WASHINGTON (CNN) – A coalition of progressive groups sought Monday to have 12 Bush administration lawyers disbarred for their roles in crafting the legal rationale for so-called enhanced interrogation techniques that many view as torture.
"It is time to hold these lawyers accountable for violating their legal oath," Kevin Zeese, an attorney for the coalition, said in a written statement.
"Just as the bar would suspend an attorney who advised a police officer to torture and brutalize a detained immigrant or criminal defendant, the bar must suspend these attorneys for advocating and causing the torture of war detainees. The disciplinary boards that hear these complaints must act or they will be seen as complicit in the use of torture."
Zeese called disbarment "an important step toward the ultimate accountability of criminal prosecution."
The group registered formal complaints against David Addington, John Ashcroft, Stephen Bradbury, Jay Bybee, Michael Chertoff, Douglas Feith, Alice Fisher, Timothy Flanigan, Alberto Gonzales, William Haynes II, Michael Mukasey, and John Yoo.
From CNN Politics
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It's in the past let it go. America in it's history has mistreated POW's wrong before in it's history.
gonzales, bush administration, ashcroft, yoo, chertoff, & others should be all prosecuted
Another bad liberal joke. They did nothing illegal. There is nothing like liberal revenge. Remember Ray Donavon. After he was acquitted he asked where he could get his reputation back. The libs did a number on him. But that is what is wrong with liberalism.
That's nice. But how 'bout some jail time for these monsters?
The Liberals will get damaging blow back from this and will ultimatly understand why POTUS said "Move-On."
They shoul dbe disbarred and have criminal charges brought up against them. It's very unethical for lawyers to be instructing the goverment on how to get around the law rather than abiding by it.
I thought that liberals had never met a lawyer they didn't like. No wait, they've never met a law, regulation or tax they didn't like.
I think all Republicans owe the American people an apology for backing and rubber-stamping the Bush Administration these past eight years. Look where they have put us. . . we deserve an apology!
News flash for Liberals!!! I (the center) did not vote for Obama to be mired in the politics of the past and create greater rift in the nation. I voted for solutions and unity.
Is this "change you can believe in"? The dems promise to "look forward" sure was short lived. This petty politics was exactly what Obama said he would eliminate. Let's see if our President steps up and siliences this disgusting display of politics by the dems.
Accountability must be had. That includes for things that happened 6 months ago under another government. Thats life.
I believe all these attorneys should be prosecuted but what alot of these political cronnies are forgetting is that George W. Bush and Dick Cheney authorized the use of interrogation techniques or torture and these two alone should be held accountable, this is why we can not and should not blame House Speaker Nancy Pelosi
Hey, lets get ready to remove Obama for Treason for bombing Pakistan and killing cilivians. Let's take BO to court for all his lies while campaigning and now his flip flopping like a duck in water – he's kooky.
These Far Left Liberal are haters of America, and should move to another Country for our safety and future.
Jean B
WI
These "lawyers" should be investigated and disbarred if warranted. They've proved to be nothing but hacks with no respect for the rule of law. I think the right would peg these upstanding citizens as "activist lawyers". Investigate and act. .
Joe, yes this is change we can believe in. Government officials being held accountable for their illegal actions is change we can believe in. It never would have happened under the Republicans who are more concerned with protecting their crooks than they are with prosecuting them. Its a great change. Deal with it.
Holy mackrel – how STUPID are these idiots calling for disbarment??
You can NOT be disbarred for rending a legal OPINION!!!
This flawed line of thinking would then allow criminal defense attorney's to be prosecuted... as they are defending a person charged with a crime!
Hey, let's take the Navy, Gov't and Pilot Assoc to court and suspend them for waterboarding during training? Why not....the kooks think it is torture. That's what these three Deps do for part of the survival training !
Hey dumbos, get the facts first.
Far Left Liberals are traitors.
Jack Carlson
WA
What they did was far, far worse than what Bill Clinton did to lose his law license.
One sure can see why we had such a low intelligent electorate in 2008. They want USA to be brought down because they are so unhappy with their lot in life and only have time to complain and not move forward and engage in anything constructive.
Jane J
Colorado
Waterboarding Saves Lives!
If we waterboard all criminals, it will stop all crime from ever happening. At least thats what those who support torture, like the Cheney family, tell us!
Just think, if we waterboard our children they will be much better! We should include that in our Elementary schools as a form of acceptable punishment. Waterboard all the children that act up. This is the AMERICAN way! Let's get patriotic and torture just for the sake of torturing!
Let's see, killing unborn babies is ok, but torturing terrorists is wrong? Wake me up when it's over.
Hey, who cares about the thousands of good decent Americans lives that were saved as a result of the interrogation – can anyone be that dumb?
Move to a totalitarian gov't as that is where the far left loons belong.
Janet J
Nevada
"It's in the past let it go." –Mich
Furlough all criminals! They murdered, raped, and robbed in the past. Time to move on, and everything will fill with sweetness and light.
