Garrison Keillor blasts those who voted for the torture amendment.

[madfloridian]

This is very moving and painful to read. The part about the Methodist Church in Dallas is devastating. I have a friend who goes there...wonder if she applauded torture.

He lists the names of the ones who voted for the torture bill. He condemns them.

Congress's Shameful Retreat From American Values

The Senate also decided it's up to the president to decide whether it's OK to make these enemies stand naked in cold rooms for a couple of days in blinding light and be beaten by interrogators. This is now purely a bureaucratic matter: The plenipotentiary stamps the file "enemy combatants" and throws the poor schnooks into prison and at his leisure he tries them by any sort of kangaroo court he wishes to assemble and they have no right to see the evidence against them, and there is no appeal. This was passed by 65 senators and will now be signed by President Bush, put into effect, and in due course be thrown out by the courts.

It's good that Barry Goldwater is dead because this would have killed him. Go back to the Senate of 1964 - Goldwater, Dirksen, Russell, McCarthy, Javits, Morse, Fulbright - and you won't find more than 10 votes for it.

None of the men and women who voted for this bill has any right to speak in public about the rule of law anymore, or to take a high moral view of the Third Reich, or to wax poetic about the American Ideal. Mark their names. Any institution of higher learning that grants honorary degrees to these people forfeits its honor. Alexander, Allard, Allen, Bennett, Bond, Brownback, Bunning, Burns, Burr, Carper, Chambliss, Coburn, Cochran, Coleman, Collins, Cornyn, Craig, Crapo, DeMint, DeWine, Dole, Domenici, Ensign, Enzi, Frist, Graham, Grassley, Gregg, Hagel, Hatch, Hutchison, Inhofe, Isakson, Johnson, Kyl, Landrieu, Lautenberg, Lieberman, Lott, Lugar, Martinez, McCain, McConnell, Menendez, Murkowski, Nelson of Florida, Nelson of Nebraska, Pryor, Roberts, Rockefeller, Salazar, Santorum, Sessions, Shelby, Smith, Specter, Stabenow, Stevens, Sununu, Talent, Thomas, Thune, Vitter, Voinovich, Warner.

To paraphrase Sir Walter Scott: Mark their names and mark them well.

Here is his report on his speech in the Methodist church in Dallas. This is chilling. What has happened to my country?

I got some insight last week into who supports torture when I went down to Dallas to speak at Highland Park Methodist Church. It was spooky. I walked in, was met by two burly security men with walkie-talkies, and within 10 minutes was told by three people that this was the Bushes' church and that it would be better if I didn't talk about politics. I was there on a book tour for "Homegrown Democrat," but they thought it better if I didn't mention it. So I tried to make light of it: I told the audience, "I don't need to talk politics. I have no need even to be interested in politics - I'm a citizen, I have plenty of money and my grandsons are at least 12 years away from being eligible for military service." And the audience applauded! Those were their sentiments exactly. We've got ours, and who cares?

Yes, it does sound like a church Bush would be a part of. It really does sound that way to me.

[clyrc]

1. I read Homegrown Democrat this last summer

I cried while I read it because it was so perfectly a statement of why I'm a Democrat. Garrison Keillor put it so beautifully, I wanted to buy copies of the book for everyone I met on the street, not to mention friends and family.

[madfloridian]

2. Hi, my friend.

Don't see you around much.

This article moved me because it shared my anger about Nelson. His aide almost cried when I called, I think because she knew she was trying to defend the indefensible.

[madfloridian]

15. I was thinking of you two a few times lately.....

and how your own party worked against you a few years ago. It is not something we should forget, that it could happen again. It has happened here lately.

My eyes were opened then.

[Synnical]

3. I wrote to my Senator in Fla - Nelson

And stated that he had lost my vote due to his vote in support of the Torture Bill.

Here is his lame reply:

Dear XXXXXX

Thank you for contacting me regarding the issue of military tribunals for illegal combatants captured in the war on terror. As a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, I have followed closely the evolution of this important issue.

Congress needed to establish a system for trying terrorist suspects, because the President's plan for secret trials could have put our own captured troops at risk. I voted for Senator John McCain's proposal for trying terrorist suspects in military courts and ruling out secret trials. I believe the legislation respects international law and our treaty obligations by preventing abuses during interrogations. I also voted for an amendment to restore habeas corpus rights, but it was narrowly defeated.

I appreciate the opportunity to share my position on this very emotional issue. It is a privilege to serve Florida in the Senate, and I value the views of my constituents. Please do not hesitate to contact me on other issues that are of interest to you.

I will not "hold my nose" and vote for Nelson. Just as I did not the first time he ran for Senate. I'm voting, again, for the Independent/Green candidate.

