Washington is electric this morning. It is morning in America as literally billions around the world celebrate the Inauguration of our 44th President.
Last night, I made it through the crowds to discuss the torture issue with Rachel Maddow on the mall. For the clip, click here. It was an amazing scene with people braving the cold to take in the historic moment. Let’s pray that principle prevails over politics in the prosecution of war crimes.
The day before we took the kids to the mall for the concert. We were listening to U2 and Bono when they were ushered off stage. My three-year-old Madie said a little peeved about the guy who kicked Bono off stage. I explained it was a guy named Obama but she was not pleased. Not a good start. Rule Number One for a successful presidency: never bump Bono.
Of course the great moment was when we took the kids into the forest near our house to pick up trash as part of the day of service called for by Obama. It was quite moving until I asked Aidan where the trash bad was. He explained that he left it in the forest and we had to discuss the point of the exercise and find the bag. Well, this is a work in progress.
We are having our own Inauguration party (with about 30 kids) with Chicago food today. My 82 year old mother drove on her own through the night from Chicago on an impulse. Have a wonderful Inauguration Day everyone.
beener:
“Calling Bruce Fein a Conservative is an insult to Conservatives.”
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Change “Conservatives” to ” Bruce Fein” and we agree.
Brue Fein uses the following words to sell his supposed love and respect for the rule of law:
“The best way to deter government criminality and to teach citizens the rule of law is to punish the perpetrators who are unanimously found guilty beyond a reasonable doubt by independent and impartial jurors.”
“In a government of laws, existence of the government will be imperiled if it fails to observe the law scrupulously. Our Government is the potent, the omnipresent teacher. For good or for ill, it teaches the whole people by its example. Crime is contagious. If the government becomes a lawbreaker, it breeds contempt for law; it invites every man to become a law unto himself; it invites anarchy.”
But, I ask, where is Bruce Fein on all of the millions of law breakers, otherwise known as “illegals” that have broken the law to come into this country? The members of Congress that are pushing to legalize these law breakers and others thwarting the “rule of law” are mostly Democrats that could care less about the rule of law. Of course, Bush was also pushing this idiocy. It is mainly Congressional Republicans and the vast majority of the American citizenry that yelled, screamed and protested against legalizing those breaking the immigration laws. Why should not the members of Congress that encourage illegal immigrants to come and stay, for strictly political reason (votes), not be prosecuted for failing to follow their oath of office and uphold the Constitution and laws of this nation? Why are we not arresting and prosecuting, or returning to their country of origin, those that have broken the laws of the United States? Where are you on this Bruce? I presume you are a coward to state the truth on this huge issue, that the corrupt politicians that infest the U.S. Congress are skirting the law for their own gain, but are costing the taxpaying public of this nation untold millions to support these illegals that have broken the law.
beener:
““Notable” published writings by Fein include articles advocating the impeachment of former U.S. president Bill Clinton.”
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So did JT, and me too for that matter. What does that prove, or disprove about what I said? Fein is conservative, and he turned against this Texas Gestapo for the reason we all did-their utter contempt for the law. That makes him more lawyer than ideologue,and I applaud it.
JFKdem
If Fein really wants to have the ‘rule of law’, then put your energy into dealing with the 20 million illegal aliens in this country that are draining our resources dry. A political battle over who did what to whom because you hate Bush and his administration….get over it and lets get on with governing this country not only for the 70 million that voted for BHO, but also the 63 million that did not.
MESPO’s ost about Bruce Fein’s article is a lot of baseless rubbish, and, yet another example of why lawyers shouldn’t be elected to high office or make public policy.
Mr. Fein, in the typical habit of attorneys to bore in on minute details in order to look for a case, would have the nation utterly paralyzed from dealing with a threat that, shortly, after 9/11 seemed impossible to confront. That legalistic treatment of Islamic terrorists is what caused the first WTC attack to compromise intel sources and methods in order to bring to justice those terrorists, ultimately causing a blackout on information leading to the much more deadly 9/11 attacks.
People like Mr. Fein are ivory tower prima donnas. They sit in the comfort of think tanks and academia, and think great abstract thoughts. They don’t have to deal with the realities of the threats facing the nation. After 9/11, these lawyer, ACLU-types kept their heads down and skulked in the shadows —- they had no solutions, they had nothing to say, except to wring their hands, and state how bad and sad it all was.
No Americans’ civil liberties have been breached, and no Americans have been tortured. Just as important and very much unfortunately taken for granted by the public, no Americans have died in a major terrorist attack. Frankly, if there is another one and any current counterterrorism policies were changed from where they were under Bush, I’m in favor of investigations, show trials, and hearings against people like Mr. Fein and Obama Administration officials who let it happen. I’m furthermore in favor of compelling Mr. Fein to attend each and every funeral of any Americans who die in a terrorist attack — maybe then it won’t seem like such an abstract debate in a law school classroom.
Calling Bruce Fein a Conservative is an insult to Conservatives.
JT:
Bravo to Mom Turley for making the pilgrimage. When my son was in South Bend, I had to make that trek. It’s long and boring and exhausting. Besides her filial duties, I am sure she wanted to share with you and your family what Emerson called the “triumph of principles,” or to review that flotilla courtesy of Aiden, Jack, and Ben. Grandmas are like that.
mespo:
Fein is a Ron Paul worshipper. On September 2, 2008, Fein addressed Ron Paul’s “Rally For The Republic” in Minneapolis offering a critique of the Bush administration’s interventionist policy and advocating a more non-interventionist foreign policy. Fein also harshly criticized the anti-terror policies of the Bush White House, including wiretapping and detention of terror suspects.
