1 Boring Old Man

Senator John Warner [Republican Virginia] served in WWII in the Navy, was Secretary of the Navy in the 1970’s, and currently serves on the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence and the Senate Armed Services Committee. He is in his fifth term in the Senate.

Senator John McCain [Republican Arizona] graduated from Annapolis, was shot down over Viet Nam and was a prisoner of war for six years. His is in his fourth term in the Senate.

Senator Lindsey Graham [Republican South Carolina] served in the Air Force JAG Corps for twenty two years. He was a Representative for eight years before beginning this, his first Senate term. 

None of these men are heros of the left, the progressives, the Democrats. They are rational Conservative Republicans with long service in the American government and Armed Forces. They are standing up for something that is fairly clear-cut. It shouldn’t be a partisan issue. They are saying that neither torture nor unfair trial is consistent with American values. While I would argue with all three of these men about many of the issues on the political agenda, I sure wouldn’t be writing a political blog about any of them. They are traditional American lawmakers, content with our political system as it has existed for two centuries.

I don’t expect to agree with them in the future, but it will be the kind of disagreement that makes our Democracy work. However, on this issue, I have nothing but praise for their willingness to oppose President George W. Bush when he suggests we modify the Geneva Conventions and actually have a policy that supports torture and unfair trials.

George W. Bush was not elected to define this country, he was elected to serve it.