# Conservative radio hosts gets waterboarded **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [May 22, 2009, 10:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/conservative-radio-hosts-gets-waterboarded/497343 "2009-05-22T22:19:49Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 7
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2009, 11:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/conservative-radio-hosts-gets-waterboarded/497343/121 "2009-05-23T23:19:16Z")
Psst … one \*elicits \*information. The means of doing so can be illicit, though. Thank you. ---
**Author:** ![XT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/xt/32/456_2.png) [@XT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/XT)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2009, 11:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/conservative-radio-hosts-gets-waterboarded/497343/122 "2009-05-23T23:22:27Z")
It’s definitely torture, as anyone in the military who has actually had it done to them would tell you. Oh, it’s probably not as bad as having your fingernails ripped out, or hot pokers applied to various tender parts of your body…but the reason it’s used it that it’s highly uncomfortable from a physical perspective and from a psychological perspective it’s terrifying. How anyone could endure more than once or twice is beyond me (I had it done to me in the military and can say there isn’t a lot I WOULDN’T do to not have to repeat the process, including telling whoever was threatening me with it whatever they wanted me to say). The question has always been whether or not the US should use such methods in order to extract information from our enemies…not whether something like waterboarding seriously does not constitute torture. I think the RW types have WANTED to portray waterboarding as torture lite for their own purposes, because I think if the true extent of the technique was understood by the public that the majority of American’s would be against it. -XT ---
**Author:** ![you\_with\_the\_face](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/ecccb3/32.png) [@you\_with\_the\_face](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/you_with_the_face)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2009, 11:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/conservative-radio-hosts-gets-waterboarded/497343/123 "2009-05-23T23:47:09Z")
> [@Bosstone](#): > > It’s certainly a serious topic, but I lack sympathy for the people who choose to undergo it voluntarily and then get freaked out by it. Especially these days, when we have so much more information about what goes on, it doesn’t seem necessary to go through it before understanding that it’s a bad thing. > > It’s equivalent, in my mind, to boldly declaring that touching naked live wires couldn’t hurt _that_ badly, then grabbing hold of them and going “Holy shit that hurt!” My response in that situation and this is, “_sigh_ Of _course_ it does. Dumbass.” So yes, I’m going to make light of the issue in their case. That’s what I’m saying! Slittings one’s wrists doesn’t seem like a big deal either. It still takes a dumbass to test it out. Shit, the very fact that there’s a debate about whether its torture or not tells me that at minimum it’s close enough to not worth risking my life or sanity over. But thank God there are curious idiots out there who can’t reach this conclusion themselves. Who would we laugh at, if not them? ---
**Author:** ![samclem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a9a28c/32.png) [@samclem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/samclem)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2009, 11:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/conservative-radio-hosts-gets-waterboarded/497343/124 "2009-05-23T23:49:02Z")
> [@Starving\_Artist](#): > > So you have a little time to masturbate yourselves over evil Republican torturers and pretend you’re better than they before I return. We don’t need to pretend. We ARE. ---
**Author:** ![Robot\_Arm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robot_arm/32/18280_2.png) [@Robot\_Arm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robot_Arm)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2009, 12:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/conservative-radio-hosts-gets-waterboarded/497343/125 "2009-05-24T00:04:13Z")
> [@Lightnin](#): > > The thing is, I _don’t_ want Cheney, or anyone else, for that matter, to be waterboarded. I don’t think anyone in this thread really wants that- because we believe waterboarding to be torture, and civilized people don’t torture. > > However, I do want Cheney to admit that it’s torture, and therefore wrong. If it takes a waterboardin’ for him to admit that, then I’m all for him going through the process… The counter to that argument is “see, liberals do think waterboarding can be justified. They’d use it against a Republican to score partisan political points, but they won’t use it against real terrorists to protect innocent Americans.” I know that the statements about waterboarding Cheney are a mixture of hyperbole, anger, and frustration. But if torture is wrong, it’s always wrong. It was wrong when it was used to elicit false confessions. It would be wrong to force it on Cheney to elicit a true confession. If someone like Muller volunteers to undergo waterboarding, that’s different. I wouldn’t encourage it, but I can’t stop it, and I give him some credit for putting himself on the line to back up his words. For Cheney, Hannity, et al., the contradiction between their words and their actions is probably the closest we’ll get to an admission that it is torture. ---
