Is this hypocrisy, or am I just crazy?

[Quantum Windbag]

Yes, I know they are not mutually exclusive, but this is actually mind boggling.

Does anyone remember the call to have the general who authorized the use of torture and dogs in interrogation at Abu Ghraib held responsible for his actions?

The September 2003 document is signed by the then commander of US forces in Iraq, Gen Ricardo Sanchez. The ACLU says the measures go beyond generally accepted practice and says Gen Sanchez should be made accountable.
The memo authorised techniques including putting prisoners in stressful positions, using loud music and light control, and changing sleeping patterns.
It also authorised the presence of muzzled military working dogs to, as the memo puts it, "exploit Arab fear of dogs while maintaining security during interrogations".

BBC NEWS | Americas | US memo shows Iraq jail methods

It seems that this guy is now the new favorite of every progressive Democrat in the country. They are urging him to run for Senator in Texas.

Democrats appear to have recruited retired Lt. Gen. Ricardo Sanchez to run for the U.S. Senate in Texas, setting the stage for a potentially competitive race in 2012 for the seat of retiring Republican Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison. Former Texas Lt. Gov. Ben Barnes confirmed that Washington Sen. Patty Murray, the head of the Democratic Senate campaign committee, was referring to Sanchez Thursday when she said that Democrats were very close to announcing a candidate in Texas.
Sanchez, reached by phone at his San Antonio home, said, "I can neither confirm nor deny."
While Sanchez, the former top military commander in Iraq who was forced out by the Abu Ghraib prison scandal, wouldn't speak about the Senate race, he did discuss his career and political philosophy.

Ex-Iraq commander may throw hat in Texas Senate race - Politics Wires - MiamiHerald.com

Is this their idea of holding someone responsible for his actions?

 

[CaféAuLait]

What’s to be expected? Many on the left embraced Kennedy after he left a woman to drown...So what if this guy authorized torture. It will be blamed all on Bush and Sanchez's actions will be forgotten in the din of cries Bush, Bush, Bush. The problem being this guy was basically "evil incarnate" yet, now he may be who they put up for Senate?

 

[Robert]

Yes, I know they are not mutually exclusive, but this is actually mind boggling.

Does anyone remember the call to have the general who authorized the use of torture and dogs in interrogation at Abu Ghraib held responsible for his actions?

The September 2003 document is signed by the then commander of US forces in Iraq, Gen Ricardo Sanchez. The ACLU says the measures go beyond generally accepted practice and says Gen Sanchez should be made accountable.
The memo authorised techniques including putting prisoners in stressful positions, using loud music and light control, and changing sleeping patterns.
It also authorised the presence of muzzled military working dogs to, as the memo puts it, "exploit Arab fear of dogs while maintaining security during interrogations".

BBC NEWS | Americas | US memo shows Iraq jail methods

It seems that this guy is now the new favorite of every progressive Democrat in the country. They are urging him to run for Senator in Texas.

Democrats appear to have recruited retired Lt. Gen. Ricardo Sanchez to run for the U.S. Senate in Texas, setting the stage for a potentially competitive race in 2012 for the seat of retiring Republican Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison. Former Texas Lt. Gov. Ben Barnes confirmed that Washington Sen. Patty Murray, the head of the Democratic Senate campaign committee, was referring to Sanchez Thursday when she said that Democrats were very close to announcing a candidate in Texas.
Sanchez, reached by phone at his San Antonio home, said, "I can neither confirm nor deny."
While Sanchez, the former top military commander in Iraq who was forced out by the Abu Ghraib prison scandal, wouldn't speak about the Senate race, he did discuss his career and political philosophy.

Ex-Iraq commander may throw hat in Texas Senate race - Politics Wires - MiamiHerald.com

Is this their idea of holding someone responsible for his actions?

Damn Quantum you're not supposed to call out the left for being hypocrites.

 

[Montrovant]

My answer to the OP questions is yes.

Seriously though, while it would by hypocritical to have derided this general as having allowed torture and now support him for political office, I wonder if you are over-generalizing liberals/Democrats? Do the same people who were against the general before support him now? Who was it, other than the ACLU, who wanted him 'held accountable'? Who is supporting him now?

