Rep. King (R) threatens "scorched earth", "shut down activity across the board".

[denem]

As the self appointed representatives of 'conservative America', 'salt of the earth patriots', and 'moral family values' become ever more shrill, against a President who speaks eloquently of thoughtful moderation, the disconnect with reality grows.

Attempts to throw the kitchen sink at Obama, consistently fail as the rhetoric becomes ever more preposterous. As faux firestorms, and heated firestorms have continued, a slow burn carries on underneath. People are becoming alienated and incredulous.

Witness the latest salvo from the New York Republican Rep. Peter King, ranking member of the House homeland security committee. King believes his party needs to "go nuke" if Bush era officials are prosecuted on torture charges.

King, the outspoken ranking member of the House homeland security committee, said Republicans should "shut down activity across the board" if any Bush-era officials are hauled into court.

"We would need to have a scorched-earth policy and use procedural means to bring the place to a halt — go to war," he told POLITICO. http://www.politico.com/blogs/glennthrush/0409/King_Torture_trial_should_spark_scorched_earth_.html

These tactics worked out brilliantly for Newt Gingrich. Clinton veterans have seen it all before. More to the point, by the end of the Clinton Administration, the public just tuned out.

In the Audacity of Hope, Obama wrote that inflammatory language and sudden moves are counter productive. But even he must be surprised to see the GOP lining up to defend the popular, illustrious face of Dick Cheney, and his increasingly unhinged troopers.

The drip- Boom, drip- KaBoom progress of the torture revelations should have given even the most partisan RW proponents cause to pause, but no, the protagonists are still stuck in the 90s. Going nuclear failed then. Now, right on cue, Newt is making a comeback.

[denem]

1. Kick?

I thought it was newsworthy. Maybe I am stating the bleeding obvious.

[tiptoe]

17. Peter King, "serving America":

July 4, 2003, Peter King with George Bush and Alexandra Pelosi

[Supersedeas]

2. Torture Apologists are ready to hurt America even more if they don't get their way on Torture

[Cha]

3. Good, you fucking hysterical

idiot..keep defending the heinous torturer, dick cheney.

[Uzybone]

4. They should go on right ahead and try

[annabanana]

5. I took out my spleen on the LBN thread...

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x3846169

[Arkana]

6. We called their bluff on the torture memos.

Bring it on, you nutcase.

[islandgirl808]

7. i wonder if they have the balls to do it

what with their fragile image and all. if they really believed it, they should have been doing it since the Pres. got into office :shrug:

[muntrv]

8. Waterboard Peter King!

[Arkana]

10. I wonder if Peter King's head will spin around and if he'll speak Latin backwards

if we do prosecute them.

[Avalux]

9. Releasing the memos was a brilliant move.

The more info in the hands of the public the better. That's why we don't want a special prosecutor appointed (yet) - all would be put under lock and key.

I was home sick today and watched (amazingly) as Liz Cheney and various Pukes defended torture as: 1) OK since use the techniques on our own soldiers in training; 2) OK since we got vital information which prevented the LA terror attack (LIE); 3) OK when done by the experts, not amateurs (like those at Abu Ghraib).

Bottom line - torture is illegal and they know it. Doesn't matter what memos Bushco wrote; the memos do not overturn the law. All they can hope to do is to confuse the American people about the legality of it and it appears they are willing to go to extreme measures to do just that. I say go for it.

[Laelth]

11. Definitely newsworthy. k&r n/t

:dem:

-Laelth

[Honeycombe8]

12. Oooooo. The pubic heads are whirling like the Exorcist. They.. are... scared.

I wouldn't have thought it. I really wouldn't.

The mere fact that they're so scared leads me wonder if there's more there than even the journalists have discovered so far. Something underneath, where it's warm and moist. Something that air hasn't touched in a long while.

It takes a lot to get the arrogant, "brave" pubics scared. Makes me wonder what monster lurks beneath, that will jump out when light hits it?:eyes:

This is getting interesting. :popcorn:

[Hellataz]

13. The GOP defending Cheney is just another sign of how far they are willing to go against Obama

No one likes or listened to this man, but the GOP are so gung ho about this war on Obama they are willing to saddle their wagon to this sinking stone. You have to give it to them, the republican/conservative party may be sinking, but they are doing it with unwavering commitment and speed.

[Fleshdancer]

14. Good. Use what little political capital you have left to defend torture.

I'm all for the complete destruction of the GOP. :applause:

What a complete idiot.

[Forkboy]

15. Please do...it'll only hurt them more.

I may have to send a word of encouragement to Mr. King. :evilgrin:

[falcon97]

16. Exactly what earth scorching can

this gasbag lead in the effing HOUSE? They have even less power to scorch anything there than the Senate Rethugs!?!


:crazy:

[AspenRose]

18. Please, please, oh please, pretty please, with sugar on top, por favor

*begging*

[Orsino]

19. A Republican Congressman threatening to do nothing?

Imagine that.

[Phoebe Loosinhouse]

20. This will work out as well as Newt shutting down the Congress. Go for it! nt