**Author:** ![LouisB](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/dfb087/32.png) [@LouisB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LouisB)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2009, 2:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/conservative-radio-hosts-gets-waterboarded/497343/126 "2009-05-24T02:04:04Z")
> [@Starving\_Artist](#): > > It’s interesting to see all you people who are so horrified by the prospect of torture when it comes to ferreting out information from terrorists in order to save the lives of innocent people are so gleeful and desirous of torturing a politician guilty of far less. > > I’d wager that if the waterboarding of terrorists went on under Bill Clinton or Barack Obama’s auspices, we’d: a) never heard of it to begin with, or b) find that no one considers it a big deal, because Clinton and Obama are your guys. > > As evidence I point to the way that Ted Kennedy and Bill Clinton were let off the hook by the left for their treatment of women, and the way that Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama have been let off the hook by the left for their stated opposition to same-sex marriage. > > You guys don’t get nearly as cranked over these issues when it’s your guys who are the miscreants. Thus it’s hard to believe your outrage is little more than partisan rhetoric, especially in light of some of the comments in this thread. I didn’t say one damn word about torture and I resent you trying to put words in my mouth. We all know that waterboarding IS NOT torture; it is simply an enhanced interrogation technique. And I would still like to see Cheney subjected to it. ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2009, 2:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/conservative-radio-hosts-gets-waterboarded/497343/127 "2009-05-24T02:09:02Z")
> [@Robot\_Arm](#): > > I know that the statements about waterboarding Cheney are a mixture of hyperbole, anger, and frustration. But if torture is wrong, it’s always wrong. It was wrong when it was used to elicit false confessions. It would be wrong to force it on Cheney to elicit a true confession. Of course, and while someone who hates Cheney might like it, it’s illegal. We have a legal system, and the last administration should have been subject to it. ---
**Author:** ![XT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/xt/32/456_2.png) [@XT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/XT)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2009, 2:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/conservative-radio-hosts-gets-waterboarded/497343/128 "2009-05-24T02:44:02Z")
[QUOTE=LouisB] We all know that waterboarding IS NOT torture; it is simply an enhanced interrogation technique. [/QUOTE] Who’s ‘we’, kimosabe? -XT ---
**Author:** ![Harborwolf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/c89c15/32.png) [@Harborwolf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Harborwolf)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2009, 2:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/conservative-radio-hosts-gets-waterboarded/497343/129 "2009-05-24T02:52:03Z")
> [@Starving\_Artist](#): > > I started out talking about torture and the hypocisy involved in liberals cheering the prospect of it when Republicans/conservatives are the target rather than mere murdering terrorists. Personally, I also think it’d be rather nice if Cheney, Hannity, Limbaugh, and other such advocates of "enhanced interrogations would report for a good water boarding. Not (primarily) for my own rather sick enjoyment, but so they can understand exactly what it is they are saying is not torture. Their belief in the appropriateness of their actions stems from the idea that if it don’t cause _permanent physical damage_, it ain’t torture. As Col. Potter so frequently was heard to say, horse hockey. Torture is mental far more than physical. Likely until they experience it, they will never understand it. It has nothing to do with their politics and everything to do with their advocating of the practice itself. I’d say the same if it were Keith Olberman, Al Gore, and Santa. ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2009, 2:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/conservative-radio-hosts-gets-waterboarded/497343/130 "2009-05-24T02:56:08Z")
