by Tracy Viselli -- I don't like to use the phrase he or she "asked for it." That's why I'm a women's rights blogger. But in this case, I'll make an exception because Sean Hannity really did volunteer to be waterboarded on TV for charity. Behold the evidence
Sean Hannity also stated on the video that he is in favor of "enhanced interrogation techniques." It's eery how Orwellian the language of Republican pundits and policitians is becoming with each day. "Enhanced interrogation techniques" is just the latest in a long line of Orwellian hits.
But calling torture "enhanced interrogation techniques" is the most disturbing example of using euphemisms to cover lies. The ease with which the phrase continues to be uttered as if a legacy of broken bodies and minds does not matter is alarming, and to see senators and representatives defending torture on a daily basis is eating away at our sense of ourselves as a nation. I've read a few books about the literal and psychic destruction torture causes to persons, communities, and ultimately nation states. Nations who torture are not just. They are not fair, They are not free. And the certainly are not democratic. In fact, they are autocratic.
Andrew Sullivan has consistently and eloquently written about the moral depravity of torture. Here is just one passage from 2005 he quoted recently on The Daily Dish:
"What you see in the relationship between torturer and tortured is the absolute darkness of totalitarianism. You see one individual granted the most complete power he can ever hold over another. Not just confinement of his mobility--the abolition of his very agency. Torture uses a person's body to remove from his own control his conscience, his thoughts, his faith, his selfhood."
For anyone to think that the pain, violence, and madness born of torture remains within the confines of a prison cell is foolish. We Americans, all of us, will carry this stain with us until we deal with what was conducted in our name.
And for defending it, it's only fair that Sean Hannity do what Christopher Hitchens and many other journalists have done, experience--if only for a few seconds--the treatment he advocates for others. I suspect that Hannity might be in the beginnings of what other human beings call a moral dilemma. Perhaps a quick trip back to his catechisms would help, or there's alwasy the Golden Rule: Do unto others as you would have them do unto you. And finally, as someone added in comments to my recent post on torture "Dick Cheney Is Full of Crap", who would Jesus torture?
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Comments: 28 ( 1 removed by Jack E. )
I just wish everyone that says we should love the terrist and treat them so nice . Maybe they should see what and experience what they do to people. Kill them. Where we are torture people all they do is kill.
Why don't you show some truth to the weird statements you GOP supporter show? Why don't you tell how Bush allowed 9/11 to happen by ordering the military to stand down on any threat on 9/11?
Why don't you tell people how your hero Bush murdered over two million innocent people in two countries for profit?
Why don't you show how Bush was dealing with the Taliban for a pipeline deal across Asia?
Why don't you let Bush show you how torture works first hand and then come back and tell us how wonderful and patriotic it is to become become the very thing you are fighting against?
You have not seen war like most of us have Candy and you have no idea what you or your hero Hannity are talking about.
Hannity has been mum on the torture issue since he mistakenly opened his huge mouth and inserted both feet.
Candy, your response is absolutely incoherent.
I didn't spend twelve years in military service so hacks could run their mouths like hypocritical attack dogs.
Why don't you show me some proof besides what Bush propaganda says that torturing any living thing is humane or has any value to anyone other than sadistic sick wannabe dictators?
Maybe you need to look at what your constitution says as well as federal law on torture and insurrection.
BTW Christopher I am not a conspiracy theorist and do not suck up to political hacks either so do not come here and try to tag me or anyone else here with GOP attack slime.
Lets see Hannity do something besides blow wind from the wrong end and do what he said.
It looks like we have the typical blowhard that talks more than he walks.
The liberals are also the ones that say we should be kind to our prisoners and make them feel all happy. Well what happens they let them out and they go back to killing and do the crimes they did before. They also think we should let all of these people who want to kill and do harm to the American people let them go. Why dont we put you all in a country of your own with them. See how long it takes them to turn on you.
As far as the conspiracy theory get over it. I am sorry Bush would not have killed all of those people for any reason. I dont even think Obama would do such a thing.
Really? What liberals, where?
"But yet you feel it is okay to kill babies and torture them with a horrific abortion. "
Really? Who said that?
"Well what happens they let them out and they go back to killing and do the crimes they did before. "
Do you have any evidence that everyone we've tortured committed a crime?
"They also think we should let all of these people who want to kill and do harm to the American people let them go."
Really? Who said that?
Why dont we put you all in a country of your own with them.
We already live in the best country on the planet. Why would we want to leave?
Candy;
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!
