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The President Has Been Afraid of What?

Submitted by: Mike Spindell, guest blogger

As someone who voted for and rejoiced in Barack Obama’s election in 2008, I had certain expectations for his Presidency. My expectations heightened with the Democratic party’s majorities in Congress. Foremost I wanted to see a swift end to both wars, which I believe are unjust and draining the resources of this country. Since Obama was presumably a constitutional law scholar, I expected that he would return this country to the Rule of Law. I expected the new President to eliminate the Bush constitutional usurpation of our government and people, occurring with Democratic Party compliance. The Administration would end the widespread use of torture, rendition, and the excesses of The Patriot Act. His Department Of Justice would prosecute those who were responsible. As far as the economic crisis engendered by Wall Street excesses, I had faith that he would deal with it through FDR like projects, by re-regulation/prosecution of the financial industry and ending the unjustified Bush Tax cuts for the wealthy.

 That none of this has happened, or was even attempted has filled me with disappointment and anger towards this Administration’s performance. In my mind as I tried to make sense of it of this betrayal, there was a nagging suspicion. What if the “powers that be” in our Country including the Military-Industrial complex had sent the word to the newly elected President: “Play ball”, or find yourself and your family grievously threatened? I was a young adult through the 60’s as I watched the assassinations of my heroes, one of whom was a President. I’m not  comfortable with the official explanation of these deaths, since there was much that didn’t make sense. In the 70’s The Pentagon Papers, Watergate, and later the Church Committee Report on the CIA gave credence to the possible actions of a secret government. In addition, we learned from General Smedley-Butler, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Smedley_Butler  that a group of businessmen had contacted him in 1934 about leading a coup against FDR. One of those conspirators was Prescott Bush, father of Bush I and grandfather of Bush II. Later, Prescott Bush was involved in a Bank that had financed the NAZI’s rise to power. http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2004/sep/25/usa.secondworldwar.

On September 7th, Rob Kall’s OpEdNews published “Obama Team Feared Coup If He Prosecuted War Crimes”.  Andrew Kreig, executive director of the Justice Integrity Project, wrote this article. There are some very persuasive points in it and I believe it is worth your perusal and comment:

http://www.opednews.com/articles/1/Obama-Team-Feared-Coup-If-by-Andrew-Kreig-110907-156.html

If this speculation were true, it would go a long way towards explaining what we’ve been seeing from the Obama Administration. It would also be a disaster for any notion of the Rule of Law. 

This Administration has performed timidly in areas promised by their campaign and enumerated above. Their performance on even something like Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell was timid and drawn out compared to the President’s campaign promises and its’ eventual resolution was a tortured process, to say the least. The easiest explanation of course is a timid Presidency and that as smart as he is, Barack Obama lacks the ability to lead with strength. This is indeed the simplest solution and “behind the scenes” threats are not needed to offer further explanation. However, I must admit that doesn’t fully satisfy me. Any man who runs for President is essentially audaciously self-confident. Who in hell would really want such a 24/7 high tension job, except for people who so believe in themselves that they are willing to go through the torture of a Presidential Campaign to get there? The “audaciousness of hope” had to possess some strong power behind it in the man out front.

Please understand that I am not yet willing to believe absolutely that our Government is so completely in the hands of a centralized power that our elected officials mean nothing. While having seen much in life that stimulates my cynical nature, I remain an optimist as a matter of mental health. The hubris needed to propound and continue such an ongoing plot would be massive. The logistics are enormous in terms of maintaining secrecy. I know too much of human fallibility to fully believe this could be executed completely, without consequence or rumor, yet there are those many strange assassinations to ponder.  

Tomorrow is the 10th anniversary of  America’s 9/11 tragedy. Our reaction to it as a country in that decade makes me feel at times that Al Qaeda triumphed by swerving our country away from its’ ideals and constitution. What then if this speculation is true and certain people with power have used the fear engendered to resort to illegal pressure upon our President? What can we do about it?

