Helen Thomas: "I count on the American people to refuse to be shamed any more"

[kpete]

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Bush Admits He Approved Torture
Submitted by davidswanson on Sat, 2008-05-03 01:34. Evidence
By Helen Thomas, Seattle Post-Intelligencer

..............

Bush, who has insisted “we do not torture,” also recently vetoed legislation that explicitly banned torture. Sen. John McCain, whose whole political persona has been defined by the fact that he had been tortured while a prisoner of war during the Vietnam era, supported Bush’s veto.

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Is Congress so cowed that it accepts the statements of a president who has little regard for the truth?

Is there no lawmaker who is appalled about the tarnishing of our image in world opinion? And where are the voices of the other presidential candidates who will inherit the Bush legacy of torture? Why the silence?

I count on the American people to refuse to be shamed any more.

more at:
http://www.afterdowningstreet.org/node/33197

[midnight]

1. The silence is deafening.

But we hear you loud and clear Helen. Thank you.

[lonestarnot]

2. read this over at commondreams.org this a.m. when DU was down.

I love Helen!

[Harry Monroe]

3. Helen Thomas, a true American Patriot!!

Unfortunately, no one is listening. On behalf of my fellow apathetic, ignorant, ill-informed, American Idol and Jerry Springer watching Americans I apologize Helen.

[VP505]

4. I have emailed and FAXED

my Congress critter many times about torture, and the last response I received was just as Ms Thomas said: "accepts the statements of a president who has little regard for the truth." I faxed her this back, unfortunately I know it will go ignored:

Thanks for the reply, quite frankly "water boarding" a torture technique, is a WAR CRIME whether the President or YOU want to admit it or not. Mr Bush's veto and your vote to uphold it using a lame excuse that "terrorists train to resist interrogation" is nonsense, please explain how someone can train to resist "DROWNING". I very much agree that "When we find people who break these laws, we must investigate, prosecute and punish them" , which compels me to ask, when do YOU plan to introduce legislation to start an investigation into Mr Bush and Mr Cheney, individuals KNOWN to have authorized the same already illegal harsh interrogation techniques the Bill was meant to ban.

[Name removed]

5. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[ensho]

6. aren't you the mean one

nt

[VP505]

7. Is that really necessary?

Ms Thomas, probably one of the few REAL journalists left in the White House Press Corps deserves more respect than that!

[Lorien]

9. Oh yes, old jokes. How sophisticated.

:eyes:

In fact she IS more of an authority on politics than 99% of America's population-including a lot of those on Capitol Hill.

Enjoy your stay.

[tavalon]

11. Wow, I'm guessing you're a donkey, then,

since you seem to be the authority on being a jackass.

[pacalo]

12. Helen certainly is an authority because, as a newswoman, she's seen it all since Eisenhower.

As I recall, the capitol was in Washington. The fact that Helen is as appalled as we are should give anyone a clue that we are in need of big changes in Washington. As Helen said, it's got to come from the people.

[BlooInBloo]

8. (shrug) They shame themselves.

[tbyg52]

10. I also refuse to be shammed. nt

[solidguild]

13. I haven't counted on that since 2004.

That's when the American people officially put their head in the sand. And then when they poked it out long enough to vote a Democratic Congress in 2006, Congress said "back in your holes".

[caffefwee]

14. Senate GOP Blocks DOJ IG From Investigating Torture

Senate GOP Blocks DOJ IG From Investigating Torture

Congress is close to enacting the most significant boost in three decades in the independence of the cadre of government watchdogs -- federal inspectors general -- but the lawmakers have retreated from a key change involving the U.S. Department of Justice.
The Senate on April 23 approved, by unanimous consent, S. 2324, the Inspector General Reform Act of 2008. But the bill passed only after the lawmakers agreed to an amendment by Senator Jon Kyl, R-Ariz., which, among other items, deleted a provision giving the Justice Department's Office of Inspector General (OIG) jurisdiction to investigate misconduct allegations against department attorneys, including its most senior officials.

Unlike all other OIGs who can investigate misconduct within their entire agency, Justice's OIG must refer allegations against department attorneys to the department's Office of Professional Responsibility (OPR). The latter office, unlike the OIG, is not statutorily independent and reports directly to the attorney general and the deputy attorney general....

:puke: President Bush had threatened to veto the House bill for a variety of reasons. The Kyl amendment to the Senate bill was seen by many as a vehicle for the White House's objections.

http://tpmmuckraker.talkingpointsmemo.com/2008/05/senate_gop_blocks_doj_ig_from.php