The Occasional Observer

I think this vote is going to cause problems for McCain's "Straight Talk" image. Despite the fact that he has been adamantly opposed to torture, he voted yesterday against a bill that would ban waterboarding.

His reasoning: “We always supported allowing the C.I.A. to use extra measures,” he said. At the same time, he said that he believed “waterboarding is illegal and should be banned”.

Well, which is it, and what are "extra measures"?? Isn't this just code for torture that he is supposedly against? This is confusing at best, and alienates both sides at worst. On the one hand, he has previously already lost the support of conservatives who support some form of aggressive interrogation; on the other hand, this vote will turn off Dems and Inds who are against torture and were considering voting for McCain.

I suppose at least he didn't abscond his responsibility to continue doing his present job while running for Prez, unlike HillBama who BOTH skipped the vote. I find it unacceptable that senators routinely fail to do their job and miss votes. Just because you are out of the office doesn't mean you should be given a pass on taking a position: you should be forced to send in a proxy vote.