Anyone catch that Lauer interview? Do you realize Bush said we torture?

[originalpckelly]

In response to a question Matt Lauer asked about water-boarding, the President said:
"I'm not going to talk about techniques we use on people."

Um, excuse me? Really? Techniques we use on people? Really? Seriously? Did anyone else think he let slip that we water-boarded people?

Furthermore, those who have a memory slightly longer than the President's might remember John "testicle crusher" Yoo, a former Department of Justice attorney who penned an opinion that defined torture as something that would cause pain from the cessation of bodily functions, organ failure, and/or death. (None of which include things like sticking pieces of bamboo in people's fingernails, something that most WWII Pows captured by the Japanese had to endure. They might have a different opinion as to the definition of torture.)

So when the President says he was assured it was legal by the DOJ, you should know that may be a possible war crimes prosecution defense.

http://www.crooksandliars.com/2006/09/11/matt-lauer-goes-after-bush-over-secret-prisons-and-torture/#more-10197

[Rex]

1. He can say that because his dumbfuck base can't think for themselves.

Pathetic little lemmings.

[originalpckelly]

2. I might be interpreting that wrongly...

but he seemed very awkward in the interview when Matt pressed him.

[babylonsister]

3. That whole interview reeked of him denying. nt

[gumby]

4. It's not torture.

It's 'protectin the Murikan people.'

[pnwmom]

12. He didn't say it wasn't torture. Did he?

I think he just said that it was legal.

And by his definition, it is. Because his working theory is that anything the President orders -- which would include torture -- is, by definition, legal.

[Oilwellian]

5. Speaking of Yoo...

Greenwald had an interesting post today:

Bob Egelko has an interesting article in The San Francisco Chronicle today examining how U.S. law has changed over the last five years as a result of the 9/11 attack. He includes this truly revealing quote from John Yoo:


UC Berkeley law Professor John Yoo, who as a Justice Department lawyer was one of the Bush administration's chief legal theorists, summarized its view in his forthcoming book, "War by Other Means":

"We are used to a peacetime system in which Congress enacts the laws, the president enforces them, and the courts interpret them. In wartime, the gravity shifts to the executive branch.''

Actually, I'm pretty sure that it's always the case in America (or at least it used to be) that "Congress enacts the laws, the president enforces them, and the courts interpret them." That's pretty fundamental to how our country works. In fact, the whole structure of the Constitution is based on that system -- not just the "Peacetime Constitution" we have, but the actual Constitution itself.

The Constitution is actually pretty clear on that score. Article I says "All legislative Powers herein granted shall be vested in a Congress of the United States" -- Article II says the President "shall take Care that the Laws be faithfully executed" -- Article III says "the judicial Power of the United States, shall be vested in one supreme Court, and in . . . inferior Courts." That arrangement isn't really a side detail or something that shifts based on circumstance. It's pretty fundamental to the whole system. In fact, if you change that formula, it isn't really the American system of government anymore.

http://glenngreenwald.blogspot.com/2006/09/john-yoo-summarizes-last-5-years-in.html

[ProgressiveEconomist]

14. IMO Dubya's most shocking accomplishment has been curtailing the rule

of law in this country. It is now impossible to "bring the 9/11 planners to justice". Too many potential witnesses have been tortured or assassinated, or have become our enemies because of how the rest of the world has come to see us. No legitimate court would accept the "evidence" that would have to be used against the architects of 9/11, because of how much of it would have been gathered. 9/11 victim families will be shocked when they finally realize that now, thanks to Dubya, they never can get justice as they have known justice all their lives.

That's why Dubya has demanded that Congress immediately pass new legislation that would create "military commissions" where people can be sentenced to death on "secret classified evidence".

Even the pure Bush propaganda film PT911 had to point out that the rule of law was quickly successful in bringing the 1993 WTC villains to justice, in comparison with the five years of bin Laden threat videos everyone has seen since 9/11.

IMO the next President needs to start rolling back the abominations to the Constitution Dubya has fathered, and set us on a course toward the rule of law.

[uppityperson]

6. but they are all legal, and I'm not going to talk about techniques.

[hootinholler]

7. It will be interesting it we can ever get this before a grand jury.

The fact is that the DOJ did say it's legal, but, with the caveat that it holds only if Geneva Article 3 doesn't apply to the action. The Supremes said it does and I'm trying to figure out why this isn't before a grand jury yet.

Nice catch, rec'd, bookmarked and thanks!

-Hoot

[Dr.Phool]

8. I want to know who set up the interview format.

Standing toe-to -toe. Giving the chimp the chance to act like the tough guy, pointing his finger, and poking Lauer in the chest during the interview.

If I were Lauer, and not that hard up for an exclusive interview, I'd have birch-slapped that asshole. And then poked him in the chest while I asked him questions.

It was all designed to make him look like a tough guy.

[Zodiak]

9. It made him seem like a raving lunatic

Well, "seem" might be a bit euphamistic.

No statesman pokes someone in the chest in a normal discussion. It wasn't just unpresidential, it was antagonistic and manic. Of course, the little turd smiled the whole time he was doing it.

[Art_from_Ark]

13. That's the key word-- "statesman"

There has not been a real statesman occupying the White House since January 20, 2001.

[Garbo 2004]

10. Mob bosses have lawyers too. Doesn't make 'em any less criminal. n/t

[IChing]

11. I thought how the interview went, it look staged

The positions of the players and the camera angle looked strained.
I like the interview but turn off the sound and just watch it and tell me the camera edit, both standing up in the oval office.

Watch it with no sound before you slam me.
I think it was a decent interview but something seemed very odd.