David Addington: I can't talk about torture because al-Qaeda may be watching CSPAN
By SilentPatriot Wednesday Jun 25, 2008 8:47pm
David Addington today offered a preposterous reason for refusing to answer a question about whether or not he was party to talks about torture with his superiors -- al-Qaeda may be watching CSPAN and he can't give away any information that may benefit them. Really.
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DELAHUNT: Oh I can understand why [the President] doesn't talk about it.
ADDINGTON: Because you gotta communicate with al Qaeda. If you do -- I can't talk to you, al Qaeda may watch C-SPAN.
DELAHUNT: Right. Well, I'm sure they are watching, and I'm glad they finally have a chance to see you, Mr. Addington.
ADDINGTON: Yeah, I'm sure you're pleased.
UPDATE: Digby has much more on Addington:
Addington ought to be held in contempt of Congress for just plain contemptuousness. As Scott Horton noted on Pacifica's coverage, he clearly believes himself to be smarter than all the Representatives in the room, and he has no problem bullying them around the way he reportedly bullies everyone in the executive branch. He also doesn't mind lying about his role in designing torture tactics after a personal trip to Guantanamo...read on
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Oh brother!
Just throw him in jail, then we all win.
Yes, its about time everyone saw the *true* architect of Torture USA. I hope Addington has to get a bodyguard, maybe one from Blackwater.
Now that al-Qaeda know what you look like, and Scalia & Co. says they have a Constitutional right to a handgun in D.C., you may have to think about laying low for awhile.
Addington's contempt for congress is obvious. He knows they are impotent.
Hey Addington! I watch C-span! I'm I in al-Qaeda? No. I'm tired of criminals like you and your MSM buddies who play under the radar to destroy the Country I live in. Why isn't MSM covering this? Because they, themselves sre to blame for pushing this Administrations crimes.
Mr. Addington - you, sir, are a cock.
Al's listening right now, to yet another schmuck no less.
Contempt for congress??? Well, I know that I have had a lot of contempt for them too. Until they start to play hardball, this will continue.
They need to kick some Refucklican ass!!!!
I wonder if he has ever personally tortured someone? Cranked the screws, poured the water, threw the odd punch, ground the odd family huevo with his heel? Ever got his hands dirty?
Nah.
Addington also said he wasn't "for or against" torturing suspects' children to gain info. Add child torture to their list of crimes. They might as well remove impeachment from the books if they don't use it on these vermin.
"he has no problem bullying them around the way he reportedly bullies everyone in the executive branch."
The Democrats in Congress LOVE being bullied!
They thrive on it! They let a President with a 23% approval rating pass new FISA laws that give MORE than he asked for!
The Republicans kick the Dems in the butt, and the Dems say thank you, and call it a compromise.
Knowing that, why shouldn't Addington treat them with contempt? He knows they won't do anything - they are all talk and no action.
Addington and Yoo probably both have assurances from Bush that they will receive pardons come December/January 2009. Mark my words.
Delahunt's comment smacks of limitless disgust for this clown Addington:
Right. Well, I’m sure they are watching, and I’m glad they finally have a chance to see you, Mr. Addington.
Addington and Yoo won't need pardons. The cowardly Democrat-led congress won't do anything to them.
Bush, Cheney & Co. are above the law.
roobeer @ 11:
I think they have already removed it permanently from the books. What could they ever impeach another President for after setting this precedent?
Our system is completely broken.
Epinnoia @ 13:
I can't wait to see that pardon list.
Just keep counting the days until we have a real majority of law and order democrats and then we can do some Nuremberg trials. And he is on the list.
If nothing else, the Bush Administration is consistent. Virtually everyone in the administration is corrupt, incompetent and contemptuous of the Constitution.
cheney's other c*** wife.
What could they ever impeach another President for after setting this precedent?
A blowjob?
Admitting to being a member of the ACLU?
Getting an expensive haircut?
He'll skate like Scooter and the rest of them!
He's showing contempt because he knows he can get away with it. When they grow a pair and use the powers of inherent contempt, this bullshit will stop. Until then, you're going to see more of the same.
