Conyers and Yoo: "The Games That Are Being Played"

[NoellaC25]

If they had allowed him to answer the questions, he could and would have answered them. He was trying to. They were repeatedly harassing and bullying him and he was admirable in keeping his cool. They were trying to set him up.  Disgusting behavior for so called professional men.

[rigatony019]

anybody who thinks hes a POS after watching this should probably watch him wiping the floor with john stweart might give you another perspective

[IamCanadian3333]

@rigatony019 that just gave me that Stewart doesn't have enough balls to actually confront him.

lol an Australian comedian infiltrated one of his classrooms and grilled him in front of his entire class.

PS. I still think he's a POS.

[rigatony019]

@IamCanadian3333 he did have the balls to confront him though... he just failed miserably.

btw where can i find a vid of this australian comic "grilling" him?

[IamCanadian3333]

@rigatony019 very miserably, and usually Stewart does a good job owning these idiot neocons.

And vid: "watch?v=b3HvrBc1uQk" should be it.

[rigatony019]

@IamCanadian3333 when i hear "grilled" i assume their would be a debate of some sort with one person getting an obvious upperhand... all i saw was an obnoxious comedian disrupting a classroom in a cliche manner thats been done a hundred times by now. the problem is, whether or not you agree with yoo the fact remains he is quite literally a mental giant relative to any of the yahoos that have tried to debate him balls or no balls

[IamCanadian3333]

@rigatony019 Well for a mental giant, he's clearly too afraid to debate the issue. I assume because he's a professor he can get past the smart ass remarks which Stewart relied on. Here, he was confronted directly, and he couldn't take the heat.

It says a lot about society when someone who legalized torture does not get arrested but given a job. Than again, Mike Reagan still has his job after soliciting murder and to a lesser extent, genocide even going so far to say he'd pay for it.

[rigatony019]

i wont blame you since as your name implies you are canadian however i feel obliged to calrify for you that a congressional hearing is in no way an appropriate platform to debate... here he was confronted directly but was stuck between a rock (congress) and a hardplace (his contractual obligations of secrecy to his department) which is why his answers were painful to watch. keep in mind that congress can check any activity they deem unethical by simply ceasing the funding

[IamCanadian3333]

@rigatony019 I actually thought it was amusing to watch as he tried to dance around the questions.

Well maybe not the best for of debate, but notice he really hasn't debated anyone, the only news program he goes on is Faux which they just suck up to him.

And no means am I defending congress, they were even worse than Bush was.

[utubeisdi]

@rigatony019 this is my government. the only contractual obligations this man has is to the people of this nation and not to some secret oath to a department.

[rigatony019]

@utubeisdi secret oath?

[TonPappa]

"just anwser the question...... you cant handle it!!!" get that quote from somewhere? its like the same thing in the movie also. almost same argument too. wow. people could learn from movies. what has this world come to?

[trankuser9]

Lawyers games with words to waste time

[Graham6762]

Wow can he answer the question?

[tinoDUB]

This POS should be thrown in prison... Did he even answer 1 question in the entire interrogation? What a joke of a committee!!! Can Conyers speak any slower... I felt drunk.

[adam3176]

Send this JAP back to the HOLE. Rip his eye lids off.. Cause he makes me sick!!!

[Melpheos1er]

Yoo should be a politician, he can turn around a subject for hour without responding to it

[Herby85]

After Yoo's staement about how no president would have to order that or feel necessary you can HEAR the GASP in the crowd. I cannot believe he said that.

[Lazarusb]

How disgusting! And people wonder why Bush didn't understand right from wrong. This guy should be locked up for life.

[phillipmarch22]

Has anyone ever seen anyone dance like this fuck'n Yoo guy? Lord help us!

[brianbepop]

How come someone who advocates torture be such a puss wreck?

[annelihod]

atta-boy, cut through Yoo's BS yes!!

[peteykkk]

Conyers should be baking some fried chicken to sell to bail out his porch monkey wife out of jail after her indictment! Why doesn't Conyers resign? He is just as guilty as she is and both should do jail time! All muslims should be rounded up and incarcerated!

[KyndestKid]

These David Addington & John Yoo hearings are a disgrace to America. I'm proud to be an American but these videos are the most disturbing pieces of film I've ever seen. These two men basically just proved that the President can do whatever he wants if he deems it necessary for the country!! Sounds like facism to me!

