Bush, McCain reach agreement on tribunal laws

MSNBC ^ | 9/21/2006 | nbc news

[tobyhill]

President Bush and Sen. John McCain have reached an agreement on legislation covering tribunals for enemy combatant suspects, NBC News reported Thursday.

Details on the deal were not immediately available.

The compromise comes amid a stalemate that has divided the House and Senate on the treatment of detainees. The two sides remained at odds this week over how to adhere to the 1949 Geneva Conventions and — simultaneously — give the CIA wide leeway to conduct interrogations.

[Pukin Dog]

Lindsey Graham is in the exact same position as John Edwards was at this stage of his Senate career. He knows damn well that he will NEVER be elected again to the Senate, so he is now going for an upgrade by appointment. As VP, he would cause his candidate to lose the election, so he is now going for Attorney General under a McCain administration.

My guess is that the good people of the Carolinas will send that jackass back to a private legal practice, where he can wear his light-loafers out in the open.

[MNJohnnie]

Remember. The 4 Senators wanted to make no changes. They wanted basically to extend the protections of Common Article 3 to the Terrorists. No matter the PR fig leaf the President left them, that there IS a deal is defeat of the 1st magnitude for them.

[michigander]

Republicans set to announce terrorism trial deal

Thu Sep 21, 2006 3:33pm ET

SNIP

Frist of Tennessee was meeting with Republican Sens. John Warner of Virginia, John McCain of Arizona and Lindsey Graham of South Carolina as well as administration officials to review the tentative deal. An announcement was likely within the hour, said Amy Call, Frist's spokeswoman.

"I'm a happy man," Graham said as he entered Frist's office.

Congress is trying to pass a bill to establish trial procedures for foreign terrorism suspects picked up since the September 11 attacks after the U.S. Supreme Court struck down Bush's original program.

Warner, McCain and Graham challenged President George W. Bush's plan for trying suspected terrorists, saying it would undermine the Geneva Conventions' protections for war prisoners, and allow abusive interrogations and unfair trials.

They pushed a rival bill that gained greater Senate support and forced the administration to negotiate a compromise.

The United States has faced international criticism for the indefinite detention of prisoners at the U.S naval base in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. Rights groups and others have accused the United States of torture and abuse of detainees.

If there is a compromise, it faces likely passage in both the House of Representatives and Senate next week before Congress breaks to campaign ahead of November elections.

[mystery-ak]

Lets see who gets to the microphone first...hehehe

[tobyhill]

I think he just feels sorry for them because they punch and act like babies.

[onyx]

I'll tell you what -- those SOB's had best be on their best behavior.

[mystery-ak]

That's right....

[A Citizen Reporter]

"I'm a happy man," Graham said as he entered Frist's office.

This reminds me of when Rita Cosby read the Supreme Court decision and announced that Gore had won the 2000 election.

We are smarter than this Lindsay.

[onyx]

Trial procedures.

[MNJohnnie]

Bush really doesn't have to be heard too much these days, he's already been reelected but he has to come to the aid of these RINOs because they have a R by their names.

The President has a war to fight and a people to defend. He doesn't have the luxury of throwing a temper tantrum and mugging for the Cameras like some of our more irresponsible politicians do.

If keeping American kids safe and killing bad guys requires him to kiss 4 Senators butts, that just the price of doing business in a Constitutional Republic.

[A Citizen Reporter]

It's just killing Shep that he's is not going to get to announce the "DEAL" wink, wink, during his show. Killing him.

[Howlin]

Angle says that they are still in Frist's office, trying to come to an agreement.

I hope they don't............LOL.

[demkicker]

That bastard, McCain, is still playing media politics trying desperately to appear relevant.

[MNJohnnie]

Any guess what the deal will be?

[onyx]

Shep is pumping Jim Amgle for all he's worth.

[A Citizen Reporter]

Gee, I guess that McEgo's "leaking" [according to Shep] and Lindsay's happiness has been a bit premature.

I really can't stand Shep Smith, I haven't watched him in months and months.

[mystery-ak]

I like Shep's pink tie....it matches his eye shadow...

[RobFromGa]

they're trying to reach an agreement over how they will spin the announcement most likely...

[michigander]

$15,000 plus the trade-in. Out the door.

I've no more idea than anyone else.

[onyx]

Awaiting the straight talk express...