Nicht Schuldig! I am reminded of the nazis crying "Not Guilty" at Nuremburg. I do not think that I can begin to convey the volume of disgust and loathing that I feel for the present, illegitimate government of this country.
Also, he just washed his hair.
Addington is one arrogant bastard.
rtsp://video1.c-span.org/project/ter/ter062608_gitmo.rm
There must be a whole lot of Al Qaeda watching right now, because I can't get it to play... My player sees that it's 2:50:49 in length, but won't play any of it.
Does anyone know of any alternative online source for this?
Another sycophantic courtier whose power revolves solely on his relationship to the real power, the Executive. That is, he serves only at the pleasure of his master, the simian warmonger. This is, of course, reminiscent of the power structure during the Middle Ages and that was supposed to have disappeared following the events of 1789 in France and the Enlightment. Ain't it grand to go back to the "good old days" with the blessing of the Congress as they don't have the kajones to shoulder their responsibilities as laid out in the constitution. Pathetic wimps. They, too, should hang in the Washington equivalent of the Place de la Concorde. This insignificant footnote in history, Addington, will make his contribution to gutting the constitution and then hit the links in Arizona. An anti-democratic thug. Mr. Guillotine, you're on . . . .
YAWN! I only WISH I could get "grilled" like this by my bosses. CAKE...especially when knowing that, in the end, not a god-damned thing will happen to you no matter HOW contemptuous your behavior.
Throw the lot of 'em -- Conyers, Pelosi, Reid -- in jail with the rest of these criminal clowns and be done with it. They're all full of sh*t!
ChrisM70 @ 15:
Very perceptively stated. The reason that Addington and Cheney ["So"?] and the rest of the Bush crowd act with such impunity is that they know, as ChrisM correctly notes, that the Democrats will not lift a finger to make sure that they are held accountable for their actions. It should never be forgotten that Barack Obama, that alleged agent of hope and change, has not backed Kucinich's 35 [!] Articles of Impeachment against Bush nor stood behind Kucinich's impeachment proposal against Cheney. Yet liberals continue to believe that Obama will somehow lead them to the Promised Land.
Opprobrious Asshole, but I guess that would describe everyone in this administration.
Didn't Addington sort of throw John Yoo under the bus? Interesting, since both of them would be thrown under the bus if need be to protect Cheney and Bush. So how smart exactly are they really?
Erroll @ 30:
Obama is not in the House, he is a member of the Senate. WTF are you saying?
Glad to hear al-Qaeda can afford cable and get CSPAN, in addition to whatever that Arabic-language propaganda station we've pissed away half a billion on.
How about this--Why not require that CSPAN be offered, Hell, required to be broadcast FOR FREE on public airwaves?? Why must I pay a private cable or internet company to watch the proceedings of MY government, yet on "free TV" (still public-licensed) I am sold HOURS of infomercials for exercise machines, colonoscopies-in-a-bottle, and personal-jesus preachers.
If we really want an informed electorate, it should not cost to see it in action. Oh, that's right; never mind...
Watching this scurrilous cad makes me wish the chairman could bark out, "Take that man below decks and clap him in irons!'
Well now we know what the devil looks like.
this just in: Bin Laden forgot to pay the cable bill last month!!
These evil people know that they will not be held responsible for anything they've done. The people who are questioning them know that they're not going to charge them with anything. This spectalcle is going on to appease all of us who think they should go to jail. Addington and Yoo are pretty much telling Congress to kiss their ass.
ya know @ 38:
Sure looks that way.
So what if al-Queda is watching. The surge! The surge! We surged, and it worked. So if al-Queda is still a threat, then how exactly did the surge work? Jesus, they can't have it both ways.