“Notable” published writings by Fein include articles advocating the impeachment of former U.S. president Bill Clinton.
I find it shameful but typical of left wing loons like you TURLEY< and the rest of the MSNBC TURDS to print half truths and half the story.
Rafflaw, I bet you would call an apple an orange if it got you ahead political in your little mind:
Fein is a Ron Paul worshipper. On September 2, 2008, Fein addressed Ron Paul’s “Rally For The Republic” in Minneapolis offering a critique of the Bush administration’s interventionist policy and advocating a more non-interventionist foreign policy. Fein also harshly criticized the anti-terror policies of the Bush White House, including wiretapping and detention of terror suspects.
“Notable” published writings by Fein include articles advocating the impeachment of former U.S. president Bill Clinton.
I find it shameful but typical of left wing loons to print half truths and half the story.
rafflaw:
The dominoes are starting to fall. In today’s Washington Times, conservative lawyer Bruce Fein argues for investigating and, if sufficient cause exists, prosecuting Bush, Cheney, Rove, Gonzalez, et als for ordering and complicity in torture. When the ultra right wing Rev. Moon is against you, who can be for you. I am eagerly awaiting the conversion of Ann Coulter and Rush Limbaugh. Even they don’t need a weatherman to tell them which way the wind is blowing. Here’s the article:
http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2009/jan/20/the-rule-of-law/
Prof. Turley,
Congratulations on having the family together on this historic day. And congrats on your mother making that long drive by herself. I hope she has someone going back with her. I have made that drive and it is not an easy one. And you are right, don’t mess with Bono.
I was not able to watch as much of the coverage as some of you on here, but what I saw was moving. The millions of people on the Mall stole the show for me. I have seen estimates of 1.4 million to 2 million. That is an amazing statement to the man and his principles. Now, we citizens have the duty to stay involved and keep our Presidents feet to the fire. The principles do not end at the inauguration. President Obama (that has a nice ring to it)made it very clear that one of the changes he is making is that we will not give up our principles for our security. I take that to mean no torture and no warrantless spying. I will be watching very carefully to see if his actions match his rhetoric. It is a new day.
As to Justice Roberts, as much as I dislike his politics and his hidden agenda, I do think that he just flubbed up today under the pressure. It was nice to see Obama straighten him up.
Finally, I have to echo Buddha’s statement to President Obama earlier, “Don’t screw it up”. Amen.
beener:The only Nation in the world that has gone to war to end slavery
hmm, you’ve posted that twice and seeing how it really isn’t true that must mean everything else you have posted is equally not really true
Thanks I won’t have to read your posts any more.
On a lighter note.
I didn’t think I would have much of a reaction today but I’m not sure my eyes have beheld a more beautiful sight than watching Bush leave for the last time.
Nice post Mike Spindell
mespo727272: I am not particularly shocked that Roberts had trouble administering the oath of office. That does require reading the document beforehand.
HAHAHAHAHA…that’s funny cuz it’s true
Professor Turley is it possible to get a schedule of your TV appearances? I don’t watch TV so-called “News” but I would make an exception in your case. Maybe there is one and I am missing it?
Excerpted quote from Lowery’s message:
“…help us work for that day when black will not be asked to get in back, when brown can stick around … when yellow will be mellow … when the red man can get ahead, man; and when white will embrace what is right.”
what racist statement? the little rhyme? the black/yellow/red…?
that saying has been around since the 60’s. just like i have.
it’s not racist!
Was it necessary for Reverend Lowery to make a racist statement the Benediction in front of the world on the steps of the Capital of the United States of America?
Is this how we unite America? I hardly think so. OBama needs to demand Reverend Lowery apologize to the white America in the United States that WENT TO WAR to free slaves. The only Nation in the world that has gone to war to end slavery!
Market went down 330 points today. Market has been crashing since it realized Obama could very well win the election if blacks came out in numbers and voted for him – which of course they did – 97% voted for him. Strange how that happens.
I attended a conference where a leader who thought much too highly of himself was ending a rousing—although way too long and pompous—speech and his loud crescendo to the “punch line” extolling the virtuous symbol of an agency was flubbed when he shouted :
Long live the Glue Broose! (meaning to say ‘Blue Goose’)
The rousing cheers turned to a huge collective and audible groan. The pristine atmosphere for all of the other rah-rah pomp and circumstance “speeches” of others that evening was subdued by their “champion’s” faux pas prelude.
I disliked the self-important speaker who flubbed his lines and I bet I was the only person in the entire huge ballroom who thought with glee, Yes! to the muffing of his punch line.
Chief Justice Roberts needs to learn that while on a worldwide stage during an important exercise of the peaceful transfer of power, that he simply must deliver the correct ‘punch line’.
Was it necessary for Reverend Lowery to make a racist statement the Benediction in front of the world on the steps of the Capital of the United States of America?
Was it necessary for Barack Obama to smile when Reverend Lowery made the racist statement?
Is this how we unite America? I hardly think so. OBama needs to demand Reverend Lowery apologize to the white America in the United States that WENT TO WAR to free slaves. The only Nation in the world that has gone to war to end slavery!
Mike, Mazal tov.