In 2006 Garrison Keillor shamed the senators who voted for the "torture" bill.

[madfloridian]

It was one of his most powerful pieces ever.

Mark their names and mark them well.

Congress's Shameful Retreat From American Values

The Senate also decided it's up to the president to decide whether it's OK to make these enemies stand naked in cold rooms for a couple of days in blinding light and be beaten by interrogators. This is now purely a bureaucratic matter: The plenipotentiary stamps the file "enemy combatants" and throws the poor schnooks into prison and at his leisure he tries them by any sort of kangaroo court he wishes to assemble and they have no right to see the evidence against them, and there is no appeal. This was passed by 65 senators and will now be signed by President Bush, put into effect, and in due course be thrown out by the courts.

It's good that Barry Goldwater is dead because this would have killed him. Go back to the Senate of 1964 - Goldwater, Dirksen, Russell, McCarthy, Javits, Morse, Fulbright - and you won't find more than 10 votes for it.

None of the men and women who voted for this bill has any right to speak in public about the rule of law anymore, or to take a high moral view of the Third Reich, or to wax poetic about the American Ideal. Mark their names. Any institution of higher learning that grants honorary degrees to these people forfeits its honor. Alexander, Allard, Allen, Bennett, Bond, Brownback, Bunning, Burns, Burr, Carper, Chambliss, Coburn, Cochran, Coleman, Collins, Cornyn, Craig, Crapo, DeMint, DeWine, Dole, Domenici, Ensign, Enzi, Frist, Graham, Grassley, Gregg, Hagel, Hatch, Hutchison, Inhofe, Isakson, Johnson, Kyl, Landrieu, Lautenberg, Lieberman, Lott, Lugar, Martinez, McCain, McConnell, Menendez, Murkowski, Nelson of Florida, Nelson of Nebraska, Pryor, Roberts, Rockefeller, Salazar, Santorum, Sessions, Shelby, Smith, Specter, Stabenow, Stevens, Sununu, Talent, Thomas, Thune, Vitter, Voinovich, Warner.

To paraphrase Sir Walter Scott: Mark their names and mark them well.

Bob Geiger goes further and lists the 12 Democrats separately.

Most Democrats Voting For Bush Torture Bill Silent About It

As someone who spends a lot of time on the official web sites of our U.S. Senators, I can tell you without hesitation that if one of them casts a vote they are proud of, a press release will be up faster than George Felix Allen can spit out a racial slur.

Yet the 12 Democrats who checked their consciences at the Senate cloakroom and voted in favor of the Bush Administration's torture bill this week, have almost nothing to say about their votes. In case you haven't seen the roster of who voted with Republicans on this, here they are:

* Thomas Carper (D-DE)
* Tim Johnson (D-SD)
* Mary Landrieu (D-LA)
* Frank Lautenberg (D-NJ)
* Joe Lieberman (D-CT)
* Robert Menendez (D-NJ)
* Bill Nelson (D-FL)
* Ben Nelson (D-NE)
* Mark Pryor (D-AR)
* Jay Rockefeller (D-WV)
* Ken Salazar (D-CO)
* Debbie Stabenow (D-MI)

Yes, mark their names. Do not forget that vote.

I put together a list of the Democrats who voted for the similar bill in the House. If there are corrections, let me know.

Legislative history
Sister project Wikinews has related news: President Bush signed into law the Military Commissions Act of 2006

The bill passed the Senate, 65–34, on September 28, 2006.<11>

The bill passed in the House, 250–170–12, on September 29, 2006.<12>

Bush signed the bill into law on October 17, 2006.

The Democratic votes in the House

Andrews, Bean, Barrow, Bishop(GA), Boren, Boswell, Boyd(FL), Brown(OH), Chandler, Cramer, Cuellar, Davis(AL), Davis(TN), Edwards, Etheridge, Ford, Fox? (not sure), Gordon, Herseth, Higgins, Holden, Marshall, Melancon, McIntyre, Michaud, Moore(KS), Peterson(MN), Pomeroy, Ross, Salazar, Scott, Spratt, Tanner, Taylor(MS)

Mark their names also. They actually gave this president the right to torture. It really blows the mind.

I just read that even 24's Jack Bauer is getting a little mixed emotion about torture.

Bauer conflicted on torture

"24"s Jack Bauer gets conflicted on torture

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Special agent Jack Bauer is back on a television thriller "24," and after an almost two-year break, he is feeling a little conflicted -- especially on the controversial subject of torture. The popular Fox program took heat in 2004 and 2005 for what was seen as popularizing torture at a time when the United States was being condemned worldwide for its treatment of detainees at Guantanamo and at Abu Ghraib prison in Iraq.

Watching Rachel Maddow last night was very satisfying. Judge Crawford's statement was like a breath of fresh air after all these years.