Every now and then I get these spikes of ANGER which cut through the background fog of general annoyance with the system. If I was in that room, in the right spot with the right gauge of baseball bat in hand, it would take all my willpower to remember that I am in fact human and to not club him to death. The snide arrogance reeking off that bastard makes me sick. The system better start working soon, or I am going to start wishing for blood. The world could stand to lose a few psychotics. I just hope that when the dam cracks down the middle that the right individuals get caught and that the real humans remember who their brothers and sisters are.
this guy really believes he is above the law, and that congress is a joke
i mean hes right, congress is a joke, but this guy is a dick
#33-Ron
To answer your less than elegant inquiry, this is what I am talking about. One wonders, as this link indicates, why lying to Congress, lying to the UN, breaking the Geneva Conventions, authorizing torture, and especially causing the deaths of over a million Iraqis does not, to quote Obama, merit "grave and international breaches of the president's authority." Or perhaps Obama fears that he might perhaps be held to the same standards as Bush if and when he were to become president.
http://fromtheleft.wordpress.com/2007/06/29/obama-impeachment-is-not-acc...
Actually, Al Qaeda watches MTV
They want the bling, the beatches and the ho's.
With all the talk about child rape executions today, why no talk of executing this fool. He's raped an entire nation.
Ron @ 33:
Obama, in his position could, stand up and "rally the troops" even though he is not in the House of representatives, and congress is far from being "troops"
Basically, Erroll is saying that Obama sucks.(forgive me for answering for you Erroll) and I agree...I knew he was bad 2 years ago when he voted to re-authorise the patriot act.
Change we gotta wait for aint gonna cut it in my book....and its good to see a lotta people are beginning to feel the same way...I'm starting to feel like I'm among friends again after ragging on Obama for a couple of years.
Hooray! Obama sucks!
I'll bet al-Qaeda watched the Senate capitulate on FISA too.
"Party like it's
19992001!!"There are approximately 10,000 people in the U.S. today who could greatly improve the world by leaving it. David Addington is very near the top of the list.
Contempt of Congress?
How about contempt of human decency.
What an obnoxious prick. No wonder they try to keep him out of the cameras.
I never heard him speak before, yet his voice and demeanor are as I imagined they would be. Douchiness quotient ...off the scale. Smug, aloof and typical of this administration.....And to top it off, HE'S A HACK!!!!!!
milquetoast @ 46:
Milquetoast
I simply find it stunning that so many liberals have been taken in by Obama's smooth talk and charisma. They do not seem bothered in the least that his withdrawal plan of troops from Iraq is a phased, as opposed to an immediate, withdrawal, or that even after his phased withdrawal has been finally completed, that he is advocating that 60,000 to 80,000 U.S. forces remain in Iraq or the region. That does not strike one as the best way of supporting the troops. He also wishes to shift more troops from Iraq to Afghanistan which would undoubtedly mean that more Afghan villages and homes would be destroyed by American bombs. This does not seem the best way of winning the hearts and minds of the Afghani people. Yet Obama will claim with a straight face that he is an antiwar candidate
Furthermore, Obama's health care plan will keep the insurance companies in the equation, thus ensuring that profit is placed over the needs of the people. Obama, with his recent speech at AIPAC, has sworn his fealty to Israel, which demonstrates a total disregard for the wretched plight of the Palestinian people.
Perhaps this simply proves that one should never underestimate the gullibility of the American people.
Loonie @ 7:
Nonsense. Cocks have a use.
C-Span is showing the hearing.
Yes Al Qaeda might be watching... and so might people who will put you in jail for breaking the law. Worthless POS.
addington apparently knows they're pussies.
I say that with the utmost respect for female genitalia and feline domestic companions.
Jo @ 5:
OK, you did put that nicer than I did.
of course they're watching... via cctv in Washington?
What a pompous sack of shit. He fits right in with this "game playing, above the law crime family".
I swear, I wanted to just slap his fat ass face after about 30 seconds of his dodging and disgusting testimony. What a pig.
one expects addington to be a self-satisfied and evil toad, but delahunt, despite the subject matter, was actually lounging against some type of divider and looked as unimpressive as the 209th congress has demonstrated itself to be.
the fact that addington was able to walk out of there feeling like he owned that room should give you pause not to gape at addington but to consider the significant failures of a democratic congress and its role in giving people like addington a free pass.
time to fold the cards folks this congress is completely powerless and these hearings are proving to be a joke and a utter waste of time and money. They meerly reaffirm the power Bush and his team have, and they are indeed above the law. The more we ask the more power they have the less likely a single answer can be heard. Please stop wasting our time even asking questions the world knows will not be answered and do something that actually helps this country. Press charges or move on trying to bail out our looted economy.
