Bush Fights GOP Revolt Over Terror Bill

[Omaha Steve]

http://apnews.excite.com/article/20060915/D8K5J7R80.html

Bush Fights GOP Revolt Over Terror Bill
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Sep 15, 7:14 PM (ET)

By TERENCE HUNT

WASHINGTON (AP) - President Bush fought back Friday against a Republican revolt in the Senate over tough anti-terror legislation and rejected warnings that the United States had lost the high moral ground to adversaries. "It's flawed logic," he snapped.

Bush urged lawmakers to quickly approve legislation authorizing military tribunals and harsh interrogations of terror suspects in order to shield U.S. personnel from being prosecuted for war crimes under the Geneva Conventions, which set international standards for the treatment of prisoners of war.

Tough interrogations have been instrumental in preventing attacks against the United States, Bush said. "Time's running out" for the legislation, he warned, with Congress set to adjourn in a few weeks.


President Bush responds to dissent among Senate Republicans during a news conference in the Rose Garden at the White House, in Washington, Friday, Sept. 15, 2006. Facing a GOP revolt in the Senate, President Bush urged Congress on Friday to join in backing legislation to spell out strategies for interrogating and trying terror suspects, saying "the enemy wants to attack us again." (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)


The president called a Rose Garden news conference to confront a Republican rebellion led by Sens. John Warner of Virginia, John McCain of Arizona, Lindsey Graham of South Carolina and Susan Collins of Maine.

FULL story at link above.

[texpatriot2004]

1. Chimpy and his Chickenhawks want torture 'cause it's so "moral"

and "Christian" and "right" - who would Jesus torture? And when was the last time a Chickenhawk or an AWOL pResident were tortured?

[ShockediSay]

6. Combat duckin chicken hawks just don't know what it's about

They never been anywhere close to the real action 'cause that was their choice.

As if they had a clue.

[texpatriot2004]

7. Yes, and it's so wrong that their type gets to send others into

harms way IMHO

[Dhalgren]

2. To the old-timers out there. Is it me or does the photo in this OP

look like one of mopaul's phopto-shop masterpieces?

[msongs]

3. stupid reporters let bush get away with this biggie -

(paraphrasing from memory)

bush answered a question about opponents of his spying scam by saying saying the american people are wonderful and compassionate etc compared to the "terrorists"

in fact the reporter should have responded that colin powell et all were criticizing bush and his mob, NOT the american people.

bush gets away with this crap at EVERY media event.

msongs
www.msongs.com/political-shirts.htm

[Zorra]

4. The "maverick republican" bullshit again. Must be an election year.

When it comes to a vote they'll all be back nesting in Bu*h's panties like they have unfailingly done for the past 6 years.

[Straight Shooter]

5. The desperation must hang thick and heavy over him like a dark cloud.

Take it easy, Little Boots. You won't be charged with war crimes, and neither will any of your administration. We all know that The Powers That Be that pull the strings will make sure your flabby ass is safe.

=======================

I listened to his response to Gregory at the press conference. It was horrible and bush was truly on the edge, but what really got on my nerves was his insistence to essentially remove Article 3 of the Geneva Conventions, despite his tap-dancing to the contrary and repetition of the phrase, "It's vague, it's vague." (Hey, that rhymes with Hague!)

He kept saying the program will not go on - *pound the podium, pound the podium* - unless the changes are made. Who the hell is he trying to kid? Of course the program will go on, it's just the U.S. won't be allowed to treat people like expendable cockroaches. That must really grate on his nerves.

You suppose bush watches torture/interrogation videos? I'm willing to bet he does.

[alittlelark]

8. That pic makes him look EVIL and WEAK at the same time

It is a fitting representation.

[CatWoman]

9. GOP Infighting on Detainees Intensifies

By Peter Baker
Washington Post Staff Writer
Saturday, September 16, 2006; Page A01

President Bush warned defiant Republican senators yesterday that he will close down a CIA interrogation program that he credited with thwarting terrorist attacks if they pass a proposal regulating detention of enemy combatants, escalating a politically charged battle that has exposed divisions within his party.

An irritated Bush, raising his voice and gesturing sharply at a Rose Garden news conference, excoriated legislation passed by a Senate panel Thursday that is intended to conform U.S. detainee practices with the Geneva Conventions. Bush insisted on legislation more specifically defining what is banned so intelligence officers would not worry about being charged with war crimes.

"The professionals will not step up unless there's clarity in the law," Bush said. "So Congress has got a decision to make: Do you want the program to go forward or not? I strongly recommend that this program go forward in order for us to be able to protect America."

The president's threat to end the interrogation program seemed to make little impression on the Republican dissidents who have balked at his interpretation of the Geneva Conventions. Sens. John McCain (R-Ariz.) and Lindsey O. Graham (R-S.C.), two of four Republicans who voted against Bush's position on Thursday, again rejected his logic after the news conference, and a fifth Republican senator, Olympia J. Snowe (Maine), joined the rebellion against the president.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/09/15/AR2006091500483.html

[napi21]

10. I actually think we'll see a few more Pubs join the revolt!

Chaffee, andmaybe a few others. As I understand, a law supporting Shrub's torture would be impossible to pass RIGHT nOW with the current 5 Pubs against it. If they get 1 or 2 more, it's dead in the water!

[merh]

11. :)

[CatWoman]

12. !!

:)

[babylonsister]

13. The (ugh) (p)resident threatened; game on.

It's time to split, and it's happening in a big way. For a long time, these repugs knew dimson and co. , besides racking up the deficit, were deficits. It's time to get rid of them.

[jackbourassa]

14. Am I the only one who thinks that McCain has NO SHOT...

...of EVER winning the Republican Primary for President?

Between this, some of his other behavior, his age, and don't forget Immigration Reform (which he co-sponsored with Edward Kennedy), I just can't see how he does it.

[Miss Chybil]

15. Bush: I've been trying like hell to get these "professionals" to break

the law, but they just won't do it. So, I need you to change the law. If you don't, then I'll just stop the program where all these professionals are just refusing to break the law as they break it and you won't have anymore tortured suspects confessions of all these great attacks that never happened, but might have had we followed the law and not broken it like we did because the professionals won't break the law, even if I tell them to. So, you must change the law.

[azurnoir]

16. The "pro's" had been doing

it/torture/"stress" interrogations all along, until a flash light got shown in their dark corners and they realized that their arses were bare.