My own belief is that without ignoring it, we must proceed as if it isn’t true and to continue to fight for the ideals and Constitution we hold sacred. I believe that violent revolution never works and only begets new tyrants. However, revolutions don’t have to be violent to succeed, as Gandhi showed us and as Reverend King proved. Revolution can be as simple as a majority of the people refusing to buy into the mythology tyranny presents to maintain control over us. Tyranny needs acceptance of its faulty premises and fear via intimidation to work its will. Educating most people in what is occurring and how they are deceived represents a powerful force. Professor Turley in his legal Career has consistently fought against evils like torture and against the extra-constitutional actions of chief executives and legislators. These legal battles are an example of fighting back and are educational as well. I will never accept that the battle is over and that we have become a feudal, corporate-controlled country. However, I fully realize that my own proffered solutions are more hopeful than concrete

What do you, the reader, think about this news story? Do you find it credible? If it is creditable, what do you propose we can or should do about it?

 Submitted by: Mike Spindell

83 thoughts on “The President Has Been Afraid of What?”

  1. “I believe that violent revolution never works and only begets new tyrants.”

    As circumstances become more and more dire, the only thing that will keep the masses from that tipping point is the truth. As a wise man once noted, truth is the first casualty of war. Preventing war from within our own ranks, we simply have to put aside the lies.

    There’s much trouble brewing in Europe. Let’s not focus solely on ourselves; solidarity will go far in creating a better world for ourselves and our children and their children.

  3. Wootsy,

    You statement is true…But the practicality of the two party systems…it is pretty had to beat an incumbent….on their own ticket….

    Unlike LBJ whom I think orchestrated (or had his hand in it) the JFK would have served Ten years if his plans had worked out…but by the end of his first election…the writing was on the wall….Pretty amazing that Nixon then steps in and wins….after an awful loss six years before….

    So he did not seek his party’s nomination…“My Lai Massacre” may have had something to do with it….

  5. Anonymously Yours1, September 10, 2011 at 2:47 pm

    ….I don’t think Obama is doing the Job he promised to do. I would like to have the ability to have someone else run in his place…
    —————————————————————
    I don’t agree. Representative Republic/Democracy…is not a Dictatorship nor a 1 man show. Obama is taking the heat for a grand failure of State and there is more than enough blame to go around. Where he is now is looking more like a reflection of backstabbing , deliberate non-cooperation and disruption, in short political assassination by special interests and republicans that cant seem to see beyond the ends of thier own noses and we are all endangered by it and sufferring from it. I think our first black president has done as much as anyone could given the elements he has had to deal with. As far as ‘turning’…turning into what? The status quo? Well, I suppose he could be blamed for that…

  7. Nations can and do go crazy.

    That is why our forefathers left England and later wrote the declaration of Independence.

    England came to believe that “the king can do no wrong”.

    Our constitution was the application of a remedy, a treatment for that craziness.

    To the degree that we are losing the constitution is the degree to which this nation is going crazy.

  8. “A new report by the U.S. Army War College talks about the possibility of Pentagon resources and troops being used should the economic crisis lead to civil unrest, such as protests against businesses and government or runs on beleaguered banks.

    “Widespread civil violence inside the United States would force the defense establishment to reorient priorities in extremis to defend basic domestic order and human security,” said the War College report.

    The study says economic collapse, terrorism and loss of legal order are among possible domestic shocks that might require military action within the U.S.”

    Phoenix Business Journal

  9. AY,

    I think the coup comments made by Obama’s transition team were more hyperbole and conjecture than statements of fact.

    Per the Beer Hall Putsch, the subtext takes on a whole new meaning if you make the tiny leap in thinking of 9/11 as a ‘homage.’

    Per the idea of the existence of an actual threat of a coup, there’s only one way to analyze it–detached, neutral and slowly.

    It’s kind of like when you go fishing with an open reel and you have to untangle a bird’s nest. You don’t focus on what ‘might’ be on the end of the line; you focus on the immediate issues/tangles as they come and let the process lead you to the ultimate conclusion.

