CIVIL LIBERTIES  
The Daily Beast / By Scott Horton
comments_imageCOMMENTS: 160

Republicans in Desperation Over Obama Releasing More Bush Torture Memos

If the president releases more Bush torture memos, Republicans are promising to "go nuclear" and filibuster his legal appointments.
April 9, 2009  |  
 
 
LIKE THIS ARTICLE ?
Join our mailing list:

Sign up to stay up to date on the latest Civil Liberties headlines via email.

 
 
Advertisement
 

Senate Republicans are now privately threatening to derail the confirmation of key Obama administration nominees for top legal positions by linking the votes to suppressing critical torture memos from the Bush era. A reliable Justice Department source advises me that Senate Republicans are planning to “go nuclear” over the nominations of Dawn Johnsen as chief of the Office of Legal Counsel in the Department of Justice and Yale Law School Dean Harold Koh as State Department legal counsel if the torture documents are made public. The source says these threats are the principal reason for the Obama administration’s abrupt pullback last week from a commitment to release some of the documents. A Republican Senate source confirms the strategy. It now appears that Republicans are seeking an Obama commitment to safeguard the Bush administration’s darkest secrets in exchange for letting these nominations go forward.

Barack Obama entered Washington with a promise of transparency. One of his first acts was a presidential directive requiring that the Freedom of Information Act, a near dead letter during the Bush years, was to be enforced according to its terms. He specifically criticized the Bush administration’s practice of preparing secret memos that determined legal policy and promised to review and publish them after taking office.

But in the past week, questions about Obama’s commitment to transparency have mounted. On April 2, the Justice Department was expected to make public a set of four memoranda prepared by the Office of Legal Counsel, long sought by the American Civil Liberties Union and other advocacy organizations in a pending FOIA litigation. The memos, authored by then-administration officials and now University of California law professor John Yoo, federal appellate judge Jay Bybee and former Justice Department lawyer Stephen Bradbury, apparently grant authority for the brutal treatment of prisoners, including waterboarding, isolated confinement in coffin-like containers, and “head smacking.” The stakes over release of the papers are increasingly high. Yoo and Bybee are both targets of a criminal investigation in a Spanish court probing the torture of five Spanish citizens formerly held in Guantánamo; also named in the Spanish case are former Attorney General Alberto Gonzales and three other Bush lawyers. Legal observers in Spain consider the Bush administration lawyers at serious risk of indictment, and the memos, once released, could be entered as evidence in connection with their prosecution. Unlike the torture memos that are already public, these memos directly approve specific torture techniques and therefore present a far graver problem for their authors.

The release of the memos that the Senate Republicans want to suppress was cleared by Attorney General Eric Holder and White House counsel Greg Craig, and then was stopped when “all hell broke loose” inside the Obama administration, according to an article by Newsweek reporter Michael Isikoff. Newsweek attributes internal opposition to disclosure of the Bush-era torture memos to White House counterterrorism adviser and former CIA official John O. Brennan, who has raised arguments that exposure of the memoranda would run afoul of policies protecting the secrecy of agency techniques and has also argued that the memos would embarrass nations like Morocco, Jordan, Pakistan, Tunisia and Egypt, which have cooperated closely with the CIA in its extraordinary renditions program. Few informed independent observers, however, find much to credit in the Brennan objections because the techniques are now well-known, as is the role of the cooperating foreign intelligence services—any references to which would in any event likely be redacted before the memoranda are released. Moreover, the argument that the confidence of those engaged in torture—serious criminal conduct under international and domestic law—should be kept because they would be “embarrassed” if it were to come out borders on comic.


View as a single page
 
Scott Horton is a law professor and writer on legal and national-security affairs for Harper's magazine and The American Lawyer, among other publications.
Email
Print
Share
Post on reddit
Post on stumbleupon
Post on facebook
Post on digg
Post on twitter
Post on delicious
LIKED THIS ARTICLE? JOIN OUR EMAIL LIST
Stay up to date with the latest Civil Liberties headlines via email
See more stories tagged with: gop, senate, obama, torture memos

comments COMMENTS ( 160 )
READ COMMENTS
LOGIN OR REGISTER TO POST A COMMENT
 

Comments are closed-

A Window on Conservative Christian Values
[Report this comment]
Posted by: DrBrian on Apr 9, 2009 12:35 AM   
Current rating: 5    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
John Coryn and a lot of his fellow devout, conservative Christian Republicans are willing to go to great lengths and obstruct the confirmation process for well-qualified subcabinet nominees to protect war criminals.

These people have already supported an illegal, brutal war on Iraq, continued use of landmines and cluster bombs by the US and Israel, unconstitutional surveillance and military commissions, cuts in healthcare for poor children, unrestricted gun ownership, massive tax breaks for the rich, record deficit spending, reckless deregulation of their Wall Street benefactors and a host of other vile things.

This tells me all I need to know about them and their religion.

[« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5]

Comments are closed-

Are Senate Republicans conspiring to keep Alternet from releasing 9/11 truth documents and stories?
[Report this comment]
Posted by: pfgetty on Apr 9, 2009 4:29 AM   
Current rating: 3    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
Mr. Horton, you apparently are quite concerned about the coverup of information that the American people need to know. You seem to feel that the truth should come to light no matter what. And you feel this is not happening because of pressure, political pressure in this case, from powerful people.
Are you not concerned that the lies of 9/11 sit hidden deep only in obscure websites while ALL American media keeps the truth covered up? This is a MUCH bigger story, but you don't seem interested. Why? 9/11 brought us the torture, not to mention the illegal wars and occupations, lots of death and maiming, the Patriot Act, and wiretapping.
But oddly, this isn't of interest to you, Alternet, or the rest of American journalists. The truth of 9/11 must stay hidden, while you yap about the fringes of coverup of torture.
What is it, Scott, keeping you and Alternet and the rest of the alternative sites from having at least some curiousity about the incredible inconsistencies and impossibilities and contradictions about the official story of 9/11?
Pressure? Threats?
Some highly respected scientists, Steven Jones and Richard Gage and Kevin Ryan, have recently presented a scientific paper about the thermite found at the WTC in the debris. It is conclusive evidence of controlled demolition, the only explanation for the collapse of the buildings. You ignore this paper, and so much other evidence about the collapse. This is much better evidence than any papers that could be released by Obama about torture. And he is under a lot more pressure than you are from many angles to keep from presenting the truth.
So don't put it all on Obama about transparency.
YOU, and all other journalists, are the worst at hiding evidence from the American people, and on a far more important topic.

[« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5]

» Irrefutable evidence Posted by: pfgetty
» YOU PEOPLE ARE ALL PATHETIC Posted by: Quannah
» Its called "compression" Posted by: hardwroc
» RE: Its called "compression" Posted by: parrhesia
» Typo Posted by: GuitarBill
» RE: Typo Posted by: Crazy H
» RE: Typo Posted by: GuitarBill
» RE: Typo Posted by: Crazy H
» Dr. Foo: "'Squibs', Reg?" Posted by: GuitarBill
» So, where's your math, idiot? Posted by: GuitarBill
» No link? Posted by: dustdevil
» RE: No link? Posted by: GuitarBill
» Try the obvious Posted by: GuitarBill
» RE: Try the obvious Posted by: parrhesia
» Where's your math, idiot? Posted by: GuitarBill
» Where's your common sense? Posted by: dustdevil
» Where are your alleged brains? Posted by: GuitarBill
» Dr. Foo: "And WTC 7, Reg?" Posted by: GuitarBill
» RE: Dr. Foo: "And WTC 7, Reg?" Posted by: GuitarBill
» Waterboard Silverstein Posted by: weathered
» Waterboard weathered Posted by: GuitarBill
» Waterboard GuitarBill Posted by: dustdevil
» RE: Waterboard DustBunny Posted by: GuitarBill
» gitarKill answer my question? Posted by: weathered
» Your answer. Posted by: GuitarBill
» Thats NOT an answer at all Posted by: weathered
» RE: Thats NOT an answer at all Posted by: weathered
» Want an answer, anti-Semite? Posted by: GuitarBill
» Paranoid, much? Posted by: GuitarBill
» So where's you math, @$$face? Posted by: GuitarBill

Comments are closed-

Obama should just take his chances and release those memos already.
[Report this comment]
Posted by: CarlaWaters on Apr 9, 2009 5:04 AM   
Current rating: 4    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
And I don't want to hear another excuse such as blackmailing. If the Republicans have some dirt to throw on Obama, well Obama should be a man and prepare to defend himself. Come on Obama, TAKE YOUR CHANCES WIN OR LOSE !

[« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5]

» What are you talking about? Posted by: KeepsonTickn

Comments are closed-

The way I see it...
[Report this comment]
Posted by: QuestionAuthority on Apr 9, 2009 6:04 AM   
Current rating: 5    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
The Republicans can stall all they want to. Releasing the torture memos will be the equivalent of the Democrat using nuclear weapons compared to the Republican's peashooters.
I think the Republicans are worried about their own butts ending up in prison more than anything else. Their reaction stinks of desperation to me.

[« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5]

» RE: The way I see it... Posted by: riondluz

Comments are closed-

Proof of Complicity and Culpability
[Report this comment]
Posted by: Purple Girl on Apr 9, 2009 6:08 AM   
Current rating: 5    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
Failure to investigate and prosecute these High Crimes is an indictment upon those who fail to up hold their Constitutional duties (oaths). To actively block the American peoples Right to full disclosure and legal action constitutes TREASON.
Torture not only undermined our Moral authority on Human Rights issues around the world, it has endangered any American Citizen who may be arrested in a foreign country. god help the Journalist now being held in Iran- and all others who may be being held prisoner elswhere.
It does not take a Guru in International affairs to underestand that if a country tortures, others will be emboldened to do the same to their citizens..."Eye for an Eye" is a prevalant concept in numerous societies- I figured OURS was not one...aka 'Nation of Laws'.
By failing to prosecute these Crimes against humanity, these Public Servants become accomplices, thus culpable even if merely after the fact. If the Admin or Congress forces Spain to prosecute- they have essentially vindicated the Attacks of 9/11, the WTC attack of '93, The attack on the USS Cole and every other terrorist attack around the world- tageting our citizens or other peoples who have befriended US. That's alot of damn Blood on their hands.
We have plenty of evidence about complicity leading up to these crimes- follow their votes and what committee they sat on.But that alone does not negate the charges of Culpablity if they are not actively moving towards prosecutions now.
this also lends itself to the act of Treason regarding Illegal Wiretapping Too.
Mr President, members of Congress and SCOTUS- NO ONE IS ABOVE THE LAW!

[« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5]

Comments are closed-

Let's Hope The Rethugs Go Thermonuclear.
[Report this comment]
Posted by: Urgelt on Apr 9, 2009 6:09 AM   
Current rating: 5    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
What we most need is clarity, both moral and factual. We need to know exactly what happened, and we need to know who stands where on the matter.

Obama is proving to be slippery on matters of national security, secrecy, and holding criminals accountable for their actions. Where does he stand? What is his moral position? I am seeing mixed signals and moral confusion.

If the Republicans filibuster his nominations, a clear line will be drawn and the two sides will engage in a very public debate. I think we need that debate. We need to decide if we are a nation that tortures, a nation that hides crimes under the veil of national security, a nation which pays only lip service to the Constitution and to our treaty obligations.

Obama must be forced off of the fence, and a filibuster might just do the trick.

[« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5]

» Make them filibuster. Posted by: EinMD
» RE: Make them filibuster. Posted by: johnbradleycopeland

Comments are closed-

THE TRUTH IS NOT A BARGAINING TOOL
[Report this comment]
Posted by: VZEQICVA on Apr 9, 2009 6:50 AM   
Current rating: 5    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
Tell the people what happened and deal with it. To make decisions that have such serious ramifications and hope that they can keep a lid on it forever is preposterous. The same holds true for Guantanamo. Lying, foot dragging and political threats are not in the best interest of the American people. This is after all, about us. So if we don't stop asking embarassing questions, there's no chance of decent health care? This thinking goes way beyond a trade off. ANNA

[« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5]

Comments are closed-

ozonekid
[Report this comment]
Posted by: ozonekidd on Apr 9, 2009 7:18 AM   
Current rating: 5    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
Regarding Republican "threats": in the words of one of our recent Philosopher Kings, bring it on.

[« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5]

Comments are closed-

It's time to take a stand.
[Report this comment]
Posted by: KeepsonTickn on Apr 9, 2009 8:00 AM   
Current rating: 5    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
President Obama should release all the memos. Because its the right thing to do.

But it should be an easy decision anyway, because he will lose nothing as a result. The Republicans have been running an all-out war in the Congress for two years now. What can they threaten that they won't do anyway?

Concessions the President and the congressional Democrats have made to them have garnered nothing. It's time to start giving nothing. Eventually, when they see that obstruction and bluster get them nothing, they will decide to come to the table.

[« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5]

» RE: It's time to take a stand. Posted by: VZEQICVA

Comments are closed-

They should Keep Showing Who They Are
[Report this comment]
Posted by: Outspokengrandmother on Apr 9, 2009 8:27 AM   
Current rating: 5    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
Republicans have virtually destroyed this country but there are still a few people who believe in them. Let them keep going. No one will miss the Republican Party.

[« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5]

» Care for a Drink, Socrates? Posted by: DrBrian

Comments are closed-

There are ways to deal with this
[Report this comment]
Posted by: jimb on Apr 9, 2009 8:28 AM   
Current rating: 5    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
First, I think the DoJ should be looking at these Republican senators who are making threats and finding out on whose behalf they're doing it. Remind them who they work for--the people of the U.S., not the previous administration.

Second, if they're able to block the vote on these nominees, Obama can always do what Bush did and grant recess appointments.

[« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5]

» RE: There are ways to deal with this Posted by: johnbradleycopeland

Comments are closed-

If I were Obama
[Report this comment]
Posted by: EinMD on Apr 9, 2009 8:43 AM   
Current rating: 5    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
and I had Republicans threatening to filibuster my people because of this...

My next state of the union would be: "My fellow Americans. How ya doing. You know, during the Bush years, the Republicans did a lot of really bad, destructive, and dangerous shit. This shit included kidnapping people all over the world, and committing crimes upon them that we sent people to prison for. The problem we have now is that I promised you a new age of government transparency. But the Republicans don't like that. You see, they're threatening to filibuster every nominee I put forward unless I guarantee that I'm going to keep the horrible dark secret horrible dark and secret."

"But you know what? Fuck them. There's no chance that they're going to cooperate in the recovery of this country anyway so they can all suck my balls....Here's the names of the Republicans who threatened me with filibustering if I don't keep their secret... You see them scrolling down the left side of the screen there? Now to the left of their names, you see that column of dates? That's the date that they're next up for election. You want me to have the ability to fix the nation they broke? You want me to have the ability to make good on the promises I made to you? Then vote these black hearted sons of bitches out of office. It's not like they're actually doing anything for YOU anyway."

"They're not not doing this because of any serious objection or because my picks are incompetent, you'll note that none of my nominees were professional horse trainers...but because they're afraid YOU are going to find out what THEY did in your name to innocent people all over the world."

"They're afraid that you'll find out that you sacrificed your sons and daughters so that Dick Cheney's Haliburton stock could go from $10 bucks a share to almost sixty in 2006, and split twice."

"But ya know what? I'm not playing their games anymore. It's time to put our cards on the table...and Oh hey look at that, I'm the President so my cards are the biggest. You see this warehouse here? Here's -all- of the information about what happened during the Bush years, minus anything that would directly endanger our troops. I'm declassifying all of it, right now. And my boy Holder is gonna be sending the FBI over to the houses of everyone involved in this shit to fucking arrest them to stand trial for what they did."