I do believe that those on the right have collectively lost their minds .
baywatch. al-Qaeda's watching baywatch. and maybe JAG. C-span...not so much.
They ae watching 24, to know what dinkledoofus will do next.
If Mr. Addington did not want to speak in front of C-Span cameras, why didn't Congress go into closed session and ask their questions? Then Congress could decide what needed to be held back from the public, if anything.
al-Qaeda watches FauxNews , everyone knows that!
It makes them feel like they won when they watch a bunch of moronic bed-wetters .
supremecourtjester @ 4:
That is, of course, if there really IS such a thing as an omniscient, omnipotent Al-Qaeda as BushCo would have us believe.....Boogey boo
Wait long enough and history will repeat itself...
Human filth with a law degree.
Somebody needs to mess this guy up, "bigtime".
Epinnoia @ 13:
I’ve asked this before on C&L, and I ask it again in all seriousness because I am not a Constitutional scholar, and I don’t know the answer, but is it possible to be pardoned by the President for charges that have not yet been brought?
If so, then every President has always had, and always will have, a get out of jail free card for himself and all his buddies until the end of time. (Something to consider in the voting booth, no?)
If not, then it makes perfect sense to wait until the current cabal are out of office to charge them with the atrocities of which we all know they are guilty. The key is to revoke all of their passports at high noon on Inauguration Day and have the Secret Service take them into custody before Cheney can lay his hands on a shotgun.
Addington should be really really SCARED! He might get a stern letter from Conyers. Maybe even -gasp- Pelosi or Reid!
why bother with such theater if the Dems won't IMPEACH?
Erroll @ 51:
exactly. my only hope is that a progressive health care plan and a more expeditious Iraq exit plan will emerge from Congress and then our cautiously conservative Obama will sign off on such plans.
Well what do you expect from a neocon hawk who (gasp) happens to be jewish? wake up c&l! this is a guy who wants our money and blood sacrificed in the name of israel!! Him kristol krauthammer libby lieberman kohl feinstein fliescher murdoch wallace bloomberg etc etc etc give jews a bad name!!....there is many jews who cannot stand these people!! they r 4 ww3!no peace...
Kathy @ 71:
I suspect he will be forced to relocated to Israel. He is not granted life-time secret service protection like Bush gets. And if he really does take public transportation to/from work, I wish he would move to Israel. He's a target now. And I suspect he more than knows it. And those who would likely attempt to harm him, would probably not care if they destroyed everyone else on the bus/train in order to do so. So yea -- move to Israel, Addington -- you will fit in better there, anyhow.
New_Damage @ 70:
I think it has been done before. But I am not sure that it has ever been challenged.
Hulk @ 58:
Sadly, even Schroeder seemed to agree that all that can be done to a president who breaks the law is impeachment. And the most that Congress can do to Yoo and Addington is hope that they get disbarred.
I happen to think they could be offered up to the world court, but I don't even pretend to have the understanding of the law that Schroeder has.
Sad -- truly sad. This administration has definitely shown us all what's wrong with our system of government.
How the hell is al-queda going to be watching, we can't even watch in this country because who the f##k gets C-SPAN 3?
New_Damage @ 70:
Don't worry about such silly matters, dear decider will just ask his enabling congress critters to give him amnesty for any future crimes as well, problem solved.
Sorry, meant to say immunity, though amnesty would prolly be asked for as well.
It seems unfuckingbelievable to me that grown men, elected to the position of directing and executing 1/3 the power of this country would allow two political appointees to treat them like dog and pony show judges.
One of these two things has to be true: either the dems WE voted into power are so incompetent they don't know how the government works and can't be trusted with our country; OR they are making a show for their constituents and really are trying to enable the executive branch to commit war crimes and break our constitution.
