Kennedy and Other Democrats To Oppose AG Nominee Because He Won’t Declare Waterboarding Illegal, Even Though They Failed To Pass A Law Making It Illegal.

Or shorter version: Ted Kennedy and other Senate Democrats are just assholes.

Sen. Edward Kennedy, D-Mass., said that Mukasey's unwillingness to answer definitively on the legality of the interrogation method that simulates drowning increases chances that it could be used against U.S. troops.

"I therefore intend to oppose this nomination," Kennedy said in remarks prepared for the Senate floor. "Judge Mukasey appears to be a careful, conscientious and intelligent lawyer, and he has served our country honorably for many years. But those qualities are not enough for this critical position at this critical time."

On the upside for the administration, Republican Sens. John McCain of Arizona and Lindsey Graham of South Carolina, announced they would support Bush's nominee.

Whitehouse of Rhode Island and Durbin of Illinois are among the other Democratic Senators who have come out against Mukasey citing his refusal to declare waterboarding illegal.

Funny thing is, the Senate couldn’t reach that conclusion themselves when debating the Military Commissions Act last year.

In September 2006, Sen. Edward Kennedy, D-Mass., authored the amendment to the military tribunals bill that would have effectively defined waterboarding as torture and made it subject to Common Article 3 under the Geneva Conventions.

The amendment itself focused on conduct of other countries, but said: "should any United States person to whom the Geneva Conventions apply be subjected to any of the following acts, the United States would consider such act to constitute a punishable offense under common Article 3 ... ."

The amendment listed "forcing the person to be naked, perform sexual acts, or pose in a sexual manner; applying beatings, electric shocks, burns, or other forms of physical pain to the person; waterboarding the person; using dogs on the person; inducing hypothermia or heat injury in the person; conducting a mock execution of the person; and depriving the person of necessary food, water, or medical care."

The amendment failed to gain the needed 50 votes, failing 46-53. Specter and then-Sen. Lincoln Chafee of Rhode Island were the only Republicans to vote in favor. Sen. Ben Nelson, D-Neb., was the lone Democrat to oppose the measure.

DOH! I almost forgot...feel free to insert your own Chappaquiddick v. Waterboarding jokes here.

Rocketeer is doing the job a card carrying co-blogger such as myself doesn't have time to do, actually mock Kennedy.

Kennedy further said, "However, if, er, Mukasey were to state that he supports placing terrorists in the backseats of Oldsmobiles and actually driving them off bridges, instead of just simulating driving them off bridges, then he would, er, regain my, ah, support."

posted by DrewM. at 03:41 PM

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