Three Republican regimes of my lifetime have turned roundly criminal. It's long past time for them to do time. They've proven they're recidivists who can't be rehabilitated, even by old age.
I love my country so much because we torture. Yay us! We torture we are so cool! Every time we torture someone, I put up my american flag with pride. Those darn WWII vets tried to put an end to it, those TRAITORS! Hitler is my hero, he tortured just like us!
YAY USA, the torture capital of the free world!!
Janet Napolitano should add those calling for prosecution to the terrorist watch list!
Seriously... you people are worse than the Russian Bolsheviks who ushered in communism.
Your zeal to "prosecute" individuals who did not break any laws is quite scary. Bush-Derrangement Syndrom is alive and well.
Maybe the ACLU Lawyers need their license to practice law if their actions cause the death of anyone, especially an armed forces member over the pictures of enhanced interrogation they demand.
And I guess Obama's lawyers and advisors will face criminal charges and disbarment when Obama leaves office in 2013. What a bunch of loons!
I definitley think that everyone the libs think can think of, should be put on trial, maybe the public backlash when the cost of this and all of the "not guilty" verdicts will drive them back in their dope smoking holes, where they belong and show the nation and the world what a dangerous, degrading and stupid political leaning it is.
How can attorney's responsible at the highest levels of our countries administration be allowed to continue to practice law after violating the basic ethics of law. As even stupid GW said. We are a nation of laws. Lawyers who cannot be trusted regading the prcatice of law should loose their livelyhood and community standing! Police who volaite civil and human rights are not exempt from prosecution. Why whould Ascroft / gomnzales and the rest be any different. Why should Bush and Cheney who expounded to be our "leaders" and sanctioned these lawyers activities are as guilty as they are.Will we continue to trun our heads? If we do we will become weaker and weaker as a society and as a nation
I fully agree, these lawyers took an oath to uphold the LAW. I don't care who their boss is, they must uphold the law. If we lay aside our humanity then we are worse than the people responsible for flying those planes into the twin towers.
Once again, we're going after the "little" players. Get the big cojones and go after the big guys that not only hired them in the first place, but dismissed the report from another set of lawyers advising them about the lack of "legality" of what they proposed to do. Good lord! We have to resolve this cr*p because we are being called to the table on this. Either we're a country with two-faces, or we're finally going to stand up and say we screwed up, royally!
A lawyer can be disbarred for deceit, malpractice, and gross misconduct, among others. These guys in question messed up royally. Was it incompetence? In such case, should they be able to preside over important courts? If they were willful, should they face criminal trials?
Saying something is in the past and we should let it go is simply foolish. Should we then free all criminals? Their actions were in the past.
Disbarment for offering reasoned legal advice as part of their job in the DOJ?
Good luck with that, lefty wing-nuts.
Also, for those talking about Clinton on here, get the facts straight. He lied under oath – in front of a federal judge – and only had his law license suspended for 5 years.
Clinton should have at least been disbarred. But, I didn't hear any of these "progressive groups" calling for that.
Isn't this equivalent to the AIG/Auto Execs. mess? The American people supposedly wanted punishment for them yet once they showed up riding coach class and driving hybrids THAT was enough to shut people up. Just when did the laws of this country have NO meaning and NO expectation of criminal punishment? Bottom line – they won't be prosecuted and if they are "disbarred" = "badge of honor" they will write their books, hit the talk show circuit, be high profile CNN interviews and be nominated to office by the Republican party. Yes, Americans just keep rewarding criminals.
Excuse us, those who don't think lawyers should be disbarred for finding a way around the law to make torture appear legal! This is a travesty of justice for those who went to jail doing the dirty work that these lawyers initiated. What's more former Vice President Cheney, not only got them to find away around the law but 'deep sixed' any other opinions and advice from getting to the former President and possibly the Secretary of State Rice, who should have done research and review herself. CLEARLY, waterboarding is torture and is against our Constitution and international laws we've agreed to. If we don't indict and prosecute our own, the international community will. I am just so sorry to the people who were imprisoned, with no chance for trial and then tortured too under MY American government. We could NOW be seen as similar to the Spanish Inquisition and/or Stalin's Russia! What an embarrassment and humiliation, as well as shame.
get them on the run and chase them out of government and to jail
they need a taste of their own medicine. these few people do not represent our countries passion on life or human rights
hopefully it will show the rest of the world that we will not stand for this kind of human abuse
pick Cheney ,Rove and the rest of the cronnies up on the way to court and put them in jail too
Congress gave their approval at the time, NOW they want to demonize everyone else, but like Pelosi, claim "I knew nothing, I knew nothing". If one single person is prosecuted, then ALL, including congress, should be prosecuted.
once again. Liberals with their own agenda that differs from the president. Do all you liberals not like your president? You all seem to be at odds with him and going your own direction when President Obama said not to.
@ Moderate Democrat says,
"Just think, if we waterboard our children they will be much better! "
-----–
Keep your day job. Your satirical commentary is about as funny as the video of Daniel Pearl getting his head sawed off or the splattering of World Trade Center workers hitting the ground after falling 70 stories.
