TPMtv: Sunday Show Roundup: The Prosecution Road

[incrowdcynic]

John McCain...out of sight, out of mind. No, thank you.

[DrunkenPublicness]

A bipartisan investigation consisting of our elected servants (aka, cluster-fuck) will leave Americans with nothing but more questions and little confidence that the guilty parties have been prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law

Trusting politicians to investigate fellow politicians is like asking Freddie Mac to police Fannie Mae.

[landsolo]

there is absolutely nothing partisan about prosecuting criminals. they broke the law, they tortured people!

[neverlookback75]

I like that they have the opinion that old things shouldn't be looked at. Now I can go rob a store and the next day bitch about how they're "looking at things in the past" and that they should "look forward". Fucking Idiots!

[renesaso454]

Hail Caesar/Obama!

Yes, Yes. Put down and grind republican officials down to the ground.

Like Caesar did 2000 years ago, grind their faces to the ground.

They came back a century ago. Put them down now before they cause more damage to democracy.

Fuck republican officials, brind'em down.

Hail Caesar/Obama!

[jaymo881]

McCain can't move his shoulders

[maskedphrogg]

Keep in mind, McCain ran for the Office of President.

Now he promotes that the Justice Dept. and the Attorney General should turn a blind eye on flagrant violations of Law.

[166beads]

Torture is against international law, some people who caused this torture should be prosecuted for breaking the law. Its that simple.

[ambientdiscord]

politicians want justice - unless of curse that means putting themselves anywhere near the justice.

[checkurself]

I want justice. If any American gave bad advice and someone died, don't you think they would be liable? Of course! The rule of law should apply to all no matter what. If we can't get our government official to be held accountable then it will happen again. Nixon was not prosecuted...if he had, we would be in this situation. Laws were violated. It has nothing to do with political opinions. Torture is against the law!

[SquallCloud]

The Pentagon needs to keep it's memos and pictures to itself if they aren't going to do something. I'm of the mind that everybody knew torture was going on on both sides. America is not some fantasy world that was ushered in on a cloud of Pure and Perfect Light. It was founded on human rights violations. Bottom line: Either put up or shut up. If they're going to keep up with the "turn the page" bullshit just drop the whole enterprise.

[davis80smusic]

The Bush lawyers who perverted the law and lied about established internation law should be disbarred so lawyers in the future will not do it again - everything the Nazis did was "Legal" because they got their lawyers to say so, Just like Bush and Cheney did - and we hung a bunch of Nazis because it was a war crime to ignore the law the way Bush and his lawyers did - if it's Illegal for Nazis, it's illegla for us

[PharaohNineD]

How do you spin torture? You can't. I guess if they run around making themselves look stupid, it will distract us from the issue.

[azas1949]

The talking heads behave as if the Obama administration had a decision to make in releasing the torture memos. There was an ACLU lawsuit mandating the release of those memos. They had no choice.

[davis80smusic]

bullshit - they could have fought it for years more, redacted more of the information, etc - the Obama admin decided to get it over with so they don't have to fight the Bush wars for the next 4 years

[3star2nr]

sweet McCain I hope you forgave the soldiers that tortured you....

Yeah this man has no credibility left

[rollinglibs101]

In September 2002, four members of Congress met in secret for a first look at a unique CIA program designed to wring vital information from reticent terrorism suspects in U.S. custody. For more than an hour, the bipartisan group, which included current House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.), was given a virtual tour of the CIA's overseas detention sites and the harsh techniques interrogators had devised to try to make their prisoners talk

Let's have those hearings libs!!and do lunch!!

[newmanfrigan]

That's an incomplete picture to say the least. Yes, they were given a "virtual tour", and then threatened with prosecution if they leaked the top secret information. Nice try. Might I suggest someone other than Pigman Limbaugh as a source of information? No, Sean Hannity doesn't qualify either.

[rollinglibs101]

Try this Drone..Not Linbaugh or Hannity..You libs always fail.

Hill Briefed on Waterboarding in 2002

In Meetings, Spy Panels' Chiefs Did Not Protest, Officials Say

By Joby Warrick and Dan Eggen

Washington Post Staff Writers

Sunday, December 9, 2007; Page A01

HMMM?

[davis80smusic]

in a very vague way, in the middle of a 4hour briefing, the option wa smentioned along with many others as one *possibilty* - it's clear that the briefing was intentionally vague, because to many specifics would raise red flags - it's an old politcial trick "Hey, we *told* you!* - I'd like to read a transcript of the "Briefings", I'll bet it was bullshit - and you know it!

[heruraha93]

There's a pretty big difference between being briefed and being asked permission. They literally COULDN'T do anything about it... they had no authority to stop it, and talking about it publicly would be a national security breach... not to mention would make them "fair game" for Rovian politics.

Yawn. Try harder.

[taoofmichael]

Hey Republicans!

Remember the movie Easy Rider -- when the hicks shot Dennis Hopper off his American made Harley because he was a hippy with long hair?

Now ALL THE HICKS HAVE LONG HAIR (and blond streaks, which Dennis Hopper never would have done.) My point?