I found the judge's statement at the WP.

Judge uses the word torture.

"'We tortured Qahtani,' said Susan J. Crawford, in her first interview since being named convening authority of military commissions by Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates in February 2007. 'His treatment met the legal definition of torture. And that's why I did not refer the case' for prosecution.

"Crawford, a retired judge who served as general counsel for the Army during the Reagan administration and as Pentagon inspector general when Dick Cheney was secretary of defense, is the first senior Bush administration official responsible for reviewing practices at Guantanamo to publicly state that a detainee was tortured.

"Crawford, 61, said the combination of the interrogation techniques, their duration and the impact on Qahtani's health led to her conclusion. 'The techniques they used were all authorized, but the manner in which they applied them was overly aggressive and too persistent. . . . You think of torture, you think of some horrendous physical act done to an individual. This was not any one particular act; this was just a combination of things that had a medical impact on him, that hurt his health. It was abusive and uncalled for. And coercive. Clearly coercive. It was that medical impact that pushed me over the edge' to call it torture, she said. . . .

"The harsh techniques used against Qahtani, she said, were approved by then-Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld. 'A lot of this happened on his watch,' she said.

I will never understand why so many of our Democrats voted for this Military Commissions Act which gave this Bush administration the right to decide what was torture, who should be tortured. It's like they turned a blind eye to what our country was doing.

It did not make sense then, and it still does not. It only makes sense if you realize that many in our party believed that we had to sound as tough as the other party on national security. We have paid a great price in our country's reputation because of that need to sound strong even if we were wrong.

[navarth]

1. That is not a good mark on Stabenow's record

I believe she also made an egregious vote on the credit card bill. She probably voted for the torture based on political expediency, as did many in that sorry bunch, I suspect.

I'm not a big fan of political expediency when it comes to voting on torturing people. Or killing them. Or stealing their money. Or stealing their country for resources.

[derby378]

3. Can Stabenow be recalled?

She's not up for re-election until 2012.

[navarth]

4. If someone shows me a good replacement, I'm there.

I suspect she has to keep some pretty crazy people happy out there in mid stat Mich. Maybe I'm wrong....

[Freddie Stubbs]

10. No, United States Senators are not subject to recall

[ooglymoogly]

17. But they can be smacked with a dreaded 'vote of no

confidence' which becomes public record and a corporate news event and renders them ruffled and running scared. Just ask DiFi. This is a powerful tool we do not use enough of.

[TahitiNut]

5. She'll never got my vote again, that's for sure.

I sure as hell won't vote for a GOPher, either ... unless it's someone in the mold of Bill Milliken - who would NEVER vote for the shit that Stabenow has voted for.
:grr:

[navarth]

26. Milliken seemed like a pretty reasonable guy

but then, he was the one who brought Bu$h senior over to shake my hand that one day I was riding my bike on Woodward downtown. True story. I was in front of downtown Hudson's and there was a crowd and I didn't know why. Before I know what's going on, here's Bill Milliken with Bu$h senior walking through the crowd. Me being dumbfounded, I shook his hand and he moved on. Not even enough time to think. I'll never get another chance to refuse to shake a Bu$h's hand.

But that was Milliken parading him around. That's at least a small bad mark on his record...this is before the guy ever became Prez.

Anyway: Stabenow does seem to be pretty damn useless considering these egregious votes. And I miss downtown Hudson's too.

[derby378]

2. Feinstein didn't vote for MCA?

Wow. So why was she so reluctant to call waterboarding torture?

[madfloridian]

7. Apparently not. Surprised me.

:hi:

[ooglymoogly]

18. The last time DiFi voted against her constituents and country she almost got

a vote of no confidence come crashing down on her head; Which rattled her neocon face to the point of putting on a new one; At least in public. If memory serves by some very fast jive turkey footwork and at least one like mind and devout supporter where it counts, she was able to stave off the no confidence by hook and by crook.

[Solly Mack]

6. K&R

[The Stranger]

8. We won't forget or let others forget.

Their names are marked, and marked well.

[madfloridian]

9. If even Jack Bauer is conflicted....than all Democrats should stand firm.

We never could watch 24 because of the way it has always made torture seem okay.

Now the Democrats can bravely speak up....Jack may be on their side.

[Solly Mack]

12. I'm cleaning coffee off my monitor now

[madfloridian]

13. Heh heh

I would love to see that, Solly Mack.

Poor poor Jack, it only took him a few years to have a twinge of conscience.

[Freddie Stubbs]

11. 11 of those 12 Senators were reelected in 2006 or 2008

Only one of them was not up for reelection during those years. He won't have to run, as he will be serving in Obama's cabinet.

