6, January 2006 McCain’s amendment
No sooner had the ink run dry on
McCain’s amendment to the defense appropriations bill, prohibiting U.S.
personnel from subjecting prisoners anywhere in the world to cruel, inhumane or
degrading treatment, (passed in the Senate 90 to 9). Bush sought to tip toe around the bill to allow the despicable
practice of torture to continue. His signing statement contained legal
gobbledygook crafted by his pro-torture advisors to finesse McCain’s amendment,
the president agreed to abide by the law "in a manner consistent with the
constitutional authority of the president to supervise the unitary executive
branch and as commander in chief and consistent with the constitutional
limitations on the judicial power, which will assist in achieving the shared
objective … of protecting the American people from further terrorist attacks.
“Translation, whenever the president
asserts that he is acting in the interests of national security he can thumb
his nose at the law and do as he pleases. Once again, Bush is attempting to
prop up the powers of the executive branch by using the fear factor, a strategy
which is continuing fodder for late night comedians. Such is the fading light
of his failed presidency.
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