[MACKATTACK1970]

Yoo is a FUCKING MORON!

[freddymedal]

Fuck Yoo!

[saadasim]

No, we can't torture but we can do everything uptil torture according to their definition.

(Waterboarding is not torture according to them.)

[Steadno]

Gonzales pt2!

[henumo]

This crap has to stop and we won't be able to stop it unless we start impeachment proceedings and Congress grows a spine. Conyers is PRETENDING to be good. It's the old good cop/bad cop thing. We need to mount a HUGE amount of pressure through emails, fax's calls and visits to every single representative including conyers. houseDOTgov SenateDOTgov judiciaryDOThouseDOTgov Send a FREE fax at faxzeroDOTcom media: fairDOTorg News: afterdowningstreetDOTorg SPEAK UP OR BE COMPLICIT !

[mevisface]

If I did this I would go to prison for life. Why is he given such privilage. Our government is fake.

[econdemocracy]

It was a VERY simple question. And for two full minutes Yoo refused to answer. Conyers finally gave him one more chance and made it even simpler, even more specific: could the President order a man buried alive? Yoo did not answer the question, his gave:"no president would ever feel it necessary.." but did not answer the question about whether the president has the right or legal power to do so. He is afraid of saying "yes" because the public would be outraged..and won't say "no"..guess why not?

[muzutu]

Call and fax Conyers and tell him to do his job or to retire.

or him to sit there and not do his job goes against his oath and makes him a thief because if you get poaid for a job and do not do it you are a thief.

He is a thief of our money and a traitor to the Constitution.

FAX and call him.

Send a FREE fax at faxzeroDOTcom

Get his numbers from

judiciaryDOThouseDOTgov

[cabivo]

Turn your outrage into actions go to these sites: houseDOTgov SenateDOTgov Tell Conyers and your representative IMPEACH! ALL the judiciary must hear from all of us: judiciaryDOThouseDOTgov Send a FREE fax at faxzeroDOTcom to them and email and call them Contact media at: fairDOTorg check out afterdowningstreetDOTorg Watch the vid on here called "the prosecution of george bush for murder" and show it to people plus go here: freewaybloggerDOTcom and do what you see SPEAK UP OR BE COMPLICIT !

[indredcold69]

Conyers is an ass plain and simple.

[crapo87]

Is Yoo wearing makeup?

[camipco]

That's the lights reflecting off sheen of pure evil.

[cincinnatusnow]

Next he will say that depends on what the meaning of is is. WHAT IS THE ANSWER-eveade evade evade.Its CYA time.

[endo1ver]

I don't think anyone in Congress makes anything clear.

[camipco]

This was pretty clear. Conyers asks if it's the president can bury someone alive, and Yoo says "fine by me."

[Nboy514]

Too true.

[70road]

Arrogance has overcome intelligence in Washington.

[AsianManDotCom]

This low life brain washed low seft respect Yoo clown is a classic example of an assss kissing puppet DOG...willing to do any thing for a piece of shittty bone.

[morpheus2k2]

uumm,uuhh,uuummm,I don't wanna, uumm, huh? Do they teach stall tactics in the wh basement? Can you pictuce pieces of shit like this 30 in a class reading off the board while a stop watch is counting down? uuummm, uuuaaahhh,ok 2 more minutes keep it up, Yoo your slacking more uuummms ok? These bastard are so arrogant when writing these laws to allow torture twisting the meaning as was written by the Geneva convention but when brought to light they wanna play games cause their ass is on the line.

[ResearchX]

The president ordered 2,000 Americans to be buried alive in the WTC buildings. We all know it was an inside job.

[chalomiro63]

3dbeing: Spot on! In 2000, they were put in power by The Supreme Court; in 2004, the election was rigged! Very simple, and tragic! BTW, love your "You not Yoo" riff! LOL!

[Turtleproof]

Conyers is wasting time, too: Yoo already said publicly that at the whim of the President a child's testicles could be smashed with a hammer in order to get a suspect to divulge information. No need to beat around the bush- this guy, Bush, Cheney, Rice, et all need to be subjected to the insane, immoral torture and fake, unjust trials that they themselves designed. So what if they're innocent of other crimes? Most of them are not tortured because they are guilty.

