double-post -- sorry

Is it Me?
 

What do you mean when you say this? Does Lindsey Graham have to worry that he's going to face a serious challenge, ever? Does he think the way to please South Carolina voters is to take this position? Neither of those notions seem plausible to me. He's taking that position because he served in the armed forces and he thinks that what the Administration is doing is bad for the armed forces.

Is it Me?
 

OK, here you go - Dems (like Pelosi, that don't care) think they can manipulate people that do by exploiting the issue for political gain.

Saying a platitude like "I am against torture" is a hollow statement. Other than psychopaths, who isn't? The statement is comparable to saying "I like a sunny day"

The difference is in the fine points.

Is it Me?
 

No. To be clear, a bipartisan group was given a demonstation. No one complained. 2 basically asked "is there more?" But the party affiliation of the reacting parties has not been disclosed.

Is it Me?
 

In the article I linked to in my original post (and elsewhere): http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn...801664_pf.html

• Harman, who replaced Pelosi as the committee's top Democrat in January 2003, disclosed Friday that she filed a classified letter to the CIA in February of that year as an official protest about the interrogation program. Harman said she had been prevented from publicly discussing the letter or the CIA's program because of strict rules of secrecy.
  
  "When you serve on intelligence committee you sign a second oath -- one of secrecy," she said. "I was briefed, but the information was closely held to just the Gang of Four. I was not free to disclose anything."

Is it Me?
 

If you think that, on the whole, Democrats are exploiting the issue, I think you're crazy. They're in a defensive crouch, afraid to push too hard on it for fear that another terrorist attack will happen and Republicans will accuse them of not having the stones to do what it takes to protect the country. Obviously, there are exceptions. Also, the word "exploiting" suggests that you think they're really pro-torture. (Pro-waterboarding, if you prefer.) It's hard for me to believe that anyone really thinks this.

Is it Me?
 

That is incorrect, as Not Bob pointed out.

eta: stp

Is it Me?
 

Your first point is reasonable here. You have cited a difference in perceptions between you and Slave.

It's the second point where you veer into "lawyer" territory, again trying to repackage someone's point to create a strawman position you can easily knock down to look like you've "won" the point. For the record, no one could ever read what he wrote as a suggestion the Dems are pro-torture.


ETA: You've seen "Outfoxed," haven't you?

Is it Me?
 

Haven't seen "Outfoxed." Maybe the word "exploit" means something different to each of us. I took Hank and Slave -- especially Hank -- to be saying that Pelosi (e.g.) doesn't have a problem with waterboarding but is pretending in public that she, for political advantage.

Is it Me?
 

I don't agree with either of you. I think she's against it, but doesn't really care all that much and is pretending to care a lot more than she does for political advantage. That's the fine point being made here about the Democrats.

I don't think "exploit" has a widely varying definition. I think its clear the word means "using something in an opportunistic fashion." I see the the issue as the degree to which something is being used in that fashion.

If it's your position that Pelosi is not exploiting the torture issue to any degree, I couldn't disagree more.

Is it Me?
 

I think she, and most people who have some idea of what waterboarding is about, are disgusted by it, and are raising the issue not for political advantage, though some may be incidental, but because they are disgusted by it. I would not call that exploitation. It's possible that Pelosi in particular is not disgusted -- I don't know her that well and am not her biggest fan -- but Hank's proof that she's a hypocrite strikes me as beyond thin, and more in the way of a routine effort by the WSJ editorial to soften up a favorite punching bag. I will not pretend that Dems are universally principled, but on this issue I believe most are acting out of good faith.

Is it Me?
 

Not bob, are you sure that wasn;t the objection in the letter?

Is it Me?
 

not bob, you have more gravitas than to make this argument, that's right, gravitas.

Is it Me?
 

me personally? doesn't matter. i trust my governement. the executive branch proposed using it, and my elected congress had no objection, so I'm okay with it.

Dyslexia
 

Howard Stern said "Osama" the other day referring to him, not on purpose. bad luck name.