Holy shit! McCain and Graham issue a statement in SUPPORT of Obama on Gitmo

[scheming daemons]

"We support President obama's decision to close the prison at Guantanamo, reaffirm America's adherence to the Geneva conventions and begin a process that will, we hope, lead to the resolution of all cases of Guantanamo detainees.

Numerous difficult issues remain...We believe the military commissions should have been allowed to continue their work. We look forward to working with the President and his administration on these issues."

WTF?

http://www.politico.com/politico44/

[dbonds]

1. This is a good sign.

[wryter2000]

11. It is, indeed

McCain was pretty strong about supporting Hillary yesterday, too.

He did have principles before he thought he could be President. I'm hoping he'll turn out to be an ally is some important things. He must realize that the Dems in the Senate are a better friend to him than Sara Palin and the people who saddled him with her.

As to Graham...:wow:

[Ocracoker16]

20. it is a good sign

I am never going to really like McCain, but I do respect him for issuing this statement in response to Obama's Gitmo executive order. He was always against torture himself.

It is a rather small gesture of course, but I am not going to complain.

[ogneopasno]

2. *Spit take*

I see Normal McCain is still hanging around, rather than Crazy McCain, which is what we saw throughout the election.

[Old and In the Way]

15. McCain can be McCain now.

He's been running for Prez since 2000. IMHO he had to tow the Party line on lots of issues that he probably didn't agree with. Now, he knows he's never going to be Prez so he can take positions that will piss off a lot of Republicans. He doesn't care. I guess Graham follows McCain's lead. I expect to see Lieberman also speaking out in favor of this.

[mod mom]

3. Now that threats from * will disappear, perhaps we'll find out how they were kept in line.

NSA surveillance-perhaps?

[BattyDem]

13. After seeing former NSA analyst Russell Tice on KO last night ...

I truly believe that many, many people in Congress and in the press were under surveillance and being blackmailed and/or threatened. It doesn't excuse their actions - or lack of action - but at least I can understand why so many "fighters" simply rolled over and played dead.

If members of Congress were blackmailed by the WH, they all should have gotten together and told the public what was happening IMMEDIATELY after it began. Threatened or not, they failed us. :-(

[nadinbrzezinski]

28. I had a talk with a US Senator very much off the record back in 2003

and after he finished giving me enough hints, that is exactly what I told him

Only way blackmail works is when you keep it in shadows

Might be embarrassing, but all coming out at the same time ends the power of blackmail FAST

he didn't like the advise. In fact, he didn't get it

But it comes down to a secret stops having its power after it becomes that public

[tekisui]

4. They know how Obama's going to work.

We'll extend a hand if you un-clinch your fist.

[Taverner]

6. That line needs to be shouted wide and far

I love it - and it s perfect

[ClassWarrior]

5. ~waving hands wildly~ "Hey look at us!! We're relevant!!"

:eyes:

NGU.

[JaneQPublic]

7. Damn! Now that's the John McCain I used to respect!

Looks as though someone shoved his "Evil Twin" back into the closet.

[bullimiami]

10. dirty spineless bastard. he NEEDED to stand up to bush. obama is doing it anyway

so its pretty weak.

[ClassWarrior]

31. Amen. How anyone can use the word "respect" about that two-faced scumbucket...

...I'll never know.

NGU.

[NNN0LHI]

8. Too little too late for these criminals

I hope everyone understands that if these two schmucks had come out in favor of impeachment and removal of office for Bush/Cheney it would have happened. They had their chance.

Don

[Ichingcarpenter]

9. Lindsey is a good poodle for McCain

I think Obama's overture to McCain paid off on this.

[NNN0LHI]

12. As an active JAG Officer Lindsey had a duty to go after the criminals who tortured

He ignored the oath he took.

He of everyone else should have known better. That makes him more culpable. Like a lawyer getting caught robbing a bank. Can't plead ignorance to the law.

The question we need to ask is what would have happened about the torture if McCain had won the election? I bet nothing.

Don

[Ichingcarpenter]

17. Doing Nothing is right

John McCain is no maverick and Lindsey has never been married either.

I suspect Lindsey's days in the Navy were not just to be a Jag officer.
Its sort of weird he took over Strom Thurmonds seat, but thats South Carolina.

[mitchum]

24. Southerners have no problem with "bachelor choir directors" like Graham...

as long as they remain dishonest about their true nature

[BR_Parkway]

14. Sounds like he'd rather retire as a respected Senator than be remembered

for Sarah Palin

[Subdivisions]

16. Oh my word...wonder what limbo will have to say about this... I'm listening

to his show for the first time today to get an idea of how he'll be treating our new President. So far, my suspicions are confirmed: Every single thing Obama does will be criticized by this drug-addled idiot.

[elocs]

18. I am so glad that President Obama is miles smarter than some who post here at DU

because he knows he will need the help of Republicans to accomplish his goals and to help pass legislation. There will be times when he desperately needs some help from a few Republicans in the Senate and he will not refuse their help because of what they have done in the past, but rather he will graciously welcome that support. It's just sad that some DUers cannot see past yesterday, clinging to their hatreds and disappointments and are unable to look to the future, but thankfully we now have a president with the class and foresight to do that.

[Lucky 13]

23. +1

[Bonobo]

27. + fucking 2. Put that in your pipe and smoke it, doubters.

[malaise]

29. +3

Very good news. We can draw up a list of Republicans against torture versus Rethugs for torture.
I know where to place Palin.

[Odin2005]

32. +4 "We will extend a hand if you unclench your fist..."

[TahitiNut]

19. "Conscience" only when politically convenient.

It's a by-product of the "least common denominator" mentality that it is MORE important to get reelected than to do the right thing. Such an attitude must be stamped out and eschewed at every opportunity. We must NEVER make 'the right thing' secondary to perpetuation in office. Never.

Fuck the corrupted "pragmatists" that permit or support such morally bankrupt apologetics.

[RB TexLa]

21. They must really want projects in Arizona and South Carolina that the President might have left off

the stimulus package. :rofl:

[Lucky 13]

22. And this is why it was good to try to reach out to Republicans.

Some, naturally, will reject the idea of finding common ground. They continually push themselves to the fringe... even in their own party.

But SOME are going to do things like McCain and Graham - support our President at certain opportunities and attempt to move their party out of irrelevancy.

This is a good sign, I think.

[Political Heretic]

25. McCains not running for President anymore so he can go back to his actual beliefs....

too bad the mark of someone worthy of political office is he/she who is willing to stand by convictions when its difficult not just when its convenient.

[McCamy Taylor]

26. Good for both of them. This is where the military stands. They are real military men.

K&R

[Fire1]

30. Man, what a DINNER won't get you! GOBAMA!!!

[Odin2005]

33. Yay, the old McCain is back! There goes a lot of the GOP's chances at fillibustering.