[chalomiro63]

"Yoo's on First, Yhat's on Second ..." Abbott & Costello would be very proud.

[3dbeing]

What I am trying to understand is how this administration was elected for a second term? I mean is it a failure of the administration, of the people, of the system, what? I am not making a statement I am asking, how did this administration get a second term?!?

[3dbeing]

You not Yoo, I'm Yoo, and you keep asking Yoo what Yoo think, and I tell you, you need to understand Yoo first, but you don't listen, Yoo don't think, Yoo advise..

[Steadno]

Yoo, you are like glass man!

[SeekTruth77]

Support Impeachment!!! These idiots should be disbarred!!!!

[Neoconhater]

Fuck Yoo

[impelled2separate]

Bush needs to be impeached!

Under no circumstances should a child be held accountable for their parents actions. Abuse and torture of children to gain a confession of their parents is inhumane and irreprehensible.

Executive orders are handed down by the president without congressional approval. There are no "checks and balances" in this scenario. "Absolute power corrupts...absolutely."

Impeach Bush, handcuff him, incarcerate him, torture him, then put his dictator ass to DEATH!

[trauts01]

You would think that the judiciary committee has had enough stonewallng fromthe whitehouse to become enraged. Enraged enough to begin the impeachment process?? Not John Conyers. His theatre is little more than show and grandstanding. He doesn't have the balls to roll out the impeachment hearings, which is a shame and a travesty of justice.

Grow a pair John, hang these sumbitches for what they are treasonous liars and adulterers of the rule of law and the constitution.

We've had enough, do it

[hypnofan35]

Yikes! Someone needs to be buried alive here. Let's redefine our terms and conditions. What Hoo?

[segits]

Morbid circus!

[BloodNGutts]

What a smack down that was at times With David Adington and John Yoo Adington is an asshole. Conyers was screaming at him.

That was the second best hearing to watch in my book only to the code pink women flogging Alberto Gonzales like a flock of chickens each time he left or entered the room. That was always a hoot too

[peeenisss]

yoo are a faggot.

[tooltalk]

I don't think most of you have the full context here (check out his debates - they are actually quite interesting): Yoo said it's not morally justified, but, as a constitutional matter, you can't sue the commander-in-chief under international treaty for crushing children's testicles.

shm

[kjack5]

Yoo, you did not answer the question? Yoo, you believe that the President has the right to torture you-who? you,that's who. Me? Yes you. My name is yoo-yes yoo I know that,can the President torture children-who?-children,what children? your children!-my children?-my name is yoo-yoo I think I've heard enough!

[arcas2000]

Conyers looks and acts like a Times Square pimp.

[fshnt]

I LOVE JOHN CONYERS

[kimintexas]

Wow, is it not just a simple yes or no!

[Arguman]

I'm John Conyers, bitch!

[medartist01]

Yoo has acknowledged, horifically, that YES, the President of these once honorable United States can bury someone alive. It is shocking to the BONE. Instead of saying simply... "No, chairman, under no circumstances can that be legally permitted.." we all just watched how these Republican Terrorists just subverted our country. Yoo was searching for some legal hook to avoid saying yes, it is allowed. In fact, he refused to answer a SIMPLE QUESTION. Bush has DESTROYED this once wonderful USA.

[LandOfTheBrave01]

Remember, when you look at him, and he appears to be slightly timid while being questioned. A method to conceal the absolute madness and chaos which are running rampant within in his brain patterns. His timid nature is used as trickery and deception. His thoughts caged, and safely hidden within his skull, mask a very demonic entity which seeks nothing but death and destruction from every ounce of innocence which breaths life upon this earth.

They walk among us, they are here!

[tooltalk]

Yoo doesn't want to answer that question b/c the congressman's question is loaded and overgeneralized.

This "5-sec" sound snippet has been sensationalized and circulated like a wildfire (just watch the full debate). Yoo said there is no law (ie. the Constitution) under which you could sue the president for crushing child's testicles. It's morally repugnant, but no law. The president is not bounded by any international treaties as the executive branch has the rights to terminate them.

[tyedyedtiger]

Check out Section 8 of the constitution. "Congress shall have the power to...