If you disagree with waterboarding – then don't lead an islamic jihad and kill 3000+ innocent American civilians.
Disbar, jail, and waterboard! Sounds about right to me!
Good idea as long as the people voted into office last Nov do not get sidetracked from doing the job they have been elected to do.
Just the word "Progressive" is enough to turn most thinking folks off. They do not in any way represent the majority of Americans, both Democrat and Republican alike. They are the lunatic (literally) fringe for sure. Most if not all of their ideas are completely dangerous for this country. Hopefully reason will prevail, even the President has apparently seen what reality really is since he has called off the photo fiasco. Thank God he will listen to his generals, they know more than any so called "progressive" group.
"...A coalition of progressive groups..." That sounds like terrorists...the only difference is they're hear, and the speak English. They want to destroy the United States as much as the taliban.
Why bother with the lawyers? They were just stooges. The guilty are Bush and his rotten administration.
Go git 'em! They broke their oath. But I suspect that their "opinions" were dictated from on high. Don't you?
It's in the past and we should let it go – except what Pelosi knew and when she knew it. Apparently that's not in the past and shouldn't be let go. Republican hypocrisy and distraction at its finest!
I'll be sure to use that excuse that if I rob a bank and they catch me an hour later – it's in the past, why don't you let it go? ALL prosecutions are after the fact!
Liberal pukes are hypocrits. How about kicking out the Dems that supported "enhanced interrogation" and then lied about it? Oops, can't do that, must look forward now. Idiots that elect the Pelossis, Kennedys, and Franks of the world over and over are nothing but simple-minded sheep. Come on Libs, call me something original. I feed on your hate....
If the German bar had taken responsibility for the actions of its members with greater courage and determination 70 years ago, a great deal of human misery might have been avoided.
At a minimum, the profession would have had clean(er) hands when an accounting was finally required.
I think Fox News is paying people to blog on this CNN Ticker. Their comments all seem to have the same trends and phrases and they are always aimed at the Pres. even when He or his adm. have nothing to do with the story or article being presented.
Yea, This torturing totally got us great results:
We found the WMD's, Located and brought to justice Bin Laden, ended BOTH wars quickly and with no human loss. No more bombs are going off anywhere and terrorism is defeated world wide! Al Qaeda is no longer around, nor is the Taliban. All of this was accomplished because of torture. You left wing lunatics need to know the facts! Yea! Didn't you hear: "Mission Accomplished!"
Oh, wait......
Of course the libs want this to happen, something that happend a while ago and the libarads just can't let go...just like Piglosi and her affair with the CIA. What ever happend of just running this country instead of all this BS. Oh wait, the libs think that is how you ruin the country instead, they are doing a good job of that.
Relax, folks. This is the United States of America. The rich and powerful rarely get punished for anything. Sorry to say nothing is going to come of this. Have a nice day!
Please dont pick on my children,and dont look for their birth certificates.You can become anything in Texas without one.
I agree and I`m no bleeding heart liberal, but the Bush administration overstepped their constitutional duties by having the Justice Dept. accommodate them by pressuring a supposedly non-partisan branch of gov`t to do their bidding. YES , They should be disbarred
Jean B said, These Far Left Liberal are haters of America, and should move to another Country for our safety and future.
The founding fathers built the Constitution on a foundation of individual rights: the right to a speedy trial, to face your accuser, to have skilled defense, and to experience incarceration without torture. During the Revolutionary War they captured foreign enemy combatants, but they didn't torture them.
The founding fathers understood that freedom from tyrany is what made America great. Liberals don't hate America. We love America and the ideals that make her great, and we don't want to see those noble ideals eroded in the name of convenience and fear.
Bush, a businessman, depended on sound legal advice. Lawyers who advised him to violate the constitution and/or international treaties codified into American laws SHOULD be disbarred (at least).
Jon in CA May 18th, 2009 12:53 pm ET
----------
Nah man, I'm with you. I think we should saw off some peoples heads as well. Because it's the logical next step in this progression of 'enhanced interogation' techniques. Come on man, let's make it happen. Something to support, something to unite on.
Sawing off heads will become the next patriotic thing to do. You know, because people got killed in our towers it justifies anything and everything, up to and including sacrificing our moral principals and code of honor that we so ignoranty have cherished for far too long! It's time to shed our morals and act like the terrorists. Because them darn ethics we have been proud of are useless! People with ethics are WUSSIES!
@ Melissa:
Well put. Thank you.
I cannot believe folks that say: "it's in the past, let it go". The harm that has been done to our country's leaders credibility cannot be measured. We said and proclaimed: "The USA does not torture". and all the while we were LYING to our citizens, and the rest of the world. We talk about not trusting the Koreans, the Middle-Easterners, the Russians. Well who the hell should trust us now? Why should anybody believe us? Because we're the almighty USA? Get a grip!
