Bush judicial nominee struggles to win Senate OK

[Rose Siding]

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Pentagon's top lawyer drew bipartisan fire on Tuesday for coercive techniques used to question terrorism suspects as he struggled to win U.S. Senate confirmation to a seat on a federal appeals court.

William Haynes defended the Defense Department's detention and interrogation policies for enemy combatants that he helped draft after the September 11 attacks.
...
Yet Democrats and a few Republicans questioned if Haynes went too far, some particularly critical of the recommended use of dogs to exploit phobias of detainees.

Senate Democratic leader Harry Reid of Nevada threatened to block President George W. Bush's nomination of Haynes to the 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, citing a letter from 20 retired military officers who expressed concern about the nominee.

"We'll do whatever is necessary to protect the judiciary," Reid told reporters when asked if Haynes would be filibustered.

http://go.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=politicsNews&storyID=12810865&src=rss/ElectionCoverage

[UTUSN]

1. Aww the poor baby, not to worry - Senators fuss but confirm in the end n/t

[Changenow]

6. Why do they bother with this dance?

It doesn't fool anyone at this point.

[ShockediSay]

2. Dohn need no friggin Reich Wing IDIO

IDIOTLOGS

we need jurists

[DeepModem Mom]

3. WP: GOP Senator Graham Criticizes Appeals Court Nominee

GOP Senator Criticizes Appeals Court Nominee
By Charles Lane
Washington Post Staff Writer
Wednesday, July 12, 2006; Page A05

A key Senate Republican clashed yesterday with President Bush's pick for a federal appeals court, taking aim at the nominee's past support for harsh interrogation methods at the U.S. prison camp in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.

At a Judiciary Committee hearing, Sen. Lindsey O. Graham (S.C.) said that Pentagon General Counsel William J. Haynes II had pushed for the tactics over the objections of top uniformed military lawyers who considered the policy process a "sham."

The result, Graham told reporters after the hearing, was "legal confusion" that contributed to the scandal at Iraq's Abu Ghraib prison -- and the attendant courts-martial and other career damage for those held responsible....

***

With Democrats united against Haynes, Graham's position is crucial because without his support Haynes could have a hard time getting out of the Judiciary Committee, which has 10 Republicans and nine Democrats. Graham is also one of the Senate "Gang of 14" that has agreed to oppose filibusters of judicial nominees except in "extraordinary circumstances."...

***

Haynes addressed the development of a memo that suggested it would be legal to subject some al-Qaeda prisoners to "cruel, inhumane or degrading" treatment. Responding to charges that he essentially collaborated with Justice Department lawyers on the memo, then ran roughshod over military lawyers who objected, Haynes acknowledged that there had been "spirited discussions" at the Pentagon but that everyone received a fair hearing....Graham said that the military lawyers "went ballistic" when they saw the "torture memo," believing that it contradicted established military practices and could put soldiers who followed it in legal jeopardy....

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/07/11/AR2006071101026.html

[gumby]

4. Lil Lindsey is a punk.

He puts on his Worried Face right before he votes for BushCo.

Remember his 'heart-felt' and even tearful soul-searching performances about impeaching Clinton?

Lindsey is a bag of bull, a cushion of contempt, a horrendous holograph, a bogus weeping widow.

Graham is (perhaps) the MOST disingenuous delegate of the Repuke Party. Maybe McCain will tap him for his VP, because they are cut from the same piece of baloney.

Lil Lindsey can kiss my grits.

[adigal]

8. That is my prediction

The Bush lovers and huggers McCain and Graham for Pres and VP from the GOP.

[maxrandb]

5. After watching the performance of Alito and Roberts

and the way they have their heads up "fat Tony's" ass, NOT ONE MORE SINGLE BUSH APPOINTEE TO ANY COURT SHOULD SEE THE LIGHT OF DAY. I don't care if it's for the Supreme Court, or Traffic Court in "Bumb-fucked" Iowa, NOT ONE MORE BUSH JUDGE SHOULD MAKE IT OUT OF THE SENATE. There should be no more deference. There should be no more, "well he's the Pretzledent and he makes the appointments". There should be no more "well, he's a flaming wing-nut, but he's well qualified" shit.

With Alito and Roberts, we have credible, hard evidence that Bush wants to put America in the "way-back machine" and take us back to the 1800's.

NOT ONE MORE ORIN HATCH APPROVED FEDERALIST' SOCIETY FREAKS SHOULD BE ON ANY BENCH...ANYWHERE.

Let's wait and see what the make-up of the Judiciary Committee will be after this November.

[MasonJar]

7. Is that perhaps the same "ole" Lindsay who said that the photos

of torture should be released to the American people (until he was them) and then guess what? He decided, of course, that we were not grown up enough to see what the big guys were doing. He is the worst kind of hypocrite!

[Vidar]

9. A little late to "protect the judiciary", Harry.