Reply #32: At the Senate hearings

[H2O Man]

towards the end, there was a panel of three men who fully understood what Mr. Gonzales represents within the Bush Administration. The three were: Douglas Johnson, from the Center for Victims of Torture; Adm. John Hutson (ret.) President and Dean of Franklin Pierce Law Center; and Harold Koh, a Dean of the Yale Law School who served in the Reagan and Clinton Administrations.

All three were extremely impressive, very articulate speakers. Their message was that the president has NO constitutional authority to call for torture. (There is a history of presidents going beyond the constitution in times of crisis, and calling for internment; however, even in these times, those people have the right to a hearing to determine if they fall under the Geneva Convention, or US criminal law.)

In the past, we have discussed the administration's trashing of the U.S. Constitution while on the Plame threads. Those interested can find some of this information at:

http://h2oman.blogspot.com