Probably not as interesting as we find it that you wingnuts who are SO terribly concerned for "human life" when it's in the form of an unviable tissue mass in a womb, suddenly cannot WAIT to find ways to torture, maime, and murder living, breathing human beings.
"The liberals are also the ones that say we should be kind to our prisoners and make them feel all happy."
Actually, this is what our military experts, our intelligence experts, our FBI, and the entire civilized world community says. You extreme rightwingnuts are the only freaks who oppose it.
"Well what happens they let them out and they go back to killing and do the crimes they did before."
You're an idiot. Most of those whom we've detained and tortured were guilty of NOTHING, and almost NONE have been charged with any crime whatsoever.
"They also think we should let all of these people who want to kill and do harm to the American people let them go."
Name one person who's advocated this. Just one will suffice. I want a name, and documentation to back your statement, or else an apology from you for the false allegation.
"Why dont we put you all in a country of your own with them. See how long it takes them to turn on you."
Why don't we hand you twisted sick phuck wingnuts over to them, to let them have their way with you? Since YOU'RE the ones who adore and worship torture, I think you'll really get a kick out of the experience. It'd kill two birds with one stone...not only would it rid this nation of your diseased ideology, but it would give you fools the opportunity to experience the torture that you so intensely love and support up close and personal.
"As far as the conspiracy theory get over it. "
What conspiracy theory is that?
"I am sorry Bush would not have killed all of those people for any reason."
Nobody suggested that he murdered them without reason. They were selfishly standing on top of our oil. They deserved to die.
If you like Bush murder for profit scams why aren't you in the military helping him along?
The real truth is that you and all like you are cowards not free Americans and your bluster fools nobody but your kind of ilk.
Remember Candy to look under your bushes for a terrorist before you say good nite.
Scum like you Candy should be prosecuted for insurrection along side your wannabe dictator friend.
Erik I am glad you are able to make a statement without name calling. It makes people listen to you better. I appreciate that you can state an argument and totally disagree with someone but not make it so personal. Thank you for that.
Everyone else have a great day. I hope you all enjoy all this beautiful weather.
You support torture which is illegal by federal law as well as the Geneva Convention we are a part of and we also hung Japanese people for using waterboarding for torture.
I suppose you that you support the bigots stand that only Americans are good enough to live on the earth and the rest were put here for us to use and then discard like garbage.
Do you ever listen to any proof that is presented to you Candy? Have you listened to so much GOP propaganda that you can no longer think for yourself?
Bush is a criminal, that's CRIMINAL that broke over 265 federal laws as well as constitutional law which makes him guilty of insurrection and this is what you cheer on? Only a fool could put a rope around their own neck.
What gives you a right to call people names like liberal? You think you will not get it back, name calling is one of the GOP attack dog policies.
I do not support any party or make excuses for what any politician does. I support my constitution and bill of rights which defines my government and nothing else so do not come here and tag me with liberal slander.
Bush, Rove, and Cheney are guilty of outing a CIA operative but I suppose you think that is ok because the person was not sucking up to Bush lies about Iraq and showed Bush for the lire he was and still is.
The president has no powers that are not given him/her in the constitution no matter how bad they try to be wannabe dictators.
Have a nice evening
I'm not a liberal. I'm a hardcore, lefty progressive.
I'm not sure where you're getting your ideas, but they don't seem to be well thought out.
We were talking about Sean Hannity putting his lungs where his mouth is, and you took off on this weird tangent.
Bush has done nothing in 8 years except to bring down our economy and disgrace us in front of the world as well as murdering a few million innocent people and yet these deluded handful of people still call him god.
I already showed you what I thought of your opinion that Bush should murder all. You have big lessons to learn Candy about preaching on things like murder that you probably will never learn until its you looking at the armed enemy you are so afraid of and all we need is one more Bush to make it happen.
This thread is on waterboarding and a media hack and will not be turned into personal attacks.
If the shoe fits. Anyone who actually believes that anyone is proposing setting known terrorists free has GOT to be an undeniable idiot. Sorry.
I'd sure like to know why someone who pretends to be "pro life" finds it acceptable to support torture and murder of innocent humans. That's something I don't think I'll ever understand, frankly.
Its a shame that the only people supporting these criminal conflicts never take a more active roll in them than lip service.
I just don't know that the overall population is quite ready to accept that most of what they've believed in for the past 60 years or so has been a complete lie.
Americans better get the facts straight real soon because we are not able to defend our self against any country that can fight back. The World is just not going to take American terrorism sitting down much longer.