Defending Bush, Obama admin. appeals decision allowing detainees to challenge imprisonment.
Defending Bush, Obama admin. appeals decision allowing detainees to challenge imprisonment.
Recently, Judge John Bates ruled that some prisoners at the Air Force base in Bagram have a right to challenge their imprisonment in U.S. civilian courts, saying the detainees are “virtually identical” to detainees at Guantánamo and so they have the same constitutional rights granted in Boumediene vs. Bush. Siding with the Bush administration, however, the Obama administration is appealing the court decision:
The Obama administration said Friday that it would appeal a district court ruling that granted some military prisoners in Afghanistan the right to file lawsuits seeking their release. The decision signaled that the administration was not backing down in its effort to maintain the power to imprison terrorism suspects for extended periods without judicial oversight. In a court filing, the Justice Department also asked District Judge John D. Bates not to proceed with the habeas-corpus cases of three detainees at Bagram Air Base outside Kabul, Afghanistan.
Tina Foster, the executive director of the International Justice Network, which is representing the detainees, condemned the decision in a statement. “Though he has made many promises regarding the need for our country to rejoin the world community of nations, by filing this appeal, President Obama has taken on the defense of one of the Bush administration’s unlawful policies founded on nothing more than the idea that might makes right,” she said.
In September 2006, Obama said on the Senate floor that “restricting somebody’s right to challenge their imprisonment indefinitely is not going to make us safer. In fact, recent evidence shows it is probably making us less safe.” Glenn Greenwald notes that an ACLU lawyer is now calling Bagram “in some sense the new Guantanamo.”
Topic Cloud
ArchivesBlog Roll
OK THIS is outrageous. Obama you are really pissing me off with this kind of contempt for the rule of law. This is simple EITHER they are POWS and have to be treated as such or you are claiming they are criminals and THAT has to be proven in a COURT OF LAW.
April 11th, 2009 at 6:43 pmSomebody is blackmailing our brand new President…
April 11th, 2009 at 6:43 pmJudas!
April 11th, 2009 at 6:46 pmdixie blood Says:
Somebody is blackmailing our brand new President…
between supposed national security and mega dollars owning America, this surprises you in what way?
April 11th, 2009 at 6:54 pmObama helps Bush here too:
Obama Administration quietly expands Bush’s legal defense of wiretapping program
John Byrne
Published: Tuesday April 7, 2009
In a stunning defense of President George W. Bush’s warrantless wiretapping program, President Barack Obama has broadened the government’s legal argument for immunizing his Administration and government agencies from lawsuits surrounding the National Security Agency’s eavesdropping efforts.
In fact, a close read of a government filing last Friday reveals that the Obama Administration has gone beyond any previous legal claims put forth by former President Bush.
FULL ARTICLE HERE.
April 11th, 2009 at 6:55 pmAs with telecom immunity, which concealed bush’s crimes retroactively, Obama spits on his constituents, the American people, and backs the position of the worst president in U.S. history.
Obama the ‘Constitutional Scholar’ is flunking constitutionality. And failing us; the Constitution is not a circumstantial document to be cast aside when inconvenient.
April 11th, 2009 at 6:58 pmAccording to this 2007 article in the Yale Daily News, Obama’s economic adviser is in Skull and Bones.
http://www.yaledailynews.com/articles/view/21789
See this excerpt from New York Times bestselling author Alexandra Robbins, a Yale graduate who interviewed dozens and dozens of Bonesman. Hold on to your hats as she reveals these peoples’ goal to dominate the planet:
April 11th, 2009 at 6:58 pmhttp://www.secretsofthetomb.com/book.asp
Wayne Ant Schnieder, can you shed some light on this? I feel like you can make sense of this for me (us).
April 11th, 2009 at 6:58 pm#5 CB,
You can donate to the battle against this outrage by contributing to the non-profit that brought the law suit; EFF.
Go to http://www.eff.org to learn more…
This is a great org and I hope everyone will help…
[Disclosure: I have nothing to do with EFF except as a donor]
April 11th, 2009 at 7:00 pmAppealing the no-way-no-how-no-justice-for-Place judge? That’s just wonderful.
I have a legal question though, not trying in anyway to defend the administration: must the government reflexively challenge any rulings or lawsuits so as not to feel weakened by the judiciary or citizenry?
April 11th, 2009 at 7:03 pmWe are all in big trouble if Obama is a corporate stooge. Vote Kucinich!
April 11th, 2009 at 7:05 pmMcWars, I also wonder if this has something to do with the whole Patriot Act thing. It is the law but it is due to expire the end of this year as I understand. I don’t like it but inquiring minds are concerned.
April 11th, 2009 at 7:06 pmHmmm … good point, Hooda.
April 11th, 2009 at 7:10 pm* Plame, not Place @ #11
April 11th, 2009 at 7:12 pmI agree, this is totally unacceptable and must end.
All humans deserve habeas corpus rights no matter who or where they are. Why must I continue to be ashamed of such a great nation.
April 11th, 2009 at 7:13 pmI see the new administration is forgetting the facts of political life in todays America . The internet destroyed the bush administration , it can be brought to bear easily again against the democrats as well .
April 11th, 2009 at 7:15 pmI watched Pelosi on Olberman the other night and she mentioned this along with an IG report due in June. I hope the administration is biding its time and not selling out.
April 11th, 2009 at 7:15 pm@#2, dixie blood Says:
Somebody is blackmailing our brand new President…
April 11th, 2009 at 6:43 pm
They don’t have to blackmail him.
He’s behaving in way that are totally consonant with his original inclinations towards caution, his fealty to the Boss class and their international policies, and the history in which no president except Washington has EVER returned to the Lege any executive powers arrogated fro a particular emergency.
April 11th, 2009 at 7:16 pmThe internet destroyed the bush administration.
Nyah, I doubt it.
Destroyed? How? Reputation? Remember BEFORE 9/11? There were death watches on the administration, which appointee would have to fall on their sword to save the regime?
The Busheviks weren’t destroyed. They just ‘timed-out.’ They all walked away clean, and much richer than they were when they started. They did whatever they wanted, to whomsoever theyw wanted, for as long as they wanted, as often as they wanted, for just over 7 years.
I’ll take “destroyed” like that any time.
April 11th, 2009 at 7:20 pmSlowly and surely, Obama is turning into a disappointment. I expected kick-ass from him and it’s not coming.
April 11th, 2009 at 7:20 pmThe Obama administration is :
April 11th, 2009 at 7:25 pmpreventing court cases from preceeding on torture ,
will not investigate or procecute torturers ,
will not disavow extraordinary rendition,
is enlarging upon the ideas of the likes of John Yoo,
will not disavow domestic spying or wiretapping ,
will actually increase the pentagons budget NOT slash it ,
will expand the war in Afghanistan ,
is offering a rebranded occupation of Iraq as withdrawal ,
has broken it’s promise to renounce signing statements .
has put the very people who created the financial crisis ,the real coup ,in charge of solving it .
Sorry …….
I’ve been down somewhat on the president’s economic team, with the side thought that the only way is up from the Bush administration, and I don’t want the anti-terrorism team too afraid too go the way they know is right just to get the Cheney bots off their backs. What the previous administration has done was completely wrong. The current administration shouldn’t be out there giving the impression that there was a semblance of effectiveness to useless & damaging tactics.
April 11th, 2009 at 7:26 pmThey played the same game with Jimmy in 76-80. Lots of folks hoped he would stand up since he was a strong, principled human being.
Barack Obama is faced with the same choices. What America is supposed to stand for versus the vested interests. Vested interests have come out on top so far.
April 11th, 2009 at 7:26 pmhttp://www.salon.com/opinion/greenwald/2009/04/07/secrecy/
April 11th, 2009 at 7:32 pmRahm emmanuel to corral the bloggers ?
April 11th, 2009 at 7:34 pmhttp://www.huffingtonpost.com/jeremy-scahill/rahm-emanuels-think-tanke_b_185203.html
Please give Obama benefit of the doubt. He is our President and we must support him. he cares about us and is keeping us safe.
April 11th, 2009 at 7:34 pmTom Hayden on the center for American Progress ,
April 11th, 2009 at 7:35 pmhttp://www.huffingtonpost.com/tom-hayden/progressive-think-tank-te_b_179174.html
From Bush’s Gulag at Gitmo US Navy Base, Cuba to Obama’s Gulag at Bagram AFB, Afghanistan. No human rights under Bush and now no human rights under Obama. Eight hundred years of progress in strengthening human rights disappeared by first Bush, then Obama. Heck of a job, traitors to our Constitution.
