Lindsey Graham, John McCain & John Warner Blast Bush Bid to Bypass Torture Ban

The Boston Globe ^ | January 5, 2006 | Charlie Savage

[new yorker 77]

Reject assertion he has right to waive rules to protect US security

WASHINGTON -- Three key Republican senators yesterday condemned President Bush's assertion that his powers as commander in chief give him the authority to bypass a new law restricting the use of torture when interrogating detainees.

John W. Warner Jr., a Virginia Republican who chairs the Senate Armed Services Committee, and Senator John McCain, an Arizona Republican, issued a joint statement rejecting Bush's assertion that he can waive the restrictions on the use of cruel, inhuman, and degrading treatment against detainees to protect national security.

''We believe the president understands Congress's intent in passing, by very large majorities, legislation governing the treatment of detainees," the senators said. ''The Congress declined when asked by administration officials to include a presidential waiver of the restrictions included in our legislation. Our committee intends through strict oversight to monitor the administration's implementation of the new law."

Separately, the third primary sponsor of the detainee treatment law, Senator Lindsey O. Graham, Republican of South Carolina, told the Globe in a phone interview that he agreed with everything McCain and Warner said ''and would go a little bit further."

''I do not believe that any political figure in the country has the ability to set aside any . . . law of armed conflict that we have adopted or treaties that we have ratified," Graham said. ''If we go down that road, it will cause great problems for our troops in future conflicts because [nothing] is to prevent other nations' leaders from doing the same."

....

[Echo Talon]

lol

[xcamel]

[xsmommy]

why don't they try blasting the Dems, who are trying to hold up the Alito hearing yet again. oh, i guess that wouldn't be SPORTING, would it?

[goldstategop]

Its amusing to see the the three RINOs worried about torture of al Qaeda suspects. I support the President's by-passing their ill-conceived ban. So we'll probably get a lot more torture due to this stupid law. Great work there, Senator McCain! You're a world class jackass and I will never ever vote for you to be our President.

(Denny Crane: "I Don't Want To Socialize With A Pinko Liberal Democrat Commie. Say What You Like About Republicans. We Stick To Our Convictions. Even When We Know We're Dead Wrong.")

[Modok]

McCain the liberal is at it again. Did he deliver this snit between his global warming boondoggles to Alaska and Antartica?

[Paleo Conservative]

Does Graham need more helium for his loafers?

[Txsleuth]

BWAHHAAAAAAAAAA

Graham, McCain and Warner....Moe, Larry and Curly!!!

[Right_in_Virginia]

McCain the liberal is at it again.

More to the point, McCain the clinically insane is at it again.

[airborne]

[Txsleuth]

I didn't copy on purpose...I promise...I posted before I saw your picture...lol

[Txsleuth]

Have you had a chance to see any of Hairball tonight??

Especially the part with Joe Scarborough???

Anyone, anyone?

[rodguy911]

McCain has an excuse, his head was compressed and his brain has obviously malfunctioned, Lindsay graham is just plain stupid, how I hate rinos.

[Semper Paratus]

I now know which republicans will be on the MSM Sunday morning news shows.

[JoeGar]

... "it will cause great problems for our troops in future conflicts because [nothing] is to prevent other nations' leaders from doing the same."

Earth to Lindsey Graham: our guys were tortured in WWII, Korea, Vietnam, and Gulf War I. They have always been tortured, idiot.

[rodguy911]

Graham comes from a relatively conservative state,SC, what the hell can be wrong with him? Does he think he is courting the black vote, can he be that brain dead or what.?

[PeteB570]

Round-up of the usual suspects

[rodguy911]

I saw three minutes of it, it's all I could take. Fat chris(who is so elated lately) finally learned that the dems had taken Abramoffs dough as well but he clarified it that "it's still a Republican scandal.", He's soooo fair and balanced,three mninutes was like an eternity.What a dud, pmsnbc must be nearing bankruptcy.

[gov_bean_ counter]

Graham continues to remind everyone that he was a JAG attorney as if anyone gives a rat's a$$.

[wally-balls]

I'd say Graham is a little too "delicate" for the good people of South Carolina to tolerate much longer. Look for him to be jettisoned overboard first chance they get