Then we have the unmitigated gall to complain about President Obama having to go around the world cleaning up our tarnished image. Y'all better wake up and "recognize". We're not who we used to be. Our "stuff" is stinking to high heaven. We need to clean OUR HOUSE!
Dave, the truth teller, said, Liberal pukes are hypocrits.... Idiots that elect the Pelossis, Kennedys, and Franks of the world over and over are nothing but simple-minded sheep. Come on Libs, call me something original. I feed on your hate….
Dude, get therapy. Seriously.
This is a blog for us to discuss and debate news. You shouldn't feel this much hate for people who disagree with your views.
While appreciating the intent, it is difficulty for me to support the called-for action. It misses what should be the REAL targets – Messrs Bush, Cheney & Rumsfeld.
The stain of The Regime will remain forever – the damage is done. With that said, perhaps we can embrace a commencement of domestic and global healing if and when the aformentioned trio spend well-deserved time in a federal prison?
Let's reset our sights at those who truly were the evil-doers. I don't need to repeat their names, do I?
Sure go ahead, right after you prosecute Pelosi for lying and lock up Bill Clinton for lying under oath in a trial...........
Dont' throw stones from glass houses.
Or if you prefer, throw them. I love throing stones right back.
At first I was of the opinion that we should move forward.
Then Cheney got in our faces everyday bragging about torturing. The bush Administration used our troops as terminators for their illegal torture program.
Each one of them need to be indicted, convicted and jailed for the high crimes of war and treason. For now, disabarring the lawyers will do.
Bush lined his pockets with these "devoted" attorneys. Now it's time for Karma! Slam-dunk em!
If THIS comes to pass, good luck getting ANYONE to volunteer for these positions.
The end result: the executive branch suffers as anyone with a brain will reply to any offer to serve the president, "Uh, no thanks, I'd rather get a colonoscopy with a chainsaw. But thanks for offering."
You cannot criminalize political differences.
Right-wing scum baga! Every member of Bushs' cabinet should be thrown in jail for breaking the law; lying and getting us into a war, torture, crimes against humanity. Obama needs to go after these slugs. The Hell with bipartisonship. The right wing lunatic fringe has already demonstrated it doesn't care about that. The left is suppose to have all the power now. So, let's destory them all.
I hate you freaking right-wing racists killers!!
Yep sounds good to me!.... everyone in the Bush Admin should be tried and put in Jail
As my hero BB would say: "What a bunch of maroons !"
We have certainly become a feminized nation. Waterboarding a terrorist for 40 seconds at a time with a doctor standing nearby isn't torture. And as frightening as it may be to you dumbocrats, placing a harmless caterpillar into a prison cell isn't torture either.
You dumbocrats might want to ask your muslim terrorist friends what torture really is.
Dave -
We feed on your frustration – the whining and stamping of feet from the likes of you, Hannity, Limbaugh, and the rest are delicious!
It wasn't just the leaders, it was the willing followers that caused the holocaust.
Gotta love all the arm-chair tough guys who support torture with rhetoric similar to the garbled nonsense they heard from the combatants right before the fight on UFC. The reality is, they're the ones who are most scared. If they had any b@llz whatsoever, they'd be willing to stand up for everything we believe in as a nation and society even when the going gets rough. It's called principles, stupid.
If you're truly a patriot, you don't believe our foundational belief system comes with the caveat "but only when it's convenient."
The Cheney's aren't fooling anybody with their wirlwind explanations on TV. Old Dickie is out to muddy the waters so no one will investigate him and Bush! I find it rather telling that there was no torture done after 2004...after all Cheney says it was to keep us safe! What changed the last 5 years? Release everything and let the American people judge what they took this country to in the name of their idiology
@ Ray Ray, who said "You can NOT be disbarred for rending a legal OPINION!!! "
You certainly can if it was in bad faith and part of a plan to cover up and make it look like the torture was legal.
I hope Pelosi and every one of those in Congress who knew (and there are a whole bunch of 'em) and let it happen for the last 6 years are tossed aside as well. Actually, if it was illegal they should be prosecuted more vigorously than the lawyers who provided professional judgement but could not decide to actually execute it. Pelosi and her slimy band of country wreckers could have stopped it cold but instread looked the other way.
the bush administration tortured people, pelosie and others knew it and didn't object, they all need to be punished, our SOILDERS were tortured with water boarding in vetenam, we were outraged, why are these people not being held accountable for their torturing of these human beings. AMERICA DOES NOT TORTURE, pelosie should RESIGN.
Why is the lunatic left calling for the disbarrment & trial of those who clearly did not break any laws? I can see if they disagree, but to call for the disbarrment and prison does not make sense. Never heard that from a conservative, but for some reason the lefties are in to this type of thing, must bring back memories of the good old Stalin days for them.
Disbarment
Indictments
Trials
Convictions (Hopefully)
Imprisonment (Hopefully)
Embarassment
Humiliation
Obscurity
The only problem is that it is not torture. The memo's clearly defined what torture was, based on practices used in the past, and other historical analysis.
But don't let facts get in your way.