To define and punish Piracies and Felonies committed on the high Seas, and Offences against the Law of Nations;

To declare War, grant Letters of Marque and Reprisal, and make Rules concerning Captures on Land and Water;

To raise and support Armies, but no Appropriation of Money to that Use shall be for a longer Term than two Years;

To make Rules for the Government and Regulation of the land and naval Forces.

[tooltalk]

You are absolutely correct (let's not forget their power to impeach & convict the president). Congress has the power and responsibility of dealing with the terrorism legislation and the war in Iraq all along (while fighting the war itself falls under the command-in-chief's basket). Unfortunately since WWII they decided to give the executive branch unchecked power and pretend they had nothing to do with them - clearly unwilling to take any responsibility for consequences. Take e.g Clinton

[CANTvoteHillary]

Then why doesn't Yoo is that Conyers' question is "loaded" and/or overgeneralized??

Yoo, the great legal mind behind GITMO and ABU GHRAIB looks like a stuttering and helpless child. Yoo has to claim attorney client privilege or classified material privilege... and even then Yoo is not sure which privilege he is invoking

CLUELESS, AWFUL, ILLEGAL

[tooltalk]

I think Conyers is an idiot, but it's probably never a good idea to piss him off. Didn't J. Convyers appear on Moore's F911 cynically criticizing his peers for not reading bills? He clearly hasn't done his homework before questioning Yoo / Addington; instead focusing on the 5-sec audio clip.

No, I don't see any value in asking "gotcha" questions that are designed to mislead, rather than fact-finding. To Yoo's credit, he spent a lot of his post-OLC years explaining his work in public forums.

[forgetsalot]

It's not a "gotcha" question, it's an honest question. If we don't condone torture then the answer should be simply "no, the President doesn't have that power". The hearing was about how detainees are treated so what was wrong with asking what is capable of being done to them?

[thetallestpaul]

yeah i also do not view this as a gotcha question. this question makes sense for a full understanding of the legal limitations of detainee treatment.

[chutney2000]

actually treaties ratified by congress defacto become US law and can't be "terminated" by the executive branch at their whim. should the executive branch choose to circumvent or ignore those treaties ... they do so at their peril (ie. potential for criminal prosecution domestically)also although the executive branch may be beyond the law in civil matters they are still subject to criminal prosecution.

[tooltalk]

Yes, they are all in the book, but who's prosecuting the commander-in-chief? My point here is it is the job of these congressmen to follow the cons (e.g. declaring the war and checking on the executive power), but they have long given up their duty. They now believe in this notion of "evolving" Const where they change the meaning as they see fit at present time. Just think about Clinton's war in Serbia; no war declaration - Clinton broke the war powers resolution which explicitly limited

[tooltalk]

commander-in-chief power. So where were these congressmen while all this was going on? They conveniently disappeared b/c Clinton was their own (it was a good war, why bother him?). He walked away unchallenged - most liberal legal scholars couldn't come forward challenging Bush b/c of their complicity in Clinton's war. This erosion of the const and increasing commander-in-chief power is not something Yoo invented recently - he's merely telling it as has been practiced by your representatives for

[tooltalk]

many decades. Yes, u could put Yoo in jail and pretend that it was an isolated problem caused by a small number of rogue OLC lawyers. After all, we all uphold the highest legal and moral standard, don't we all? We could all point-fingers at those committing crimes on the ground or lawyers at OLC, but in the end, no, these men aren't the source of the problem.

[thetallestpaul]

yeah but that doesn't justify not punishing people responsible for prolonging a problem even if they arent the source

[LandOfTheBrave01]

Well, Well, Well.. Finally, we got this son of a bitch under oath..

Look at him all my fellow American Citizens. You beautiful People who have had your name and Country disgraced around the world..

Look at him.. Look at his face, and seemingly docile appearance. Speaking with a slight intellectual tone, which tries to impress upon the viewer, authority and brilliance as it relates to the Constitution of the United States of America. You are looking at pure unadulterated evil incarnate!

[ngarey]

From a democracy to a dictatorship in eight years, well done neo-cons.

[dafttool]

Yoo is the scumbag sycophant lawyer that told Bush he could do anything he damn well pleased as president, including torture and ignoring congressional oversight. The damage this man has done to this country is incalculable.