There is a procedure to handle arseholes like Addington. The questioner warns the witness they are being evasive, non responsive, belligerent or contemptuous and then directs them to stop such actions and truthfully answer the question asked. When the witness continues with their unacceptable behaviour the questioner stops the witness from speaking, calls a point of order to speak to the chair, and requests the chair to instruct the witness directly. If after such instruction the witness continues to be a jackass, the chair then has no other choice but to find the witness in contempt and hold them indefinitely in federal detention. The only option at that point is for the witness to willingly answer the questions put to them, plead the 5th if the answer to the question would implicate themselves in a crime, or to rot in prison forever. There is NO court or agency in the US that can usurp the power of congress to enforce it's constitutional duty for oversight and investigation.
That is how the repigs ran congress under Clinton, and it's exactly the way it would be run today, if we had congressmen and senators who cared about law, order, justice and rights.
Well , the belted Earl has spoken. Anyone can see that he's a legend in his own mind , and isn't it big of him to reach down and talk to congress so they could understand things. So high, so mighty. If you grabbed this little turd by the nap of his neck, he would piss his pants so bad their would be flood damage. Hopefully someone will see him out and about somewhere along with his ego and slap the shit out of both of them. If money ever changes back into paper, guys like this will not be able to survive.-CEO
jjsquire @ 78:
It's available via internet streaming.
Just Hussein Of It @ 81:
I honestly believe these hearings are more about helping dems get elected, than any pursuit of justice. They want to paint republicans with a broad brush, and hope that it will give them bonus points come election time. And as much as I think republicans deserve every bit of it, I also believe there is far more at stake here than petty politics. Shame on the Democrats.
I for one am about sick of Conyers' promises. He huffs and puffs, and ultimately does absolutely nothing.
Watching that video sickened me. Addington's body language, his gestures, his smile... they just scream contemptuous arrogance. He should be severely beaten and tortured to wipe that disgusting look off his face and to stimulate him to start talking comprehensible English. I'm not being cute or hyperbolic; he really should be tortured. It would help a lot in clearing up the political BS that festers on both sides of the aisle.
Pelosi, Reid, Hoyer et al are spineless, complicit pussies. Americans who vote for any incumbent
(except Feingold) are fucking idiots.
sure is interesting being able to watch these people - i think all the bushies should have their 15mins of fame on c-span - with the supremes singing their tunes - a horror gilbert and sulivan.
addington is so arrogant - and looks like yoo teaches the how to be devious course at berkeley - a perfect fit for bush and chainey no doubt - what a long 20+ years and counting it's been.
- what is it about power -
What? Addington is more American than the men and women on the committee panel? He is more protective of the security of the United States than any other?
New_Damage @ 70:
The answer to your question is yes. Here the text of Gerald Ford's pardon of Richard Nixon:
"Now, therefore, I, Gerald R. Ford, President of the United States, pursuant to the pardon power conferred upon me by Article II, Section 2, of the Constitution, have granted and by these presents do grant a full, free, and absolute pardon unto Richard Nixon for all offenses against the United States which he, Richard Nixon, has committed or may have committed or taken part in during the period from July (January) 20, 1969 through August 9, 1974."
David Addington is a disgrace to America, plus he's a traitor since he participated in the outing of covert CIA agent Valerie Plame Wilson.
Let's turn him over to the al Qaeda for his just desserts.
Oh right, they'd probably welcome him with open arms, hold a feast for him and thank David Addington for helping them so much in their recruitment drives.
Yep, David Addington, a traitor who's as crazy as, as Osama bin Laden.
Now that Scalia and his buddies say it's OK for us to get guns and use them, perhaps it's time for a Cheneyesque hunting trip....ooops!
Maybe BinLaden saw this....
Actually, it doesn't matter whether BinLaden watches C-Span or the Cartoon Network.
The fact is that these lying cowards are going to walk on any charges brought by anybody for anything...that's because the Congress is too busy trying to cover their own butts.
Addington (and John Yoo) is definitely one of those who should really be charged with war crimes and God knows what else. He's the one who provided the warped legal justification for much of what this administration has done. My understanding is that they will be pursued by the International Court as well, once Bush gets out of office. My husband heard an interview on NPR where they were discussing Bush's war crimes and violations of international law. They indicated that the lawyers needed to be held accountable as well. That would so make my day.
Spicegal @ 92:
Anyone have links to possible pending international action against BushCo? I need some hope these days.
