I'm almost speechless.
Seems Newsweek misses the issue. Whether or not torture is effective (which it isn't according to experts), it is against International Laws which prohibit torture, period.
When George Bush took the oath of office, he swore to defend the Constitution of the United States. He did not! He has broke every law that governs this Country, including International laws, and defends his actions in keeping us safe from terrorist attacks. He consistantly defends his torture methods for suspected terrorists and information-gathering efforts at home in the name of protecting the "Homeland."
Shame on Newsweek. Irresponsible journalism.
Posted by Judith at January 14, 2009 04:43 PM"He has broke every law that governs this Country, including International laws"
Since when has and "international" law governed this country? And talk about over reach...'every', surely you just Judith?
How amusing it will be to see your hero, PEOTUS not lift a finger going after the POTUS. You won't see VPEOTUS going after him/them either. As President Bush leaves for Dallas and VP Cheney for Wyoming, they have nothing to fear from prosecutions. And all those things you feel were reaches will be consolidated into PEOTUS Obama's hands. He will not be 'giving' back any of them. In fact, he may even grasp for more.
I wonder how many of you will be willing to over look his 'reaches' just because he's "ours"?
Posted by peter at January 14, 2009 08:47 PM"Since when has and "international" law governed this country? And talk about over reach...'every', surely you just Judith?"
I guess the Geneva Conventions signed in 1949 doesn't count as International Law, heh?
Actually you are the one who is amusing Peter. Obama has not taken office yet, but you have the inside knowledge about what he will and will not do.
One would think that you, as an American, would want people brought to justice who have violated the rule of law and the Constitution, but evidently violating the laws of this Country is something you support. I feel sorry for you Peter.
Posted by Judith at January 15, 2009 12:06 AM"One would think that you, as an American, would want people brought to justice who have violated the rule of law and the Constitution, but evidently violating the laws of this Country is something you support."
People throw that line out so easily Judith. Rarely is there a real understanding implied of what the US Constitution actually has in it. The Geneva agreements count as International Law, not Constitutional Law. They have no basis in Constitutional Law. And about "inside knowledge", He's not hiding anything Judith. That's not what Obama's about...transparency is more like it. I'm getting very "comfortable" with him right now. I like the idea of continuing many of the measures brought forward during the second Bush term. Expanding on what Rice, Gates, and what DCI has started.
I'm also encouraged that a President Obama will do more for President Bush's legacy than a president McCain would ever have been able to do. So he has my best wishes going forth and I'm hoping for the very best from Barack Obama and his team.
Posted by peter at January 15, 2009 04:09 AMDream on Peter. Your criminal party is despised, as is Bush - its true and despicable leader. It is simply pathetic to claim that Obama will somehow morph into Bush. SCHIP is already passed. Gitmo will be closed. The rule of law - not the divine right of kings - is now going to be governing Justice and the intelligence community. The incoming personnel in both, and the explicit policy statements of Obama, make it absolutely clear that the vile Bush approach is at an end.
Torture and the bootlicking apologetics for it destroyed the republican party, and adherents of it don't even realize how truly marginalized they are. This isn't just a matter of treaties that the US has signed - and a bankrupt political movement that scorns them. It is common decency and morality that the Republicans have abandoned. Republicans aren't just the party of torture; they are the party that celebrates torture.
Posted by Marc at January 15, 2009 05:11 AM"People throw that line out so easily Judith. Rarely is there a real understanding implied of what the US Constitution actually has in it. The Geneva agreements count as International Law, not Constitutional Law. They have no basis in Constitutional Law...."
ppp, could you please try to stop being a fucking shitheaded dumbass for 5 minutes? You're soooo wasteful w/ TLC's 1s and 0s....
From the Constitution of the United States of America, Article VI
2: This Constitution, and the Laws of the United States which shall be made in Pursuance thereof; and all Treaties made, or which shall be made, under the Authority of the United States, shall be the supreme Law of the Land; and the Judges in every State shall be bound thereby, any Thing in the Constitution or Laws of any State to the Contrary notwithstanding.
Rarely is there a real understanding implied of what the US Constitution actually has in it.
ppp-pot, meet kettle.
Dumbass.
Posted by bartcopfan at January 15, 2009 08:16 AM"One would think that you, as an American, would want people brought to justice who have violated the rule of law and the Constitution"
We did but for some reason the Senate refused to convict Bill Clinton. The only REAL law breaker in the Oval office since Nixon.
Obama will not go after Bush/Cheney for illegal wiretaps or torture because he wants to leave open the option to employ the same tactics should the need arise. He will not want to set the precedent of going after ex-presidents with criminal charges because he understands that some day (4 years from now) he too will be an ex-president. He will have plenty of enemies that will want to bring him up on charges if he sets that standard.
Posted by manapp99 at January 15, 2009 08:19 AMAnd before you extra-stoopidly bring it up, ppp, yes, the US has signed and ratified the treaty.
Posted by bartcopfan at January 15, 2009 08:29 AM"The incoming personnel in both, and the explicit policy statements of Obama, make it absolutely clear that the vile Bush approach is at an end."
The incoming Secretary of State sells political favors.
The incoming Secretary of the Treasury evades taxes.
The incoming Attorney General helped his boss sell a pardon to Marc Rich.
The original nomination for Secretary of Commerce, Bill Richardson had to withdraw due to pay for play allegations.
Perhaps if the Geithner nomination doesn't work out at Treasury, Obama can tap Clinton's old Sec Treas Robert Rubin. I hear he is out of work after running Citi Bank into the ground. Not before ripping the tax payers off to the tune of 350 billion in bail out money.
Your right, the Bush approach is at an end, now the crooks take over.
Breaking news on Timothy Geithner:
"Timothy Geithner whose nomination as Treasury secretary has been delayed by his past failure to pay taxes, was repeatedly advised in writing by the International Monetary Fund that he would be responsible for any Social Security and Medicare taxes he owed on income he earned at the IMF between 2001 and 2004.
Current and former IMF officials said the fund provided numerous warnings to U.S. employees about payroll taxes. According to IMF documents released by the Senate Finance panel, Mr. Geithner regularly received information about his tax obligations.
Mr. Geithner didn't make any Social Security or Medicare tax payments on his income during the years he worked for the IMF, though he did pay income taxes. After the Internal Revenue Service audited him in 2006 and discovered the payroll-tax errors, Mr. Geithner corrected them for 2003 and 2004. Only after Mr. Obama picked him for Treasury secretary last fall did Mr. Geithner pay the Social Security and Medicare tax he owed for 2001 and 2002."
Snip....
"Are any of Obama's cabinet picks at risk of becoming a liability for the administration?Questions about Mr. Geithner's initial failure to pay more than $34,000 in taxes are clouding his prospects for confirmation. The Senate Finance Committee postponed Mr. Geithner's confirmation hearing from a tentative Friday date to next Wednesday, which means President-elect Barack Obama will take office without a Treasury secretary amid the biggest financial crisis in decades."
Heck of a job picking your trusted advisors, Obama.
Posted by manapp99 at January 15, 2009 09:26 AM