2008 Woodie Awards
Dilemmas Surface
Some Republicans remain divided on a resolution
Stephanie Rushford, Staff Writer
Issue date: 10/4/06 Section: Editorials and Opinion
Before the passing of the Detainee Bill, John McCain, Lindsey Graham and John W. Warner, spoke out against it. This led many Republicans in the Senate to align themselves with McCain, Graham, and Warner, hurting the political clout of President George W. Bush within his own party. Although the bill passed, its bumpy road revealed some Republicans desires to distance themselves from the president before the midterm elections.
On the issue of torture, President Bush has been a vocal proponent of using "any means necessary" to elicit information from suspected terrorists. Bush has kept this merciless stance on prisoners of war even in the face of harsh criticism.
Just this past Friday, according to CBS News, the E.U. counterterrorism coordinator Gijs de Vries, stated that the "suspected human violations" at the Guantanamo Bay prison, which holds many alleged terrorists, "have diminished American standing in the world."
Yet, Bush has stated that he will not change his position on this issue; however, with the three dissenting senators coming forward, the president has lost major political ground.
These three senators objected to the administration's desire to define the Geneva Convention's language on torture; these men argued that if the language in the Geneva Convention was defined, then it would make America vulnerable if other countries changed their standards on the treatment of captured Americans, according to CNN. These three men represent a microcosm of what is occurring in Congress right now. Many Republican senators, during this midterm election year, are up for reelection. The feeling among many Republicans is to distance themselves from the president in order to win in November.
With Bush's public approval ratings standing at 44 percent, according to Chicago Tribune, it is no wonder that many Republicans would distance themselves. This midterm election is important to the Republicans. Many publications and political analysts such as as the New York Times, expect that the Republicans will lose control of the House.
On the issue of torture, President Bush has been a vocal proponent of using "any means necessary" to elicit information from suspected terrorists. Bush has kept this merciless stance on prisoners of war even in the face of harsh criticism.
Just this past Friday, according to CBS News, the E.U. counterterrorism coordinator Gijs de Vries, stated that the "suspected human violations" at the Guantanamo Bay prison, which holds many alleged terrorists, "have diminished American standing in the world."
Yet, Bush has stated that he will not change his position on this issue; however, with the three dissenting senators coming forward, the president has lost major political ground.
These three senators objected to the administration's desire to define the Geneva Convention's language on torture; these men argued that if the language in the Geneva Convention was defined, then it would make America vulnerable if other countries changed their standards on the treatment of captured Americans, according to CNN. These three men represent a microcosm of what is occurring in Congress right now. Many Republican senators, during this midterm election year, are up for reelection. The feeling among many Republicans is to distance themselves from the president in order to win in November.
With Bush's public approval ratings standing at 44 percent, according to Chicago Tribune, it is no wonder that many Republicans would distance themselves. This midterm election is important to the Republicans. Many publications and political analysts such as as the New York Times, expect that the Republicans will lose control of the House.
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