Washington Times editorial page editor Tony Blankley, in his March 15 Times column, claimed: “It is odd that the same senators who believe in water torture for the president of the United States vigorously oppose similar water-related interrogation techniques when used on captured enemy terrorists.” Blankley contrasted the actions of Sen. Russ Feingold (D-WI), who he claimed “jumped the [Democratic] que [sic]” on March 13 by introducing a resolution to censure President Bush over his authorization of warrantless domestic surveillance, with those of “more seasoned, team-playing Democrats,” who he said want to “use the old Chinese water torture on the president” and “drag[] out the agony for months and months.” Blankley added: “But then I suppose the president is not covered by what [right-wing radio host] Michael Savage calls the Democratic Party's 'Terrorist Bill of Rights.' " Absent from Blankley's column was any distinction between the metaphorical “water torture” he claimed that Democrats want to use against Bush and the very real interrogation tactic known was "water boarding," whereby a prisoner is made to feel as though he is drowning.

From Blankley's March 15 Washington Times column:

[Senator] Russ Feingold [D-WI] is notoriously not a party man. This may play well in his conscience and in the countryside, but it is a non-starter in this two-team town. The Senate Democrats may well agree in principle that the president should be censured or keelhauled, or de-trousered or short-sheeted or inflicted with some other indignity.

But there is a long line of more senior Democrats who have been waiting patiently to get their licks in. Sen Feingold jumped the que [sic] -- if not the shark. The more seasoned, team-playing Democrats want to use the old Chinese water torture on the president -- dragging out the agony for months and months. Or, as they call it in Washington, the issue “would spark a worthwhile debate.”

It is odd that the same senators who believe in water torture for the president of the United States vigorously oppose similar water-related interrogation techniques when used on captured enemy terrorists. But then I suppose the president is not covered by what Michael Savage calls the Democratic Party's “Terrorist Bill of Rights.”