Bravo.
It's in the past? Let it go? Let's see...the Holocaust was in the past. So was the genocide in Rwanda. Oh and 9/11! 9/11 is in the past too! We can list a mountainful of injustices and say let's forget it, it's in the past. It's funny how conservatives like to turn the other cheek when it serves their purposes.
These so-called lawyers failed in their duties to uphold the law and skewed it to serve Bush and his band of hooligans. I doubt they'll be disbarred, but at least a message is being sent.
In appropriate action by lawyers? Based on the standard being applied, all lawyers should be disbarred. Almost every moron in Washington is a lawyer and look what they have done to this country. Torturing is one thing, but these incompetent morons ruined the very fiber of this country and they have the audacity to still show their faces on tv. It is insulting to have one lawyer call for another to be disbarred. They are all rotten to the core and the very ones that brought this country down.
The lawyers are a good start. They should then go after Cheney, Rove and Bush.
This is NOT a liberal or a conservative issue.
This is NOT a democrat or a republican issue.
This is a legal issue wherein the Bush administration, with malice and forethought, lied to the American public, manipulated the system and instituted an illegal action. This was done willingly and knowingly by the administration and they should be held accountable.
Crimes are not forgotten. You don't 'look ahead instead of looking behind.' If that's the case, then you might as well give all the Manson family their paroles and let them out of jail not to mention every other person who has committed a crime or who will commit crimes.
get them on the run and chase them out of government and to jail
they need a taste of their own medicine. these few people do not represent our countries passion on life or human rights
hopefully it will show the rest of the world that we will not stand for this kind of human abuse
pick Cheney ,Rove and the rest of the cronnies up on the way to court and put them in jail too
---–
I see.... pouring water on someone's head is a human rights violation. But our "passion on life" stops short when it comes to aborting a fetus!!!!!!! Logic at its finest
While we're at it...
Let's posthumously prosecute the Roosevelt administration for the firebombings of Japanese and German cities... killing over 1 million CIVILIANS.
Let's posthumously prosecute the Truman administration for the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, instantly vaporizing over 100,000 CIVILIANS and innumerable others in the aftermath.
Let's posthumously prosecute the Johnson administration for the atrocities in Viet Nam.
Let's prosecute the Clinton administration for using depleted uranium munitions in the Balkans (look it up to see the damage this stuff caused). Bush the 41st and Bush the 43rd are guilty of this in the middle east as well.
Let's just get everyone, ok?
This is such bullcrap. I can't stand liberals! Think with your head and not your weak hearts. Prosecuting our own people opens the door for other countries to bring charges against the U.S. This is Pandora's box!
awaitingliberalization@12:18
Your rhetoric is getting tired. How about addressing the issues instead of dancing around them? If they were just stooges, then get them to testify. But, as some attorneys, don't they have to perform up to some code of ethics? (Yeah, I know attorneys and ethics sounds like a bad joke).
If so, they have made themselves vulnerable. Doesn't matter if they were taking orders.
But, hey we all know the right wingers NEVER do anything wrong, right?
Imagine a lawyer being disbarred for being dishonest, lying, cheating someone out of money or some other terrible thing. Todays ethical conduct by most lawyers is very acceptable thats why most voters keep electing them. Look up how many lawyers are in congress.
Good Luck!
Sorry Janet, we certainly are not privy to any information concerning whether something worked or it didn't. I would like to know how YOU specifically know what saved thousands of lives? What were those lives saved from? Hmmm...just as I thought. I might have agreed with part of your statement until you threw in the idiot remark concerning loons. We, as citizens of the United States have no idea-really-what our government has done to keep us safe. So, before you start crowing again and repeating the "mantra" from Faux News of the thousands of lives saved-you might want to revise that. Because I highly doubt that you are privy to any type of CIA or FBA information...
And by the way, are you Janet J from Nevada or Janet J from Colorado?
Dave, the truth teller.
After reading your post, it is clear what a gentle, thoughtful man you are. "Liberal pukes are hypocrits" is such a mature, emotionally balanced statement, despite the spelling error. You are a paragon of virtue Dave.
That sounds about right.
Since they were only acting under orders from Cheney and others, I don't think they should go to jail.
However, if they were willing to play that fast and loose with the rules, they should never be allowed to practice law again.
The grandchildren and great grands of lynchers, bomb throwers, rapists and murderers...
...can't see anything wrong with what the Bush administration did...
...what's a little torture among right wing demons?
Along with disbarring the attornies listed in the article, legal proceedings should be brought against Bush, Cheney and Rove. They're the ones that pushed for the torture techniques. They're actually more guilty than the lawyers. However, the lawyers could have resigned or removed themselves from the process if they thought the procedures pushed for by Cheney Bush and Rove were illegal. They didn't do that did they? If nothing is done to punish the attornies and Bush/Cheney/Rove, we (U,S,) are in effect saying to the rest of the world.....do as I say not as I do.
yes, disbarrment is in order; that or give them the option of working and advocating for the disadvantaged.
more of us need to step up and start speaking truth to power that oppresses, suppresses, marginalizes and dehumanizes humanity.
when we don't speak out on crimes against humanity–whatever they may be–we absolve ourselves of our right and responsibility to advocate for those who are too vulnerable to defend themselves.
