tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6859126.post1483966387220969150..comments2023-10-28T06:41:07.069-07:00Comments on Ambition, Impatience and Sloth: Davidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06427208386709900367noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6859126.post-72414541326790430542009-01-21T16:54:00.000-08:002009-01-21T16:54:00.000-08:00Needless to say, I completely agree with the last ...Needless to say, I completely agree with the last point... but, sadly, it's so far out of character for the Senate Democrats in particular to proceed thusly that I can't imagine they'd break form and do the right thing. Unless--and this is really way-out speculation--maybe Obama for whatever reason decided to use it as a nuclear option in retaliation for their screwing with his agenda, if they do so.Davidhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06427208386709900367noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6859126.post-49335509529242356912009-01-20T19:51:00.000-08:002009-01-20T19:51:00.000-08:00Conservatives like Eric Posner at volokh.com have ...Conservatives like Eric Posner at volokh.com have argued that the Dems can't/won't go after the torturers-in-chief because the defense would just call the Dem committee chairs, ranking members etc. who were fully aware of what was happening and offered implicit or even explicit endorsement.<BR/><BR/>That may correctly lay out the politics, but on the merits, to the extent Democrats enabled this, I hope they come in for the scorn they deserve as well.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6859126.post-41513109228176436902009-01-20T19:47:00.000-08:002009-01-20T19:47:00.000-08:00I'm not sure where I stand on the necessity of pro...I'm not sure where I stand on the necessity of prosecutions. A good argument has been laid out at slate.com and washingtonmonthly.com that we have no choice, that criminal prosecution of torture is compelled by treaties to which the U.S. is a party. I don't know whether or not that's entirely accurate, but if it is, I think that ends the question: part of getting back to the rule is respecting our treaty obligations (and, if we can't/shouldn't meet them, withdrawing from the treaties rather than acting as though they neither exist nor matter).<BR/><BR/>Setting that legalism aside, I'm not convinced that prosecution is "necessary" for us to 'move on' or to ensure it doesn't happen again. I do think there must be some accounting, though. As with the failure to impeach over illegal wiretapping: that was a precedent, and will influence future behavior. Likewise with torture: a truth commission is the minimum required. I'd add to Dave's suggestion a provision for Congressional censure - we can't just acknowledge what happened, we need to affirm that it was wrong and unnecessary and made us less safe.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6859126.post-39903387728146902722009-01-20T04:32:00.000-08:002009-01-20T04:32:00.000-08:00Please see my blog. Lynndie England et all were s...Please see my blog. Lynndie England et all were scapegoats. After our meeting with Janis Karpinski, we know it even more. It is time for these jokers to face the music. They have destroyed many lives due to their policies, decisions, and lies...<BR/><BR/>http://afewbadapples.blogspot.com/Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com