Off-topic, but still in the subject of our ongoing imperial occupation of the world:
Somali pirates? Pretty small potatoes compared to the US imperial land-pirates, who are currently aiming their guns at thirty million Iraqis, demanding that that let US oil companies be allowed to steal their oil. We are also pointing our guns at some sixty million Afghanis, demanding that they allow US oil companies to build pipelines across their country. And if they have the gall to resist, we bomb them, wound them, maim them, imprison them, blindfold them, torture them and kill them. We are the US Imperial Land-pirates of the 21st Century.
April 11th, 2009 at 7:35 pmLibrul # 20
April 11th, 2009 at 7:41 pmof course there is the little problem with all this information floating around in a Spanish court , being overseen by the barrister who tried and convicted Pinochet .
The case is going forward and arrest warrants are expected . If convicted 24 countries ( I believe) are obligated to arrest the guilty parties .
ShadowBoxer Says:
Wayne Ant Schnieder, can you shed some light on this? I feel like you can make sense of this for me (us).
ShadowBoxer,
I’m flattered that you think so highly of my opinion. You should understand, however, that I am not a lawyer, nor have I had any kind of formal legal training. I’m just a man with a 6th-grade education who loves animals. No wait, that’s not me, that’s somebody else. I’m just a guy who likes to write silly song parodies (such as my latest, Tea Bag Party). But I’ll give it a try.
As I think about this whole strategy of using Bush’s arguments in court, the only thing that makes sense to me, the only thing that could possibly explain why they are doing it (if they want us to think they believe in the rule of law), is that they are hoping they lose. They are hoping that a judge will say, “No, the Bush Administration policy of holding people indefinitely, not allowing them a chance to challenge their detentions in the first place, and spying on people without a court-ordered warrant, are all illegal and unconstitutional.” Because then, and only then, will the issue be settled once and for all as a matter of law. If Obama were to drop the charges and release the prisoners to their home countries, and not allow the Bush System to be struck down in court, then somebody else will come along later, (maybe someone worse than Bush?) and be able to say, “Well, it’s never been ruled illegal.” Then I could understand why they are doing this.
But if that’s not the reason they’re doing it, then I hope they have a damn good explanation for why they are doing it. Otherwise he won’t get my vote in 2012.
I hope this helps, and I thank you for your generous opinion of me.
April 11th, 2009 at 7:44 pmPatriotic @ 27
April 11th, 2009 at 7:45 pmthis post is either subtle sarcasm or the most naive concept of politics I have ever heard .
elections over folks !
freeman,
April 11th, 2009 at 7:47 pmI support Obama and want him to do well. These attacks on our President are not useful. Let us trust Obama, he is for the common people. I support Obama 100%!
Posse commitatus , habeas corpus …….. not Latin names for members of the insect family .
April 11th, 2009 at 7:49 pmWayne Ant Schneider Says:
April 11th, 2009 at 7:44 pm
That makes a hell of a lot of sense, Wayne.
Thanks!
April 11th, 2009 at 7:50 pmPat …. did you read the links I posted above ? Rock stars are so yesterday . When Bush did these things they were criminal ! When Obama does them you are 100% on board ?
April 11th, 2009 at 7:51 pmWayne that’s a stretch but I TRULY hope your right .
April 11th, 2009 at 7:54 pmfreeman,
That is obviously a troll. Even the most ardent Obama supporter does not support him 100%, and is usually not quite so child-like with their comments. :-D
April 11th, 2009 at 7:54 pmThank you, Wayne Ant Schneider.
As always, an enlightening, thought out post.
I just hope you’re right. I’ve been hearing some things [via my husband and Alex Jones (who I despise, but he seems to be on-point most of the time, unfortunately...I just think he's super hyperbolic and pompous...Jones that is, I love my hubby)] that put me on alarm.
The waters are very muddied in all arenas. I’m glad TP is bringing this to the forefront, because we need to not ignore and spin like the right. There’s a lot of digging to do.
I digress…
April 11th, 2009 at 7:54 pmOh and I second shadows sentiments wayne your a marvel .
April 11th, 2009 at 7:57 pmI still miss veritas .
Obama wants to wiretap O’Reilly and then throw him into a combatant camp so he needs to appeal the ruling against Bush so his co-conspirators at MSNBC and GE can hired people into hurt Bill-O with falafels and loofas.
Yes, Im kidding. =)
April 11th, 2009 at 7:58 pmShadowBoxer, Alex Jones? Read Mein Kampf. Same crap, different hole.
April 11th, 2009 at 8:05 pmDoes anyone use Middle east progress TP’s sister site . Noton anti virus says its unsafe ? Anybody ?
April 11th, 2009 at 8:06 pmKeep in mind that the Obama Administration has not been active 100 days. Folks are doubting what the President promised he’d do when elected. Shucks, it took Bush 8 years to nearly ruin our country. I can’t believe people are expecting alot to happen in less than 100 days. It’s extremely unrealistic and unfair. We don’t know what’s behind this decision. CHANGE TAKES TIME!
April 11th, 2009 at 8:11 pmShadowBoxer. You’re not “digressing”, you’re just “beginning”. If their strategy is to get the “Bush System” declared unconstitutional, then they are doing it the right way. (I’ll even allow myself the little dream that the claim of even more power than Bush sought on the Telecom case was just a way to go so overboard that the courts would have to declare it unconstitutional. But that’s just me dreaming.)
I’m not always right, I don’t deny that. I just hope I’m right this time. Otherwise, I’m frightened.
April 11th, 2009 at 8:12 pmHoodathunktick,
April 11th, 2009 at 8:15 pmAlex Jones is a patriot. He exposed Bush’s Terror attack of 9/11. It was an inside job. Obama will prosecute Bush for this crime. Obama is on the path of fixing America. Let us help him!
I know, I know, Hoodathunktick….
I think he’s racist and vile, personally. But I have to say that infowars does cover some of the things I am interested in knowing more about, say like chemtrailing and the 911 truth movement. If you can call it a movement, since nothing has moved…urgh….
Other than that, just hearing him speak makes me want to shove skewers in my ears.
BTW, I had to remove a tick from my dog’s neck this a.m. Was that you? ;) Sorry if I hurt you!
April 11th, 2009 at 8:15 pmShadowBoxer,
April 11th, 2009 at 8:16 pm9-11 was an inside job. Bush and the Neo cons did this. Many progressives support Alex Jones. He’s a good man.
See, Patriotic Liberal,
If you were serious about what you are saying, you would know that Jones does NOT think that Obama will prosecute.
Try again.
Thanks for coming to my “defense” though. I’m not sure how to take you, but I think you are a liar.
April 11th, 2009 at 8:18 pmThis is what I picture when I think of Hoodathunktick.
:-D
April 11th, 2009 at 8:18 pmIt must have been that video that the corporate elite showed Obama once he was elected that shows JFK’s assassination from an angle that no one has ever seen that convinced him to capitulate to the ownership class. “We’re rich, we deserve to be rich and we’re going to stay rich! Any questions?”
So much for human rights.
I’ll never vote for another Democrat ever again. And certainly never a republican. Jesse Ventura in 2012. At least he won’t kiss ass.
April 11th, 2009 at 8:21 pmI wan’t expecting that Zoeey. I lol’ed for real…. :)
April 11th, 2009 at 8:21 pmIf Obama is to defend everything that Bush and Cheney have done, then Obama should not have used his famous slogan “Change we can believe in” to get votes, he should have used instead : ” I’m a continuation of Bush administration,in fact, I’m going to keep his secretary Gates,I’m going to have Surge of my own in Afghanstan too…and I’m going to object to any questioning of Bush’s war laws”.
April 11th, 2009 at 8:22 pmIt’s been a rough week for progressives:
1. The Obama Justice Department reiterated Bush’s “state secrets” defense in a domestic spying lawsuit and will appeal a ruling allowing prisoners to challenge their detention in U.S. foreign jails.
2. The U.S. made a diplomatic move to “battle the anti-Israel crap”. America’s UN Ambassador used those words to describe her role in international diplomacy. Lovely.
3. CIA Chief Leon Panetta said agency officers who worked in secret prisons “should not be investigated, let alone punished.”
