If you didn’t see last night’s Republican Debate (why watch Gossip Girl when eight white men are shouting on CNN?), here is a brief recap:
- Romney and Giuliani went head-to-head on immigration: Romney accused Giuiani of favoring amnesty for illegal immigrants, calling NYC under Giuliani a “sanctuary city.” Giuliani went on the offense, accusing Romeny of hiring illegal immigrants to tend to his mega-home, calling his house a “sanctuary mansion.” Ouch!
- On the topic of torture, Romney took on John McCain, who experienced torture techniques when held as a P.O.W in the Vietnam War. Romney recapitulated his argument that he does not rule out “water-boarding” as an interrogation technique.
(note: water-boarding simulates drowning in a controlled environment and is illegal under international law).
Check out McCain’s emotional response: - Each candidate was asked to create a 30-second propaganda video. Only Fred Thompson used the time to smear his fellow candidates:
- Giuliani and Romney ended the debate by emphasizing their different stances on the New York Yankees. Do they agree on anything?
8 comments:
It's interesting to see the pols that you posted from June listing Thompson doing so well. He handled himself well last night, but I thought Mitt occurred as the most "presidential" (aside from the torture evasion).
It still looks like Giuliani is going to be their nominee). If he were to get it - who would he choose for his running mate?
I feel that McCain is letting his emotions get the better of him regarding the torture question. The fact that he repeatedly takes shots at Mitt's intelligence, and even goes as far as to call him ignorant of the situation as a whole, amazes me.
On another note, I grow tired with repeated references to the Geneva Convention...I am aware that the government has stated that the rules apply here, yet in breaking the rules of warfare are they not then breaking the Geneva Convention thus it no longer applies?
George,
Don't you think that McCain's passion is justified? He has experienced torture! How can he sit idly while his fellow candidates embrace tactics that he knows are not only illegal but INEFFECTIVE! And Mitt may not be ignorant, but he is definitely pandering to a gun-toting, hawkish base.
Also, what rules of warfare are you talking about? Are you saying that because terrorists attacked the US on 9/11 without declaring war, we are entitled to be as unlawful and macho as we want?
What about that old aphorism: Two wrongs don't make a right?
Yet, Romney never stated that he was for or against waterbeading, nevertheless torture. He just expressed that he would work with other members of the administration (and even McCain himself)to find the best methods of gathering information. As McCain states at the end current methods being implemented by the US army, from their handbook, are working effectively; Therefore there is no need to torture our pow's , and i think Mitt would recognize this.
Also with regards to your latter comment, my point was that people continually site the Geneva Convention. I am not saying that this allows us to be unlawful, but what I am saying is that the Geneva Convention no longer applies. And this is not only because terrorists attacked us on 9/11, but becuase they do not abide by the rules of the treaty (consider their use of civilians and dragging US soldiers through the streets). I am not saying this gives us the right to be unlawful, but I am saying that the Geneva Convention no longer applies and should not be cited.
Also, "CIA members who've undergone water boarding as part of their training have lasted an average of 14 seconds before begging to be released. The Navy SEALs once used the technique in their counter-interrogation training, but they stopped because the trainees could not survive it without breaking".
I, like McCain, am completely shocked that the issue of waterboarding (or any form of "enhanced interrogtion techniques") is on the table. The fact that the euphemism "enhaced interrogation techniques" is even used is deceitful and misguided. There is no ambiguity. America does not condone torture. Period.
There is also no reason to think that waterboarding provides accurate information. When under distress, don't you think that terrorists would say anything (even lie) to end the abuse?
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