Cantwell, Murray vote against torture

Both of Washington State's U.S. Senators voted against (the McCain torture bill) today in the Senate. The final vote was 65-34. Applause to both of our Senators for voting against this appalling legislation.

UPDATE: Senator Cantwell's rationale:

"The legislation voted on by the full Senate will permit the Bush Administration to undermine the Geneva Conventions, broadly expand the definition of enemy combatants, allow for coerced and secret evidence and abandon habeus corpus. For more than three years, our ability to try terrorists has been hampered by the Administration’s refusal to abide by U.S. law. The provisions in this legislation may be once again deemed unconstitutional by the U.S. Supreme Court, only further delaying our goal of bringing the terrorists to justice."

(end update) Democrats who betrayed the party include: Carper (Del.), Johnson (S.D.), Landrieu (La.), Lautenberg (N.J.), Menendez (N.J), Pryor (Ark.), Rockefeller (W. Va.), Salazar (Co.), Stabenow (Mich.), Nelson (Fla.), Nelson (Neb.)

Chafee was the only Republican to break with his party, and was joined by Vermont's Jeffords and in voting with the Democratic caucus. Joe Lieberman, as usual, sold out to the Republicans and voted with his true leader, Bill Frist. Republican Olympia Snowe of Maine did not vote.

Senate Democratic Leader Harry Reid made an unwise tactical decision not to pursue a filibuster of the bill, and it was thus brought to the floor for a vote.