4. Mr. Obama assured corporate executives that he wants their companies to remain competitive, and that he is interested “over time” in lowering corporate rates in exchange for closing corporate loopholes.
For links go to:
http://arisfreedomswitch.blogspot.com/2009/04/conned-again.html
April 11th, 2009 at 8:28 pmJust another lowlife American politician owned by the super-rich. Has anyone here notice that KBR hasn’t been brought up on any charges yet? Why not? I haven’t even heard of any meaningful investigation. How many of our troops have they killed with their shitty shower units? How many have been injured? Do you know that they charge the US government $99 for each load of laundry they do. And they use contaminated water!
This country is done. The only out of this quagmire is to totally revolt!
April 11th, 2009 at 8:28 pmWayne, there’s already a ruling. Obama doesn’t need to appeal to say he’s following bona fide legal judgements.
April 11th, 2009 at 8:30 pmPatriotic Liberal,
You seem stressed out. I recommend tea bagging and a lot of it in your life.
April 11th, 2009 at 8:31 pm.
Once in a Lifetime
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kw54-rCIrPs
“How did I get here?”
“Same as it ever was…”
.
April 11th, 2009 at 8:32 pmNot to mention the way he dismissed the questioner a couple of weeks ago about decriminalizing marijuana and inferring that internet users were out of touch, so to speak. If I remember correctly it was the internet users that contributed over $500,000,000 to his campaign. We must have been stoned.
April 11th, 2009 at 8:33 pm.
C H A N G E
F R O M
W H A T ?
.
April 11th, 2009 at 8:35 pmBe fair.
Why did we give George W. Bush the benefit of the doubt until we found out about the August 6 PDB, but we won’t give President Obama six months?
April 11th, 2009 at 8:38 pmZooey Lepidoptera Says:
This is what I picture when I think of Hoodathunktick.
Thanks.
April 11th, 2009 at 8:39 pmHoodathunktick,
It’s only the greatest cartoon EVER! :D
April 11th, 2009 at 8:42 pmStateoftheDivision,
And maybe Obama wants it to go all the way to the SCOTUS. Like I said, otherwise, someone worse than Bush might slither in and claim the issue isn’t settled. I know it’s not the most solid thing in the world to hang my hopes on, but right now it’s all I got. I just hope I’m right, because otherwise I would be very, very frightened.
And then I would immediately get involved with a national movement to amend the Constitution. Peacefully.
April 11th, 2009 at 8:42 pmNope, that be the Spirit.
April 11th, 2009 at 8:42 pmZooey Lepidoptera Says:
Hoodathunktick,
It’s only the greatest cartoon EVER! :D
I wholeheartedly agree, and I love “Family Guy”, “The Simpsons”, “South Park”, and “Robot Chicken”. I love them all, but I would still rather have some new Tick.
SPOON!
April 11th, 2009 at 8:43 pmI despised that response, too, Mr. Evil. Just because you win the presidency, doesn’t mean you should forget where you came from. If he didn’t “know what the question says about the online community”, maybe he should have inquired before accepting hundreds of millions of dollars to get his job.
April 11th, 2009 at 8:44 pmWayne Ant Schneider Says: #65
Hopefully but, I won’t hold my breath.
April 11th, 2009 at 8:45 pmMegaloptera McWars Says: #69
It was very disconcerting.
April 11th, 2009 at 8:47 pmWayne Ant Schneider Says:
SPOON!
April 11th, 2009 at 8:43 pm
SPOOOOON!!!
April 11th, 2009 at 8:48 pmObama got a LOT of Flack for keeping Gates as his Sec. of Defense.
Now that Gates has gone Public with his views about Pentagon Restructuring and the F-22….
I can see why Obama thought Gates would be the perfect Guy for the job.
IMHO, Obama is very Smart, and thinks a couple moves ahead.
I hope that is the case , for this Legal Clusterfukc that he inherited from Bush.
Either a prisoner is a POW…and the Geneva Conventions apply….including the right to not be interogated..
Or a prisoner has the right to Habeus Corpus, and a Day in Court.
April 11th, 2009 at 8:49 pmHere’s a thought. When was the last time you were proud of anything this nation accomplished? You know, something good.
April 11th, 2009 at 8:49 pmMr Evil,
November 4, 2008, and January 20, 2009.
April 11th, 2009 at 8:49 pmWell, this should have the tea baggers worried….
SPOOOOOORK!
April 11th, 2009 at 8:49 pmZooey,
The first year of Bush’s term was not about supporting and defending the lawlessness of the prior Administration. This is different.
Bush was not spending his first year defending usurping the Constitution.
Bush was not spending his first year defending illegal detentions.
Bush was not spending his first year defending advocates of TORTURE.
At some point, Obama’s obstructions of Justice means that he’s willing to be held to account for protecting criminals.
Bye-bye, Black Sites…
… Rachael Maddow.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/26315908/#30145607
.
April 11th, 2009 at 8:52 pmMr. Evil Says: Here’s a thought. When was the last time you were proud of anything this nation accomplished? You know, something good.
Hmmmm. Good Q. I think that would be when ummmm they voted for the node to be named Colbert
April 11th, 2009 at 8:53 pmMy answer is the July 20th, 1969 moon landing. Neil Armstrong being the first man on the moon. Since then, it’s been an over-bloated military budget sucking the life-blood out of this nation. Yep, unbridled capitalism is definitely the ultimate way of life don’t ya think?
April 11th, 2009 at 8:54 pmZooey Lepidoptera Says:
Sorry Zooey, Obama hasn’t proved himself yet. But, anything over Bush is an improvement.
April 11th, 2009 at 8:55 pmGuido,
April 11th, 2009 at 8:56 pmYou’re welcome.
Ever since the primaries, that has been the one song that continually comes to mind when I think of Obama.
“Same as it ever was…”
“You may ask yourself…”
“How did I get here…”
The more teabags, the merrier. Seven, eight, nine, ten, eleven, twelve teabags.
I’m afraid the republicans are taking on more tea bags than they can handle.
April 11th, 2009 at 8:57 pmMax,
President Obama isn’t even one quarter of the way into his first year. The Bush disaster is HUGE. It will not be cleaned up as quickly as we would like, and I firmly believe we should give Obama more time.
If Obama has a plan to remedy these illegal actions through the courts, he cannot announce it on the evening news. They call Repubs obstructionist for a reason.
Remember when we used to criticize the Repubs running from BushCo as rats leaving the sinking ship? I guess that’s us now.
For now, I’m staying on the ship.
April 11th, 2009 at 8:58 pmMr. Evil you’re beginning to sound like Bedlam Beck! You’re an idiot if you think the problems left behind by the Bush Administration are going to be solved in less than 100 days! If Obama just makes key decisions without having the facts and upholding the LAW then he is no better than Bush! Don’t jump to conclusions.
April 11th, 2009 at 8:58 pmMr Evil wears blinders. President Obama has done more good in his less than 100 days than GW did in 8 years.
If he hasn’t, why are the Republicans in terminal whack?
April 11th, 2009 at 8:59 pmThe real question is, can the Republicans OD on tea?
I’d vote, hell yes.
April 11th, 2009 at 9:01 pmMaybe the white house is putting this and their illegal wiretapping program on the back burner for the moment. The problem i see is that the issue will certainly come to a boil for good people anyway. You don’t have your rights stripped away like that and just let it go. Ce la vie? No way.
More importantly though, according to people like Johnathan Turly on Keith Olbermann, it is the law that is being broken here, and the constitution, so maybe Wayne Ant is right and the law will be followed as we all expect, and it’s going to take some interesting twists and turns before we see some real action.
OT – The criminal elements in the republican leadership community are trying to make enough waves to sink the boat before they can be brought to justice, so the sooner they are delt with the better.
April 11th, 2009 at 9:02 pmWhen does the Patriot Act expire?
April 11th, 2009 at 9:04 pmfire _ant_chavis Says #84
That’s great! Comparing me to Glenn Beck and calling me an idiot for being skeptical. I won’t be a rubber stamp or a bootlicker to anyone! I want results. Why is Obama keeping Gitmo open? Why is he adhering to Bush’s state’s secrets opinion? Why hasn’t KBR been brought up on charges? Why did he disparage internet users, us, the ones that fueled his campaign? I’m sorry I disappointed you but, I want immediate results! I don’t want the usual political doublespeak!
