Comments on: The Talkin’ Torture Blues

By: Flying Spaghetti Monster

Flying Spaghetti Monster — Thu, 10 Nov 2011 22:35:38 +0000

Susan thinks that Fox is inane but harmless. Unfortunately she is very wrong. Drilling biased, false propaganda into the nation’s brain nonstop every day is very harmful. It makes people start to believe lies and hate their neighbors. Just ask the Germans how “harmless” it is. They’ll tell you.

By: Greg Groogan

Greg Groogan — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 20:11:46 +0000

“On any given day, for any number of reasons you are bound to look at your past a little differently” – Jim Harrison

I suspect, the same will be true when it comes to this issue for both the fellow from Booger Hollow and my good friend Jim.

By: Jack Holt

Jack Holt — Mon, 01 Jun 2009 20:09:15 +0000

Although Moore prob shouldn’t have said, “booger hollow” if you read his next post you’ll soon realize he grew up in booger hollow.

I admit to being conflicted about the torture debate. The argument that the victim will say whatever it takes to stop is probably true–the first time. I’d imagine that, as Moore stated, the penalties would be even more severe if caught lying. That, and the fact that the torturer may be very experienced at spotting lies, probably reduces the lying aspect.

Regardless, it’s inhumane and most practically, it further rallies our enemies when the torture is publicized, making escalation inevitable and infinite.

By: Lou

Lou — Wed, 27 May 2009 21:41:47 +0000

Some other observations on your post:

1) You implied in your conversation that waterboarding and some of the other enhanced interrogation techniques don’t work, yet in that very speech, Dick Cheney called for the administration to release information that shows not only that they DO work, but also specifies the results obtained.

2) Torture is a loaded word. Various techniques induce a varying degree of unpleasantness. You speak of YOUR experience as torture, yet you endured it rather than be perceived as rude by a stranger you would never see again. At what point is the unpleasantness of a technique severe enought to call it torture?

3) Your snobbery towards people from “Booger Hollow” is revealing.

4) Your “barstool buddy” got the better of the argument. Your side was mostly unsupported assertion, judgemental language, and appeal to emotion, with a generous dash of circular reason and flat-out untruth (The United States Government has never engaged in torture? Really?) He got at least one point in — If the well-being of someone close to you were in question, your views on torture might very well change.

By: Lou

Lou — Wed, 27 May 2009 20:20:18 +0000

Well, Cheney was on CNN as well. I was watching it in the company cafeteria, and had a similar why-won’t-they-leave-me-alone experience. In my case, two people initiated conversations. Both of them made remarks similar “Oh, why won’t he shut up”. Both slunk away when I told them I was rather glad that he was speaking out, and substantially agreed with what he had to say.

By: Joe Mealey

Joe Mealey — Wed, 29 Apr 2009 03:29:52 +0000

Has Fox News become even more of a freak show after the election? I find it really scary considering how many people watch Fox and think it is an accurate view of what is going on in the world. My local Bank of America played CNN on their plasma TV’s until before the election when a Republican complained that it was liberal brainwashing. So now we still are forced to watch the Food Channel as we wait in line for a teller. Meanwhile Fox News plays in every airport in the country as if it has legitimacy.

By: Susan Lanktree

Susan Lanktree — Sat, 25 Apr 2009 12:09:22 +0000

Fox News caters to the lowest informed and therefore is never over anyone’s head. It is excessively easy listening and if you don’t think, it is harmless. Where there is a problem is when you get the low information viewers thinking they can think and that is when you get the cowboy mentality that has been too prevalent in recent years.

By: Judie M

Judie M — Fri, 24 Apr 2009 16:42:40 +0000

Why is it that Faux News is on in every restaurant/bar and airport? I’ve asked many to change the channel, and it isn’t unusual they give me a funny look and wonder why I’d ask such a thing. I gladly respond.

And you’re right – why this discussion when the issue has already supposedly been defined and settled? The U.S. even prosecuted some Japanese years ago for doing this to U.S. citizens. I know many are involved in all sorts of ways, but this should be a slam dunk with all the information that’s already been made public and who knows what all remains to wade through that’s yet to reach the public eyes.

Then again, why are we still giving a moment’s time to Cheney anyway? Why has he stayed in D.C.? Can’t this fearful fear-monger find a safe hole out West to hide in?