[madfloridian]

14. More on the "tortuous" journey of Kiefer AKA Jack Bauer...really "conflicted"?

Or worrying about perception? Hmmmm

Here's your chance, you 46 or so Democrats who voted to allow our country to torture.

Time to make it right....Bauer's with you now.

http://www.reuters.com/article/televisionNews/idUSTRE50C6YW20090113

"LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Special agent Jack Bauer is back on a television thriller "24," and after an almost two-year break, he is feeling a little conflicted -- especially on the controversial subject of torture.

The popular Fox program took heat in 2004 and 2005 for what was seen as popularizing torture at a time when the United States was being condemned worldwide for its treatment of detainees at Guantanamo and at Abu Ghraib prison in Iraq.

But actor Kiefer Sutherland, who returned to American TV screens this week in a two-hour premiere of "24," says counterterrorism unit head Bauer is older, wiser and undergoing an inner struggle both personally and professionally.

"Jack Bauer is in a position where he is questioning a lot of what he has to do," Sutherland said on Tuesday at the Television Critics Association meetings. "He is wrestling with his own history and what he believes is right and fair. ... It is a line which travels through all the episodes this year."

In the season premiere, Bauer faces questions over possible human rights violations before a congressional hearing.

Sutherland and "24" writer and executive producer Howard Gordon said the change was partly a response to growing discomfort in the media over Bauer's methods of extracting information from his suspects"

[mzmolly]

15. Most of our Democrats voted no.

While I encourage noting those who voted yea, I think we should also take note of those who voted against.

[madfloridian]

16. Of course.

You do that. And I will remind us of those who voted yes.

Why do I do that? Because we are crossing so many lines. Our party chair is now anti-choice, anti-civil unions for gays, and not labor friendly.

How did that happen? We accepted it.

Why else do I remind?

Because our party "recruited" 12 anti-choice Democrats to run. Most of them are against the gay community as well.

Some of those 12 recruited and some of the 31 anti-choice Dems already in congress do not even support birth control

They voted to give our inept president the power to torture.

I will speak up about that. Because our country is drowning in its lack of caring and feeling.

[mzmolly]

20. Kaine is an example of the Dean strategy working IMO.

eom

[madfloridian]

21. I know. That's why we have stopped supporting it.

And why I am very sad I trusted people for 5 years.

No more money. No more time.

I thought it made a difference, it did not.

[mzmolly]

23. The difference is that we have a President Obama

and not a President McCain Mad. We have a Senate and a Congressional majority for the first time in many moons. Let's give Dems a chance to legislate before tossing in the towel.

Peace

[madfloridian]

27. Yes, I know.

But politically expedient is the word of the day. By choices made the party seems to be going back like it was. And those who tried to make change are being equally expedient and not speaking up.

[mzmolly]

30. I think we're headed forward, not back.

I don't think we can say we're being politically expedient or not until we see what is accomplished? I do believe that if we have this perspective we will not enjoy this historic, healing time. I plan to try my best to do so after the last eight years of hell. I refuse to be disappointed when we have so much to be grateful for.

You're gem MF, and I admire your devotion to Dean who is far to valuable not to be put to good use. I cant help but wonder if he did not want to work with Emmanuel? HE may have decided he wanted to cash in after all his hard work, and I don't blame him if that's the case. I hope he'll make a mint and retire, enjoying his family to the fullest.

[madfloridian]

37. I disagree. And Dean's talent would be wasted in a "birpartisan" situation.

My point is that I am now angry. There was no doubt when Rahm was announced even before Obama was declared the winner...it sent a message...two messages. It told the right wing we were open to negotiation...and it told the left wing to buzz off.

This is about having the ones around you who are the same ones who got us into Iraq, got us the FISA bill, got us the bankruptcy bill.

That is not change.

[mzmolly]

38. I think the "Right Wing"

would disagree with you.

[ooglymoogly]

19. KR this much needed post. It is time one of our more creative entrepreneurs on this site

made a colorful dartboard of these treacherous faces as a game and image be printed on tee shirts and coffee mugs, so that we may never forget. These items would immediately become collectibles.

[saracat]

22. Another excellent post and a reminder to be vigilant.

[certainot]

24. it's now the party of limbaugh. those are limbaugh democrats.

not the party of lincoln. on this issue limbaugh has been leading the way, selling CLUB GITMO gear on his website. the talk radio monopoly has been determining the flavor of america from 1000 stations, making torture acceptable.

that's what's been the difference the last 20 years- the talk radio monopoly has been very effective weeding out moderate republicans and threatening red state dems (limbaugh dems, not blue dog dems).

there is no single medium more effective at pushing this country rightward even if it is just in allowing the GOP to enable the rest of the media to claim we are.