April 11th, 2009 at 9:06 pmIm thinking the wingnuts, with all their fear factor tyranny drama as of late, will decide not to back Obama on this making it easier for him to get rid of these Bush policies.
One can hope, yes?
April 11th, 2009 at 9:07 pmZep,
Yes. :-)
April 11th, 2009 at 9:10 pmMr. Evil Says: I want immediate results!
Want in one hand and sh*t in the other and see which hand fills first.
It is called a process. Unless you like the idea of an emperor.
April 11th, 2009 at 9:10 pmOh noes! Obama is going to keep gitmo open so he can lock all us wingnuts up!! We must keep habeas corpus in effect else our famblys will neber see us again!!
C:/wingnut/chicken_little/cluck_cluck
April 11th, 2009 at 9:12 pmLook, most of us here in the past have lamented on more than one occasion that we wanted Democrats to grow a pair, have a spine, exercise some backbone, fight! I only see it from Patrick Leahy and Barney Frank. Maybe I’m wrong and I’m missing other elements. I’m open to suggestions and links. I love reading and learning but, I just don’t see anything of real substance happening. Billions of dollars, hundreds of billions, are being given to the very ones that caused our dire straights with seemingly no accountability. Why?
April 11th, 2009 at 9:12 pmI believe we’re seeing alot of Cheney, Bush, Rice, Rove, etc. because they know that they’re in danger of being prosecuted. They’re trying to clean up their reputations and I think it’s why they’re having a reunion and the Bush Administration hasn’t been gone 3 months. They’ve got to get their lies straight. Something is going down.
April 11th, 2009 at 9:13 pmI’d give Afghanistan one year, then I’d move to cut the pentagon budget by 1/3 and slash the 2007 boosts in retired pay for generals, since most of them go on to pick up loads in civilian life anyway.
April 11th, 2009 at 9:14 pmMr Evil, did you ever think of changing your handle?
April 11th, 2009 at 9:14 pmHoodathunktick Says: #97
Not for your benefit.
April 11th, 2009 at 9:17 pmA three month reunion…thats some creepy republican man love right there. There will be talk of 737s landing on wide shoulders, Aqua Velva, Tobacco Tins Making Faded Circles on Back Pockets, Woulda Shoulda Didyas.
April 11th, 2009 at 9:18 pmHey, call yourself dog poo for all I care. I was just wondering why you chose it with the things you post.
April 11th, 2009 at 9:18 pmOne more comment, and I’m off to bed (have get up early to cook some cayenne sweet potato fries and garlic broccoli saute for the bunny feast tomorrow)…
Mr. Evil, I respect your point of view very much.
But~ the answers to your very good questions are not obvious, nor will they be quickly. I think we should all look for those answers, by continuing to scrutinize and reseach and ask these questions of our fellow citizens.
Perhaps you are drawing negative comments because no one knows the answers yet, nor where to find them. Everyone is frustrated, not just you.
I know there are some people who are waiting for Obama to miraculously fix things. Well, he can’t. And maybe he has no plans to, or maybe he IS smart, and is doing things his way. Although that “transparency” thing he talked about is noticeably absent.
Being that we have seen the most back-handed shite for 8+ years, we are all expecting the worst. But, I respectfully suggest that maybe taking a different approach to posting here will get you more results with productive dialog. I for one would like to hear your points, but in a manner that is reciprocal. All I’m sayin’
Just my opinion.
Nite and happy hunting, all.
April 11th, 2009 at 9:19 pmComplaints about the president aside though, I feel he deserves his high approval ratings and I must resign myself to be patient as he wades through the stacks of paperwork, a relatively slow congress & tough crowd abroad. I’m more inclined to allow these errors of judgment in the beginning where hopefully the kinks can be ironed out over time.
April 11th, 2009 at 9:19 pmIt bothers me that Obamaas taking these positions but he could use these positions to his and thus the public’s advantage.
As yourself how many people and what branches were involved in rendition and torture? State, CIA, Army, Marines, DOJ. How’s he going to purge an entrenched system?
It will take informants, whistle-blowers, and they will need nurturing and encouragement. The bad apples will need to be replaced. The State secrets defense protects the guilty, but it also protects the not AS guilty and the innocents for the time being.
If Obama bursts into the saloon with his white hat on, he’s going to get ambushed. If he acts just upon moral outrage and noble principle, what result do you think he’ll get?
Bunnatine and Sobel and Plame went public and how far did they get? Obama isn’t established yet–he’s still in a weak postion, politically and ACTUALLY. The forces against him are entrenched. To get anywhere he needs intelligence, facts and a CASE that can be prosecuted in the LOWER COURTS.
If he goes off half -cocked, hoping to flush people out, the whole thing will be turned into a Constitutional argument, to be decided by the SCOTUS. Won;t that be great?
Obama didn’t promise us each a pony, a lot of people just convinced themselves that that’s what we’d all get.
I’m not going to argue this any further. I’m giving Obama time. If you don’t like what he’s doing–based on having no idea as to what game might be—well then when the 2012 campaigning starts and there’s been no mitigation of the states secrets claim and no movement on the torture issue, then we can all make it a key issue and vote him out of office.
But by all means complain to the White House, as often as you see fit (I shall too—there is still the principle of the thing).
And…I’m spent!
April 11th, 2009 at 9:19 pmWell said, ShadowBoxer. Sounds like a delicious bunny feast — enjoy!
April 11th, 2009 at 9:20 pmI just like people to think. Especially for themselves. I voted for and contributed to President Obama. I hope that he has a motive for his recent actions. I hope he will go after those that bilked the taxpayers (us) out of billions of dollars. I really hope he is as intelligent as we’ve been led to believe. I hope that… he just does the right thing. If I have to apologize to everyone I will. I just want a better world for my son.
April 11th, 2009 at 9:21 pmI still won’t blame President Obama because no telling what chimpy did while in office. Remember when chimpy basically top-secreted everything. The good is intermingled with bad. All chimpy’s fault.
April 11th, 2009 at 9:22 pmI understand completely, Mr Evil. I want those things, too. It’s just going to take more time than any of us wants it to. I’m not infinitely patient, but I think it’s too soon to give up on President Obama.
April 11th, 2009 at 9:26 pmEaster, like Christmas, also has pagan roots. Its a time when things come back to life after a long winter. A rebirth.
So, you demonic pagam insects, get out your witch gear and go get some candy!!
Heh
April 11th, 2009 at 9:28 pmAmen, 5th Estate!
April 11th, 2009 at 9:29 pmProud Says: Way to go Obama, keep up the good work.
But he wants to imprison the wingnuts! Fear!! Tyranny!! Dictator! Unitary Executive!!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
*Pagan
April 11th, 2009 at 9:30 pmProud, if you inhale deeply your abdomen will collapse.
Really.
April 11th, 2009 at 9:31 pmOh Zooey, I’m not giving up. I just have waited so long for someone in the White House to say and do the things they promised. I’m impatient, I’ll admit but, we can’t delay change or else we’ll venture down the road that the former Soviet Union went down with their failed occupation of Afghanistan. It bankrupted them and it ended. I don’t want to see the United States bankrupt and broken.
April 11th, 2009 at 9:31 pmProud Says: That Obama kool-aid doesn’t taste as sweet anymore, does it.
You forget it was the Bushies that mixed the kool-aid =P
April 11th, 2009 at 9:31 pmProud Says:
That Obama kool-aid doesn’t taste as sweet anymore, does it.
April 11th, 2009 at 9:29 pm
You’re one of us now, Proud.
April 11th, 2009 at 9:31 pmAnother one of Bush’s moral controversial policy dilemmas that reeks of Cheney deceit and cover-up.
This is politicking at it’s best. I believe the courts will not overturned the appeal and grant habeas-corpus to those three detainee’s.
It’s a strategist move for the Obama Administration.
April 11th, 2009 at 9:31 pmPlease stop bashing our President. He needs our support not attacks. He’s a good man and is doing his best.
April 11th, 2009 at 9:32 pmThanks, Zooey, I’ll email you any leftovers we may have ;)
Xisithrus…’tis why I call it the bunny feast. ‘Ceptin’ we don’t eat no bunnies…
I was going to go to bed, but I may make a cocktail and see what PROD has to say…like watching a car wreck…
April 11th, 2009 at 9:32 pmHey Proud, why don’t you do what you enjoy most. Go swallow a turd.
