I was not talking about torture I was talking about forture and old Viet Namese method of Rice deprivation.Torture is fine it is forture I am against.That damned media misquoting me again.My Friends on the straigt talking express the problem is not my message it is the liberal establishment media purposely misstating it.The old Saturday Night skit with Gilda Radner perfectly encapsulizes Mccains stance on torture.Forget about it.

The Republican party should simply be renamed the Hypocritic party.  That at least would be truth in labelling. Say one thing, do the exact opposite, that’s their moto.

Lie, cheat, steal, it doesn’t seem to matter to them as long as they get to remain in power. 

It’s the accountability stupid!

“I was against torture, (when it was me) before I voted for it, (when it could get me nominated).”

John MacCain is confused, as a child he had a problem wetting his bed, hence he is against water bedding, not waterboarding.

He is suffering from OLD-Timer, disease.

Humm, a couple of thoughts here…

• “…but Senator McCain voted against it, presumably because he wishes that the CIA be permitted to continue the use of other of its enhanced techniques, apart from waterboarding.”

It’s very possible that there is another issue at hand, besides the wishes of McCain that the CIA be permitted to continue the use of other torture methods. (this ‘enhanced techniques’ is simply Cheney’s lawyer’s language). I agree that it is definitely POLITICS, but I suspect the reason is far more frightening to Cheney’s cabal, as well as his secret police (the CIA). In reality, ALL of these people will be (and of course they SHOULD BE) held accountable in a criminal court of law, FOR HAVING ALREADY COMMITTED THESE ILLEGALITIES.

In my own opinion, that’s why they (mostly Cheney) have argued so fiercely against ANY legislation that would limit the use of any of these techniques. Remember the last anti-torture bill that McCain himself initiated. (I think it was the Detainee Act or something close). It had most of these same elements, and it was no different than other legislation, which basically only PROHIBITS what is ALREADY prohibited by International and domestic law.

However, just like the spying that they did first, and then tried to make ‘legal’ after the fact, (and they have) any ‘anti-torture’ legislation now, that specifically names waterboarding, (as well as these other things that have always been illegal) will make them accountable by domestic law. And, while it’s unlikely that would happen while they are still in office, and still exercising this absolute power of exception, and power to ignore the laws, that won’t necessarily carry them through, after they leave.

So, any legislation that makes this illegal, also makes them criminally accountable for having ALREADY engaged in this activity, and that includes the entire chain of command, from the ones who ordered it, to the ones who carried it out.

And what does that do to their cases against the alleged 9/11 perpetrators, when the ONLY corroboration to the official 9/11 tale, was obtained under these illegal methods of torture? Even in the kangaroo court system they have cooked up for them, this is simply not admissible evidence. It shouldn’t be anyway, but this is ‘evidence’ obtained in the commission of a crime, (torture/waterboarding) and in addition to the fact that we KNOW torture not only DOESN’T work in obtaining reliable information, it’s also criminal. So, how does one judge that information, even in a kangaroo court, with the eyes of the world upon you?

• “I simply cannot see any explanation for this except politics - that McCain feels the need to appease the Republican far right at this point in time, and, tragically, the right to torture has now become a litmus test of “conservative” orthodoxy.”

Well yeah, this is part of it as well. Still, this legislation would open the door for legal criminal proceedings (on the domestic front) against all who have so far engaged in these illegal actions. If McCain hadn’t considered that little detail before, there’s no doubt he’s been ‘reminded’ by his party leaders.

As a reminder, one of the MAIN ‘advisors’ to the Hillary Campaign is Alan Dershowitz, and he has vehemently crusaded to make these tactics of torture LEGAL. So, Hillary would be inclined to vote against it as well, if it didn’t make her ‘look bad’ in the eyes of those paying attention. AND, she’s not shown any indication that any of the current criminals should be held accountable if she were elected… for ANY of their crimes.  Because… she WOULDN’T! (hold them accountable).

All of that said, it’s political, but more than political. It’s also about accountability to the rule of law, and these people have already engaged in so much criminal behavior, that unless they’ve got their bags packed and ready for the ultimate escape, their done for, if this legislation were to pass.

A vote for McCain is a vote for same-old, same-old politics… lies, more lies and lies to cover up the lies… and pretend it’s all truth!

I agree with Maani… just keep it up, John. You’re doing more to get Obama elected President than Obama is!

Right on, John!  Keep piling up the fodder for the Democratic cannons.  Staying in Iraq for “100 years” despite the fact that 70% of America wants out NOW, despite the surge; making the Bush tax cuts permanent; bringing back Reaganomics; voting against the POW bill; voting against the torture bill.

You’re doing a great job of winning this election for us.  So, keep up the good work!

Peace.