A thread on this blog a while back was going after Smith for playing the moderate but being far right and the Oregonian for promoting him as a moderate. I'm wondering if this news alters any opinions. Is Smith a moderate? Is he only moderate on this issue? Is it politics? I'd like to hear what you think.

Until Gordo reverses his stance on the war, tax cuts, abortion, death with dignity, the Federal Marriage Amendment, taking free trips from lobbyists and standing with the Bushies hook line and sinker I still consider him a conservative.

incredible article in Sept. Harper's called American Gulag. Wish everyone could read it.

American Gulag Prisoners’ tales from the War on Terror Eliza Griswold

Highly recommended.

I couldn't agree more with Steven.

What I can't figure out is why so few people,including dems, are talking about trial of US war criminals via the US War Crimes Act of 1996, which requires the death penalty for breaches of the Geneva Convention that result in deaths.

Unless they fear that officials from previous administrations might also be found guilty of similar crimes.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/09/18/AR2006091801132_Technorati.html

is a link to a Washington Post article about this controversy (but only listing 5 other mavericks, not GS). They have a "who is blogging?" feature and one of the links is to this BO article.

I'm sure glad Smith isn't supporting "em on this one. We really have to stop being a "rogue" nation. It looks like they're tring to worm out of being tried for war crimes and crimes against humanity after they lose the election. I worry about what else they might try if this doesn't work.

I'm with Karl Smiley on this one. Support for the Constitution shouldn't be a left/right issue--it should be the stance of everyone. Unfortunately, it's not.

The president of the United States is either already doing or arguing for the rights to torture, disappear, "render," detain without charge, collect evidence without a warrant, and hold trials without disclosing the evidence to the accused. This is pretty much the same list of crimes we fought the revolution to halt. The fact that W. hasn't been run out of town or charged under the 1996 War Crimes Act shows what terribly dangerous times we are treading.

Take your allies where you can get them; give Smith his due and your support on this one.

I think Smith is just wetting himself about his record to date of being a rubberstamp (and doormat). It's 4 years too late for him to grow a backbone and I really look forward to voting him out in '08.

are there any US Senators who suck more than the so-called "independent" Gordon Smith?

Too bad he's not running this year. We could have a lot of fun with his Jack Abramoff connections.

My kindhearted grandmother used to tell me that "No one is all bad." I always think that when Gordon Smith let's his conscience overcome his right wing politics. Yet, even with a rare vote of conscience, to say that Gordon Smith is a moderate Republican is like saying that George Bush is a compassionate conservative. It sounds good but it doesn't stand up under scrutiny.

Earlier in the week I called his office and the person who took my call defended the Bush position. So this could be because so many of us have called.

The will be a demonstration on Thursday, September 21 at the office of Senator Smith. If any of you can make it downtown, please join us.

WHAT: Rally to declare that the time has come to end the US occupation of Iraq WHEN: 11:30 am to 1 pm Thursday, September 21, 2006 WHERE: In front of Portland World Trade Center, SW Salmon St. between 1st and 2nd For Immediate Release Friday, September 15, 2006

Contact: Kelly Campbell 503-720-1815, [email protected]

NEWS ADVISORY

Declaration of Peace: Portlanders join national week of action; insist Senator Smith work to end the war in Iraq

�Rolling Rubble� simulation of destroyed Iraqi home; cardboard cutouts of Oregon�s congressional delegation featured at rally outside Smith�s office as citizens visit Senator

WHAT: Rally to declare that the time has come to end the US occupation of Iraq WHEN: 11:30 am to 1 pm Thursday, September 21, 2006 WHERE: In front of Portland World Trade Center, SW Salmon St. between 1st and 2nd

PHOTO-OP: striking life-sized model of destroyed Iraqi home; cardboard cutouts of Oregon�s congressional delegation

In conjunction with the national "Declaration of Peace" campaign, a group of citizen lobbyists will be going to Senator Gordon Smith's office Thursday September 21 to insist that he co-sponsor legislation to end the US military occupation of Iraq and sign the Declaration of Peace.

The Senator has not joined any efforts to end the war, even as the casualties pile high, the suffering of the people of Iraq grows, our security is weakened, and our treasuries run dry. In this action we seek to set an example of strength where the Senator is weak, to our entire congressional delegation, and to the community in which we live.

We invite everyone to join supporters of this action at 11:30 am. Leave for lunch a half-hour early to show your commitment and rally at the World Trade Center to declare that the time has come for a change in Iraq. Opportunity will be available for public testimony. The World Trade Center Building is on 1st Avenue at Salmon. This is a fully legal gathering.

Senator Smith is wrong about Iraq. He supported the invasion and continues to support the occupation, along with many of his colleagues. Now, with the grave consequences of that support obvious to the majority of Americans, we are asking for a change. We are not asking the Senator to lead but simply to follow where his constituents have already gone.

The Declaration of Peace is a nationwide campaign to establish a rapid and concrete plan for peace in Iraq, including: A prompt time table for withdrawal of troops and closure of bases A peace process for security, reconstruction and reconciliation * And the shift of funding for war to meeting human needs

Portland�s event is part of a series of hundreds of Declaration of Peace events taking place across the country September 21-28. For more information visit http://declarationofpeace.org.

Local Declaration of Peace organizing is supported by Civil Resist Portland, CodePink Portland, Portland Chapter of the Buddhist Peace Fellowship, the Portland Catholic Worker community, American Friends Service Committee, Veterans for Peace Chapter 72.

To arrange interviews with local Declaration of Peace organizers, contact Kelly Campbell at 503-720-1815.

Smith as two-faced as any neo-con. Keeping his fingers crossed he'll answer any way that is expedient to him and his constituents. Mr Smith is a rubber-stamp for Bush,,make no mistake on his leanings. Look how he has waffled on social security and Medicare. I only hope the demo's get off their ass and groom a candidate to oppose this creep in 08. I wonder if the demos ever have a plan? We can only hope!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Regardless of Smith's slithering on issues and his reprehensible campaigns and his sleazoid support for most of the Bushite agenda...send him an email, thanking him for being on the right side of this issue, and other issues when you agree with his decisions. A pat on the back helps in this, just as a kick in the butt does at other times.

Senator Smith is an agile politician.

To consider retaining the policy of adhering to the Geneva Convention that was duly ratified by the Senate I would call, well, conservative. (in the good sense)

But these days when there is no realtion between the word conservative and conservation (of environment, infrastructure or national treasure) just as there seems to be wild aversion between liberal and liberate..... " Ah am all fer liberty but Ah hate them liberals." ... one may ask, absurdly, what does moderate mean?

I say, Thank You Gordon Smith, for upholding your oath of office, on this vote. It is a shame though, that on most votes (about 80%) you cancel Senator Wyden's vote so that Oregon has NO VOICE in the senate.

That is not moderate. It is effectively a 'cancelled' upon state representation.

<h2>He needs congratulations for going in the right direction on this. It won't keep me from hoping he'll be replaced sooner rather than later with someone better, though. As for the Oregonian, their right wing(nut) propaganda continues to stink. Oh, for a paper worthy of this city of readers and coffee addicts!</h2>