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October 07, 2005 08:00 AM UTC

Wayne Allard and the Torture Amendment

  • 13 Comments
  • by: Colorado Pols

Senator Wayne Allard took a play from Tom Tancredo’s book this week when he became one of only nine Senators to oppose John McCain’s amendment to a defense appropriations bill that would have regulated the federal government’s lenient stance on the treatment of enemy combatants in US military custody. Today’s Rocky Mountain News:

The amendment was inspired by reported abuses of detainees in Iraq and at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. But Allard said changing the regulations “does not right the wrong committed by those individuals who were clearly acting outside the Army’s existing regulations and laws of our country.”

“In fact, all it does is tie the hands of the Department of Defense at a time when maximum flexibility within the boundaries of the U.S. law is needed,” Allard said.

We understand that the war on terror requires a different approach in many ways than more “traditional” models. At the same time, Allard took this stand in opposition to many other Republicans, like McCain, who believe that the current approach to dealing with prisoners and interrogations has harmed the United States’ credibility as an advocate for freedom and democracy around the world.

Nevertheless, the President is adamantly opposed to this amendment and has promised to veto the whole appropriations bill over it. 90-9 is certainly enough to overcome that threat, so the question is really more about how badly this Senatorial insurrection will hurt Bush going forward.

Wayne Allard stands to lose big if he comes out on the wrong side of this one, even if it’s the same side as the President. With Bush polling in the upper 30s  today, Allard may be missing the writing on the wall…

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13 thoughts on “Wayne Allard and the Torture Amendment”

  1. Wayne Allard, the lights are on, no one’s home.  I watch quite a bit of C-Span and when Wayne rises to speak there is always an audible groan.  One would hope that he was a better veterinarian than a Senator; people talk about likeability factors such as would you drink a beer with the guy and if that fails, would you respect his leadership enough to entrust your life and property or perhaps in his case, would you trust him with the family dog. Sorry Wayne, Colorado and ‘Ol Blue deserve a lot better.

  2. This is the second poll this week that shows Bush breaking down his own base of support.  The USA Today poll had Bush support at 37%, with falling numbers of core Republican supporters leading the downward spiral.

    Colorado Democrats are probably cheering the slide statewide, especially since many of our own Republican representatives are trying themselves so closely to the party leadership.  With Karl Rove going back in to testify this coming week, and Judith Miller “finding some new notes” on her conversation with Libby, I’m just happy to let them all slide into shame in time for the 2006 elections to heat up.

    If all they did was grow a spine so they could stand up against their own corrupt leaders, I’d be happy.

  3. I think it is now approaching the point where Democrats are no longer cheering the self induced demise of the Republicans and are now, as the majority of Americans, lamenting the destruction of our Democracy by this Administration and its allies in this dysfunctional Congress…

  5. Mr. Collins:
    Enjoyed your website.  You just stick with Cindy Sheehan and her vision for this country and see how far it gets you.  Also, please continue sending Washington bright, intellectual and very well spoken leaders like the Salazar brothers.  They do Colorado proud each time they rise to speak.  Oh, that’s right, I don’t think I’ve ever seen Johnny boy rise on C-SPAN. I’m guessing that people in Washington must not care about Ref. A, huh?  As for ol’ Blue, maybe you should send him over to the Chief Blue Dog’s office to see if he can help out.  God knows he’s not doing anyting for the 3rd CD so maybe he could help small pets.  Just a thought.

  6. Allard is hardly a humanitarian.  Remember, this is the guy who suggested that it would be a good thing to reintroduce the idea of public hanging. It’s probably a good thing for all the sick cats and dogs out there that Wayne is no longer practicing veterinary medicine.

  7. Dear newcareerforjohn?

    Glad you enjoyed the website, ha,ha.  If you really want to know how I feel about Gold Star Mothers, go to my Vietnam site, I scroll down and find the picture of the Gold Star Mom.  The Salazar brothers are the point team of what is to come, they’ll do the best they can until the “A” team arrives, never fear and remember this, there is no fear in democracy. My friend Ann Richards says, “You have to find the courage to talk to people you don’t know about things they don’t want to hear.” BTW, the Vietnam site, I got 66,000 hits on the Pat Tillman page the day he died, for the year it had been up, about 200.  I practically worship the guy since I found out what he had to say about the illegal fng war in Iraq.  A man can’t really appreciate the holy mill of murder until he’s walked the walk.  So tell me, what do you know that I don’t know about Cindy Sheehan?  Actually, never mind, keep your opinions to yourself, I am mindful of the dog story my pappy told me, “lay down with dogs, get up with fleas.”

  8. Wayne Allard stands to lose big if he comes out on the wrong side of this one,

    Maybe I’m easily offended, but putting Allard’s vote in realpolitik terms bothers me.

    This is about torture and whether we want our government to abuse prisoners in our name.  It arouses strong feelings, and it ought to.  Regardless of how it may affect his political fortunes, Wayne Allard’s vote was immoral and wrong.

  10. Senator Allard says, “In fact, all it does (the amendment) is tie the hands of the Department of Defense at a time when maximum flexibility within the boundaries of the U.S. law is needed,” 

    The Senator should re-read the Constitution that he swore to uphold.  Article 1, Section 8, says, “The Congress shall have Power To…………make Rules concerning Captures on Land and Water.”  That explicit language prohibits Congress from tossing it off to an Administration that makes up its rules as it goes along.

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