April 11th, 2009 at 9:33 pmProud,
David Vitter wants you to be present as he gives teabagging the senate seal of approval.
April 11th, 2009 at 9:33 pmTick Said: Proud, if you inhale deeply your abdomen will collapse.
Well, yeh, but not until he gets his cranium out of the lower abdomen.
April 11th, 2009 at 9:33 pm5th @
April 11th, 2009 at 9:33 pmIt will take informants, whistle-blowers, and they will need nurturing and encouragement.
……………..
http://www.wsws.org/articles/2009/mar2009/obam-m18.shtml
Obama is a great man. I will not attack him.
April 11th, 2009 at 9:35 pmShadowBoxer Says:
Thanks, Zooey, I’ll email you any leftovers we may have ;)
April 11th, 2009 at 9:32 pm
Well, if you posted the recipes on the open thread over at my place, I wouldn’t mind. *hint* :-)
April 11th, 2009 at 9:36 pmPROD~
Did the wingers run out of kool-aid? You can have some of my wine. Do you like syrah?
April 11th, 2009 at 9:37 pmPL,
Stuff a tea bag in it.
April 11th, 2009 at 9:37 pmExcellent comment 5th Estate!
April 11th, 2009 at 9:38 pmBill-O would love this…
April 11th, 2009 at 9:38 pm5th @ 103
April 11th, 2009 at 9:39 pmThe bad apples will need to be replaced.
………….
Like gates or john brennan ?
http://wonkroom.thinkprogress.org/2009/04/10/bush-holdover-tarp/
I’m one of the bitter knitters who was thrown under the bus by the democratic party for supporting HRC.
I’m an independent now, and feel absolutely no loyalty to the democratic party. I also feel somewhat vindicated now that Obama’s taken off the sheepskin.
Obama is betraying those who supported him. He’s betraying America.
What do we have to do to get our country back?
April 11th, 2009 at 9:40 pmHi Proud.
April 11th, 2009 at 9:40 pmAny updates on that Italian tug?
nellre,
April 11th, 2009 at 9:42 pmYou are a traitor, how dare you attack my President. Obama is a good man that cares for the people. He is trying to improve things. You are attacking him, you are unpatriotic.
Standing with Obama Says:
Obama is a great man. I will not attack him.
Yes, President Obama is a great man. But we aren’t attacking him, we’re criticizing him.
You don’t mean what you say anyway, Trajan. I’m just responding to your post to clarify the tone of the TP community.
April 11th, 2009 at 9:42 pmLike many of you, I don’t understand these decisions. I am starting to wonder if there is something more going on here that we don’t know about. Specifically, I wonder if there is a fear that releasing these prisoners would in some way jeopardize the illegal actions of a great many powerful people?
Nevertheless, the President needs to return the United States to the rule of law and rescind this appeal.
Peace.
April 11th, 2009 at 9:46 pmRick Beagle
Standing with Obama,
April 11th, 2009 at 9:46 pmThese people are not helping our Commander in Chief. he is trying to keep us safe. I say let us trust Obama and not waste out time criticizing him.. I am wring an email of support to the White House.
Sock puppets, clear out and shut the hell up.
April 11th, 2009 at 9:47 pmThese 2 are funny , a commedy team without the straight man .
April 11th, 2009 at 9:50 pmWhat do we have to do to get our country back?
First thing I would do would be to move the capital out of DC and outlaw lobbyists…
April 11th, 2009 at 9:50 pmComedy aside …. don’t criticize my spelling !!!!!
April 11th, 2009 at 9:51 pmXisithrus,
April 11th, 2009 at 9:52 pmWe do have our country back. Obama is fighting on our behalf. He cares about us and will do all in his power to help us.
Xisithrus, We do have our country back. Obama is fighting on our behalf. He cares about us and will do all in his power to help us.
I wasnt referring to Obama but to the unelected washington consensus
April 11th, 2009 at 9:54 pmGod Bless President Barrack Obama. He is a great man who will save our nation. He will defeat the Terrorists and bring us peace.
April 11th, 2009 at 9:56 pmA great recipe for Freedom Fries for bunny fest.
Boil two (2) rotten potaytows for 8 years, add a dash of ill-begotten poud, an a$$load of minced patriot liberal, let simmer until 2012. Serve with sour grapes.
Enjoy!
BTW, Zooey, I posted my recipe in the midst of a string of responses I didn’t read on your site. Forgive me for not reading before I posted…
April 11th, 2009 at 9:56 pmnellre
Obama is not betraying those who supported him, I for one don’t feel betrayed at all by Obama and I still work for his campaign.
The Republicans are giving Obama a very, very hard time with any and everything especially with reversing or abolishing Bush’s controversial policies.
And what do you mean, “getting our country back.”
From whom?
April 11th, 2009 at 9:56 pmDon’t forget a good spiral Sammy with horses’ ass radish!
April 11th, 2009 at 9:57 pmbonat,
April 11th, 2009 at 10:00 pmThank you for defending Obama. He is doing his beat and soon will produce great results. Let us help him not attack him.
Patriotic Liberal Says:
April 11th, 2009 at 9:46 pm
You know, 911 didn’t happen because my phone lines weren’t being tapped, and it didn’t happen because the president didn’t have the power to arrest me without cause and imprison me without trial. It happened because the dumbest president in the history of the union chose to ignore the avalanche of warnings pouring into his agencies and funneling up into his office. I didn’t give anyone permission to take away my freedom for a soft promise of safety and I never will. We either have a Constitution or we don’t. We either have Habeus Corpus or we don’t. This is a HUGE betrayal of the ideals that Obama professed to cherish while he was campaigning for our votes. This is a tragedy, a bipartisan abandonment of the very institutions that made America a worthwhile place. I’m glad you’re happy though. Just remember that while you are feeling nice and cozy in your safe little cage the terror strikes will still happen, because tapping MY phones and monitoring MY e-mails is a COMPLETE AND UTTER F’ING WASTE OF TIME.
April 11th, 2009 at 10:01 pmUm, PL, I think you have the wrong idea of what “doing (ones) beat” means.
But, please, keep trying.
April 11th, 2009 at 10:01 pmmarlow,
April 11th, 2009 at 10:02 pmObama would not do that. he has a good heart is am kind wise leader. He would not tap our phones. We are all family to him. He cares, I trust him.
ShadowBoxer,
Thanks for the recipe! And for this recipe as well. The trolls are always so left out. :(
April 11th, 2009 at 10:02 pmNormally, I’d say flag the trolls, but these are just too entertaining.
April 11th, 2009 at 10:06 pmfreeman.. thanks for the whislteblower signing statement link.
But I disagree with the assessment of what it means. Obama identifies unlawful disclosure to Congress, it does not prevent ‘disclosure of unlawful activities to Congress’.
There ARE right-wingers in the civil service who might be inclined to leak information to a favored congressperson for purely political reasons.
This signing statement appears to cover everyone–but does not mention anything about whistleblowers, which is a legal term.
There are still DOJ appointees that need to be replaced, and I don’t think much of Gates—FAR better than Rummy but still too hidebound.
I tell you this much, I;m glad I’M not President, and everyone here should be glad of that too. :D.
It’s a tough row to hoe—how much benefit of the doubt do we allow, and when? It CAN indeed be a slippery slope, turning into complacency.
Like I said, I’m giving him some time and not expecting miracles every two weeks.
April 11th, 2009 at 10:07 pmTP really needs to add an ignore button.
April 11th, 2009 at 10:09 pmI am not willing to give up on Obama just yet. The reason I still support Obama as much as I do is because the GOP is giving him such a hard time. If the GOP hates Obama, he must be doing something right.
April 11th, 2009 at 10:14 pmI’ve been reading for some years and never really posted that much, and always wondered why (and was annoyed by the fact) trolls were fed. It’s no wonder…it’s addicting AND easy.
April 11th, 2009 at 10:16 pmLevi, there is a lot of truth in that statement.
April 11th, 2009 at 10:16 pmXisithrus Says:
What do we have to do to get our country back?
First thing I would do would be to move the capital out of DC and outlaw lobbyists…
______________
And how about:
1. Stripping corporations of their “rights” as human beings…
and…
2. Public financing of campaigns. No more “Money as free speech” BS…
April 11th, 2009 at 10:16 pmShadowBoxer Says:
I’ve been reading for some years and never really posted that much, and always wondered why (and was annoyed by the fact) trolls were fed.
