As many of us expected, President Obama’s decision to block any investigation or prosecution of war crimes has led Republicans to rehabilitate George Bush’s legacy. The latest claim came from former Vice President Dick Cheney who previously boasted about the torture program in public — unconcerned about any prosecution from Attorney General Eric Holder. Now, Cheney is boasting that Obama has “learned from experience” that some of the Bush administration’s decisions on terrorism issues.
Cheney stated “I think he’s learned that what we did was far more appropriate than he ever gave us credit for while he was a candidate. So I think he’s learned from experience. And part of that experience was the Democrats having a terrible showing last election.” He added “I think he’s learned that he’s not going to be able to close Guantanamo . . . That it’s — if you didn’t have it, you’d have to create one like that. You’ve got to have some place to put terrorists who are combatants who are bound and determined to try to kill Americans.”
Obama opened himself up to his unwanted alliance when he decided to protect Bush officials from prosecution despite the obligation of his Administration under existing treaties to investigate and prosecute acts of torture. Just last week, a senior former Justice official denounced the Administration for its complicity and said that it would leave a lasting stain on the country.
Cheney also called Obama a one-term president. If so, Obama has earned both Cheney recommendation and his loss of a second term. As promising the Senate that he would not continue his political conduct from the Clinton years at Justice, Holder proceeded to make the ultimate political act by blocking prosecutions after Obama promised that CIA officials would never be prosecuted for the alleged war crimes. It was the triumph of politics over principle — even war crimes principles were not enough to risk alienating the right. Politics should not have been part of the equation, but it also proved to be a remarkably illogical choice since the right never warmed to Obama despite a series of compromises from the White House. The result is that Obama is both unpopular and unprincipled in this area.
Source: The Hill
Jonathan Turley
Swarthmore:
You wrote:
“Darryl Issa wants to impeach Obama but for different reasons. I think he has an “Impeach Obama” website. What a great message to send to African Americans.”
Obama is a honkie.
Get it through your head once and for all.
And if American blacks are Africans why aren’t they living in Africa?
Jill,
I agree with most of what you said. The thing is, and Hayek says it better, that socialism REQUIRES a totalitarian system. And that is why I blast it. (to nincompoops on the left, this doesn’t mean I use a weapon like a grenade and such)
And since we are in large part already a Marxist system (at the socialist stage) that is why we see our government running the schools (check), providing our homes/loans (check), running the banks (check), running health care (check), and running the food supply (next on the agenda). These totalitarian controls over every aspect of our lives is the substance of Marxism.
Without government controlling all these, socialism doesn’t have a chance. But even after it does have its chance, it fails (because one runs out of other peoples money). For example: Greece.
The best government is the least offensive government which can still protect borders and make sure people don’t steal your stuff or murder or assault you (anyone) without it being punished (if possible).
That is about all that government ought to do. Everything else should be left to the people.
A socialist can leave none of it to the people. They are driven insane (or are already there) by their own greed and power and need to control everyone’s lives around them. And while you say you abhor totalitarianism (as I do) you must know that socialism requires it.
And that is why it is BAD Obama and Democrats support socialism because it leads to totalitarianism. Yes, it’s goals are nice, but the means to achieve them are vicious and deadly. You even said socialism has never really occurred. And it hasn’t.
So what happens along the way to socialism that prevents it?
Hayek writes:
“Similarly a British writer, F. A. Voigt, after many years of close observation of developments in Europe as a foreign correspondent, concludes that “Marxism has led to Fascism and National Socialism, because, in all essentials, it is Fascism and National Socialism.’ And Walter Lippmann has arrived at the conviction that ‘the generation to which we belong is now learning from experience what happens when men retreat from freedom to a coercive organization of their affairs. Though they promise themselves a more abundant life, they must in practice renounce it; as the organized direction increases, the variety of ends must give way to uniformity. That is the nemesis of the planned society and the authoritarian principle of human affairs.” Road to Serfdom page 32
And that is what the Democratic Party is all about. They want to plan every aspect of my life. And I resent that. Socialism requires a retreat from freedom. That is evil.
I admit that the Democratic Party rank and file members are too stupid to run their own lives and thus beg for government to do it, but there are people (even people like me who belong to neither major party) who want to opt out of others controlling their lives.
And that is why I harp on the Marxists (the Democratic Party).
Hayek and Peter Drucker
“‘The complete collapse of the belief in the attainability of freedom and equality through Marxism…has forced Russia to travel the same road toward a totalitarian, purely negative, non-economic society of unfreedom and inequality which Germany has been following. Not that communism and fascism are essentially the same. Fascism is the stage reached after communism has proved an illusion, and it has proved as much as illusion in Stalinist Russia as in pre-Hitler Germany.” page 33
And it will prove an illusion to Nancy Pelosi, Harry Reid, Barack Hussein Obama, and every Democrat. Also, to you and I.
