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[NNN0LHI]

http://www.buzzflash.com/articles/analysis/230

Submitted by mark karlin on Sun, 11/04/2007 - 8:04pm. Analysis
A BUZZFLASH NEWS ANALYSIS

Even though Mukasey is best buddies with Rudy Giuliani (which tells you a lot already), Chuck Schumer championed him for the AG spot with such zeal you would have thought Chuck was mainlining speed. snip

If you’re wondering why Schumer is sticking with Mukasey, despite a grassroots revolt among many Democrats, it’s because Chuck is on record in support of Bush having the right to torture.

But don’t trust us.

Here’s what Schumer, himself, had to say in a 2004 Senate Judiciary Committee hearing with then Attorney General John Ashcroft:

So it's easy to sit back in the armchair and say that torture can never be used. But when you're in the foxhole, it's a very different deal.

And I respect -- I think we all respect the fact that the president's in the foxhole every day. So he can hardly be blamed for asking you or his White House counsel or the Department of Defense to figure out when it comes to torture, what the law allows and when the law allows it and what there is permission to do.

[OHdem10]

1. While I can understand perfectly how incensed some

can be over the very idea of waterboarding and some I am sure
would like to shake Schumer and Feinstein, I ask you to hear
me out.

We have to learn to carefully pick our fights. Look at the end
process. WIll it have good consequences? What are the bad consequences?
Then do the good out way the bad. My point is we are losing too
many public fights. You in no way have to agree with me --but
I think we need to win some to show our strength. Long term consequences
of consistently losing.

This is not to flame but we must start thinking rationally.

If waterboarding is so abhorrent then why has the Democratic
Party not brought it to a vote in House and Senate?? They can
Ban the Practice of Waterboarding if they so desire.

You see, I believe both houses, Dems and Republicans may be against
the idea of waterboarding---BUT, they also want to keep it available
to CIA to use in extreme cases if necessary. We must admit dealing
with terrorists is different than dealing with a real army of another
country. Terrorists have no qualms about blowing up innocent women
and children. They use guerilla tactics. No I have not drunk GOP
Kool Aid --just believe it is time to get real. Nor do I believe
a standard Military Response is the answer.

I abhor the idea of waterboarding--but my gut tells me I would do
what the hell I have to get intelligence.
For this reason, if you want to doom Mukasey, Schumer and Feinstein,
then demand the rest of the Democratic Party show their stuff.
They can ban it.

Personally, it is not worth the fight. I guess I have lived long
enough to know the Government will do what it has to do.

I just want to see some wins. Some wise person once said something
like "Pick your fights wisely"

When you have journalists being waterboarded, when you have
a guy in NYC waterboarding people on the street---it kind of
puts things in perspective. It does not seem so bad to the public.