edgecity

CNN.com apparently thinks running a red light is worthy of page one coverage. Oh Britney! You brat. Would you please behave so CNN can cover real news stories. Oh never mind,. they would just find some other titilating trivia to publish instead of newsworthy material.

Here’s the letter I wrote to Senator Schumer this morning:

Senator Schumer,

Yesterday, you were quoted as saying:

”When Judge Mukasey came before the Senate judiciary committee last month he refused to state waterboarding as torture. That was unsatisfactory, that was wrong. That will be a blemish on judge Mukasey’s distinguished career for as long as he lives. But he has made it clear that if Congress passed further legislation in this area, the President would have no legal authority to ignore it…”

Your confirmation of Mukasey was unsatisfactory, wrong. This will be a blemish on YOUR distinguished career for as long as YOU live. There’s no ambiguity about waterboarding as torture, nor need for new law–legal precedent has been set for decades. You have abandoned reason and morality. You have abandoned your duty to provide checks and balances to the Executive branch by choosing to overlook Mulasey’s position. You have abandoned America, Senator.

Of course you know all this. Why then, have you allowed his confirmation?

Since when does an admonishment provide an adequate substitute for the rule of law, checks and balances, and morality?

Dear Senator,

Since Judge Mukasey is unwilling to answer a simple yes or no, when asked if waterboarding is torture, by saying that it depends upon the circumstances, he is saying that it is not illegal. And yet legal precendent has been set.

The United States knows quite a bit about waterboarding. The U.S. government — whether acting alone before domestic courts, commissions and courts-martial or as part of the world community — has not only condemned the use of water torture but has severely punished those who applied it.

After World War II, we convicted several Japanese soldiers for waterboarding American and Allied prisoners of war. At the trial of his captors, then-Lt. Chase J. Nielsen, one of the 1942 Army Air Forces officers who flew in the Doolittle Raid and was captured by the Japanese, testified: “I was given several types of torture. . . . I was given what they call the water cure.” He was asked what he felt when the Japanese soldiers poured the water. “Well, I felt more or less like I was drowning,” he replied, “just gasping between life and death.”

By voting to confrm Judge Muskasy, YOU are condoning the use of waterboarding. Is that your position?

Please restore the rule of law and vote against the Mukasey nomination. Why isn’t this all obvious to you? What are you afraid of? Why won’t you stand to defend against tyranny?

Dear Senator Schumer,

I read on cnn.com that you said this:

“When an administration so political, so out of touch with the realities of governing and so contemptuous of the rule of law is in charge, we are never left with an ideal choice. Judge Mukasey is not my ideal choice. However, Judge Mukasey, whose integrity and independence is respected even by those who oppose him, is far better than anyone could expect from this administration.”

So, knowing that Mukasey will still grant executive powers far beyond the intention of our Constitution, you say “Well, OK, our President is politically extreme, so let’s let him nominate someone who is slightly less extreme because it could be worse.” Huh? You know this man will not respect the Constitution, and yet you are willing to confirm him because the President is making a concession by sending you a slightly less extreme anti-constitution Bush loyalist? Why are you choosing to fail our country, knowing what you are doing? Why? What are you afraid of, retribution by the Bushies?

Please don’t sell America down the river again. Deny Mr. Bush his vision of monarchical presidental powers. Grant us Americans the security of the rule of law. Vote NO.

Senator Schumer,

Just when I thought the soul of America might be restored, then came You.

Is waterboarding torture, yes or no? You know the answer to this question, don’t you, Sir? Maybe you don’t.

Listen to Senator Leahy for the moral guidance you apprently lack:

“No American should need a classified briefing to determine whether waterboarding is torture. Waterboarding was used at least as long ago as the Spanish Inquisition. We prosecuted Japanese war criminals for waterboarding after World War II.”

I hope you’ll see the error of your ways and change your mind about confirming Mr. Mukasey. Why can’t we get a simple answer to this simple question:

Is waterboarding torture, yes or no?

Is that a morally ambiguous question, Senator?

Senator Feinstein,

I urge you to reconsider your decision to allow Mr. Mukasey to continue the confirmation process. Now, more than ever, the morals we have stood for as a nation are under attack by those who would compromise long standing standards of conduct with regard to the treatment of prisoners. We need an Attorney General that’s willing to state explicitly what and what is not torture. Why don’t you agree, Ms. Feinstein? Is waterboarding torture or not? Why won’t you demand a yes or no answer to that question from Mr. Mukasey? Is this a morally ambiguous question for you, Ms. Feinstein?

Even though I no longer vote in California, most of my family does. I promise I will urge them to help vote you out of office when you come up for re-election. You see, their morals are not ambiguously defined. Waterboarding IS torture. They know it, I know it. Why don’t you know it?