Right wingers will eventually come around to the truth -- 30 years too late, when it is way out of style, and in the faggiest way possible (see Keith Urban, Billy Ray Cyrus.)

Come on Repubs. Get on the Soul Train now. Dont wait 30 years.

[davis80smusic]

I can't wait! The liberals will take a few hits, but you know the conservatives will take a hundred for every one the libs take - the GOP will be buried for 50 years...!

[rollinglibs101]

In September 2002, four members of Congress met in secret for a first look at a unique CIA program designed to wring vital information from reticent terrorism suspects in U.S. custody. For more than an hour, the bipartisan group, which included current House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.), was given a virtual tour of the CIA's overseas detention sites and the harsh techniques interrogators had devised to try to make their prisoners talk

Let's have those hearings libs!!

Epic fail..lol

[mikebee02]

John McCain is trying to play both sides of this. Doesn't work that way, Mac. Laws were broken, prisoners were tortured, and we need to prosecute the people that authorized it.

[burntonion05]

Don't prosecute but keep them thinking and on defense. It is the best offense. lol those fools best not mess with the best or they will die like the rest. Obama is a genius.

[brawnymike]

I am amazed to see Diane Feinstein & Joe Lieberman in the same shot in this video! I was starting to think they were one person.

[TokenTombstone]

we would be a banana republic if we don't stand for justice!

let the rest of the world judge us

[1019drummer]

mcCain is obviously looking out for his own. that comes as no suprise but whats realy going to suck is all of this coverage on this issue and in the end no one will actualy be charged..............with anything.

if we are going to let the world see us bleed on natl television. we owe it to ourselves to toast someones ass in court.

[Mel1334]

I'm so glad McCain didn't win. He's too soft of people breaking the fucking law!

[HabitualNightOwl]

As Pat Leahy says:

"You have to read the page before you turn it".

I think a commission will come out of this and people will be fired like Judge Bybee but I don't see any prosecutions. But it will be good to have everything out in the open for transparency and historical reasons.

[FriedDaisy]

This crap about not looking back so that we can move forward is nothing short of obstruction of justice. If we weren't talking about high level officials (those who are supposed to have a superior knowledge of the law but who are so corrupt that they they bend & break it whenever they feel it best serves their objectives) there would be no question as to prosecution. If any common citizen were guilty of a fraction of what these monsters are they'd be sporting an orange jumpsuit by now.

[chjustin69]

Check out the new blog about a kid getting into pro programming at CodeJustin(.)com

[KiLLtheCorrUpt]

i think we should put them on time out chairs THAT'LL TEACH 'EM. I bet they will tell everything after about 10 mins. Impeach obama the great 100 days of debt on my children is enough.

[marniespeaks]

bad advice and he gets the choice of staying one step away from the SCOTUS?

Wrong answer McCain.

[webovisionca]

I could go for a bunch of bananas right now

[jimwal2008]

Bush, Cheney and Rumsfeld flat out ordered this torture; the lawyers\judges only designed them to meet spec. If the lawyers had caused a fuss the white house would have just got different ones (and did). If it wasnt exactly what Cheney & Co wanted, it would not have happened. Yet theres zero chance of any of them being prosecuted.

Congress needs to simply step out of this and let the public prosecutors do there job.

[Melpheos1er]

Rumsfeld seems out of this in term of signature so he might have his ass saved unfortunatly.

[tra12345iscool]

it shouldnt be done by the administration, it should be done by the department of justice

[HabitualNightOwl]

tra.... I think it will be up to the Justice Department. Obama has said this isn't his choice anymore its up to Congress and the Attorney General Holder to decide what actions to take.

[DillonX]

No one should be above the law

If torture was done & it certainly looks like it was, then prosecution should be done.

[keithproctor]

John McCain is such a wimp of a politician.

[WereAllApes]

As a politician, yes. As a old man, no.

[andid]

If I "misinterpret" the law against robbing a bank, can we just turn the page and not look backwards? How can you really hold me responsible for a well-meaning misinterpretation?

[losarman]

Listen America. You are now in a position to get rid of the neocons. Do not mess it up like Britain 12 years ago. Let the judiciar do their work, don't give them any more airtime and when the judiciary has proo and is ready to prosecute then let them try and wriggle free

[PersonalJesus348]

What decide? He had to or go to jail

[hellshade2]

mccain was tortured but yet he condones torture, this man has no honor.....

[OzStone]

McCain admits that we tortured and broke the law but he's unwilling to hold anyone accountable.

Perhaps this is why government doesn't work when it's run by Republicans, because they don't 'fire' or get rid of those who mess up (like they might if it was a business).

[terrence0258]

So McCain wants Bybee to step down but he can't say it because he's a Republican?

[uru86]

Ok McCain if he "misinterpreted" laws, then should he really in the position he is in now? He is obviously incompetent. He didn't misinterpret, he manipulated the law so he could give cover, a facade, for the administration to torture. Put these people on trial, the efficacy of the American system based on the RULE OF LAW demands it.

[Pleblian]

You're right uru86. But the problem is even bigger than that.

