Today, Senators Feinstein and Schumer provided conclusive evidence that accusations from the Right that we liberals are unprincipled cowards are completely justified.
There might be some space in our nation's sloppy middle to debate the expansion of the SCHIP program. But there can be no room to debate waterboarding.
It was torture in the Spanish Inquisition. It was torture when the Gestapo did it. It was torture when Pol Pot's minions did it.
It might have been embarrassing for Schumer, who was an early supporter of the nominee, to have reversed himself. But is there anything, anything at all, that we as Democrats, stand for?
He is probably riding on Amtrak, heading home to Brooklyn, as I write this this evening. I hope that Jessica and Allison give him Hell.
I'm not crazy about giving them the excuse of cowardice. Let's say they made a choice based on their assumptions:
* They assume Americans like torture.
* They like getting reelected.
* Getting reelected is more important than having principles and not being a war criminal.
I would say when a person looks at himself in the mirror and says, "I'm a war criminal who will vote for anything to get reelected" that is taking a rather bold and defining existential stand.
Posted by: smchris | November 03, 2007 at 03:08 PM
Thanks for your comment - you are totally correct, I was being overly generous and kind.
Posted by: bbbustard | November 04, 2007 at 04:56 PM