  10. Nate,

    Are you not afraid that someone is going to start calling you a misogynist as well? Don’t you know….we have no other candidate that is Pro choice….So you must hate women for expressing that view….and I bet you are really a Republican operative as well….Well, I will just have to view you with askance…or something like that….

    wink, wink….

  11. A) Obama is yet another corrupt/spineless/self-serving politician who knuckled under to interest groups and broke lots of his campaign promises.

    B) He was threatened by shadowy forces.

    I’m thinking “A”.

    I’d give this article slightly more credence if it didn’t have as part of its foundation JFK conspiracy nonsense.

  12. Roco,

    Apparently…Bob.Esq. is on the coup page too…

    Bob, I have to admit that was good…I never recalled that the Bier Hall brew hause was celebrated so greatly….Now, if the calendar months actually were the actual months…then it would be Nine-Nine…as November is Nine, just as October is 8….then You have December and September….all the others are named from something Roman (Leaders or events)…..January through August….All of the months are the same August used to be Sextilis which literally translates to 6….

    http://www.pantheon.org/miscellaneous/origin_months.html

    or this if you like….

    http://www.buzzle.com/editorials/1-2-2005-63689.asp

  13. In short, I believe that Obama turned. In plain language, he joined the dark side just as surely as Cheney did.

    I believe the solution is to bring him out of office with a candidate that caters to principles over party, and hold Obama and the previous administration culpable for their destruction of the rule of law.

  14. American coup d’etat:
    Military thinkers discuss the unthinkable (posted by Woosty earlier)

    by A.J. Bacevich, Charles J., Jr. Dunlap, Richard H. Kohn, and Edward N. Luttwak

    About one of the authors:

    “BRIG. GEN. CHARLES J. DUNLAP JR. is a staff judge advocate at Langley Air Force Base in Virginia. In 1992 he published an essay entitled “The Origins of the American Military Coup of 2012.””

    The link to his essay follows:

    http://www.uwec.edu/sfpj/Origins.pdf

    The Origins of the American Military Coup of 2012

    CHARLES J. DUNLAP, JR.

    Excerpt:

    Finally, I would tell our classmates that democracy is a fragile institution that must be continuously nurtured and scrupulously protected. I would also tell them that they must speak out when they see the institution threatened; indeed, it is their duty to do so. Richard Gabriel aptly observed in his book To Serve with Honor that when one discusses dissent, loyalty, and the limits of military obligations, the central
    problem is that the military represents a threat to civil order not because it will usurp authority, but because it does not speak out on critical policy decisions. The soldier fails to live up to his oath to serve the country if he does not speak out when he sees his civilian or military superiors executing policies he feels to be wrong.[96]

    Gabriel was wrong when he dismissed the military’s potential to threaten civil order, but he was right when he described our responsibilities. The catastrophe that occurred on our watch took place because we failed to speak out against policies we knew were wrong. It’s too late for me to do any more. But it’s not for you.

    Best regards,
    Prisoner 222305759

    (end of excerpt)

    Lieutenant Colonel Charles J. Dunlap, Jr., USAF, is the Deputy Staff Judge Advocate, US Central Command, at MacDill AFB, Florida. He is a graduate of St. Joseph’s University (Pa.), the Villanova University School of Law, and the Armed Forces Staff College, and he is a Distinguished Graduate of the National War College, Class of 1992.
    He has taught at the Air Force Judge Advocate General’s School, and served tours in Korea and the United Kingdom. In 1987 he was a Circuit Military Judge, First Judicial Circuit, and was subsequently assigned to the Air Staff in the Office of the Judge Advocate General.

    Lieutenant Colonel Dunlap was recently named by the Judge
    Advocates’ Association as the USAF’s Outstanding Career Armed Services Attorney of 1992. The present article is adapted from his National War College student paper that was co-winner of the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff 1991-92 Strategy Essay Competition, in which students from all the senior service colleges compete.

  20. Roco

    pronounced kooers.

    Is that the German spelling for what is known in America Coors….

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