Molly Ivins on torture: This is OUR country, not Bush's personal property!

[Bluebear]

This is the United States of America. It is our country, not George W. Bush's personal property. The United States of America still stands for the rights of man, for freedom, dignity and justice. We do not torture helpless prisoners. Our soldiers are not the SS.

===

AUSTIN, Texas -- On one of those television gong shows that passes for journalism, the panelists used to have to pick an Outrage of the Week. Then, each performer would wax indignant about his or choice for 60 seconds or so. If someone asked me to name the Outrage of the Week about now, I'd have a coronary. How could anyone possibly choose?

I suppose the frontrunner is the anti-torture amendment. Sen. John McCain proposed an amendment to the military appropriations bill that would prohibit "cruel, inhuman or degrading" treatment of prisoners in the custody of the U.S. military....

According to the Bushies, if the United States is holding a prisoner on foreign soil, our soldiers can still subject him or her to cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment -- the very forms of torture used by the soldiers who were later prosecuted for their conduct at Abu Ghraib. Does this make any sense, moral or common?

So deeply does President Bush feel our country, despite all its treaty commitments, has a right to torture that he has threatened to veto the bill if it passes. This would the first time in five years he has ever vetoed anything. Think about it: Five years of stupefying pork, ideological nonsense, dumb administrative ideas, fiscal idiocy, misbegotten energy programs -- and the first thing the man vetoes is a bill to pay our soldiers because it carries an amendment saying, once again, that this country does not torture prisoners....

http://www.creators.com/opinion_show.cfm?columnsName=miv

[walldude]

1. I love Molly Ivins

"Thats the last time a dick will touch an asshole in this state"-Molly Ivins commenting on 2 Texas lawmakers shaking hands after passing a bill outlawing sodomy in Texas.

[babylonsister]

2. Nom for Molly Ivins!

My dad just sent me "Shrub" and "Bushwhacked". I can't wait to delve into them-she rocks! And thanks, Bluebear.

[teryang]

3. Our leaders promote and defend TORTURE!

What does that say about them?

[opihimoimoi]

4. They have no idea whats its like to be on the receiving end of whips

errr, or, do they?

[spanone]

14. It says all I need to know...

[Bluebear]

15. Indeed, spanone. nt

[KerryReallyWon]

5. This is serious...

because the bush admin has becomr a laughing stock!

:puke: :toast: :argh: :nuke: :hi: :shrug: :loveya: :yourock: :woohoo: :rofl:

[libnnc]

6. kick for Molly

I just love to hear her talk! Warms my heart.

:kick:

[Selatius]

7. Wrong. Your country was bought and paid for a long time ago

Greed is the name of the game. You live in a society dominated by the race to acquire more wealth and resources, and the one with the most at the end of the day wins. The workers of America, the farmers, the firemen, the policemen, the soldiers--they all play second fiddle to their masters who own the corporation, own the government, and own the military. They are all owned. We are all equals in America...equally owned.

[dretceterini]

10. I tend to agree

That nothing will change without a major revolution

[lovuian]

8. I love this woman!!!

You go Girl!!!

[WiseButAngrySara]

9. I love Molly too! She tells it lke it is. K and R. ........n/t

[Metta]

11. Yeah, just follow the money.

"Don't just talk about your wailin', do your thing and let me see.
'Cause you may be just fairy tailin', so do your thing and let me see."

John Hendricks

[Flying Dream Blues]

12. Outrage of the Week!! I love it. This IS an OUTRAGE!!!

[annabanana]

13. This paragraph needs a cartoon! (artists?)

Showing elephants with a conscience trembling in fear, trying to hide behind palms and curtains from roaming Republican leadership elephant monsters, fangs dripping blood, foaming at the mouth..

And we need to use it against changing the anti-torture language in the Defense bill in the House!!

"Even Republicans revolted. As Rep. Sherwood Boehlert said, "We are enriching people, but we are not doing anything to give the little guy a break." This bill was so awful the leadership had to hold the vote open for 40 minutes, a clear violation of House rules -- there's a five-minute limit on votes of this kind -- while the Republican leaders roamed the floor, cajoling, bullying and threatening."