> [@samclem](#): > > We don’t need to pretend. We ARE. Better than Republicans or masturbating? [sub]Can we be both?[/sub] ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2009, 3:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/conservative-radio-hosts-gets-waterboarded/497343/131 "2009-05-24T03:11:04Z")
> [@Bryan\_Ekers](#): > > Better than Republicans or masturbating? > > [sub]Can we be both?[/sub] Just as Congress refuses to be non partisan, so do we. But it’s fun. I just hope Congress has a better reason. ---
**Author:** ![Gorsnak](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gorsnak/32/7587_2.png) [@Gorsnak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gorsnak)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2009, 3:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/conservative-radio-hosts-gets-waterboarded/497343/132 "2009-05-24T03:34:02Z")
> [@Harborwolf](#): > > …and Santa. All part part of the liberals’ War on Christmas. ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2009, 3:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/conservative-radio-hosts-gets-waterboarded/497343/133 "2009-05-24T03:36:40Z")
> [@Gorsnak](#): > > All part part of the liberals’ War on Christmas. Oh my G-d, they know we’re Jews! 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2009, 3:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/conservative-radio-hosts-gets-waterboarded/497343/134 "2009-05-24T03:38:18Z")
> [@](#): > > Better than Republicans or masturbating? “Of all the various kinds of sexual intercourse, this has the least to recommend it. As an amusement, it is too fleeting; as an occupation, it is too wearing; as a public exhibition, there is no money in it.” - Mark Twain, _On Onanism_ ---
**Author:** ![LouisB](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/dfb087/32.png) [@LouisB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LouisB)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2009, 3:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/conservative-radio-hosts-gets-waterboarded/497343/135 "2009-05-24T03:40:04Z")
> [@xtisme](#): > > Who’s ‘we’, kimosabe? > > -XT You and me, kid. ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2009, 3:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/conservative-radio-hosts-gets-waterboarded/497343/136 "2009-05-24T03:50:13Z")
> [@LouisB](#): > > You and me, kid. You and I. :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![Der\_Trihs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/der_trihs/32/233_2.png) [@Der\_Trihs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Der_Trihs)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2009, 3:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/conservative-radio-hosts-gets-waterboarded/497343/137 "2009-05-24T03:56:34Z")
> [@elucidator](#): > > “Of all the various kinds of sexual intercourse, this has the least to recommend it. As an amusement, it is too fleeting; as an occupation, it is too wearing; **as a public exhibition, there is no money in it**.” > > - Mark Twain, _On Onanism_ A fair number of ladies with the surname .jpg would beg to differ on that last point. ---
**Author:** ![Paul\_in\_Qatar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ccd318/32.png) [@Paul\_in\_Qatar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Paul_in_Qatar)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2009, 4:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/conservative-radio-hosts-gets-waterboarded/497343/138 "2009-05-24T04:36:43Z")
May I do a brief drive-by posting? I came across this in my reading yesterday and thought it might add to the discussion: “The worst crimes were dared by a few, willed by more, and tolerated by all.” -Tacitus (c. 100) ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2009, 4:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/conservative-radio-hosts-gets-waterboarded/497343/139 "2009-05-24T04:42:52Z")
> [@Paul\_in\_Qatar](#): > > and tolerated by all.” > -Tacitus (c. 100) Ah, but many of us are bitching about them. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Mosier](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7ea924/32.png) [@Mosier](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mosier)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2009, 6:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/conservative-radio-hosts-gets-waterboarded/497343/140 "2009-05-24T06:27:45Z")
> [@Starving\_Artist](#): > > I started out talking about torture and the hypocisy involved in liberals cheering the prospect of it when Republicans/conservatives are the target rather than mere murdering terrorists. Alleged terrorists. Actually, they weren’t even charged with a crime, so they weren’t even alleged terrorists. They were just guys the government cross-their-hearts-and-hope-to-die promised were terrorists. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/conservative-radio-hosts-gets-waterboarded/497343.md?page=6) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/conservative-radio-hosts-gets-waterboarded/497343.md?page=8)