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Quote Of The Day: Wishing Torture Away

“He plainly does not want his agenda sidetracked by a long debate over torture — much less high-profile prosecutions. And yet there is no avoiding the issue. It will not go away, and wishing it away won’t work.”

– Former Clinton aide Paul Begala, in an interview with The Politico.

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Posted by Greg Sargent | 05/14/2009, 10:02 AM EST | Categories: George W. Bush, President Obama, torture

13 Responses

  1. sgwhiteinfla | May 14th, 2009 at 10:07 am

    You know this is why we sorely need to have Dawn Johnsen confirmed as soon as possible. As you think about the people close to President Obama who among them do you think would be pushing for prosecutions or investigations? Maybe Eric Holder but probably not and thats the only person I can come up with. However Johnsen has been a Bush Adminstration critic for a long time especially over torture. And that is most likely why her nomination is being held up and also might be why the WhiteHouse hasn’t come out strong for her nomination. If she gets in then we will know that there is at least one person who has the President’s ear who believes in the rule of law.

  2. Bernie Latham | May 14th, 2009 at 10:11 am

    That Politico title really pissses me off. As if those are the only two possibilities. A great way to make your reader stupider is to posit this sort of binary dilemma, particularly where either contains such negative connotations. If you bump into these two guys, greg, tell them I think they (or whoever tossed in that title) is a first-class jerk.

  3. dmv | May 14th, 2009 at 10:14 am

    This, from the “No ****, Sherlock” School of Analysis, by Paul Begala.

  4. Greg Sargent | May 14th, 2009 at 10:16 am

    agreed, Bernie, the title is way too flip by half. And SG — good point. I hadn’t considered that. But it adds a whole new dimension to the GOP motive for holding her confirmation up.

  5. I knew it would happen | May 14th, 2009 at 10:20 am

    Once again, the liberal wing of the Dumocratic Party is picking a fight that is best dropped.

    Psssst, liberals. Yes you. Here’s a better investment of your time: develop an exit strategy. Disengage from this argument. It’s a big loser.

  6. sgwhiteinfla | May 14th, 2009 at 10:26 am

    Imagine that, a conservative giving us advise to help us liberals out. Well I guess we better drop it since the wingnuts say we are going to live to regret it. I mean they have such a great track record like say telling us to drop our opposition to the Iraq war and illegal wiretapping, and tax cuts for the wealthy. If only we had listened to them back then…

  7. Bob | May 14th, 2009 at 10:54 am

    sgw-

    I like how everyone that disagrees with you is a wingnut.

  8. Bernie Latham | May 14th, 2009 at 10:56 am

    Bye the bye…I’m just now getting around to reading Suskind’s book on O’Neil (Price of Loyalty). Though late, my timing couldn’t be better as the book gives a very good window into the opening acts of the Bush administration AND the pre-existing push to go to war with Iraq long before Sept 11. Highly recommended.

  9. Tena | May 14th, 2009 at 11:01 am

    I totally agree with this – there is no way now that this is going away. I don’t think there are many if any of us on the left who are willing to let it go away, regardless.

  10. Tena | May 14th, 2009 at 11:02 am

    By the way, did y’all know that before he left, Commander CooCoo quietly prepared a surprise present for Obama and the country? He signed all on his own a nuclear agreement treaty with Saudi Arabia.

    I read it on Huffpo last night – I’ll go get the link.

    The man is crazier than I thought – god help us all! SA is the point of origin for the Wahabists!

  11. Tena | May 14th, 2009 at 11:19 am

    link to story about Bush’s nuclear agreement with the Saudis -

    http://www.huffingtonpost.com/raymond-j-learsy/us-uae-nuclear-cooperatio_b_202794.html

  12. sgwhiteinfla | May 14th, 2009 at 11:21 am

    I think Pelosi just gave us a “Bring it on” moment or two!

  13. sgwhiteinfla | May 14th, 2009 at 11:23 am

    Bob
    .
    I disagree with Bernie, Tena, and even sometimes Greg from time to time. I don’t call any of them wingnuts. I call them like I see them. It is what it is.

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