________
It’s called Whack-A-Troll™…
We likes ‘em big ‘n strong, so’s the matches are better…
April 11th, 2009 at 10:19 pmActually I think lobbying should be legalized and strictly regulated. Any lobbyist that wants to meet with any elected official should have to meet with them in a specially built building, where they talk to the elected official through bulletproof glass and a microphone, much like in a prison. The only catch is that they will be on live webcam and at any time during their conversation, anyone online can press a button that will cause the floor to fall away from beneath the lobbyist into a pit of sharpened stakes.
Imagine how many lobbyists would be killed even if they weren’t doing anything wrong.
April 11th, 2009 at 10:23 pmWell Thank goodness, PL, you feel a warm glow of safety and trust in, what was that, “your kind and wise leader”? Just remember it, PL. Just remember it. That’s all I ask. Millions of Germans felt secure once the once the burdens of freedom were lifted from their shoulders as well, and the subjects of generalissimos the world over. Like I said, glad you’re feeling “comfortably numb”.
April 11th, 2009 at 10:26 pmI gots ma mallet. But I gots to get te bed, considrin’ i gots to rustle up the grub fer the….
ehhh, nevermind. Need sleep to whack trolls. Trolls need sleep to whack selves.
Everyone wins.
Happy pagan festivus. And happy Easter. And happy Passover.
April 11th, 2009 at 10:28 pmThe Republic of Hymenoptera Stupidity Says:
And how about:
1. Stripping corporations of their “rights” as human beings…
and…
2. Public financing of campaigns. No more “Money as free speech” BS…
Two terrific ideas TROHS. Both were products of errors in judgment and should be corrected.
April 11th, 2009 at 10:28 pmGood night, ShadowBoxer. Thanks for stopping by.
April 11th, 2009 at 10:30 pmTo concerned independant who feels betrayed by president Obama:
April 11th, 2009 at 10:31 pmLet’s have less loyalties and betrayals and more pragmatism. Let just find out a lot more from the Admin. about the whole subject. There is a ton of stuff on their plate right now, but i bet they will still be willing to sit down with Keith Olbemann and Maddow [ok - blitzer...] and address each concern as soon as they get a chance. I know i’ll be waiting.
These are the happiest trolls I’ve ever come across ,from their responses I would say they are probably on Prozac .
April 11th, 2009 at 11:00 pmRemember ….. a happy troll is a healthy troll .
Remember ….. a happy troll is a healthy troll .
or a time-wasting troll…
or a blissfully ignorant troll…
or paid to be here…
or…
April 11th, 2009 at 11:01 pmPatriotic Liberal
thank you. Funny how the (un)Patriot Act never made me feel safe from terrorist attacks. Look at what a box-cutter and a gun did to this country, nothing high-tech there people.
The (un)Patroit Act is nothing more than attempt to see who is against the Republican Cabal.
Every corner Obama turns to he is face with a mound of Bush and Cheney’s s**it and bad policies. The Republicans are trying to undermine his administration.
This issue will be revisited again.
Let’s see which one of Obama’s nominee’s the Obstructionist Republicans will appoint now?
PRESIDENT OBAMA AND VICE-PRESIDENT BIDDEN YOU BOTH HAVE MY FULL SUPPORT AND CONFIDENCE IN YOUR ABILITIES TO LEAD AMERICA OUTTA HELL.
April 11th, 2009 at 11:01 pmThe (un)Patroit Act is nothing more than attempt to see who is against the Republican Cabal.
Or the next cabal!
April 11th, 2009 at 11:07 pmSomething is NOT right here. Wiretapping? Indefinite detention? Screw habeus corpus? Prevent criminal investigation into the law-breaking of the Bush administration???
This has got to change, and fast.
April 11th, 2009 at 11:11 pm@168 Yes, patriot act must go. Any other outfit will be completely corrupted by it too, not just bushCo, given a bit of time.
April 11th, 2009 at 11:13 pmThe patriot act would absolutely corrupt Superman.
April 11th, 2009 at 11:15 pmThe “state secrets” which must be protected are not things they don’t want the enemy to know, they are things they don’t want the American people to know. If Obama were a threat to those who hold the real power, he’d never have been allowed to become President.
April 11th, 2009 at 11:17 pmHere are three columns by Greenwald that reveal some of the more chilling aspects of Obama’s behavior regarding this issue:
http://www.salon.com/opinion/greenwald/2009/02/09/state_secrets/
http://www.salon.com/opinion/greenwald/2009/02/10/obama/index.html
http://www.salon.com/opinion/greenwald/2009/02/18/savage/
For those who want to dialogue authoritatively on this situation, I cannot recommend Greenwald enough. Yes, the implications are worse than you think…
April 11th, 2009 at 11:25 pmawww, Obama did the opposite of what he said he was gonna do, and all of you fell for it.. Sorry, thats what you get for electing a teleprompter…
April 11th, 2009 at 11:27 pmI was shocked when Bush didn’t disgorge a flood of pardons before leaving office, as his father did to protect himself against implication in Iran Contra. Although I’m not a conspiracy theory buff, it’s hard to imagine that some kind of deal wasn’t struck whereby Obama would cover Bush’s tail.
Obama’s performance to date has been severely disappointing: the corrupt trillion dollar giveaways to Wall Street crooks at the expense of future generations, the slow-paced Guantanamo closure, the continuation of business as usual at Bagram, the support for Bush’s odious state secrets and domestic spying doctrines, the phony withdrawal from Iraq and the hawkish Afghan war plans, not to mention becoming accessory after the fact to war crimes by obstruction of justice.
Obama won’t fare well in the Democratic primaries of 2012. The majority of Democratic voters aren’t dumb enough to allow his neocon agenda to continue, despite his amiable persona and articulateness. He will be a one-termer, and I’ll be happy to see the back of him.
April 11th, 2009 at 11:31 pmStampede88 Says:
awww, Obama did the opposite of what he said he was gonna do, and all of you fell for it.. Sorry, thats what you get for electing a teleprompter…
Ha-ha! “Teleprompter”. That’s a good one. Hadn’t heard that one before.
April 11th, 2009 at 11:32 pmStupide88 Says:
and all of you fell for it.. Sorry, thats what you get for electing a teleprompter…
__________
“All of you”?
“Electing a teleprompter”???
Sorry… but those are just silly, pointless comments.
Try making a “real point”… if you can.
April 11th, 2009 at 11:34 pm175. Stampede88 Says: awww, Obama did the opposite of what he said he was gonna do, and all of you fell for it.. Sorry, thats what you get for electing a teleprompter…
As opposed to the best the republicans could cough up, a village idiot who couldn’t even use one:
Let me just add: ‘Wha-huh?’
April 11th, 2009 at 11:34 pmI’m not entirely pleased with all the moves the President is making, but at least he speaks like a human being, whether he happens to be reading the teleprompter or speaking off the cuff. Sounds like a few poor fools miss the axis of evil, the empty platitudes and such things as mission to Mars.
April 11th, 2009 at 11:42 pmThe Bush Administration has left such a complete quagmire of circumstances for the next administration that it should go down as the worst in history. The job of President would be easy if all the issues were black and white, no moral compass would be needed. I assume that the landscape Obama has encountered is not all that easy to judge, and he is faced with only bad hands. The moral compass we hope he has will be needed to make these choices. I am sure that there will be choices we are not going to like, but if we could see all the dimensions, we may see his reasoning. All we can do is hope!
April 11th, 2009 at 11:43 pm179 he sounds a bit like Sarah palin’.
April 11th, 2009 at 11:45 pmStampede88 Says:
You’ve got that all wrong. If you do your homework you’d know that the Obama Admministration is still trying to figure out how to fix this mess created by the Bush Administration.
After reading the articles linked to the TP post, I realized that this is a really complex situation. We always hear about Guantanamo Bay detainees but there are over 15,000 more detainees in Iraq and another 650 plus in Bagram, Afghanistan. Shyte, they may need to build a prison!
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/01/27/washington/27bagram.html?fta=y
April 11th, 2009 at 11:45 pmThe GOP faithful have a big teabag fest will be televised, but who cares. Sick phucks. Praise Jeebus.
April 11th, 2009 at 11:46 pmRick Beagle Says:
——————————————————————————–
Like many of you, I don’t understand these decisions. I am starting to wonder if there is something more going on here that we don’t know about. Specifically, I wonder if there is a fear that releasing these prisoners would in some way jeopardize the illegal actions of a great many powerful people?