What specific law did these individuals break? If you say "torture" .. then I ask for a specific definition of the word and the manner in which these lawyers "broke" this law.
I will again warn the Left and those of you who want these individuals persecuted and prosecuted of this ... Time moves forward and power shifts, even in DC .... and those in power who seek prosecution today may find themselves on the receiving end of an "investigation" (or as I consider it, an inquisition!) at some point. While today you may believe your stance is valid, those in power in the future will believe their stance just as valid.
Tread carefully for that which you release into the Universe often returns to you.
Mississippi Mike:
You are very confused buddy...what you are talking about is the definition of the Republicans. Better think again.
We know the real issue here, it's not who knew and did nothing, but the ones that put them up to it. And the truth is Cheney said he is for torture and Bush was full aware and gave orders, why not go after them and anyone who was involved. No matter if Dem or Rep.
They screw up big time for this nation and if nothing is done. We are just as guilty as the Taliban. No difference.
DO IT! Disbar them. This is a much bigger and more important issue than Nancy Pelosi.
The selective memory of the GOP hate-mongers in this blog amazes me! Evidently Alberto Gonzalez is a hero to them. For eight years we heard only lies out of Washington...but now you pick on every word Obama says......how hypocritical.
NEXT...how about finding the lawyers that told Bush that ignoring the balanced budget for eight years was ok....when legally every statre has to have a balanced budget. This is ANOTHER Bush disgrace!
@ dominican mama 4 Obama
Three more years and we'll finally stand up and say we screwed up, royally. Everyone will see that most Democrats lie and shift their position in order to gain more votes, while liberals ignore their transgressions and attack Republicans with NO evidence of wrongdoing. I hope many of you have the wisdom to see this.
Their reasoning is precisely on point. A lawyer cannot advise the violation of the law. They are indeed open to professional discipline for their aiding and abetting these criminal actions.
And I say that as a professional involved in the attorney discipline process for over twenty years.
Is it just me or seeing his face makes your skin crawl???
awaitingliberalizationbyCNN and all the others that are saying that 'they didn't did anything illegal' or 'they gave a legal advice, therefore they cannot be prosecuted for it...', if I am a lawyer and I give to my client (in their case the US government) the advice that what he/she/they are doing is legal, when it isn't, then I am commiting a felony if not becoming an acessory to the crime he/she/they commite.
Walter – Those who tried to do what you're saying were either disbarred, blacklisted, convicted in kangaroo trials or simply become the lousiest lawyers of all Germany, since they couldn't win any case of their own!
If attorneys in general could be disbarred simply because they gave a legal opinion that some folks disagree (even if these folks are in the minority) with in the future we wouldn't have very many attorneys do you think. Course the thing to remember is "what goes around comes around", the current administration and folks attached thereto will not be in office forever. Guess they haven't thought about that.............typical.
Question . . . why all the uproar if the Bush Administration didn't do anything wrong? Also, is Pelosi the sole member of the Intelligence Committee and therefore the only person receiving a briefing, or were others "briefed" during the time she was briefed? If others were present, why are they silent now? A truth commission is needed to get to the truth, including the very lawyers and lawmakers who rewrote laws for the sole purpose of breaking exsisting laws. Very unconstitutional.
Rebugs...are the ones that needs to Aapologize to the American, and the countries that went into Iraq . We should not be hearing from you, have you no shame, look at what's happening to the people who are loosing their jobs, homes, 401's, and buisnesses.. It's trutly your fault for voting not once but twice for Mr. WMD and Duby's kiss of death. And were are they, in thier beautiful mansions, living it up to the fullest, and we poor folks fighting over who started it first. Childs play better and nicer than us grown up do. Truly sad, for us and for those who go around pointing fingers and knowing they are the ones to blame.
I'm an "alien" just trying to learn about the meanings of some english words... I did not know what the word "torture" meant, but when I heard this sound first time, a group of boys are laughing, playing their PC games, and I feel myself like a stone in someone's hand.
@ Dave the truth teller, May 18, 12:58
Come on Libs, call me something original. I feed on your hate….
Sorry Dave, but after reading and considering your post, all I have for you is pity.
Interesting the way some discussions on this blog get jumped on so fiercely by the strident voices who shout the loudest and fling the most insults but don't support their ideas with logical arguments.
Almost as if there was an organized effort to suppress certain ideas. Almost as if someone out there is very threatened by this discussion of prosecuting the Bush lawyers. Threatened enough to hire trolls to disrupt the free exchange of ideas. Hmmm, I wonder who would that threatened?
