I've been subjected to a hell of a lot worse than water boarding my friend! Have you?
"I would remind you that extremism in the defense of liberty is no vice. Let me remind you also that moderation in the pursuit of justice is no virtue."
Sen. Barry Goldwater (R-Ariz.) in his 1964 presidential nomination acceptance speech at the Republican National Convention
I happen to agree with him!
You do this a lot.
It's a logical fallacy known as
argumentum ab auctoritate, argument from authority. The idea that anything said by anyone who is generally held in high regard, must be correct.
One of the most notable examples of the fallacy is the case of American zoologist Theophilus Painter.
In 1923 Painter declared that according to his findings, humans had 24 pairs of chromosomes. From that point through the 1950's, Painter's count continued to be held as scientific fact, in spite of numerous counts during that period of time showing that the correct number was 23. Even textbooks with pictures clearly showing 23 pairs of chromosomes declared the number to be 24 based on nothing more that Painter's gravitas and acknowledged position of authority.
In your case, you are trying to make the argument that since Goldwater used the word "extremism" in a positive light in his 1964 acceptance speech, and Goldwater is a conservative icon, he would approve of waterboarding.
That's a far reach.
In his speech, Goldwater was alluding to the 1964 racial riots.
I really doubt that Goldwater would agree that when he said "extremism" he meant waterboarding.