*****
That combined w/ the threat of those powerful people to incite another huge attack on this country. And who’ll get the blame b/c he set the prisoners free? One hint…it won’t be chimpy.
April 11th, 2009 at 11:50 pmThings get real complicated once the rule of law is abandoned. Thanks Bushco. Not an easy task to get back on legal ground. Personally, I favor prosecuting the highest responsible individuals. At least we have an intelligent, pragmatic President now instead of a spoiled dolt who knows nothing but indulgence and privilege. We have a long way to go with a broken financial system, two wars, broken treaties, war crimes, corruption embedded and too much corporate money calling the shots.
April 11th, 2009 at 11:59 pmfreeman Says:
These are the happiest trolls I’ve ever come across
————-
“These”? You make it sound like more than one troll is posting here tonight. Looks to me like it’s just one changing names.
April 12th, 2009 at 12:03 amjb “Things get real complicated once the rule of law is abandoned. Thanks Bushco. “
April 12th, 2009 at 12:15 amYa, anyone who thinks Obama is letting them down just remember this:
April 12th, 2009 at 12:17 amBush ruined everything.
I have to admit I am happy that \\/\// kept his word and captured Osama Bin Laden, that he balanced the budget, that he reduced the deficits, made the government smaller and stood down our troops as Iraqs stood up….
Huh? That dint happen? None of it? Are you sure?
April 12th, 2009 at 12:33 amSo Obama uses a teleprompter instead of large index cards, that he he doesnt write with a giant ‘Sharpie’ that he doesnt have a pronunciation list
April 12th, 2009 at 12:40 am
Republicans attack a persons strength. Obama is obviously a far superior speaker as compared to nitwit Bush.
April 12th, 2009 at 12:45 amBut we are still stuck neck deep in Bushit. there is more than enough blame and shame to go around.
April 12th, 2009 at 12:47 amHi Zooey,
I’m just picking up the thread. I have a talking Tick I picked up years ago. It says “I like wheat!”
April 12th, 2009 at 1:01 amBut but but he promised!
Say it aint so Stampy!! 1.3 trillion in tax cuts…funny thats the same amount of deficit Dubya gifted Obama with AND with some 2.8 million jobs lost AND a recession that began in december of 2007!!
Promises…promises…
Its okay Stampy, I feel your pain, here have some kool-aid
April 12th, 2009 at 1:09 am.
CIA Interrogation Tapes Predated Torture Memo
Written by Jason Leopold
Saturday, 11 April 2009
http://www.pubrecord.org/torture/827-cia-interrogation-tapes-predated-torture-memo.html
.
April 12th, 2009 at 4:16 am.
Fujimori’s Lesson for Bush
by Jacob G. Hornberger
http://www.fff.org/blog/jghblog2009-04-09.asp
.
April 12th, 2009 at 4:19 amObama breaks another promise. He can’t have it both ways. If Bush is a criminal and I think he could be, how can Obama defend his actions. WHAT IS GOING ON?
April 12th, 2009 at 4:49 amHow stupid the repugs are, making fun of an inanimate objects, a freakin teleprompter. the club of NO has no sticking silly talking points like they used in the past. HAHAHAHA
chimpy reads on his level “My Pet Goat.” And he didn’t get to read that, so it’s likely that book proved too hard for a dummy like him.
So stop ya belly aching.
April 12th, 2009 at 4:53 ammosby12 Says:
Obama breaks another promise. He can’t have it both ways. If Bush is a criminal and I think he could be, how can Obama defend his actions. WHAT IS GOING ON?
Calm the fouck down.
What’s going on? President Obama has access to additional information and not the surface lies chimpy has told us.
Don’t act as though President Obama is coming into a sane presidentcy.
Anymore of your foolishness you will be treated as a teabagger.
April 12th, 2009 at 5:03 amI think this thread proves that BillO lied again when he said noone at ThinkProgress is allowed to criticize Obama.
According to all the treaties we have signed—making them the law of the USA, you must allow them to challenge their imprisonment. You must! There are no if’s, and’s or but’s about it! There is also no such thing as an “illegal combatant”. The term is totally made up. A person is either a POW or else they come under civilian law. Either way, they must be allowed a trial, defense, presentation of evidence, etc.
Some of these people were turned in because they were a tribal rival and there was a big reward.
Obama was right in 2006. He is wrong today. An example of why I preferred Nader or Kucinich.
April 12th, 2009 at 5:07 amWhat’s PUMA for “I told you so”?
Xe
April 12th, 2009 at 5:23 amThe more I hear of Obama’s administration the more disappointed I get…
April 12th, 2009 at 5:30 amWe didn’t really get change.
April 12th, 2009 at 7:42 amThis sucks big time!
WHAT CAN WE DO?
April 12th, 2009 at 8:22 amWelcome to Bushama world..
April 12th, 2009 at 9:18 amCOULD IT BE… a ploy, similar to Obama’s “hand to the right” in his dealing with the nutjob, so that he can appear to them as consiliatory to their fear and doom mindset, but knows that there is no way the court will overturn their findings, and he then can sit back, throw his hands in the air, and pronounce to the Right, “See, even a Bush appointed judge says we MUST abide by Habeus Corpus, even on appeal. I gotta do it.” And finally allow this point to be hammered home forever.
Ha, in my dreams.
April 12th, 2009 at 9:18 amAlthough I’m uneasy about this, there has to be somekind of deeper reason for this. It may be a question of biding their time on the Patriot Act BS. I’m still on a wait and see on this.
April 12th, 2009 at 9:30 amTo Perry, you are wrong about the PUMAs though. ON many issues Obama is exactly as I hoped he would be.
If anyone is a corporate Democrat is the Clintons. So things would have been a lot more disappointing with Hillary, believe me.
The PUMAs were crazy and I can’t give credit to these a-holes.
April 12th, 2009 at 9:33 amObama a neocon? If you listen to neocons he’s a socialist, marxist, anti-American.
Funny how the far left think he’s not left enough and the right think’s he’s too far left?
April 12th, 2009 at 9:43 amWTF?????
April 12th, 2009 at 9:49 amFunny how the far left think he’s not left enough and the right think’s he’s too far left?
The right wing (and not just the “far right” wing) thinks that anyone left of Reagan is “too far left”.
As to comparing the “far left” to the “right”, that’s just apples and oranges.
April 12th, 2009 at 9:57 amIn true Democratic Party form, I just sent my sternly worded letter to the President. I took a hiatus on letter-writing since he took office; ostensibly taking a wait-and-see approach, but perhaps more out of willful naivete. For me, these issues are among the few that are truly black and white. Indefinite detention, stripping the right of habeas corpus, warrantless wiretapping, torture and extraordinary rendition are wrong, unjust, and immoral. No current or future political expediency can ever change that, not even national security.
It is truly disappointing and painful to realize that my letter-writing hiatus must end. I had hoped policy changes would make it permanent. Alas, writing letters to convince the US government to follow its own laws regarding basic human rights should be just so damned unnecessary. I guess some fights truly are never-ending struggles.
April 12th, 2009 at 10:11 am#65 Great reply, Wayne. Thank you.
April 12th, 2009 at 10:14 amPresident Obama, please go back and review your campaign promises. Change. Making the world a better place to raise our kids.
April 12th, 2009 at 10:34 amNow stop listening to whomever the fukc is telling you to continue BushitCo 09.
Thanks.
You’re welcome, stateofthedivision. My pleasure. And thank you. Happy Easter.
April 12th, 2009 at 10:39 amMost people here need to chill. Thanks for your down to earth perspective Wayne Ant Schneider. Thought out like a lawyer who needs look at all sides (if he or she is worth his salt!)
April 12th, 2009 at 10:43 amSorry to be OT but the TP “tip” isn’t working today. I found this at C&L:
In 1991, the government of Somalia collapsed. Its nine million people have been teetering on starvation ever since – …
Yes: nuclear waste. As soon as the government was gone, mysterious European ships started appearing off the coast of Somalia, dumping vast barrels into the ocean. The coastal population began to sicken. At first they suffered strange rashes, nausea and malformed babies. Then, after the 2005 tsunami, hundreds of the dumped and leaking barrels washed up on shore. People began to suffer from radiation sickness, and more than 300 died.
