
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(Excerpt) Read more at boston.com ...
They are trying to crank their McCain bandwagon on FR right now. Their mantra will be that if you don't vote for McCain then you are voting for Hillary.
McCain has no chance of being elected as a Republican nationally.
Yeah, and I've told them I'd rather have Hillary's finger on the nuke button then the unstable egomanical unaccountable personality of John McCain that uses his status as a "Republican" to get away with things actual Republicans wouldn't sanction, if only for partisan reasons, if it were a Democrat.
It usually throws them into hysterics when I state Hillary deserves to win if the "best" we have is McCain. Then when I state I'll do my best to defeat him...LOL
The truth, and I think most will admit this deep down, is that if McCain were registered as a Democrat they'd find him about as frightening a prospect as Hillary on ticket. Supposedly his being techically a Rep makes him the "lesser evil". I'm not buying that spin. My gut warned me about Clinton, and my gut is warning me about McCain. Hopefully people will listen about McCain as they wouldn't about Clinton.
I'll drop the '08 race and come back to compete in '12 if either McCain or Hagel are on that '08 ticket. It's a promise.
No one knew he had done this until a couple days ago.
The Senate apparently didn't know either, proving they don't read their own laws. Or else McCain would have been all over the talk shows when it happened. LOL
It just made me love the President all the more.
He gave the Senate the finger they had shown him (and Americans & our troops) by pushing the Al Quida Bill of Rights through on a Defense Bill. here they thought they had neutered the Prez, and it turns out he outplayed them. I'm still laughing at the hysterics and burst blood vessels this caused McCain and his RINO's.
Something along those lines, especially if it has huge national security implications. Like if the terrorist had info on nukes or WMDs inside the US or soon to be deployed to the US.
You're absolutely right. Unfortunately, Lindsee doesn't come up for reelection till 2008. But I have already promised him, via snail mail and email that I will work hard for whoever challenges him in the primary. This RINO has got to go.
For awhile my rant was, "It's all about the judges." Now that Alito is 99% confirmed, I'm changing my rant to, "It's all about the RINOS." They have done almost as much damage to our country as the liberal judges.
Nam Vet
A: They are not Constitutionally vested with the duty to save American lives.
I'll give Graham the benefit of the doubt and say he's ignorant rather than stupid. I urge you and ALL FReepers to check out the NRO article of Nov.16th by Andrew McCarthy, "Snatching Defeat from the Jaws of Victory". It tells how Graham lined up with Levin and other Democrats to defeat good Republican legislation. This article reveals his ignorance of the debated legislation. In the current RINO contest for the WORST, it's a neck-and-neck photo finish race between Hagel and Graham. Some RINOs like Chafee, Snow, et al. have ALWAYS been RINOs. But Hagel and Graham,who have legitimate conservative backgrounds,are betraying their conservative base for MSM praise and their aspirations to be on a national ticket in '08 or beyond. They are trying to appeal to Independents and "moderates" and to hell with conservative convictions. Say what you will about McCain but he's a VERY strong supporter of the war in Iraq and a proponent of a strong military and national defense. Hagel has consistently sought to undermine Bush and the war effort and so is Graham. To ALL who consider our national defense and the war on terror our top national priority -- Hagel and Graham tie for WORST RINO. The FReepers in those states should start letting them know their crap isn't going down with the people who elected them!
Amen, and any nation we are likely to go to war with would also have no interest in international regulations or fair play. That is just a ploy the left tries to get us to fight with both hands behind our backs while they are free to do as they please. Graham is not that dumb so he must have other reasons.
Graham will do whatever McPain does since he wants to be McPain's running mate.
The best explanation I've seen, for the slavish behavior of Lindsey Graham.
Well you know I couldn't agree with you more about Graham!
Very appropriate image you posted xcamel.
I wonder ... how long can the USofA endure the fools who populate the political class?
McCain has lost his marbles.
the man doesn't have all of his "commies" as my dearly departed dad would have said... he might have bouts of rationality, but they are few and far between.he is a ticking timebomb that should never be allowed to sit in a position of any real power.
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