STFU, Krazy Katie Harris will not win, so I'm not "wasting" my vote, but Nelson sucks, hate him much. x(

-Cindy in Fort Lauderdale

[shance]

4. I grew up as a member of Highland Park Methodist Church in Dallas.

Although my family did not venture there often, there has been a hijacking of sorts by political ops of my church.

How sad.

People abusing power will always hide behind religion in order to appear moral and upstanding to achieve their dark agenda.

We all should know by now that their "godliness" is anything but true.

Americans need to realize that "religion" and "politics" eventually become one in the same when corruption takes precedent, and when power abusers grab the wheel.

Apparently, my old church may have sold out, at least some of those in power have sold out, and that does not bode well for any of the members. However, I have heard many have protested such a coupt.

[madfloridian]

5. That's sad.

It happened in my Southern Baptist church. Things were getting bad about women's rights and issues like gay rights, which should not be preached in churches.

But the worst was their support for Iraq. That's when we left.

[mogster]

6. Great post, madfloridian

Kick and recommend.
Very moving, thanks for posting.

It's a clear sign of this IMHO:

"Creative destruction is our middle name, both within our own society and abroad.
We tear down the old order every day, from business to science, literature, art, architecture, and cinema to politics and the law.
Our enemies have always hated this whirlwind of energy and creativity, which menaces their traditions (whatever they may be) and shames them for their inability to keep pace.

Seeing America undo traditional societies, they fear us, for they do not wish to be undone. They cannot feel secure so long as we are there, for our very existence -- our existence, not our politics -- threatens their legitimacy. They must attack us in order to survive, just as we must destroy them to advance our historic mission."
- Michael Ledeen

[Catfight]

7. I can't believe Nelson of Florida voted for it. He's up for re-election

and he's a democrat. Now I can't vote for him if he's a rubber stamp. What's the choice now? Katherine lunatic Harris?

[Stardust]

12. I'm glad I don't have your dilemma to grapple with...both of my

senators voted against it (Boxer and Feinstein). The way I figure it, gaining control of Congress is priority Numero Uno, then we'll work on fixing the Democratic Party. If, however, the Dems do regain power and fail to deliver, then it's time to seriously develop an alternative. It will be buh-bye DU for me.

[Totally Committed]

8. "Mark their names and mark them well."

None of the men and women who voted for this bill has any right to speak in public about the rule of law anymore, or to take a high moral view of the Third Reich, or to wax poetic about the American Ideal. Mark their names. Any institution of higher learning that grants honorary degrees to these people forfeits its honor. Alexander, Allard, Allen, Bennett, Bond, Brownback, Bunning, Burns, Burr, Carper, Chambliss, Coburn, Cochran, Coleman, Collins, Cornyn, Craig, Crapo, DeMint, DeWine, Dole, Domenici, Ensign, Enzi, Frist, Graham, Grassley, Gregg, Hagel, Hatch, Hutchison, Inhofe, Isakson, Johnson, Kyl, Landrieu, Lautenberg, Lieberman, Lott, Lugar, Martinez, McCain, McConnell, Menendez, Murkowski, Nelson of Florida, Nelson of Nebraska, Pryor, Roberts, Rockefeller, Salazar, Santorum, Sessions, Shelby, Smith, Specter, Stabenow, Stevens, Sununu, Talent, Thomas, Thune, Vitter, Voinovich, Warner.

To paraphrase Sir Walter Scott: Mark their names and mark them well.

Amen! Thank you, Garrison.

TC

[DesertRat]

9. Excellent commentary

Both of my Senators voted for the bill. I do hope that everyone marks their names.

[madfloridian]

10. I hesitated to post the last paragraph...there is so much anger in it.

But it is a truly righteous anger, and it deserves to be read and posted.

The Methodists of Dallas can be fairly sure that none of them will be snatched off the streets, flown to Guantanamo Bay, stripped naked, forced to stand for 48 hours in a freezing room with deafening noise. So why should they worry? It's only the Jews who are in danger, and the homosexuals and gypsies. The Christians are doing fine. If you can't trust a Methodist with absolute power to arrest people and not have to say why, then whom can you trust?

He could have substituted many religious institutions and other groups in place of the church, and it would be the same right now.

Some of the comments after Keillor's column are amazing. Heartfelt.

[Vidar]

11. Thank you, Garrison.

[Catshrink]

13. So why isn't the IRS going after that church

like they are the Episcopal church in Pasadena?

[madfloridian]

14. Another voice against that bill...General Johns. powerful video.

http://www.firedoglake.com/2006/10/07/the-courage-to-fight-lieberman

He utterly condemns that bill that they voted for. He does not spare anyone who is not standing up now.

[Mass]

16. Great post, MF