The U.S. House attempted to override President Bush’s veto of HR 2082, the intelligence appropriations bill that would have explicitly outlawed waterboarding and other forms of torture, today. Only 5 Republicans had the decency to vote in favor of the bill:
- Roscoe Bartlett
- Wayne Gilchrest
- Tim Johnson
- Ron Paul
- Christopher Smith
What’s more, three Democrats actually voted against the antitorture legislation. Among them was James Marshall of Georgia. I’m not surprised at that. Representative Marshall is a Grade A pig who votes in favor of every Republican proposal for inhumanity that comes along.
I’m surprised at the other two Democrats who voted against this legislation, however: Dennis Kucinich and Maxine Waters.
What gives? Neither Dennis Kucinich nor Maxine Waters have issued any statement explaining why they failed to stand up against George W. Bush’s veto. Maybe they have a good excuse, but if they won’t share an explanation with us, their votes don’t make any sense.
The legislation failed to override Bush’s veto, and that’s in part because of Kucinich and Waters. They ought to come out and explain what they’re up to, or see their progressive reputations justifiably tarnished.
Did they vote for the original bill?
Maxine Waters did. Dennis Kucinich didn’t. There’s still no explanation out from either Kucinich or Waters on this week’s vote.
There’s no explanation on the earlier vote from Kucinich either. Boy, he really does a good job NOT explaining himself, and thus making his votes in protest absolutely useless.
Hr 2082 was the Intelligence Authorization Act, which provided funding for spying on Americans and for war. Just because they added an anti-torture provision to a bad bill doesn’t make it a good bill. They get a home run for voting against that bill.
Can you show me any alternate legislation that Kucinich and Waters are working on to ban waterboarding and other forms of torture?
Any? Hm. I’ll go look myself.
So what’s the score now Babe (Ruth)? GET IT! Man, i kill me . . .
And no, neither Kucinich nor Waters are offering any alternative antitorture legislation. They’re just letting the issue die.