That fella wasn't speaking to congress.
He was speaking to you and me.
He holds us all in contempt.
Torch's and Pitchforks are to good for this public servant.
Addington admitted to going to Guantanamo Bay at least 4 times since terrorist suspects were held, during Wasserman-Schulz's questioning. He claims he cannot recall any discussion of the Bybee memo or it's content or meaning with anyone while there. What was the reason(s) for his trips? If his hands are so clean, if all he does is give legal counsel to Cheney, why does he need to physically go to Gitmo?
This guy, Addington, has a 'tood.
That is the biggest, most fragile nerd ego I've ever witnessed.
In an administration full of some of the worst anti-American criminals in this countries history Addington is one of the worst! He should be sitting in a prison cell right now not sitting in the halls of Congress being snide and rude to our Representatives! That's our job.
And they say we can't find Bin-Laden? All we have to look for is a DirectTV Dish sticking out from the entrance of a cave. Sheeesh!
Textbook sociopath if I've ever frackin seen one.
That PRICK needs some electrodes clamped onto his 'nads!
kablooie @ 36:
And lucky so does every decent freedom fighter out there ........ oh yes I forgot you call "them" "terrorists" ......... *sigh* ......
The Oracle @ 90:
I'd with Addington and his wretchedness, and the other huge % of americans that support people like that.
jjsquire @ 78:
US funding to keep the "enemy" going ........... just as it has always been.
Al-Qaida watches C-SPAN while the average American citizen watches reality television.
Bonkers Fist Jab @ 10:
No, a suit like Addington would never have the balls to do his own dirty work. He and Yoo write memos outlining torture, instead.
this is the same scumbag who provided the legal framework for bush's unprecedented
750+ signing statements used to evade every friggin law passed by congress.
But Mr. President! They will see the big board!
Dude, nobody watches C-Span.
Another Al Gore failure, he got CPSAN started and now it is emboldening our enemies.
of course al qaeda watches cspan. they hate our freedoms and are having a riot
watching them get flushed down the toilet for them by the bush admin.
This is the type of asshole who in 15 months from now, probably earlyer, will come out with a book denouncing Bush's administration perfidy and how he couldn't do anything against it, and he will cites a myriad excuses like patriotism, blindness, loyalty, you name it, which stop him from taking action. Wait and see fellows. I see it coming.
Congress is like a prostitute. Everybody gets to fuck her if they have the cash.
garcia @ 112:
Main Entry:
con·gress
Function:
noun
Etymology:
Latin congressus, from congredi to come together, from com- + gradi to go — more at grade
Date:
1528
1 a: the act or action of coming together and meeting b: coitus
Amazing. These Christian terrorists need to be dragged out of thyeir offices and be given fair trials in the streets. They hate everything that the United States supposedly stands for. [Deleted. Do not advocate violence, even if state sponsored, on this site. Thanks-Sitemonitor]
supremecourtjester @ 4:
So while it is not OK to torture an accused terrorist (which I agree with), it is OK to murder (or minimally shoot) someone who's policy you find reprehensible. It is statements like that and Mr. Delahunt's that keep allowing us Democrats to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory. Way to go.
Ron @ 74:
um... boooourns to that.
OMG, Addington has been "outed".
This disgusting 'unhuman' being does not deserve to live. And it is this person who dictates Bush what to say or do!!! This man is a traitor to the United States of America. In his eyes there cannot be enough people dying for the survival of Israel. In the American Revolution you would get shot for this type of betrayel.
Treat others how you would llike to be treated. If we had right to question POW whiloe being held in Vietnam, then give us a chance to see the so called enemy for ourselves and ask them questions. What total monsters we have that started war for profit and to torture people who were just in wrong place and wrong time. I lose sleep every nite on account of scumbags like addingless.
Epinnoia @ 75:
No lifetime secret service any more. Bill Clinton was the last. Bush gets 10 years after he leaves office. Though I read something recently that a law was introduced to change that. Wonder why?
Oh noes! The White house is trying to get Mr. Addington killed by terrorists!
http://www.whitehouse.gov/results/leadership/photo_1152.html
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