Selective torture justified? (w/ Poll)

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Wednesday May 05, 2004 · 3:08 PM PDT

2004/05/05 · 15:08

Tom S. has raised an interesting subject. When I started typing this, there were no diaries to assess the consensus here, so I'm curious. Is "selective" torture of people justified in certain circumstances? More to the point --is it a legitimate government activity? And is it legitimate for an occupying power to utilize in seeking out and destroying insurgents in the occupied land?

My background in this is through Amnesty International -- I've heard the victims and families of torture victims speak about what they suffered. I also strongly believe in the need for international legal standards to prevent torture by the government. As a criminal defense lawyer, I also have serious questions about the validity of information obtained through torture, in addition to my concerns about the means. Hint -- it's not always accurate although torture proponents seem to assume otherwise. 9/11 did not change my mind in any way.

So, what do y'all think? Here are some options...

Speaking truth to power -- the Republican version

kelly

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Monday April 19, 2004 · 8:43 PM PDT

2004/04/19 · 20:43

Acc to JD Hayworth, Republican from AZ, on Crossfire today (before I turned the tv off in disgust), the reason Bush is facing problems currently is that he speaks truth to power. My first thought was...whaaaahhh? and then -- Paul Begala, are you going to let him get away with that, I mean isn't Bush THE power??? But, no, smarminess ensued as always. (Paul B says -- JD we love to have you here because you're so good at articulating your positions...)

Hayworth also worked in a talking point about serving the US Constitution and not the UN Charter. Tucker C. decried the horrendous, ridiculous Dem tactics to discredit the codpiece in chief. It was incredibly surreal and very frightening -- in the reality presented by CNN, Dems are vicious, vacuous attack dogs w/ no concern for issues and Bushco are brave soldiers who speak truth to power. Have I missed something and Democrats/liberals have actually taken control of the govt and are the powers in charge???

So, the larger questions, that Kossacks can answer, emerge --what does it mean to speak truth to power? Where did that phrase come from? -- a google search didn't give me the answer readily so maybe political historians or other wonks can enlighten me. How can we turn this on its head? And how does Commander Codpiece get to exercise supreme authority which results in thousands of deaths, be the most important chief of state in the world AND get to "speak truth to power"? Someone in the mainstream media, please call bs.

Jason West is my new hero, Spitzer balks

kelly

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Wednesday March 03, 2004 · 3:11 PM PST

2004/03/03 · 15:11

West is the 26 year old mayor of New Paltz, NY. Here's a brief history and bio info. http://tinyurl.com/3ge3u He's facing criminal charges for marrying same-sex couples. He's proceeding on his belief that doing so is the moral thing to do and is permissible under NY law:

It's my opinion that it's the Department of Health that's breaking the law in refusing to issue same-sex marriage licenses to same-sex couples," West said. "The laws governing marriage in New York state are gender-neutral, and the constitution of New York requires equal protection under those laws."
http://www.cnn.com/2004/US/Northeast/03/02/ny.samesex.marriage/index.html

Unfortunately, Elliot Spitzer, who has a lot of fans here at dkos (I'm a criminal defense atty so I generally have no great admiration for prosecutors but he's not a horrible one from the little I know of him) just backed up Pataki on this one, despite some noises to the contrary earlier. CNN just announced that Spitzer says the NY law, since it defines marriage as between "brides," "grooms," "husbands," and "wives" precludes gay marriage. Apparently he did express some concern about the equal protection implications of his decision. The CNN talking head suggested that criminal charges against West (who appears in crt tonight) and presumably against the mayor of Nyack, if he follows suit, are pushing the envelope.

Anybody know if there's a legal defense fund for West?

Also, CNN is reporting a large line in Portland, OR as they've begun to issue marriage licenses. So nice to see people empowered to stand up for what is right.

Molly Ivins on Kerry, Edwards, and Dean

kelly

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Thursday February 19, 2004 · 3:51 PM PST

2004/02/19 · 15:51

Molly's latest is up at wfc. http://tinyurl.com/2ccjf
(While you're there, check out the latest Fiore cartoon -- Attack of the Gay Agenda! Hilarious.) She's back on top of the Dem race after focusing on other issues lately. Her take on the race post-Wisconsin:

I say we're in for a terrific two weeks if both Kerry and John Edwards do the issue stuff they're both well-placed to do. Kerry has a strong, well-thought-out health-care plan, and he should make it his signature issue -- and put some passion into it, if he's got any. Edwards, with his populist riff, is perfectly placed to take on globalization directly. Read More

Three songs to describe this era?

kelly

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Monday January 26, 2004 · 2:18 AM PST

2004/01/26 · 02:18

It's been very intense around here lately. Got time for a little fun that also lets you express yourself? Read More

Dean on the Daily Show Monday night

kelly

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Sunday January 25, 2004 · 1:30 PM PST

2004/01/25 · 13:30

Acc to Howie Kurtz who just interviewed Steve Colbert on CNN. Steve Colbert sliced and diced Howie and his fellow whores. Excellent news for Dean! They do listen to us.

