We have seen in the Republican primary how candidates have engaged in a type of race to the bottom in embracing torture and suggesting that they would launch attacks against Iran and other countries. In this debate, the law and the Constitution are often dismissed as weak considerations for a strong president. Not to be outdone in such macho posturing, the Obama campaign has mocked Mitt Romney for even suggesting that he would consult with lawyers before launching attacks or taking critical actions. Stephanie Cutter, President Obama’s Deputy Campaign Manager, delivered the message on MSNBC that Obama was strong because he didn’t need no stinkin’ lawyers.
Cutter appeared on MSNBC to offer this analysis of Romney:
The most egregious falsehood would be the President’s position on Iran, whether it’s Mitt Romney or Rick Santorum, attacking the President for not being tough enough on Iran. Ask any foreign policy expert out there, we have the toughest sanctions in place today than we’ve had in decades thanks to this President. . . . Now look at Mitt Romney. What he didn’t say on the stage tonight is that just four years ago, when asked the same question on Iran, he said he’d have to check with his lawyers. That does not make a Commander-in-Chief, somebody who has to check with his lawyers.
Of course, Obama has shown repeatedly that he has the “strength” to not only ignore lawyers, but ignore the law. On torture, he promised CIA officials that they would never be prosecuted despite his acknowledgment that waterboarding is torture — a war crime under controlling treaties. On Libya, he launched a war without achieving authorization from Congress. [For full disclosure, I represented the members challenging this war in federal court]. For areas ranging from privacy to detention, Obama has proven the type of strong leadership that Cutter describes. Her comments vividly illustrate that the White House has little concern for the objections by civil libertarians and will continue to model Obama on the image of George Bush — the strong leader who refuses to be weakened by lawyers.
Cutter’s comments should be condemned by the President but they will not be. It was not even challenged on MSNBC at the time or in later segments. After all, this election is only about “them” and not “us.” Moreover Cutter was reading from a script that has been followed since the very beginning of Obama’s term. The image of the strongman, so popular in places like Russia, has found a place in the United States. In this new paradigm, the law and the Constitution are synonymous with weakness. Even consulting with lawyers is an indication of a lack of character and strength.
By the way, Cutter is a lawyer (trained at Georgetown).
Glenn Greenwald has an excellent piece on the comments.
I do bitch
Is she completely wrong? Bold action cannot wait for deliberation.
Jessie: “He is casting his seeds”
I read somewhere he can get in trouble with the Big Guy over that.
Richard Dawwkins. ” I cant be 100% sure god doesnt exsist” http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/on-faith/richard-dawkins-says-hes-not-entirely-sure-god-doesnt-exist/2012/02/24/gIQA7496XR_story.html
Yes, who cares. Jim is spreading the good word. He is casting his seeds.
Jim, that is the first thing you have said that makes sense. But probably not in the spirit you meant.
Jim,
You know, that unless you have been enlightened books read and test taken are just that. When you read and understand what you have read, you then become enlightened with wisdom. You, Jim, have been blessed.
Bdaman
Who cares?
Otteray Scribe
Church doesn’t save anybody.
The State Department has begun coordinating with Syria’s neighbors to prepare for the handling of President Bashar al-Assad’s extensive weapons of mass destruction if and when his regime collapses, The Cable has learned.
http://thecable.foreignpolicy.com/posts/2012/02/24/exclusive_state_department_quietly_warning_r
egion_on_syrian_wmds WMD PartII.Hillary to reveal pics of mobile labs
My gosh! Thirteen years warming a college desk and all I should have done was go to church to get enlightened. Thirteen years wasted that I cannot get back. Dang!
Man, you really put me in my place.
Jessie
What an encouragement
You tell them. You dont need to yell at them to get your point across. The deaf will never hear or the sited see unless they have been given the divine light like you Jim. Now don’t back down. They are weak. The unlearned can never learn unless they have been given. You were given the light Jim.
Otteray Scribe
By the way the scientists you refer to had to study, study and study, God said let there be light and there was light. I would rather trust in him.
mespo727272
The earth is not 6000 years old. Man is!
Otteray Scribe
Who do you think gave the scientists that knowledge?
OS:
I think the only wind Jim cares about is the hot kind emanating from his holy orafices.
Mespo,
I’ll take modern family!
Gene H:
Stop it Gene! I’m getting sick with laughter.
Mespo, when Jim gets on an airplane, he has faith that it will fly, because he cannot see the wind. Never mind all those engineers and scientists that did the weight, lift, loads in a compressible fluid, drag and speed studies. You know, stuff that was actually written down on a piece of paper and tested repeatedly until things started breaking.
The big NASCAR race is at Daytona this weekend. Every one of those drivers in the Cup race can “see” the wind. They have to be able to do so. Many of them are religious, but do not depend on their religion to keep them off the wall and to maximize speed using air pressure differentials from nearby cars as they fly around the track at close to two hundred miles per hour.