"Why? Because that's how a President acts. So tell them whiny party of no mother fuckers to shut the hell up."

[« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5]

» RE: If I were Obama Posted by: QQOblivion
» RE: If I were Obama Posted by: myersqi

Comments are closed-

Reckoning
[Report this comment]
Posted by: QQOblivion on Apr 9, 2009 8:46 AM   
Current rating: 5    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
Repuke-lickins show their true nature -- they are all torturers at heart, pure EVIL Satanic sadists.

But you know what, Obama won't release the memos. He doesn't have the guts. And by the way, he doesn't want to give in to the "loony Left" of his party who DARE to actually oppose torture. (Gasp! How radically loony are these loony lefties who loonily oppose torture!)

And you know what else? If Obama administration does NOT release the memos, the Republicans will STILL "go nuclear"! Obama can't win. The administration might as well release the memos! (But they won't.)

[« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5]

Comments are closed-

Embarrassed?
[Report this comment]
Posted by: linecrosser on Apr 9, 2009 9:03 AM   
Current rating: 2    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
Embarrassed, that's when you trip over something, pull your dick out to late or put in back in to early and wet the front of your pants. You laugh at a inappropriate time, like at a question from the internet users about marijuana, or you nominate people for powerful well paid government positions who haven't paid their taxes. TORTURE, isn't embarrassing its criminal. Fear of the release of memos for what ever reason is indication of guilt. Not releasing the memos implies complicity in the coverup of said crimes. This behavior of one party blackmailing the other party is a sure sign the system is broken, beyond repair and needs scraping. The system is made up almost entirely of criminals and permitting them to continue without repercussion make you and I complicit in their crimes Look in the mirror do you see someone who would torture. France tried to pick up Rumsfeld and Spain has issued international arrest warrants for the authors of the memos. Now I feel like a enlightened WW2 German as my leaders try to take over the world and I feel the shame of not stopping them.

[« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5]

Comments are closed-

Call Their Bluff
[Report this comment]
Posted by: Wacre on Apr 9, 2009 9:33 AM   
Current rating: 5    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
Obama should continue releasing the documents, they use his office (and surrogates in his cabinet as well as Democratic members of the Congress and Senate) to paint the Republicans that attempt to sabotage his nominations as obstructionists that are attempting to keep the excesses of the Bush Administration secret, which will have the effect of marginalizing them even more than they currently are.

The President can't make a habit of giving in to such blackmail because Republicans won't forget it, and will use the same tactic whenever they don't get their way.

By standing up to them now, you reduce their ability to be a threat when it matters most.

Give in to their demands now, then it becomes significantly harder to pass any type of legislation with teeth because they may not be happy with it.

And most of all, Obama needs to remind them that they are not in the majority.

It he has to humble a few of their more vocal advocates, then so be it.

[« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5]

Comments are closed-

DEMS SEEK TO FORCE USA UNDER SHARIA LAW THRU SEEKING SEAT AT UN AND ONE WORLD GOVERMENT-PART A
[Report this comment]
Posted by: SassyFrassy on Apr 9, 2009 9:58 AM   
Current rating: 1    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
DEMS SEEK TO FORCE USA UNDER UN SHARIA LAW BY SEEKING ONE WORLD GOVERNMENT

DEMS run around waiving their arms that about GITMO AND ABU-GARIB and torture while constantly hiding the fact that the USA confiscated in iraq from a taliban safe-house a torture manual with torture so severe it violates every CONVENTION in existence and that gets swept under the rug along with the fact that...

RIGHT NOW friend and foe here and overseas, want to subject the US MILITARY personnel to indictment and prosecution by the ICC.

GERMANY AND ITALY have actually already indicted US CIA agents for supposedly capturing radical islamic terriorists.

This is an infringement on our SOVEREIGNTY and a dagger aimed at our US MILITARY.

As a result, they may soon want to charge our troops overseas whom are fighting against terriorism, with trumped up "war crime" charges.

Charges like claiming Americans committed genocide, or claim we committed crimes against humanity. There's a leftist group in Paris, plus Argentina, Sweden, whom want to charge Rumsfeld for allegedly authorizing torture at Guantanamo bay, and abu Graib prison in Iraq claiming 1984 convention against torture, which FRANCE has used in previous torture cases.

it's really time to put the UN on notice that the days where the USA would mindlessly supply it with money, men, military equipment and blood without conditions are simply over.

In fact the latest---the new UN SEC GENERAL has already stipulated he wants NYC police officers to serve in UN peacekeeping mission in places like haiti, kosovo, and liberia.

here is one more reason why

CLINTON IN 2000 gave his blessing to the whole globalist thing on the UN "INTERNATIONAL CRIMINAL COURT (ICC). The DEMOCRATS all along want to make US citizens SERVANTS TO THE UN AS OUR GOVERNMENT instead of a country governed by WE THE PEOPLE.

Thankfully Bush saw the serious threat this Socialist star chamber posed to our military and he told them to stuff a sock in it. Apparantly at that time the UN was insulted by it. Although the REPUBLICANS tried twice to negotiate immunity for US peacekeepers thru the Sec Council.

Well, the anti-Americans at the UN wouldn't have any of it and the Abu Graib prison gave Kofi Annan the opening he wanted. The he tried to wrap himself in the human right mantle by claiming it would be unfotunate for someone to press for such an exemption given the prisoner abuse in Iraq.

We all know that if Mr. Amman really cared a thing about human rights he would have protested the revolving membership of certain countries with human rights track records. However, the Sanctimonious UN and Annan are always silent on the topic of human rights; except when it comes to taking cheap shots at the US

What they are really after is for the US to submit to the will of the UN and it's International criminal court. What they want is for the US to relinquish it's SOVEREIGNTY relagating WE THE PEOPLE of the US to the status of servants to the UN INSTEAD of being governed by WE THE PEOPLE

THIS would for example entail that any USA PERSON could be apprehended by local Muslim authorities for an offense, real or imagined slammed into the ICC and flown to the Hage, netherlands where they would rot for months waiting for trial and done ENTIRELY without due process. they would get not trial and no confronting of accusers, No protection from double jeopardy and no unanimous verdict for a conviction.

[« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5]

Comments are closed-

DEMS WANT TO FORCE USA UNDER SHARIA LAW AND BY SEEKING ONE WORLD GOVERNMENT--PART B
[Report this comment]
Posted by: SassyFrassy on Apr 9, 2009 10:07 AM   
Current rating: 1    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
Take a second to THINK about this all of the globalists within and without the USA think the murderous Al Qaida terriorists should have these rights from way back before the 1990's and NOW... HOWEVER NOT OUR US SOLDIERS and NOT OUR US CITIZENS.

Even though we can't guarantee that no American soldier is ever taken prisoner by a foreighn state and put before the ICC, we at "least" make sure no US soldier and or civilian meets with this fate.

However, the ICC doesn't want to recognize the CONSTITUTIONAL rights that we as Americans are guaranteed. GET IT?? They too think our constitution is FLAWED.

Meanwhile the globalists Anti-American ICC supporters criticized Mr. Bush claiming we were "undermining international LAW, the reality, THEY were writing new INTERNATIONAL LAWS TO protect themselves.



RIGHT NOW --the GRINCHES at the UN want to create something called a TRANSNATIONAL TREATY where anything protecting our USA PUBLIC that happens in our courts that GOVERNMENT DOESN'T LIKE gets kicked out of court would be sent to THE UN whom will then OVERRIDE THE WILL OF AMERICAN PUBLIC and ENFORCE it's SHARIA LAW rule over this NATION.

Want to know WHAT were the "agreement on the Privileges and immunities of the ICC" ratified with the assent of ONLY 10 NATION--it flat out provides the ICC immunity from "every form of legal process anywhere".