Daily Show

kelly

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Wednesday January 21, 2004 · 1:13 AM PST

2004/01/21 · 01:13

on now and hilarious. The Dean anger meme again (the speech is shown and Jon says he'll be touring on Truckasaurus)contrasted w/ Kennedy's red-face, screaming introduction of John Kerry. Then a boring clip of Kerry.
Now doing a Iowa life segment by Stephen Colbert. Funny. His numbers dropped like a duck on Demerol. Then they're a country ditty ending with a line about "Dr. Dean came in third, oh Dr. Dean he laid a turd." You gotta laugh.

BTW I loved the idea of Dean going on the Daily Show to laugh at himself. Lots of "serious" people like, oh, John Edwards have gone on.

Dean/Carter press conference

kelly

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Sunday January 18, 2004 · 2:30 PM PST

2004/01/18 · 14:30

Now on CNN. Started by addressing the book of Job and the "can a Yankee" win in the South. Applaudes early Dean position against the war.

MLK -- Came back to us today

kelly

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Thursday January 15, 2004 · 8:50 PM PST

2004/01/15 · 20:50

Today's best news was the news from Atlanta of the protesters standing up to Bush's nefarious plans to clothe himself in the King legacy. There have been a diary entry by paper tigress on the case early paper tigress on the protest with lots of links to the news.

There's so much happening right now as we prepare to kick Bush out of the White House on Nov. 2. Pieces seem to be coming together, strategies planned, and a critical mass forming that will make this happen. With all the Dem infighting lately the folks in Atlanta helped me to remember that we all have our eyes on the prize and we WILL get there together. Read More

Dowd on Clark's attire

kelly

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Sunday January 11, 2004 · 12:26 AM PST

2004/01/11 · 00:26

Paul Krugman has wisely asked for less conversation about candidates' attire and more about their positions. So, the NYT has published an article about Clark's wardrobe and now M. Dowd chimes in with "The Argyle General" http://tinyurl.com/2ev2n. Wrong, wrong. I want to hear about a candidate's background, policies, and proposed cabinet. Not his/her clothes.

I'm a Dean voter but I don't want this happening to any of the candidates. Looks like Dowd's email address is
liberties@nytimes.com.

Clark and Executing the Severely Mentally Ill

kelly

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Wednesday January 07, 2004 · 1:29 PM PST

2004/01/07 · 13:29

Last night, Arkansas executed Charles Singleton, a profoundly mentally ill man, who was given antipsychotic medication in order to render him competent to be executed. http://tinyurl.com/3edzx His attorneys had argued that Arkansas could not constitutionally forcibly drug Charles so that the state could kill him. A panel of the 8th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals agreed and set aside the death sentence, meaning that Singleton would serve life in prison without the possibility of parole. Arkansas appealed, and a divided full 8th Circuit Court lifted the stay of execution. The U.S. Supreme Court refused to intervene, although the Court has never addressed the specific issue of the constitutionality of a state drugging a person in order to render competency for execution. Read More

A Very Kos Holiday

kelly

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Thursday December 25, 2003 · 1:13 AM PST

2003/12/25 · 01:13

This is a season for many of us to express our gratitude and affection for loved ones and worthy causes. I've belatedly realized that one of the bright lights of this year to me is the service that Kos has provided for those of us interested in politics and "strategery." I've learned so much from Kos and the folks here that it seems like time to give back.

So, Markos is a new daddy, an innovator, and the provider of a great amount of energy and effort to provide a unique forum for our divergent and passionate views about all things political. What do we do for him to thank him? Contribute to a savings acct for Ari? Help meet the costs of maintaining this site? Send the lovely couple on a nice vacation for a break from Ari? Purchase a needed tool or subscription? Other?

I don't know him and so can't answer those questions. Maybe some trusted user or friend can provide suggestions. Until then -- suggestions?

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