And to our posterity.
The illusion ends in slavery or death. If slavery, then it ends in grinding the individual’s face into the dirt for the sake of the collective.
From page 37:
“The socialist believe in two things which are absolutely different and perhaps even contradictory: freedom and organization.” Elie Halevy*
Tell that to a man who prides himself on community organizing as a requisite skill for government leadership.
*
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/%C3%89lie_Hal%C3%A9vy
SwM,
Exactly … this is what people should be watching and talking about for the pipeline is ready and once it’s in the pipeline ….
Redistricting does not look good, Blouise. Texas gains 4 seats.
Whether or not Obama should run in 2012 is an interesting point to discuss but the reality is he will run and, barring a catastrophic event, he will win. The numbers are there and both sides know it.
The Republicans will run a guy willing to fall on his sword for the good of the Party.
Pay attention to State elections in 2012 for that is where the threats are manifesting and the groundwork for 2016 is being laid. The Kucinich redistricting threat is just one of many across the country. Do not be distracted by the Presidential election hype … no matter who is spreading it.
Darryl Issa wants to impeach Obama but for different reasons. I think he has an “Impeach Obama” website. What a great message to send to African Americans.
rafflaw,
I agree, Obama has committed impeachable offenses. He should be impeached. As liberals, we should state that clearly and loudly, just as some Republicans did under Bush. If we don’t stop the illegal accumulation of powers in the hands of the executive, then it’s over for the U.S.
This is exactly what Republicans did under Bush. They said, oh he’s a nice guy, I like him, so it’s O.K. for him to have all these powers, because little George, he’d never do anything wrong with them. He’s just keepin’ us safe from the terrists.
My neighbors would tell me this kind of thing all the time. Weren’t they surprised when Obama took over and now some of them are on the shit list, under surveillance! They used to think I was a bad person for not trusting such a great guy as GWB to always be doing the right thing. Now it’s people on the left who can’t seem to see what is going on. But the truth is, the situation is exactly the same and we the people need to figure that out, left and right, NOW!
Elaine,
I realize that Palin wants to do anything to keep herself in the public eye and keep the gravy train running, but I think she is also stupid and crazy enough to think that she should run for President. I even think she is stupid enough to think she could do it without the Republican Party. To quote Buddha and Forrest G., Stupid is as stupid does.
MRS M.
“IMO, Palin isn’t really serious about running for president.”
She is holding out as long as possible to tell the Nation that she is “NOT” running for President for when she does she has nothing else left to justify the attention that she is getting.
rafflaw,
IMO, Palin isn’t really serious about running for president. I believe she feels she needs people to “think” she’s interested in running in 2012 so she can keep herself in the media spotlight. Her notoriety helps her to sell her books…and herself. She’s smart enough to know how to use the press/media–and members of the press/media are dumb enough to let her lead them around on a leash.
Obama is not a viable candidate. He is committing war and financial crimes. The is destroying the rule of law. He may well be electable but it is a good idea to know what it really means when you are electing him. We don’t yet know who else will run for office in 2012. In the meantime, because Obama himself may not even win the presidency, it makes sense to stand on principle and oppose his extra legal actions right now. There must be a line which our people will not cross, otherwise it is truly meaningless to elect anyone. Declare a kingship and move forward with the police state or fight back now.
Smom,
If there is enough draft pressure? Kucinich could change his mind. Plus there is always 2016 barring some idiot doesn’t trigger a nuclear war in the interim.
Elaine,
There’s always a first time.
@ SM
Bernie Sanders?
Jill,
The answer to your question to Swarthmore Mom is that we already did it with George W. Bush’s second term. The comments about increasing presidential power during the Bush years was dangerous if that increased power got into the hands of a Democratic President were made back then. President Obama has done some good things, but to have not prosecuted the Bush torture crowd is an impeachable offense, isn’t it? U.S. law is clear about the United States outlawing torture, including waterboarding. International law is also clear on the subject of waterboarding. If it is an impeachable offense to lie about a sex affair with an intern, it is certaintly high crimes and misdemeanors to look the other way when Bush and Cheney have gone on television and admitted to authorizing illegal torture.
I think Buddha is correct that Palin is unelectable. She makes a rock look like an intelligent being. Obama could win in 2012 very easily, especially if the same characters on the Right are still in the picture.
Buddha,
People who tell the truth don’t get elected president.
Buddha, Kucinich already said no. Next case.
Dennis Kucinich 2012
We can debate how bad Obama is all the way to the next election. The minorities and the young people will be with him. I guess I will join them as there is no viable alternative in 2012. If someone has another candidate, please post the name.
Cheneys comments are like giving the President a “pat” on the head.
The Ink is Black the Paper is White…..so how did this song go again……