I'm as guilty as anyone of sometimes painting with a broad brush when talking about political parties or ideologies, but when we do it we deny the possibility of people thinking for themselves, of holding opinions that may be counter to the party line. Neither the left nor the right is a group of completely like-minded drones. So, yes, call those who support someone for office that they in the past believed was a torturer hypocrites, but don't equate that to the whole Dem party or all liberals.

I know this may sound a bit nit-picky, and I apologize. Sometimes I just get on my high horse when it comes to the generalizing of political philosophies. I don't mean to imply you, QW, are any more guilty of such generalizations than anyone else.

 

[gekaap]

There is always a problem with citing hypocrisy of an individual based on a general sentiment that may have been held by said person's party.

I lived in Texas at the time Sanchez was in Iraq and during his fall from grace, if you will. Most Texans were quite committed to their support of Sanchez and did not feel that he ought to be shouldered with responsibility for Abu Graib. So I would not say that there is any hypocrisy for those same people to support him running for Senate.

 

[Quantum Windbag]

My answer to the OP questions is yes.

Seriously though, while it would by hypocritical to have derided this general as having allowed torture and now support him for political office, I wonder if you are over-generalizing liberals/Democrats? Do the same people who were against the general before support him now? Who was it, other than the ACLU, who wanted him 'held accountable'? Who is supporting him now?

I'm as guilty as anyone of sometimes painting with a broad brush when talking about political parties or ideologies, but when we do it we deny the possibility of people thinking for themselves, of holding opinions that may be counter to the party line. Neither the left nor the right is a group of completely like-minded drones. So, yes, call those who support someone for office that they in the past believed was a torturer hypocrites, but don't equate that to the whole Dem party or all liberals.

I know this may sound a bit nit-picky, and I apologize. Sometimes I just get on my high horse when it comes to the generalizing of political philosophies. I don't mean to imply you, QW, are any more guilty of such generalizations than anyone else.

The question was more philosophical than anything. This is intended more to point out that politics make strange bedfellows than to paint with an overly broad brush.

I will point out that, while most people who condemn Bush for torture have no idea who Sanchez is, I would personally consider anyone who condemned Bush that supports Sanchez completely off their rocker.

 

[xsited1]

Is this hypocrisy, or am I just crazy?

There is a one-word answer to this. Here it is:

Sanchez

 

[CaféAuLait]

He is running:


Retired Lt. Gen. Ricardo Sanchez to Run as Democrat for Seat Hutchison is Vacating

WASHINGTON -- Democratic officials said Monday that retired Army Lt. Gen. Ricardo Sanchez is expected to run for U.S. Senate in Texas, giving Democrats a high-profile recruit to fill the seat being vacated by GOP Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison.

Retired Lt. Gen. Ricardo Sanchez to Run as Democrat for Seat Hutchison is Vacating - FoxNews.com

 

[snjmom]

It's Texas.


'Nuff said.

 

[gekaap]

There is a one-word answer to this. Here it is:

Sanchez

Dirty....

 

[uscitizen]

All I can say is that texas democrats are just not normal.

 

[LibocalypseNow]

It is hypocrisy and no you're not crazy. But Socialist/Progressive Wingers are a pretty confused & crazy bunch. They'll line up in droves to vote for this Wanker. Crazy stuff for sure.

 

[Baruch Menachem]

What they said yesterday just goes down the memory hole.

I mean, yesterday is ancient history.

 

[Mr.Fitnah]

"Ricardo Sanchez" sounds "expedient".

 

[RetiredGySgt]

There is always a problem with citing hypocrisy of an individual based on a general sentiment that may have been held by said person's party.

I lived in Texas at the time Sanchez was in Iraq and during his fall from grace, if you will. Most Texans were quite committed to their support of Sanchez and did not feel that he ought to be shouldered with responsibility for Abu Graib. So I would not say that there is any hypocrisy for those same people to support him running for Senate.

Hate to agree with you but actually NOTHING he ordered was torture. He was the sacrificial lame to be slaughtered when the press couldn't be shut up.