**They stated that the "property, funds, and assets" of the ICC "shall be IMMUNE from search, seizure, requisition, confiscation, expropriation and any other form of interference. And, the ICC and it's assets they said "are to be exempt from all direct taxes" including local taxes and customs.

** Meantime they want to IMPOSE the GLOBAL POVERTY TAX which would most certainly bankrupt the USA; while they engage in the Socialist rhetoric of how we are "selfish" for not wanting to pay more taxes. This is their idea of spread the wealth. Notice the funds are always going someplace else instead of to the PUBLIC.

How many people don't know all throughout history the spread the wealth has always been used in facist/socialist/communist elections.



RIGHT NOW-- OBAMA AND DEMS are attempting to seek a seat at the SHARIA LAW UN and the DEMS want to PUT INTO EFFECT ---TRANSNATIONAL TREATY---what does thaaat mean?? it means anything that the PUBLIC decides in court that is beneficial to WE THE PUBLIC that the GOV doesn't like --it WILL get kicked out of all courts at all levels and be sent TO THE UN international court WHERE they will IMPOSE THE WILL OF SHARIA LAW/UN court on the AMERICAN PUBLIC.

OBAMA AND WASH DC SLUGS WANT TO once again endanger this country by FORCING the US under SERVANTHOOD to the U-NATION which is SHARIA LAW. This will DESTROY our CONSTITUTION and make it IMPOSSIBLE for the USA AMERICAN public to govern themselves. --always the bottom line isn't it??

Long and short of it----the ICC MEMBERS have declared themselves IMMUNE form "personal arrest or detention, Legal process of every kind and immigration restrictions.

Oh then then lastly, the "salaries, emoluments and allowances" of the judges prosecutor deputy prosecutor and the registras of the ICC ARE EXEMPT from taxaition.

What hypocrites, it seems to run DEEP in the UN, but it indicates the lengths to which globalists will go to undermine National SOVEREIGNTY.

There's no mistaking it, the ICC SEVERELY undermines our Sovereignty and has over the years placed our troops at great risk.

It CLAIMS complete jurisdiction over every person in the world and it makes no difference to them whether or not that nation has even ratified the treaty.

[« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5]

Comments are closed-

DEMS SEEK TO FORCE USA UNDER SHARIA LAW BY SEAT AT UN AND ONE WORLD GOVERNMENT --PART C
[Report this comment]
Posted by: SassyFrassy on Apr 9, 2009 10:12 AM   
Current rating: 1    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
And, FRANKLY our own constitution may soon be up to the interpretation of 18 foreign -and for the most part hostile-ICC JUDGES.

Long and short of it, the ICC is literally a dagger in the heart of our US SOVEREIGNTY, our freedom and our independence.

DO you want to know what the ACLU thinks about how 'STUPID' they view Americans. Here is what Norman THOMAS one of the Founders of the ACLU says QUOTE Americans will never "knowingly" accept Socialism, but under "liberalism" Americans will accept every fragment; and one day wake up in a Socialist Nation and "wonder" how it all happened.

What we need to investigate is how the DEMOCRATS and ACLU think that they can continue to count on Americans being as stupid as the ACLU thinks Americans are. So they can further their Soc/glob/marx/fac/comm agenda

SEE Michelle milken,stoptheaclu.com,american center for law and justice and oliver north and familysecuritymatters.org

[« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5]

» Total Domination - Part two Posted by: riondluz

Comments are closed-

LET THEM FILIBUSTER
[Report this comment]
Posted by: hurricane hugo on Apr 9, 2009 10:50 AM   
Current rating: 3    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
and explain why.

#@!

[« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5]

Comments are closed-

Since when is a Justice Department Source reliable?
[Report this comment]
Posted by: leafsong1 on Apr 9, 2009 12:03 PM   
Current rating: 1    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
The author stretches the article out to two pages to obscure the fact that the whole thing is based on a quote from an anonymous government official who likely has an interest both in keeping the documents secret and in covering Obama's ass for keeping them secret. And, lo and behold, he says that Obama's hands are tied by the power of the Republican Senate minority. Nope, there's nothing he can do, and it's totally not his fault. Pay no attention to the anonymous public official behind the curtain. Move along. And then the author, flattered by the exclusive leak, goes on to write a propaganda piece that has the practical effect of protecting torturers. Pathetic.

[« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5]

Comments are closed-

REPUGS WILL DESTROY OUR COUNTRY IF WE LET THEM...
[Report this comment]
Posted by: kathrinka on Apr 9, 2009 2:41 PM   
Current rating: 5    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
the republican party has been trying to destroy our country and are working fast to destroy our president. no matter what president obama does, the republicans will do whatever they have to to be in control. as far as i'm concerned, all evidence should be disclosed and prosecute these criminals once and for all. republican are not patriots; a patriot would work for their country not against it.

[« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5]

Comments are closed-

When Republicans get so desperate, they'll sink as low as they can. We've seen this in our state.
[Report this comment]
Posted by: Benn_Miller on Apr 9, 2009 7:43 PM   
Current rating: Not yet rated    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
That is when the LA GOP were stuck in the minority. Even Reagan wouldn't accept this kind of nonsense coming out of them like this.

[« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5]

Comments are closed-

Four pirates sitting in a lifeboat out of gas with a hostage
[Report this comment]
Posted by: PaulK on Apr 9, 2009 9:28 PM   
Current rating: 5    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
Dear President Obama,

Please release more Bush torture memos. Do the right thing.

The Republicans can then take some Obama Administration Justice Department appointees hostage. However, these same Republicans have to go home in 18 months and explain to the voters why on earth they blocked Justice Department appointees just because the wheels of justice were turning. Please tie the whole lot of the remaining Republicans to W. Bush and R. Cheney, toss them in the ocean and see if the mass floats.

[« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5]

Comments are closed-

Release the memos, ALL the memos: and then see them squirm
[Report this comment]
Posted by: peterjkraus on Apr 10, 2009 6:03 AM   
Current rating: 5    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
This is bull: Blackmail works when the blackmailed party has a problem with the truth, not the other way around. So gather up all the memos, every last one of those wingnut screeds, and release them all at once. THEN, watch the bastards backpedal. The only defense here is attack, a major attack, one that will take their breath away.

[« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5]

Comments are closed-

Independent Prosecutor
[Report this comment]
Posted by: jleman on Apr 10, 2009 7:18 AM   
Current rating: 5    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
Time to unleash an independent prosecutor with the authority to investigate "all" of the criminal behaviors of the Bush/Cheney years including torture, 9/11, secret prisons, warrant less wiretapping, Katrina, the unwinding of the financial system,,,etc. Give them funding, and let them go where the investigation leads. In this way, Obama and team can concentrate on what needs to be done while those still hanging on to power have more to contend with. Gives them something to lay awake about at night. They'll be so busy covering their butts they'll not worry about fili-blustering and trying to block appointments.

[« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5]

Comments are closed-

So, in a nutshell the choice the Republicans are giving Obama is...
[Report this comment]
Posted by: kogwonton on Apr 10, 2009 10:12 AM   
Current rating: Not yet rated    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
"We're here to take either your teeth or your testicles. Your choice."

[« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5]

Comments are closed-

Release and be damned!
[Report this comment]
Posted by: phindrup on Apr 10, 2009 8:24 PM   
Current rating: Not yet rated    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
Release the bloody memos.
Then if the republicans filibuster your legal nominations appoint those same nominees to an ‘investigative of Bush’ inquiry endowed with all the powers it is possible to give them. Declare that nothing is, or can be denied them in their investigations.

That ought to pretty much solve the problem.

[« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5]

Comments are closed-

Bushco and China
[Report this comment]
Posted by: mramell50 on Apr 10, 2009 9:04 PM   
Current rating: Not yet rated    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
A I remember China was rather disappointed Bush was leaving office. No big surprise there. Bush was big on authoritarianism as is China and now China is holding trillions of dollars in US debt. Has is occurred to anyone else that this entire fiasco was a failed regime change attempt of the US? While all eyes were squarely on Iraq and the WTC and 911 China was quietly billing the US treasury for the whole mess. I have an eerie feeling this entire mess was a cover up was and is an attempt to bring regime change in the US to a REAL authoritarian rule the likes of which nobody has even begun to guess.
You think it's bad now try bringing in China style democracy and everyone who owns a home will be taken out and shot along with anyone with a college degree who supports real democracy or even freedom to worship as you please.
The GOP has been just to friendly with China beginning with Nixon and Mao, but even the Clintons had their fingers in that cookie jar and nobody knows where that might lead.
I might be and probably am totally wrong and off base, but what if I'm not? Are you willing to bet the farm on that?

[« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5]

Comments are closed-

SO...the pigs are still chomping at the Government Trough...
[Report this comment]
Posted by: jvaljon1 on Apr 12, 2009 5:11 PM   
Current rating: Not yet rated    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
..but it won't do them a bit of good. SPAIN is prosecuting our own War Criminals.

Back before America became Bush-erica, we USED TO abhor torture (many of us still do, and many more aren't aware that Bush practiced torture; they think that's just 'liberal propaganda').

We signed anti-torture statements. Along with other countries such as France, Italy, Spain, Greece and the like. THAT'S WHY the BushCrew tried so hard to get waterboarding and electrodes and the like, EXEMPTED from the Global Ban On Torture. Of which both we AND Spain were signatories.

Spain is now following the Global Initiative and beginning a prosecution of the entire Bush Administration, for condoning torture.

The Republicans can yell at Obama all they like, but THE WHOLE WORLD knows what happened with Abu Ghraib, Guantanamo, and Rendition.

Any member of the GIAT (Global Initiative Against Torture) can push these prosecutions, of any signatory banning torture, whose Chief Executive ignores the GIAT...

So like I say, they can yell all they want--(so THAT'S what's holding up all Obama's appointments!) but scream as they might, The Truth Will Out and the War Crimes Tribunals are gathering. If the Pigs think that AMERICANS don't know about the Bush Torture Initiative, think again--every magazine and newspaper has at one time or another, reported on Bush and Torture.

Besides this is all bullshit. We have the votes to pass all of Obama's appointees. If we don't, it's only because of the DemoPublicans who are squatting in our Party's highest levels. There are 47 of them--and if they're helping withold these nominations "until Obama pledges to shut up about Bush's tortures", they ought to be impeached forthwish.

No Republican OR Democrat OR DemoPublican, should want to be associated with protecting the foul Bush administration in ANY degree.

Let the protectors beware--We The People (of ALL political parties) are rapidly becoming AWARE of what's holding up the Obama nominees.

Or--I should say--WHO'S holding them up; in BOTH PARTIES! Beware your political careers, you filthy traitors against everything this country stands for.

[« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5]

Alternet Comments:

Comments are closed-

A Window on Conservative Christian Values
[Report this comment]
Posted by: DrBrian on Apr 9, 2009 12:35 AM   
Current rating: 5    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
John Coryn and a lot of his fellow devout, conservative Christian Republicans are willing to go to great lengths and obstruct the confirmation process for well-qualified subcabinet nominees to protect war criminals.

These people have already supported an illegal, brutal war on Iraq, continued use of landmines and cluster bombs by the US and Israel, unconstitutional surveillance and military commissions, cuts in healthcare for poor children, unrestricted gun ownership, massive tax breaks for the rich, record deficit spending, reckless deregulation of their Wall Street benefactors and a host of other vile things.

This tells me all I need to know about them and their religion.

[« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5]

Comments are closed-

Are Senate Republicans conspiring to keep Alternet from releasing 9/11 truth documents and stories?
[Report this comment]
Posted by: pfgetty on Apr 9, 2009 4:29 AM   
Current rating: 3    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
Mr. Horton, you apparently are quite concerned about the coverup of information that the American people need to know. You seem to feel that the truth should come to light no matter what. And you feel this is not happening because of pressure, political pressure in this case, from powerful people.
Are you not concerned that the lies of 9/11 sit hidden deep only in obscure websites while ALL American media keeps the truth covered up? This is a MUCH bigger story, but you don't seem interested. Why? 9/11 brought us the torture, not to mention the illegal wars and occupations, lots of death and maiming, the Patriot Act, and wiretapping.
But oddly, this isn't of interest to you, Alternet, or the rest of American journalists. The truth of 9/11 must stay hidden, while you yap about the fringes of coverup of torture.
What is it, Scott, keeping you and Alternet and the rest of the alternative sites from having at least some curiousity about the incredible inconsistencies and impossibilities and contradictions about the official story of 9/11?
Pressure? Threats?
Some highly respected scientists, Steven Jones and Richard Gage and Kevin Ryan, have recently presented a scientific paper about the thermite found at the WTC in the debris. It is conclusive evidence of controlled demolition, the only explanation for the collapse of the buildings. You ignore this paper, and so much other evidence about the collapse. This is much better evidence than any papers that could be released by Obama about torture. And he is under a lot more pressure than you are from many angles to keep from presenting the truth.
So don't put it all on Obama about transparency.
YOU, and all other journalists, are the worst at hiding evidence from the American people, and on a far more important topic.

[« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5]

» Irrefutable evidence Posted by: pfgetty
» YOU PEOPLE ARE ALL PATHETIC Posted by: Quannah
» Its called "compression" Posted by: hardwroc
» RE: Its called "compression" Posted by: parrhesia
» Typo Posted by: GuitarBill
» RE: Typo Posted by: Crazy H
» RE: Typo Posted by: GuitarBill
» RE: Typo Posted by: Crazy H
» Dr. Foo: "'Squibs', Reg?" Posted by: GuitarBill
» So, where's your math, idiot? Posted by: GuitarBill
» No link? Posted by: dustdevil
» RE: No link? Posted by: GuitarBill
» Try the obvious Posted by: GuitarBill
» RE: Try the obvious Posted by: parrhesia
» Where's your math, idiot? Posted by: GuitarBill
» Where's your common sense? Posted by: dustdevil
» Where are your alleged brains? Posted by: GuitarBill
» Dr. Foo: "And WTC 7, Reg?" Posted by: GuitarBill
» RE: Dr. Foo: "And WTC 7, Reg?" Posted by: GuitarBill
» Waterboard Silverstein Posted by: weathered
» Waterboard weathered Posted by: GuitarBill
» Waterboard GuitarBill Posted by: dustdevil
» RE: Waterboard DustBunny Posted by: GuitarBill
» gitarKill answer my question? Posted by: weathered
» Your answer. Posted by: GuitarBill
» Thats NOT an answer at all Posted by: weathered
» RE: Thats NOT an answer at all Posted by: weathered
» Want an answer, anti-Semite? Posted by: GuitarBill
» Paranoid, much? Posted by: GuitarBill
» So where's you math, @$$face? Posted by: GuitarBill

Comments are closed-

Obama should just take his chances and release those memos already.
[Report this comment]
Posted by: CarlaWaters on Apr 9, 2009 5:04 AM   
Current rating: 4    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
And I don't want to hear another excuse such as blackmailing. If the Republicans have some dirt to throw on Obama, well Obama should be a man and prepare to defend himself. Come on Obama, TAKE YOUR CHANCES WIN OR LOSE !

[« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5]

» What are you talking about? Posted by: KeepsonTickn

Comments are closed-

The way I see it...
[Report this comment]
Posted by: QuestionAuthority on Apr 9, 2009 6:04 AM   
Current rating: 5    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
The Republicans can stall all they want to. Releasing the torture memos will be the equivalent of the Democrat using nuclear weapons compared to the Republican's peashooters.
I think the Republicans are worried about their own butts ending up in prison more than anything else. Their reaction stinks of desperation to me.

[« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5]

» RE: The way I see it... Posted by: riondluz

Comments are closed-

Proof of Complicity and Culpability
[Report this comment]
Posted by: Purple Girl on Apr 9, 2009 6:08 AM   
Current rating: 5    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
Failure to investigate and prosecute these High Crimes is an indictment upon those who fail to up hold their Constitutional duties (oaths). To actively block the American peoples Right to full disclosure and legal action constitutes TREASON.
Torture not only undermined our Moral authority on Human Rights issues around the world, it has endangered any American Citizen who may be arrested in a foreign country. god help the Journalist now being held in Iran- and all others who may be being held prisoner elswhere.
It does not take a Guru in International affairs to underestand that if a country tortures, others will be emboldened to do the same to their citizens..."Eye for an Eye" is a prevalant concept in numerous societies- I figured OURS was not one...aka 'Nation of Laws'.
By failing to prosecute these Crimes against humanity, these Public Servants become accomplices, thus culpable even if merely after the fact. If the Admin or Congress forces Spain to prosecute- they have essentially vindicated the Attacks of 9/11, the WTC attack of '93, The attack on the USS Cole and every other terrorist attack around the world- tageting our citizens or other peoples who have befriended US. That's alot of damn Blood on their hands.
We have plenty of evidence about complicity leading up to these crimes- follow their votes and what committee they sat on.But that alone does not negate the charges of Culpablity if they are not actively moving towards prosecutions now.
this also lends itself to the act of Treason regarding Illegal Wiretapping Too.
Mr President, members of Congress and SCOTUS- NO ONE IS ABOVE THE LAW!

[« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5]

Comments are closed-

Let's Hope The Rethugs Go Thermonuclear.
[Report this comment]
Posted by: Urgelt on Apr 9, 2009 6:09 AM   
Current rating: 5    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
What we most need is clarity, both moral and factual. We need to know exactly what happened, and we need to know who stands where on the matter.

Obama is proving to be slippery on matters of national security, secrecy, and holding criminals accountable for their actions. Where does he stand? What is his moral position? I am seeing mixed signals and moral confusion.

If the Republicans filibuster his nominations, a clear line will be drawn and the two sides will engage in a very public debate. I think we need that debate. We need to decide if we are a nation that tortures, a nation that hides crimes under the veil of national security, a nation which pays only lip service to the Constitution and to our treaty obligations.

Obama must be forced off of the fence, and a filibuster might just do the trick.

[« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5]

» Make them filibuster. Posted by: EinMD
» RE: Make them filibuster. Posted by: johnbradleycopeland

Comments are closed-

THE TRUTH IS NOT A BARGAINING TOOL
[Report this comment]
Posted by: VZEQICVA on Apr 9, 2009 6:50 AM   
Current rating: 5    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
Tell the people what happened and deal with it. To make decisions that have such serious ramifications and hope that they can keep a lid on it forever is preposterous. The same holds true for Guantanamo. Lying, foot dragging and political threats are not in the best interest of the American people. This is after all, about us. So if we don't stop asking embarassing questions, there's no chance of decent health care? This thinking goes way beyond a trade off. ANNA

[« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5]

Comments are closed-

ozonekid
[Report this comment]
Posted by: ozonekidd on Apr 9, 2009 7:18 AM   
Current rating: 5    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
Regarding Republican "threats": in the words of one of our recent Philosopher Kings, bring it on.

[« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5]

Comments are closed-

It's time to take a stand.
[Report this comment]
Posted by: KeepsonTickn on Apr 9, 2009 8:00 AM   
Current rating: 5    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
President Obama should release all the memos. Because its the right thing to do.

But it should be an easy decision anyway, because he will lose nothing as a result. The Republicans have been running an all-out war in the Congress for two years now. What can they threaten that they won't do anyway?

Concessions the President and the congressional Democrats have made to them have garnered nothing. It's time to start giving nothing. Eventually, when they see that obstruction and bluster get them nothing, they will decide to come to the table.

[« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5]

» RE: It's time to take a stand. Posted by: VZEQICVA

Comments are closed-

They should Keep Showing Who They Are
[Report this comment]
Posted by: Outspokengrandmother on Apr 9, 2009 8:27 AM   
Current rating: 5    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
Republicans have virtually destroyed this country but there are still a few people who believe in them. Let them keep going. No one will miss the Republican Party.

[« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5]

» Care for a Drink, Socrates? Posted by: DrBrian

Comments are closed-

There are ways to deal with this
[Report this comment]
Posted by: jimb on Apr 9, 2009 8:28 AM   
Current rating: 5    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
First, I think the DoJ should be looking at these Republican senators who are making threats and finding out on whose behalf they're doing it. Remind them who they work for--the people of the U.S., not the previous administration.

Second, if they're able to block the vote on these nominees, Obama can always do what Bush did and grant recess appointments.

[« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5]

» RE: There are ways to deal with this Posted by: johnbradleycopeland

Comments are closed-

If I were Obama
[Report this comment]
Posted by: EinMD on Apr 9, 2009 8:43 AM   
Current rating: 5    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
and I had Republicans threatening to filibuster my people because of this...

My next state of the union would be: "My fellow Americans. How ya doing. You know, during the Bush years, the Republicans did a lot of really bad, destructive, and dangerous shit. This shit included kidnapping people all over the world, and committing crimes upon them that we sent people to prison for. The problem we have now is that I promised you a new age of government transparency. But the Republicans don't like that. You see, they're threatening to filibuster every nominee I put forward unless I guarantee that I'm going to keep the horrible dark secret horrible dark and secret."

"But you know what? Fuck them. There's no chance that they're going to cooperate in the recovery of this country anyway so they can all suck my balls....Here's the names of the Republicans who threatened me with filibustering if I don't keep their secret... You see them scrolling down the left side of the screen there? Now to the left of their names, you see that column of dates? That's the date that they're next up for election. You want me to have the ability to fix the nation they broke? You want me to have the ability to make good on the promises I made to you? Then vote these black hearted sons of bitches out of office. It's not like they're actually doing anything for YOU anyway."

"They're not not doing this because of any serious objection or because my picks are incompetent, you'll note that none of my nominees were professional horse trainers...but because they're afraid YOU are going to find out what THEY did in your name to innocent people all over the world."

"They're afraid that you'll find out that you sacrificed your sons and daughters so that Dick Cheney's Haliburton stock could go from $10 bucks a share to almost sixty in 2006, and split twice."

"But ya know what? I'm not playing their games anymore. It's time to put our cards on the table...and Oh hey look at that, I'm the President so my cards are the biggest. You see this warehouse here? Here's -all- of the information about what happened during the Bush years, minus anything that would directly endanger our troops. I'm declassifying all of it, right now. And my boy Holder is gonna be sending the FBI over to the houses of everyone involved in this shit to fucking arrest them to stand trial for what they did."

"Why? Because that's how a President acts. So tell them whiny party of no mother fuckers to shut the hell up."

[« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5]

» RE: If I were Obama Posted by: QQOblivion
» RE: If I were Obama Posted by: myersqi

Comments are closed-

Reckoning
[Report this comment]
Posted by: QQOblivion on Apr 9, 2009 8:46 AM   
Current rating: 5    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
Repuke-lickins show their true nature -- they are all torturers at heart, pure EVIL Satanic sadists.

But you know what, Obama won't release the memos. He doesn't have the guts. And by the way, he doesn't want to give in to the "loony Left" of his party who DARE to actually oppose torture. (Gasp! How radically loony are these loony lefties who loonily oppose torture!)

And you know what else? If Obama administration does NOT release the memos, the Republicans will STILL "go nuclear"! Obama can't win. The administration might as well release the memos! (But they won't.)

[« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5]

Comments are closed-

Embarrassed?
[Report this comment]
Posted by: linecrosser on Apr 9, 2009 9:03 AM   
Current rating: 2    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
Embarrassed, that's when you trip over something, pull your dick out to late or put in back in to early and wet the front of your pants. You laugh at a inappropriate time, like at a question from the internet users about marijuana, or you nominate people for powerful well paid government positions who haven't paid their taxes. TORTURE, isn't embarrassing its criminal. Fear of the release of memos for what ever reason is indication of guilt. Not releasing the memos implies complicity in the coverup of said crimes. This behavior of one party blackmailing the other party is a sure sign the system is broken, beyond repair and needs scraping. The system is made up almost entirely of criminals and permitting them to continue without repercussion make you and I complicit in their crimes Look in the mirror do you see someone who would torture. France tried to pick up Rumsfeld and Spain has issued international arrest warrants for the authors of the memos. Now I feel like a enlightened WW2 German as my leaders try to take over the world and I feel the shame of not stopping them.

[« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5]

Comments are closed-

Call Their Bluff
[Report this comment]
Posted by: Wacre on Apr 9, 2009 9:33 AM   
Current rating: 5    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
Obama should continue releasing the documents, they use his office (and surrogates in his cabinet as well as Democratic members of the Congress and Senate) to paint the Republicans that attempt to sabotage his nominations as obstructionists that are attempting to keep the excesses of the Bush Administration secret, which will have the effect of marginalizing them even more than they currently are.

The President can't make a habit of giving in to such blackmail because Republicans won't forget it, and will use the same tactic whenever they don't get their way.

By standing up to them now, you reduce their ability to be a threat when it matters most.

Give in to their demands now, then it becomes significantly harder to pass any type of legislation with teeth because they may not be happy with it.

And most of all, Obama needs to remind them that they are not in the majority.

It he has to humble a few of their more vocal advocates, then so be it.

[« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5]

Comments are closed-

DEMS SEEK TO FORCE USA UNDER SHARIA LAW THRU SEEKING SEAT AT UN AND ONE WORLD GOVERMENT-PART A
[Report this comment]
Posted by: SassyFrassy on Apr 9, 2009 9:58 AM   
Current rating: 1    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
DEMS SEEK TO FORCE USA UNDER UN SHARIA LAW BY SEEKING ONE WORLD GOVERNMENT

DEMS run around waiving their arms that about GITMO AND ABU-GARIB and torture while constantly hiding the fact that the USA confiscated in iraq from a taliban safe-house a torture manual with torture so severe it violates every CONVENTION in existence and that gets swept under the rug along with the fact that...

RIGHT NOW friend and foe here and overseas, want to subject the US MILITARY personnel to indictment and prosecution by the ICC.

GERMANY AND ITALY have actually already indicted US CIA agents for supposedly capturing radical islamic terriorists.

This is an infringement on our SOVEREIGNTY and a dagger aimed at our US MILITARY.

As a result, they may soon want to charge our troops overseas whom are fighting against terriorism, with trumped up "war crime" charges.

Charges like claiming Americans committed genocide, or claim we committed crimes against humanity. There's a leftist group in Paris, plus Argentina, Sweden, whom want to charge Rumsfeld for allegedly authorizing torture at Guantanamo bay, and abu Graib prison in Iraq claiming 1984 convention against torture, which FRANCE has used in previous torture cases.

it's really time to put the UN on notice that the days where the USA would mindlessly supply it with money, men, military equipment and blood without conditions are simply over.

In fact the latest---the new UN SEC GENERAL has already stipulated he wants NYC police officers to serve in UN peacekeeping mission in places like haiti, kosovo, and liberia.

here is one more reason why

CLINTON IN 2000 gave his blessing to the whole globalist thing on the UN "INTERNATIONAL CRIMINAL COURT (ICC). The DEMOCRATS all along want to make US citizens SERVANTS TO THE UN AS OUR GOVERNMENT instead of a country governed by WE THE PEOPLE.

Thankfully Bush saw the serious threat this Socialist star chamber posed to our military and he told them to stuff a sock in it. Apparantly at that time the UN was insulted by it. Although the REPUBLICANS tried twice to negotiate immunity for US peacekeepers thru the Sec Council.

Well, the anti-Americans at the UN wouldn't have any of it and the Abu Graib prison gave Kofi Annan the opening he wanted. The he tried to wrap himself in the human right mantle by claiming it would be unfotunate for someone to press for such an exemption given the prisoner abuse in Iraq.

We all know that if Mr. Amman really cared a thing about human rights he would have protested the revolving membership of certain countries with human rights track records. However, the Sanctimonious UN and Annan are always silent on the topic of human rights; except when it comes to taking cheap shots at the US

What they are really after is for the US to submit to the will of the UN and it's International criminal court. What they want is for the US to relinquish it's SOVEREIGNTY relagating WE THE PEOPLE of the US to the status of servants to the UN INSTEAD of being governed by WE THE PEOPLE

THIS would for example entail that any USA PERSON could be apprehended by local Muslim authorities for an offense, real or imagined slammed into the ICC and flown to the Hage, netherlands where they would rot for months waiting for trial and done ENTIRELY without due process. they would get not trial and no confronting of accusers, No protection from double jeopardy and no unanimous verdict for a conviction.

[« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5]

Comments are closed-

DEMS WANT TO FORCE USA UNDER SHARIA LAW AND BY SEEKING ONE WORLD GOVERNMENT--PART B
[Report this comment]
Posted by: SassyFrassy on Apr 9, 2009 10:07 AM   
Current rating: 1    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
Take a second to THINK about this all of the globalists within and without the USA think the murderous Al Qaida terriorists should have these rights from way back before the 1990's and NOW... HOWEVER NOT OUR US SOLDIERS and NOT OUR US CITIZENS.

Even though we can't guarantee that no American soldier is ever taken prisoner by a foreighn state and put before the ICC, we at "least" make sure no US soldier and or civilian meets with this fate.

However, the ICC doesn't want to recognize the CONSTITUTIONAL rights that we as Americans are guaranteed. GET IT?? They too think our constitution is FLAWED.

Meanwhile the globalists Anti-American ICC supporters criticized Mr. Bush claiming we were "undermining international LAW, the reality, THEY were writing new INTERNATIONAL LAWS TO protect themselves.



RIGHT NOW --the GRINCHES at the UN want to create something called a TRANSNATIONAL TREATY where anything protecting our USA PUBLIC that happens in our courts that GOVERNMENT DOESN'T LIKE gets kicked out of court would be sent to THE UN whom will then OVERRIDE THE WILL OF AMERICAN PUBLIC and ENFORCE it's SHARIA LAW rule over this NATION.

Want to know WHAT were the "agreement on the Privileges and immunities of the ICC" ratified with the assent of ONLY 10 NATION--it flat out provides the ICC immunity from "every form of legal process anywhere".

**They stated that the "property, funds, and assets" of the ICC "shall be IMMUNE from search, seizure, requisition, confiscation, expropriation and any other form of interference. And, the ICC and it's assets they said "are to be exempt from all direct taxes" including local taxes and customs.

** Meantime they want to IMPOSE the GLOBAL POVERTY TAX which would most certainly bankrupt the USA; while they engage in the Socialist rhetoric of how we are "selfish" for not wanting to pay more taxes. This is their idea of spread the wealth. Notice the funds are always going someplace else instead of to the PUBLIC.

How many people don't know all throughout history the spread the wealth has always been used in facist/socialist/communist elections.



RIGHT NOW-- OBAMA AND DEMS are attempting to seek a seat at the SHARIA LAW UN and the DEMS want to PUT INTO EFFECT ---TRANSNATIONAL TREATY---what does thaaat mean?? it means anything that the PUBLIC decides in court that is beneficial to WE THE PUBLIC that the GOV doesn't like --it WILL get kicked out of all courts at all levels and be sent TO THE UN international court WHERE they will IMPOSE THE WILL OF SHARIA LAW/UN court on the AMERICAN PUBLIC.

OBAMA AND WASH DC SLUGS WANT TO once again endanger this country by FORCING the US under SERVANTHOOD to the U-NATION which is SHARIA LAW. This will DESTROY our CONSTITUTION and make it IMPOSSIBLE for the USA AMERICAN public to govern themselves. --always the bottom line isn't it??

