Ooooh, the "sensible Republicans" are rebelling. Give me break.

[Stevendsmith]

Sorry, but I won’t be getting all giddy about the McCain, Powell, Graham dissent against BushCo's torture policy. Let’s get real. These illusions of dissent within the Rethuglican ranks are a fucking joke. When push comes to shove, these clowns will always get in line behind Bush. Always. How many times have we witnessed this charade?

There is no such thing as a moderate Republican.

[kurth]

1. They're all crack whores when it comes time to vote

"Just say no" is a foreign concept to them.

[WI_DEM]

2. they only rebel because they stuck their finger in the air and felt

which way the wind is blowing.

[DaveJ]

3. Just another block of voters to them....

Repugs seem to be good at identifying a pool of voters and luring them in; what other party could get Fundamentalist Christians and Nazi Skinheads at the same time?

The real question is what would this strange group of people be called? People who vote based on torture but don't care about anything else.... whoever they are they need to be identified and provided an anti-toxin against the Right Wing lie machine.

[JHB]

4. The "smoking gun" there is Powell

For all his good press, when push comes to shove he plays "good soldier" and follows orders. The next time he bucks the system will be the first.

[gratuitous]

5. All just a parade and a charade

You're right; none of these "mavericks" or "voices of conscience" will be anywhere near the scene when torture becomes the official policy of the United States. They will hope to blend into the background and then come crawling out of the woodwork again when it's nice and safe to dissent and nobody gives a damn or can do anything about it.

And who's carrying the administration's water on this issue? None other than everybody's favorite "moderate," Arlen Specter.

[Vogon_Glory]

6. I Used To Believe In Moderate Republicans, Long Ago

I used to believe in moderate Republicans, and that the moderates in the GOP were allowed to make policy. My belief in such people suffered very heavy blows first in the GOP takeover of Congress in 1994, then took a mortal hit when no. 43/What's-his-name ran as a moderate and turned into the worst sort of irresponsible hard-right reactionary after he was sworn in in 2001.

The only moderates left in the Republican Party are the fools who have sacrificed their dignity and much of their self-respect in hope that the hard-line reactionaries controlling their party will see reason and for sentimental ties that no longer apply in today's wretched world. The poor unfortunates have turned into the Radical Right's useful idiots, good for licking stamps and making phone calls during campaign season, treated like scum by their fellow Republicans the rest of the time.

When in doubt, vote 'em out. Radical Right reactionaries have attempted to seek cover as moderates for too long. Vote 'em all out, self-described "moderate" or hard-line reactionaries alike.

:patriot:

[Stevendsmith]

7. Rebellion my ass.

[Ganja Ninja]

14. Revolting is a more descriptive term.

:puke:

[ComerPerro]

8. I agree completely. And I am constantly sickened by DUers who

are so ready to embrace people like John McCain, Lou Dobbs, and John Dean, among others, just because they bash Bush on occasion.

[jimshoes]

9. Now if they would have said

"sensible republicans are revolting" that is something I could agree with. :evilgrin:

[Generic Other]

10. It's obvious why a retired general or an ex-POW opposes torture

It doesn't mean they aren't Repukes through and through. It's just means that when it effects them, they have a double standard of acceptable behavior.

[MadHound]

11. This may or may not be true vis-a-vis those particular people in power

However the ordinary Joe Six Pack republican voter is certainly rebelling. I live in a red county, in a red state. The vast majority of these voters are moderate republicans, and they have had it with Bushco. I can't count how many of my neighbors have told me they're voting straight Democratic ticket this fall out of anger with the Bush administration, including the handling of the Iraq war. Even my fundy neighbors down the road are vehemently against Bush now and will be voting Democratic this fall.

So while party politics may bind the hands of many Republican moderate leaders such as those you mentioned, it doesn't bind the hands of the voters, and this fall that anger will be felt.

[Stevendsmith]

12. Damn good point, and damn good news! (n/t)

[SmokingJacket]

13. They're just trying to wash a little Bush slime off their suits before

election day.

November 8th it'll be back to the ass kissing.

[JustFiveMoreMinutes]

15. Not that cynicism isn't a good thing...

... but isn't separating people into the extremes doing exactly the same thing the Neo-cons want? Divide & conquer. There are moderate Republicans and there are conservative Democrats. They just haven't had much of a voice lately with all the divisive pandering by the PNAC goonies.

At least, there are no NEOCON Democrats... well, Lieberman maybe! <smile>

[Marnieworld]

16. Don't forget Specter! He's a lying sack of shit

This is all a show, a circus to give the appearance of Democracy. The whole writing of bills to make something illegal now legal and retroactive? It's an absurdity.

[originalpckelly]

17. So you wanted them to vote for the Bush bill?

Isn't that kind of stupid, considering it would have allowed people to be sent off to the "gallows" without seeing the evidence against themselves? I for one will take what I can get; and I'd much rather have them make this desperate ploy, then let such a wicked piece of legislation continue.

[roguevalley]

18. two months before a referrendum on their jobs comes up is not a

rebellion. these hacks all must go.

[Cornerstone]

19. Yep Stevendsmith but....

Hey, we Democratic voting folks souls have been so in despair from everything the as you well put, "Rethuglican ranks" have pulled off that some of us are just grasping as 'straws of dissension' that might just work in toppling those maniacal bastards.