I think this is a good move. We also need to investigate those under Clinton as well, who sent detainees to countries who really knew how to carry out torture. I know that Mr Holder would gladly provide information on this. It's time to investigate all living advisors to the White House. A good witch hunt makes for great reality television.
the left-wing vendetta continues. Hate, hate, and more hate........ I would rather be waterboarded than listen to one more piece of liberal fiction.
I say if we can't try to convict them disbar them. They can't just get away with this. This is the misuse of power I have ever seen in my life time.
And if these attorneys are disbarred, you know they'll be calling for George W, Cheney, and Rove to be prosecuted.
Was torture part of what George W was referring to when he said he didn't follow all the necessary "policies" to getting things done? aka following the U.S. Constitution? Oh, just small details, my friends.
"It's in the past let it go."
America's reputation is ruined, and us fixing our past is the only way to make an honest step forward. Would you say "It's in the past let it go," toward Nazi war criminals? I didn't think so.
HEY RAY RAY...
Obviously your not a lawyer or you would know you CAN BE DISBARRED for the types of legal opinions these people contrived to legitimize a known criminal activity.
Can you say Nazi war crimes trials Ray Ray?
If you read this article carefully you should recognize that this is not a witch hunt by politios – It's other lawyers doing the accusing. If you don't get that point your opinion is worthless...
This is what needs to happen, not stringing up Pelosi for something that she was breifed on 7 years ago. Heck, Ollie North couldn't remember things that he lied about within a couple months of when it happened. This is absolutely ironic that the republicans would be asking anyone to resign or apologize for lies.
If the administration is going to go after the leaders (Bush, Cheney, Rumsfield et al.), then they should go all the way. If not, then those down the food chain deserve a pass too.
All this hate and name calling shows a lack of intelligence. If you can not make your case without it then please don't try. It is a difference of opinion with open minded debate that makes our country great. We need this. It is this type of rhetoric that most of us from either party would like to see "in the past". The extremism hurts all of us. "In all things moderation". I do not need to move to another country because my opinion might be different from yours. I cherish my right to have my opinion and I cherish yoiur right to yours, but please espress without hate.
I wish these guys were as determined to catch the animals who dismembered and really tortured our troops in Iraq
"Just the word "Republican" is enough to turn most thinking folks off. They do not in any way represent the majority of Americans, both Democrat and Republican alike. They are the lunatic (literally) fringe for sure. Most if not all of their ideas are completely dangerous for this country."
See, it works both ways.
Liberal fascists. Are they going after Pelosi too?
Dave the liar, you really aren't worth the effort. Sorry. oops, I just wasted 30 seconds of my time. Still your not worth it.
Way to twist words to fit your needs, everyone! Be careful what you wish for. The very, very heart of this issue is the fact that then-President Bush assured American citizens and the rest of the world 'we do not torture'.
What do you think would have happened if ANY congressperson questioned waterboarding in 2002? Would that have stopped it? Why go after the 'little' people. If anyone should be punished for lying and breaking the law, it should go back to the men who started this whole thing, don't you think?
So what exactly did these lawyers do wrong? They delivered an interpretation of the law. Which is exactly what the Supreme Court does. And based on those yahoos, at least 4 of them can't even read the constitution but aren't being disbarred for it...
Even though attorneys are often equated with sharks and jackals, this bunch of fools are an embarrassment to all members of the human race. When persons trained in the law try to use the law to justify unlawful actions, they deserve to be disbarred forever and then prosecuted under for their crimes. Cheney and Bush should also be prosecuted because they were the driving force behind all the torture and torture memos. Don't let the rats escape.
Arrogant fascist left! This is getting scary. I've never seen such a vindictive group. Can the left just govern and quit this scary political garbage.
Jon In CA:
Where you been, man! Always enjoyed your posts. Not too many of us left in California!
Keep posting brother!
PELOSI – PELOSI – PELOSI – have they perhaps overlooked someone who actually did do something wrong, like LYING TO CONGRESS and accusing our national intelligence officers of lying to her! what a disgrace but because she is a democrat these progressives" (otherwise known as flaming liberals) seem not to see her problems – what a joke all these idiots are!!!!!!!!
You coalition members should craft a law barring women who have killed their babies from ever getting pregnant again. You are disgusting: you approve of killing American, helpless babies but want to give tea and cookies to our enemies. Are helpless American babies our enemies?
Disbarment would be appropriate, but that would require action by the legal community. Considering what passes for "legal ethics" in this country, I doubt they would ever find anything wrong with what was done. I've already seen other lawyers rushing to defend those who wrote the "torture memos." Nothing will be done unless Congress does something. And who runs Congress: lawyers. Sadly, this issue isn't going anywhere.
They must be prosecuted. They brought dihonor to our courts and our country.
Hey, Jean B, Jack Carlson, Jane JOnes, & Janet JOhnson. Why don't you just use your real name or at least the same one when you post numerous comments. It's quite obvious you are the same person. Try switching your writing style up a little instead of copying and pasting. It will make your points seem more valuable. Just trying to help
To disbarr an attorney because some disagree with their decisions sounds ludicrous to me, but if the progressives keep occupied with futile endevors about the past they may not do as much harm for our future
"I did not have sexual relations with that woman". "I was never breifed about waterboarding". Sound kind of the same don't they.