..”Somebody is dumping nuclear material here. There is also lead, and heavy metals such as cadmium and mercury – you name it.” Much of it can be traced back to European hospitals and factories, who seem to be passing it on to the Italian mafia to “dispose” of cheaply….
At the same time, other European ships have been looting Somalia’s seas of their greatest resource: seafood. We have destroyed our own fish stocks by overexploitation – and now we have moved on to theirs. More than $300m-worth of tuna, shrimp, and lobster are being stolen every year by illegal trawlers. The local fishermen are now starving….
This is the context in which the “pirates” have emerged. Somalian fishermen took speedboats to try to dissuade the dumpers and trawlers, or at least levy a “tax” on them. They call themselves the Volunteer Coastguard of Somalia – and ordinary Somalis agree. The independent Somalian news site WardheerNews found 70 per cent “strongly supported the piracy as a form of national defence”.
No, this doesn’t make hostage-taking justifiable, and yes, some are clearly just gangsters – especially those who have held up World Food Programme supplies. …
April 12th, 2009 at 10:44 amDid we expect starving Somalians to stand passively on their beaches, paddling in our toxic waste, and watch us snatch their fish to eat in restaurants in London and Paris and Rome? We won’t act on those crimes – the only sane solution to this problem – but when some of the fishermen responded by disrupting the transit-corridor for 20 per cent of the world’s oil supply, we swiftly send in the gunboats.
This doesn’t seem to make sense since it seems to be a complete turnaround on the part of the Obama. I keep trying to come up with a scenario that seems to jive with Pelosi’s recent statements on Countdown with Keith Olbermann and the only one I can come up with is that perhaps the Obama administration is doing this in concert with Congress and they are planning on having the changes on rules and laws such as this one come from Congress rather than it being the Executive Branch voluntarily deciding not to continue the practices. This would strengthen the position of the Legislative Branch and would do more to assure that such practices are never taken up again even if some future President tried to resume them.
April 12th, 2009 at 10:46 amMarie,
I saw that, too, at C&L. Until I saw that article, I never had any idea that other countries were doing that to Somalia.
April 12th, 2009 at 10:56 amIsn’t the newly confirmed Atty Gen Mr. Holder supposed to be advising the President on legal matters?
April 12th, 2009 at 10:57 amMr. Holder? Hello?!
Retroactive immunity was a beginning.
April 12th, 2009 at 11:16 amNot having a comprehensive investigation of 9-11 blows in the breeze.
Not investigating known war crimes tags along behind.
Soon to be breaking news: Judge upholds Obama administration’s appeal.
Look, I don’t believe I’m a pessimistic person, but to be honest, my respect and belief is fading like a busted light bulb.
Marie, thanks for the heads up.
April 12th, 2009 at 11:26 amJyakku, you sound like a logical person. This appears to be a sound theory. :)
I just don’t see President Obama as being a sometimey person. There is more to Obama intelligence than meets the eye.
April 12th, 2009 at 11:35 amWayne and GoL –
I was dumbfounded to read that — there is a little more if you go to C&L. This was all news to me.
There are always at least two sides to every story.
April 12th, 2009 at 11:39 amThis is sad and disappointing.
Absolute power corrupts absolutely.
April 12th, 2009 at 11:46 amMarie Says:
There are always at least two sides to every story.
“No two ways about it, there are two sides to every story.” – George Carlin
I miss George Carlin.
April 12th, 2009 at 12:16 pmBUSH-LITE.
April 12th, 2009 at 12:31 pmHe’s just a prettier face on the same old stinking fascist politics.
As much as I hate this whole legal challenge, Obama has done a lot of good so far so I’m willing to give him the benefit of the doubt. Hopefully this will pan out into something else. I’m just hoping maybe he knows something we don’t.
April 12th, 2009 at 12:35 pmLike many others on here, I too hope this is not what it seems. But I think it is also important to not sit back and rely on hope alone. We must work to make sure that the administration knows the people won’t settle for continued illegal activity. If enough voices are heard, that may ensure the hoped for changes actually occur.
April 12th, 2009 at 1:50 pmAfter glancing through some of the posts here, I still can not come up with a conclusion as to why President Obama, a man of the constitution, would react this way.
Maybe tomorrow, Thom Hartmann, Ed Schultz, Mike Malloy or Jon Elliott will have something.
Where are you Randi Rhodes… would love to hear your comments on this also.
April 12th, 2009 at 2:43 pmHey TP, you war-mongering fauxy leftists: where’s your “clean break” rhetoric now?
http://thinkprogress.org/search/search.php?q=%22clean+break%22&x=0&y=0
There are 3 pages of this schtick. You guys were jacking us with myths of a “clean break” before, now what say you?
And then there’s Geithner and Summers and Crew; what kind of “clean break” do they represent?
Your “clean break” myth is busted, TP. We see through your mask, esp. regarding escalating our holy war in Afghanistan.
April 12th, 2009 at 2:50 pmWhat’s a “war-mongering fauxy leftist“?
April 12th, 2009 at 3:47 pmThe American people got ‘Short Chenged’ again!
April 12th, 2009 at 3:52 pmJane E. Schneider Says:
What’s a “war-mongering fauxy leftist“?
Starts with O and ands with A…
April 12th, 2009 at 3:52 pmsacopenapa Says:
Jane E. Schneider Says:
What’s a “war-mongering fauxy leftist“?
Starts with O and ands with A…
Oklahoma?
April 12th, 2009 at 4:02 pmYou know, I really don’t care who the president is or whether I voted for him or not. ALL WE HAVE IN THIS COUNTRY IS THE CONSTITUTION. IT’S WHO WE ARE. We’re not a nation of a particular people because we came here from all over the globe, some of us in chains. We’re not a nation of a particular religion because every religion in the world has its followers here. We don’t share a common economics. We don’t share a common philosophy. We don’t have ANYTHING except the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution, what chimpy called “a goddamn piece of paper” to hold us together. IT’S ALL WE HAVE. And now two successive presidencies seem to be on record as believing it’s terms can be violated at will. The nation needed Obama to take a stand and reverse these abuses, not defend them. I really am afraid we’re lost if we can’t turn him around on this. How sad to watch political cowardice and a compulsive need to win approval from a fascistic opposition destroy this once-proud nation. And from a constitutional scholar at that…
April 12th, 2009 at 5:47 pmGood job Obama don’t tell the terrorists out. Unless ,someone on thinkprogress or the aclu would like to have them over to their house? anybody?
April 12th, 2009 at 6:24 pmlet not tell.
April 12th, 2009 at 6:27 pm@234. What’s a war-mongering fauxy leftist? Nearly anyone at TP or CAP.
Why Is the Center for American Progress Cavorting with Neocons? Oh, Right, Because They Are on the Same Team
http://rebelreports.com/post/92345372/why-is-the-center-for-american-progress-cavorting-with
April 12th, 2009 at 11:31 pm
@236. OMG, that’s brutal, I LOVE it! Hey, if the epithet fits, wear it, right? You can’t claim to be a man of peace while escalating war for political purposes (control of scarce resources is one such). Killing people for political purposes is terrorism. We’ve killed 687 Pakistanis with our remote-controlled drones. That’s since 2006. Obama already has blood on his hands.
US Airstrikes in Pakistan Killing 38 People per Month, 687 Civilians Killed Since 2006
http://rebelreports.com/post/95440205/us-airstrikes-in-pakistan-killing-38-people-per-month
April 13th, 2009 at 12:04 am
Sure, I’m down. Easier that way to find out if one is really a terrorist then your favored genital and battery clamps method. Oh, and better than being a coward, locking someone away, and never finding out.
Which one of you cons and righties would like to be swept up by a foreign military and locked away?
April 13th, 2009 at 1:24 amjeff2001 Says:
Jeff you are an ignorant punk. Who says they are terrorists? Has this been shown in a court of law? Has the rule of law changed so that criminality is established by the say so of the executive branch? You are a coward and you are stupid. You calling someone a terrorist doesnt MAKE them terrorists and in the court case no on is even making the claim they ARE terrorists you moron. Stupid punks like you embarass good Americans with your cowardice and your stupidity
April 13th, 2009 at 2:43 amOK Pat obviously senile dementia has set in. Time to see the nice young men that will need to take care of you soon.burun estetigi rent a car arac kiralama
April 18th, 2009 at 5:43 amsac ekimi