John Kerry: ‘This Bill Permits Torture’

[kerrygoddess]

John Kerry: ‘This Bill Permits Torture’
September 28th, 2006 @ 8:51 am

Yesterday the House rushed through Bush’s ‘torture bill’ and today as the Senate is in the midst of debate on the bill it is clear there is no stopping this travesty of justice. The N.Y. Times reports that “House Democrats were prevented from offering any amendments,” during their debate yesterday. Where is our Democracy? Under the agreement reached by the Senate, Democrats were allowed to propose four amendments.

One, by Mr. Levin, would have adopted the approach endorsed by the Armed Services Committee and the three Republicans who resisted the Bush administration: Senators John Warner of Virginia, John McCain of Arizona, and Lindsey Graham of South Carolina. It failed on a 54-to-43 vote, with two Democrats, Senators Mary L. Landrieu of Louisiana and Ben Nelson of Nebraska, crossing party lines.

Republicans remain confident they will hold off any changes to the ‘torture bill’ when the remaining amendments come up for vote today. John McCain sold out last week and the rest of the Republicans in the Senate have followed suit.

Speaking at Johns Hopkins University today on National Security, John Kerry had this to say about the ‘torture bill’ during his speech:

“We’ve got to tell the truth about what’s happening right now – right now – in our country. We must start treating our moral authority as a national treasure that doesn’t limit our power but magnifies our influence. That seems obvious, but this Administration still doesn’t get it. Still. Right now – today — they are trying to rush a bill through Congress that will fundamentally undermine our moral authority, put our troops at greater risk, and make our country less safe. MORE - http://blog.thedemocraticdaily.com/?p=4314

My sources tell me that John Kerry will be speaking on the Senate floor sometime soon after noon in opposition of the ‘torture bill’. The bottom line I am told, is there were no improvements to the bill. It’s a done deal.The true patriots of this country are those who stand in opposition of this bill today. Don’t let anyone fool you.

[blm]

1. Kerry points to the ELEPHANT in the room: Bush's word CAN'T BE TRUSTED

And it is about time that point gets made on the Senate floor and in an OFFICIAL SETTING.

[kerrygoddess]

2. Sad day in history

can't say it enough!

[kerrygoddess]

3. Article about Kerry's speech today

“Let America Be America Again”
September 28th, 2006 @ 10:46 pm

The words have been mulling around in my head for the past few days, “Let America be America Again.” We’ve seen so many dark days for so long now, it’s hard to fathom some days that America can be America again. Yet, I remember the hope those words inspired during the 2004 election cycle, when John Kerry quoted the great American poet, Langston Hughes and took on the phrase as a campaign slogan.

In my mind, if ever we needed to hear those words again from John Kerry, today was the day. My thoughts were answered by way of the article posted below about Kerry’s speech at Johns Hopkins University today, from Robert J. Guttman, Editor-in-Chief of Trans Atlantic Magazine. It’s filled with hope, something sorely needed after the passing of Bush’s ‘torture bill’ today. Enjoy…

Thinking About It
September 28, 2006

Senator John Kerry: “Let America be America Again”

“We need to make America be America again,” said Senator John Kerry in a breakfast speech today at the launching of the new Center on Politics and Foreign Relations at the Johns Hopkins University School of Advanced International Studies in Washington, D.C.

In a vigorous denunciation of many of the Bush Administration’s policies in Iraq, Afghanistan and the war on terror, the 2004 Democratic presidential nominee lashed out at the “failed policies” of Bush, Cheney and Rumsfeld.

Speaking to an audience of 300 students, diplomats and reporters this morning, the Vietnam veteran reiterated that America “must restore our moral authority and global leadership by deploying the full arsenal of our national power with smarter diplomacy, stronger alliances, more effective international institutions - and fidelity to the values we have always stood for as a nation.”

Following up on this idea in an interview after his speech the Massachusetts senator harked back to the days of John F. Kennedy when he said America was respected around the world. “President Kennedy’s picture was in every house in Latin America. America was respected around the world for our moral values,” the senator stated.

“We aren’t respected today in the world because of Iraq and Guantanamo and Abu Ghraib,” Kerry commented. When asked if this could change with a different administration in the United States he forcefully responded, “It could be changed overnight in 2008 with a new administration.”

MORE & LINKS - http://blog.thedemocraticdaily.com/?p=4318#more-4318