The UN is the real culprit here. If it were any nation, other than the US, that pulled off these interrogation techniques, they would have been brought before an international war crimes tribunal.

Why isn't the UN acting? This is all going to come back and nip them in the ass, that, I promise you.

[Karlfalcon]

Because the US has permanent veto power in the UN.

[Pleblian]

"Because the US has permanent veto power in the UN."

Yes, that's true. It will also force the Obama Admin to make a decision. The UN needs to act, now.

[uru86]

The US is not a signatory and has not ratified to the ICC, thus the UN has not power over the US state. This torture issue makes it patently obvious why the US has not signed on to the court. Although, the US did sign and ratified the anti-torture treaty, and thus, like they tried in Spain; these criminals can be arrested and tried if they go overseas.

[Pleblian]

True uru86, But lets look at the math.

Russia is now spending over 60 billion a year on they're military infrastructure and is expected to double by 2010, why? This is about control of energy resources, the US almost went to war over Georgia, remember? The US already broke article 6 of the US constitution on their preemptive strike in Iraq, now they've broke the 8th amendment. If Russia decided to make a move on any energy rich locations, they could do so with out any legal ramifications.

[uru86]

I whore heartedly agree with you, I just wrote an essay on it. I quoted Azar Gat:

Azar Gat warns, Authoritarian capitalist states, today exemplified by China and Russia, may represent a viable alternative path to modernity, which in turn suggests that there is nothing inevitable about liberal democracy's ultimate victory—or future dominance. (Gat 2007; emphasis mine).

The US undermining intl and HR law has paved the way for a post-liberal order, where the US is just one great power.

[Pleblian]

"I whore heartedly agree with you" lol, Ok, I had a little too much to drink and I have few typo's.

[Pleblian]

(con't)

And when computating a war strategy, post war negotiations are always a significant variable before committing. It's what kept Bush sr. from continuing on to Baghdad in the first gulf war.

Russia has already started their media campaign of international perception, where most of the world believes that the Bush admin was arrested for constitutional treason.

[fl00ders]

The world is watching America - you have a chance for redemption here, but if Bush and his despicable cronies get off scott free, what dubious credibility you have left will evaporate entirely.

[log140]

torture is a war-crime! anybody involved should be prosecuted!!!

[Pleblian]

Hilarious! Clinton lied under oath for answering a question he should have never been asked and got impeached for it. Where's the dogged Ken Starr now?

It' doesn't matter what happens from here on out, the damage is done and an international precedent has been set. I just feel sorry for any U.S.G.I. that gets caught by the enemy, their doomed!

If torture was so effective where's Osama bin laden?

[huskercane]

Bad Legal advice would be having OJ try on the bloody glove. What these criminals did is go back, after the fact, and taylor their "legal" opinions to try to justify what they were already doing.

To call this bad legal advice is like saying George W merely confused Sadaam and Osama by mistake.

[onlyonedeb2000]

Put their asses in jail. None of these people are above the law. If we do not then we need to let all prisnors go free. A crime is a crime. Most of our people in jail are not violent criminals. This suit thug goverment cannot get away with this.

[Gangstar612]

Republicans are criminals; I can't believe United States of America government authorized torture towards enemy combatants.

[Philinspaces]

It goes all the way to Cheney, go get him boys!

[MeanieMuff]

People should make a point of watching Carl Levins response in it's entirety. Charles Manson gave bad advice it was a very big deal.. I think Lawyers especially should be held accountable for knowingly giving bad advice. What is Mccain thinking?

[benfaysal23]

yo Mc Shame (mccain), you're fuckin old and one step closer to the grave, so shut the fuck up and go bury your hole bitch..

[carrierexchange]

The Republican mafia is shitting in their pants.

[MyImago]

McCain: what a disapointment

[voyeurdug]

INTERESTING to say the least, the last bleat from McCain (of all people), noting how a Republican administration (Bush) was in prima facie violation of accords made by a previous Republican administration (Reagan).

McCain is a very, VERY interesting guy... when he's not campaigning, cornered, or angry.

[EntropyGuardian]

Only way to get a republican to be anti-torture is to torture them.

[danimalclan]

Nice that McCain is a complete turncoat.

[Richardgwm]

Start the war crimes trials.

[robinvan1983]

god damn it... did reagan had to come into it..... i am getting sick of that president

[437thx1138]

Adopting the Banana Republic Neocon talking point on Sunday Talk now are we? Investigate a president for sex but not one on torture. We're in the evil Twilight Zone now.

[AstoundedAtheist]

Great point!

[VigilantnotMilitant]

@437thx1138, An eye for an eye makes the whole world blind? How about 2 wrongs don't make a right?

I'm having technical problems. I can't get my comment to by formatted as a reply to your great comment which I thumbed up!

[437thx1138]

VigilantnotMilitant Thanks for the thumbs up. Not sure I follow your 2 wrongs comment. The ends never justify the means as policy. 1 on 1 self defense maybe so, but never as established Govt doctrine. Too many can't be trusted with that power.

Torture is what barbarians do. And you're right terrorism is mainly a law enforcement issue.