Feb 25 2009
Senate plans torture commission while Bush plans speeches for $150K each
The Senate Judiciary Committee is continuing to push forward with plans to create a commission to investigate torture under the Bush Administration. Committee Chair Pat Leahy (D-VT) said a hearing would be announced soon to study different commission plans.
While there have been attempts to uncover the true scope of U.S. torture since 9/11, this would be the first concrete actions by Congress.
Taking charge of the effort to create such a commission is Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (RI-D), who has special insight from sitting on both the Judiciary and Intelligence committees. When asked if there was still a lot the public doesn’t know, he replied, “Stay on this. This is going to be big.”
Last week Maj. Gen. Tony Taguba voiced his support for a commission, joining 18 rights groups and others. Taguba, known for conducting honest investigations into prisoner abuse at Abu Ghraib said such a commission must include a close analysis of claims from Bush Admin officials that abusive interrogations worked - “Some of those activities were actually not effective and those who thought so were in the academic or pristine settings of their offices. What would they know?”
Meanwhile, Former President George W. Bush is all set to embark on a speaking tour next month. He can be yours for the price of only $150,000 a speech. However, if you happen to live close to Dallas, he will lower that to a mere $100,000.
Sources: Salon - Senate will advance torture commission February 24, 2009
U.S. News & World Report - President Bush Embarks on First Speaking Tour - and He’s getting paid $150,000 a Pop February 25, 2009
I can’t fricking believe anybody would pay that much to hear that criminal talk.