[Divine Discontent]

25. one of the reasons I lost appreciation for Bill Nelson. eom

[LiberalEsto]

28. The NJ senators, Lautenberg and Menendez

I cannot fathom why they voted for this. Does anyone have any idea why they did? I grew up in NJ and lived there most of my life, and I always thought it was a somewhat liberal state.

At least our Maryland senators voted against it. Mikulski has supported the Misadministration far too many times for my liking, but AT LEAST she showed some principle with this.

[madfloridian]

29. Apparently they voted as their constituency wanted.

At least that's what Bill Nelson always says everytime he votes with the Republicans. :eyes:

I take it to mean his Republican constituents, not us.

[slipslidingaway]

33. Their excuse was that some of the 9/11 families wanted to see

justice done.

:eyes:

[paulk]

31. would you feel better about it if those D Senators up for

re-election had voted "no" and then been defeated by a Republican?

Most of them did come from pretty conservative states. And I'm sure they realized, as did Mr. Keiller, that in "due course the decision would be thrown out by the courts".

Which it was.

I don't really understand what you're getting at here. That political expediency sucks? That it's better to lose an election and be morally right?

And why bring up something from 2 years ago - things have changed now - we aren't going to be seeing legislation like this as long as the Democrats are in control. Isn't that what we should be focusing on? Isn't that what we fought for?

[madfloridian]

32. You really think it is okay to give up women's rights so easily?

Really? Do you?

I do not understand that at all.

But that is where we are headed to make nice with the religious right instead of standing up to them.

Do you really think it is okay to give in to torture for expedience?

[paulk]

34. women's rights?

what are you talking about?

Where is this thread about women's rights?

And what does this thread have to do with the religious right?

could you at least try to stay on topic for once?

I made the point that, yes, political expediency is ok if you're a Senator making a vote on something that will pass anyway and you know the courts will throw out, in an environment where voting the other way could cost you an election. You live to fight another day. That's what politics often is - a dreary slog through the mud where you have to compromise your principles over and over in the hope that someday the American people will see their way clear to putting you in a position where you can do the right thing.

Politics is about power, not morality. You want morality, go to church.

-----------


What will be wrong is if - now that they do have power - Obama and the Democrats allow Bush and company to get away with what they've done, especially concerning their violations of both US and international law concerning torture. That's the time to get pissed - not over something that's already happened and we can't do anything about.

[madfloridian]

35. Because it all goes together, and I think you know it and don't care.

I make too good a target, and rather than thinking about what I saying you jump.

Yes, it is time. The issues of torture, and all the others fall right together in a lump called "bipartisanship". Trying to get along with the other side at the expense of your base.

You could at least be rational where I am concerned. I have had it with being talked down to by you, and I am not going to take it anymore. It is deliberate, and it is getting ugly.

Bye.

[paulk]

39. it would be nice

if just one time you actually listened to what people said - actually tried to have, you know - a conversation- instead of always playing this passive aggressive victim game of yours...

[peacetalksforall]

40. Heros become heros because they did something right. Doing something

right involves morality. Torture is not moral. A hero Senator would attempt to persuade his constituency. A hero Senator would vote against his constituency if moral. A non-hero Senator does vote with lock-step-follow-every-order-from-the-WH-Republicans. A moral Senator stands up. A moral Senator has no problem figuring out what is acceptable.

I would like to read how any of the Senators (and House Reps) attempted to persuade their constituency. It would be slinking away to vote the way they did on their own. It would be despicable to follow an order of a Senate whip. It would be atrocious to do it because some Republican group had something on you or a favor was owed for a vote such as this. It would be replusive if they did it for religious reasons.

My position is that it is traitorous to mankind. It is an extremely important human rights violation.

I remember their names. I tense up when I hear their names. I feel disgust when they speak. They are the ones who continually disappoint me in their votes.

This is an essential issue in what makes someone whole. In what makes someone a citizen. Because it is about human rights.

It's a centuries jump back.

I'm scared because of the DLC control. Their record does not resonate with me. In all these years, especially during the Cheney reign, I have never understood any of their votes like these and the orchestration they go through to pull it off. This vote, imo, was not just individuals voting their constituency or their own minds, I feel they did it according to plan or group accordance. Going back-wards from there to imagine their discussions is damn scary.

I'm printing a list plus all the other lists on the other bills they helped the Republicans win.

Human rights morality. How does one vote YES to torture? Torturing someone is an admission of a lack of creativity for gaining intelligence.

[paulk]

41. if you're expecting politicians to be heroes, then I think

you're in for a lot of disappointment. Samuel Johnson once wrote that "politics is the last refuge of the scoundrel", I have to agree. I expect my heroes to come from outside the political world - people like MLK come to mind...

And I've never felt that it is the politician's job to convince his/her contituents about what is right. It's their job to do what their constituents want - it's our job as citizens to persuade the constituents as to what is right and wrong.

[Norrin Radd]

36. kr