Liberals are born liars, and ignorant enough to believe the lies of other liberals.
They should all be disbarred. They operated under Bush's words of "you're either for me or against me". They were all yes men and Addington headed the bunch as Dick Cheney's attorney by passing the chain of command and firing anyone who disagreed. Disbarr them now and go to work on Bush and Cheney.
Anybody that was involved should be held accountable. Democrats and Republicans alike. NO ONE is above the law unless everyone is above the law.
They want to destroy the United States as much as the taliban.
----
Too late... your fellow Republicans wing-nuts have already done far worse than anything any terrorist could do. I see that you are no educated enough to appreciate that fact.
And bone head Boehner and Gingrich are decent human beings, ha, ha, ha, ha, These idiots support torture, and I trust the CIA about as much as I trust Hitler. Let's get back to the issue Bush/Cheny lied to start a war and now we have over four thousand dead Americans not to mention the innoncent people killed in Iraq.
And bone head Boehner and Gingrich are decent human beings, ha, ha, ha, ha, These idiots support torture, and I trust the CIA about as much as I trust Hitler. Let's get back to the issue Bush/Cheny lied to start a war and now we have over four thousand dead Americans not to mention the innoncent people killed in Iraq. This IS NOT A DUPLICATE COMMENT
And bone head Boehner and Gingrich are decent human beings, ha, ha, ha, ha, These idiots support torture, and I trust the CIA about as much as I trust Hitler. Let's get back to the issue Bush/Cheny lied to start a war and now we have over four thousand dead Americans not .
Attorneys who purposely break the LAWS of our Nation to suite a president or anyone else for that matter, should be ......... disbarred!
How about Ashcroft, Gonzalez??
Clinton was impeached by the "holier-than-thou-GOP" for lying about "that woman" ............. BUSH ALLOWED TORTURE!
They need to be in prison end of story they are war criminals. The law is totally clear. The administration set up the democrats in a trap that they have no sprung to take the issue away from the real criminals – bush/cheney. Then they get there hysterical base that can't have an original thought to fan the fires of there smoke and mirrors.
Trying to do this is a joke. These people are idiots. We're at war. Don't they think that we should do whatever is necessary to get the necessary information out of the criminal's. Do they think for one instance that our people would get good treatment? No, they would not. They behead them in public and drag their dead bodies thru the streets. And don't think this is the first time these tactics have been used. We've used them before. Remember, this ain't our first rodeo. And the bleeding heart liberal's can go live with our enemies.
DISBARMENT?????
How about life in solitary confinement at hard labor?
It seems to me that any lawyer that shows such disrespect for our constitution and any treaties that we as a nation have signed deserves to be disbarred. Criminal charges should be considered too.
Funny how this goes down ...The US justice department run by Pres. Obama said no to going after these people as far a breaking the law (from TIME Mag) and now special instrest goes after them when the speaker is in hot water. At this rate we will move forward when? I want health care, a realistic fereral budget, and an end to run away spending not more grandstanding.. and I want it NOW!!!
Disbarment isn't enough, jail time is needed.
Before our Country is totally destroyed from within we need the middle of both political parties to get together and bring this great nation back into control! We have lost to both the extreme right and left and if it is not brought back to what our for fathers set forth we are domed!
Bush may have proposed torture......but the Democraps voted for it.....twice!!!!!
Please identify what law these individuals broke. I, for one, believe the left is playing "Chicken" with the security of this nation. I hope to God they do not lose.
Lawyers can be bad and there's no way to sue them or make they pay for their gross mistakes or corruption. I say to go after them. Those lawyers knew it was torture but I'm sure Bush and Cheney put pressure on them, too, to see it all "Bush's way". And we all know Republicans in Congress don't think for themselves and they didn't object at all.
As for Jean above, she or he sounds like the person who needs to move elsewhere. What a stupid remark.
Which group is this? The ones who protect NAMBLA (child molesters) or the group providing pro bono representation to the terrorists? Where were they when Bill Clinton committed perjury (legally proven, by the way)? He's still a licensed lawyer. I think it was Shakespeare who said "first kill all the lawyers". Maybe he was right.
Just to make sure that this is not a politicized process, and is really only in the interest of the American people, it needs to include all parties that were a part of the approval process, and that includes the legislative segment of our government who could have declared waterboarding and other IETs to be illegal: the United States Congress (both parties, no protection for anyone). Release all the records to the investigative team and prosecute everyone who was a part of approving and/or allowing this. Fair enough? I will be happy with that kind of process. But not a partisan witch hunt where new rules are created as we go along. Last time I looked we still believed in the rule of law didn't we? Didn't we?
This would be a good first step, and if the bar associations won't deal with it, congressional impeachment is a must! Criminal prosecutions are the end game though; I don't mind Obama and Holder dancing around it as the information trickles out, but if we want to retain our democracy, indictments are a must!