This week, Barack Obama reiterated that he has "no interest in spending our time re-litigating the policies of the last eight years." He may have no interest, but Dick Cheney certainly does. And he's got nothing but time on his hands. Which means we will keep re-litigating those policies until we get to the bottom of things. But Obama and his administration needn't spend even a second of their time on this. Leave that to a bipartisan Truth Commission. Look at how much we found out this month, including the fact that waterboarding was used in an attempt to extract backup for Cheney's fantasy of an Iraq/al Qaeda connection, and imagine what revelations subpoena power would bring. Without a full accounting of the Bush administration's use of torture, there will never be closure. Only endless re-litigation.
The reaction of those involved speaks to their true morality and a commission is unnecessary. There are still some that justify the internment of Japanese in World War 2 and in private some still long for the return of segregation in this country.
No a truth commission is not necessary. We all know who was responsible and how to hold them accountable is part of our electoral process. Karl Rove, Dick Cheney, Rush Limbaugh are not people of moral character and not worthy of my respect nor vote. The argument that hardened criminals cannot be confined in our prison system absurd, as is the thought that our legal system lacks the fidelity to judge the guilt or innocence of the suspects now being held.
If the GOP cannot stand up for our rule of law and instead continue to condone behavior that violates our American values, they have abandoned the Conservative values that in the past made them the voice of maturity.
Boris Karloff, Bela Lugosi, Tom Savini, Lon Chaney.
Now, Dick Cheney.
There's a new image in bringing fear and doom to our dreams. He has fortold the coming of the "nuclear-armed terrorist in our cities". Very frightening, and novel, since no one like that has ever before existed that I can find evidence of. Cheney just reached down and pulled that one from an available open orifice and forced it through his mouth, and... there it is, like... a "slam-dunk" on finding weapons of mass-destruction in Iraq, or that "we know where they are... north, south, east and west of Tikrit", or that "the insurgency is in its last throes, if you will" - assumedly pulled by their orators from the same anatomical locations.
Dick Cheney is the premier Frightmeister. He spoke privately to the Conglomerate of Energy Evil, and Exxon emerged with the townspeople's life's-blood in riches. Halliburton & Sons has taken our treasure and our soldiers' lives, and his demons spawned from the black waters stole our troops' assignments, then killed in our name, without restriction or responsibility.
Now, he bellows his charges and challenges at our new leader, chosen to correct injustices and do away with the vestiges of horror left by The Unitary Executive Supremacy. Are they simply dismissible? We say they are, now. But here we are, asking.
Put a stake in it, Cheney. It's sunrise now, and you are toast.
Either one does not speak highly of him. For those of you who contend that he is picking his battles in order to get health "reform" passed, I say I will believe it when I see it. Coming from an administration of Wall Streeters and lobbyists (another broken promise by Obama), I doubt we will get a health plan that actually benefits the uninsured or the vast majority of American families with insurance who are finding that their "insurance" is skyrocketing out of control in costs and practicality of use.
I did not expect Obama to enact the policies of Michael Moore or Arianna Huffington. But I also did not expect him to keep on Bush's Defense Secretary in office, expand the war in Afghanistan, let Bush era generals dictate his Iraq policy, and give away the country to Wall Street.
2) that he was minimizing the Bushies and their involvement by saying that during the briefings they were advised that these were legal. He then went on to say "IF ---- we had had another 9/11 attack then no one would have objected and that it was easy to arm-chair quarteback their use in hindsight.
The general also said that these techniques came from our own military's survival school to show our men what they might expect if they were tortured. We also prosecuted and executed those who used the technique during the 2nd WW.
It seems that he is trying to protect himself and the whole Bush/Cheney Consortium from investigation and prosection, by spinning the whole thing into a justifiable mistake that happened because of the intensity of 9-11. We did not water-board after Pearl Harbor General Powell,......why is it okay to do it now and call it a mistake? Is it because you KNEW?
Don't underestimate Obama, if the people cry out for Bush and Cheney to stand for accusations, they will, but the cowardly Congress and the Conservawolves in sheep's clothing will not abandon their "we're right even if we are wrong position." All must admit, as Dillon said: "The times they are a changin." Obama is still MY president.
Why should we stop at torture? Lets open the book again on 9/11, those of us who were there hated the way the commision concluded no one was to blame--"everyone and no one" again, what crap!
While we're at it, lets open the book on the oil crisis we faced with enormous amounts of capitol being drained from our treasury filling reserves for no reason, and $5.00 a gallon at the pump. What larceny! Let's open the book on the trillions that somehow disappeared from the the US government coffers? Where did that money go? Lets open the book on the Federal Reserve! On Corporate & Bank robbery of the American people! All during the last eight years, and the creation of Homeland Security? What is it and why do we need it? Or the continued flight of jobs to China, India, and Mexico--why no tariffs put in place to at least appear concerned at stopping it? The list is long........lets open the entire enchilada--my mom would say!
I have been a Democrat all my life, but the spineless behavior of the Democratic leadership in Congress, and now their deference to Obama has he proceeds to largely continue Bush war policies and corporate giveaways, has turned me away completely. What did Obama and the Democrats just do? In order to enact some toothless credit card "reform" bill, they allowed a Republican amendment to allow loaded automatic weapons into our national parks! Can you imagine something more like a fox being put in charge of the hen house ! Those animals are used to humans. They are almost tame. The bears go up to cars in Yellowstone! Now they will be endangered by having some heartless clown with a loaded gun right in the middle of their so-called preserve.
Obama is for one person- Obama. As soon as he was elected, he showed his true colors by refusing pleading from the Democratic candidate in the Georgia run-off election to campaign for him. Progressives wake up. We have been had, big time.
However, for me, last trait is the big problem. His complex thoughts do not lead him to moral conclusions. They are geared only to keep him in office.
Maybe his long-term thinking needs to address how Democrats might act in 2010 and 2012. I plan on primary campaigning against both of my Senators; one is a "Conservadem" and both voted for the Credit Card Act with the gun rider. For President in 2012, I will campaign against Obama for anyone else, even Hillary (I was against her in 2008 because she was "just a politician"), on the premise that NO ONE could jerk us around more than he has.
Obama seems to have no trouble reading polls. I'd like to see one on Democrats. Maybe if he notices the base that funded him and campaigned the hardest for him is eroding faster than you can say "sellout," he might realize what he's buying is worthless. After all, even after his national park giveaway to right-wing lunatics, NRA members aren't going to finance him or vote for him. And no hard-line Republicans are going to be forming a big line to thank him for ignoring torture.
We gave Obama a great big mandate. He has no excuse, except for his own political aspirations, not to use it.
Therefore your veiled indictment of Bush's pronunciation is truly uncalled for and childish.