The Torture Flip Flops

The United States is party to more than one international treaty that forbids torture and other cruel and inhumane treatment.  Those treaties forbid torture regardless of what rationale is given by those who think torture is a legitimate tool.

 

The Bush administration has repeated the line the U.S. does not torture however, we know now because of the release of intelligence documents and testimony before congress and the debate that is going on now the U.S. did indeed use torture on several prisoners.  More and more people who served in the Bush administration are now talking openly about the situation.

 

President Obama said it would be up to the Justice department to see if they have a case to prosecute those in the Bush administration who authorized torture.  Some seem to be getting scared, especially former V.P. Dick Cheney.  He has been on Fox cable news proclaiming that torture works and got results and prevented some terror attacks in the past.  After denying the U.S. tortured anyone he now wants to justify that action because he said they prevented more terror attacks.

 

Cheney wants it both ways especially now since he may be in legal jeopardy with more and more information coming out.  It is also reported that a few CIA agents said torture was used to establish a link between Saddam Hussein, Bin Laden and the 9-11 attacks.  Bush and Cheney have been trying to find that link before the Iraqi war and after when no WMD were found.  Their justification for going to war in Iraq was a lie so they were looking for another excuse and even though it did not exist, they still tried to plant that seed in the mind of the people.

 

The U.S. government should find out the truth and if indeed torture was authorized, those responsible should have to answer to the law.  Treaties are a two way street for all who are a party to them.  Laws are what people have to live by and the U.S. is the one nation that can make a difference in upholding the law.

 

U.S. Representative Steve Scalise, The New Newt Gingrich

Newt Gingrich, the Republican who when Speaker of the House introduced his contract for America (which America never asked for), opposed President Clinton's deficit reduction and economic policy, shut down the federal government and then later resigned in disgrace is now being imitated by U.S. representative Scalise.

 

Mr. Scalise is opposing almost all of the Presidents proposals and says they are job killers.  Yet it is Mr. Scalise and his party who have no record of job creation.  The economy lost over 4 million jobs in the last 13 months of the Bush administration.  All one has to do is look at the republican record for the last 8 years. 

 

The republican party has yet to find a new face that represents change and progress for the American people.  Its new faces represent the same failed ideology and policies that has brought the economy to its knees.  Scalise is all over the ball park on the "cap and trade" proposal congress will be debating and as usual offers no proof for his statements that the legislation, if adopted would result in huge job loses.  It is almost laughable when republicans talk about job losses. 

 

The democratic party over the years have proven they are open on various issues.  On the other hand, the republican party is still the party who think they and only they know what is good for America and its people.  Well the people rejected that sad ideology in November.  Republicans in congress have nothing to offer the people so far so what is their new strategy?  They are trying to brand the democratic party as the socialism party.  When you have nothing to contribute, attack and attack.

 

Thomas Jefferson would not look at the republican party of today as a viable option for the American people.  Mr. Scalise and his party need to grow up.