Long and short of it----the ICC MEMBERS have declared themselves IMMUNE form "personal arrest or detention, Legal process of every kind and immigration restrictions.

Oh then then lastly, the "salaries, emoluments and allowances" of the judges prosecutor deputy prosecutor and the registras of the ICC ARE EXEMPT from taxaition.

What hypocrites, it seems to run DEEP in the UN, but it indicates the lengths to which globalists will go to undermine National SOVEREIGNTY.

There's no mistaking it, the ICC SEVERELY undermines our Sovereignty and has over the years placed our troops at great risk.

It CLAIMS complete jurisdiction over every person in the world and it makes no difference to them whether or not that nation has even ratified the treaty.

[« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5]

Comments are closed-

DEMS SEEK TO FORCE USA UNDER SHARIA LAW BY SEAT AT UN AND ONE WORLD GOVERNMENT --PART C
[Report this comment]
Posted by: SassyFrassy on Apr 9, 2009 10:12 AM   
Current rating: 1    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
And, FRANKLY our own constitution may soon be up to the interpretation of 18 foreign -and for the most part hostile-ICC JUDGES.

Long and short of it, the ICC is literally a dagger in the heart of our US SOVEREIGNTY, our freedom and our independence.

DO you want to know what the ACLU thinks about how 'STUPID' they view Americans. Here is what Norman THOMAS one of the Founders of the ACLU says QUOTE Americans will never "knowingly" accept Socialism, but under "liberalism" Americans will accept every fragment; and one day wake up in a Socialist Nation and "wonder" how it all happened.

What we need to investigate is how the DEMOCRATS and ACLU think that they can continue to count on Americans being as stupid as the ACLU thinks Americans are. So they can further their Soc/glob/marx/fac/comm agenda

SEE Michelle milken,stoptheaclu.com,american center for law and justice and oliver north and familysecuritymatters.org

[« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5]

» Total Domination - Part two Posted by: riondluz

Comments are closed-

LET THEM FILIBUSTER
[Report this comment]
Posted by: hurricane hugo on Apr 9, 2009 10:50 AM   
Current rating: 3    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
and explain why.

#@!

[« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5]

Comments are closed-

Since when is a Justice Department Source reliable?
[Report this comment]
Posted by: leafsong1 on Apr 9, 2009 12:03 PM   
Current rating: 1    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
The author stretches the article out to two pages to obscure the fact that the whole thing is based on a quote from an anonymous government official who likely has an interest both in keeping the documents secret and in covering Obama's ass for keeping them secret. And, lo and behold, he says that Obama's hands are tied by the power of the Republican Senate minority. Nope, there's nothing he can do, and it's totally not his fault. Pay no attention to the anonymous public official behind the curtain. Move along. And then the author, flattered by the exclusive leak, goes on to write a propaganda piece that has the practical effect of protecting torturers. Pathetic.

[« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5]

Comments are closed-

REPUGS WILL DESTROY OUR COUNTRY IF WE LET THEM...
[Report this comment]
Posted by: kathrinka on Apr 9, 2009 2:41 PM   
Current rating: 5    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
the republican party has been trying to destroy our country and are working fast to destroy our president. no matter what president obama does, the republicans will do whatever they have to to be in control. as far as i'm concerned, all evidence should be disclosed and prosecute these criminals once and for all. republican are not patriots; a patriot would work for their country not against it.

[« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5]

Comments are closed-

When Republicans get so desperate, they'll sink as low as they can. We've seen this in our state.
[Report this comment]
Posted by: Benn_Miller on Apr 9, 2009 7:43 PM   
Current rating: Not yet rated    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
That is when the LA GOP were stuck in the minority. Even Reagan wouldn't accept this kind of nonsense coming out of them like this.

[« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5]

Comments are closed-

Four pirates sitting in a lifeboat out of gas with a hostage
[Report this comment]
Posted by: PaulK on Apr 9, 2009 9:28 PM   
Current rating: 5    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
Dear President Obama,

Please release more Bush torture memos. Do the right thing.

The Republicans can then take some Obama Administration Justice Department appointees hostage. However, these same Republicans have to go home in 18 months and explain to the voters why on earth they blocked Justice Department appointees just because the wheels of justice were turning. Please tie the whole lot of the remaining Republicans to W. Bush and R. Cheney, toss them in the ocean and see if the mass floats.

[« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5]

Comments are closed-

Release the memos, ALL the memos: and then see them squirm
[Report this comment]
Posted by: peterjkraus on Apr 10, 2009 6:03 AM   
Current rating: 5    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
This is bull: Blackmail works when the blackmailed party has a problem with the truth, not the other way around. So gather up all the memos, every last one of those wingnut screeds, and release them all at once. THEN, watch the bastards backpedal. The only defense here is attack, a major attack, one that will take their breath away.

[« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5]

Comments are closed-

Independent Prosecutor
[Report this comment]
Posted by: jleman on Apr 10, 2009 7:18 AM   
Current rating: 5    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
Time to unleash an independent prosecutor with the authority to investigate "all" of the criminal behaviors of the Bush/Cheney years including torture, 9/11, secret prisons, warrant less wiretapping, Katrina, the unwinding of the financial system,,,etc. Give them funding, and let them go where the investigation leads. In this way, Obama and team can concentrate on what needs to be done while those still hanging on to power have more to contend with. Gives them something to lay awake about at night. They'll be so busy covering their butts they'll not worry about fili-blustering and trying to block appointments.

[« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5]

Comments are closed-

So, in a nutshell the choice the Republicans are giving Obama is...
[Report this comment]
Posted by: kogwonton on Apr 10, 2009 10:12 AM   
Current rating: Not yet rated    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
"We're here to take either your teeth or your testicles. Your choice."

[« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5]

Comments are closed-

Release and be damned!
[Report this comment]
Posted by: phindrup on Apr 10, 2009 8:24 PM   
Current rating: Not yet rated    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
Release the bloody memos.
Then if the republicans filibuster your legal nominations appoint those same nominees to an ‘investigative of Bush’ inquiry endowed with all the powers it is possible to give them. Declare that nothing is, or can be denied them in their investigations.

That ought to pretty much solve the problem.

[« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5]

Comments are closed-

Bushco and China
[Report this comment]
Posted by: mramell50 on Apr 10, 2009 9:04 PM   
Current rating: Not yet rated    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
A I remember China was rather disappointed Bush was leaving office. No big surprise there. Bush was big on authoritarianism as is China and now China is holding trillions of dollars in US debt. Has is occurred to anyone else that this entire fiasco was a failed regime change attempt of the US? While all eyes were squarely on Iraq and the WTC and 911 China was quietly billing the US treasury for the whole mess. I have an eerie feeling this entire mess was a cover up was and is an attempt to bring regime change in the US to a REAL authoritarian rule the likes of which nobody has even begun to guess.
You think it's bad now try bringing in China style democracy and everyone who owns a home will be taken out and shot along with anyone with a college degree who supports real democracy or even freedom to worship as you please.
The GOP has been just to friendly with China beginning with Nixon and Mao, but even the Clintons had their fingers in that cookie jar and nobody knows where that might lead.
I might be and probably am totally wrong and off base, but what if I'm not? Are you willing to bet the farm on that?

[« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5]

Comments are closed-

SO...the pigs are still chomping at the Government Trough...
[Report this comment]
Posted by: jvaljon1 on Apr 12, 2009 5:11 PM   
Current rating: Not yet rated    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
..but it won't do them a bit of good. SPAIN is prosecuting our own War Criminals.

Back before America became Bush-erica, we USED TO abhor torture (many of us still do, and many more aren't aware that Bush practiced torture; they think that's just 'liberal propaganda').

We signed anti-torture statements. Along with other countries such as France, Italy, Spain, Greece and the like. THAT'S WHY the BushCrew tried so hard to get waterboarding and electrodes and the like, EXEMPTED from the Global Ban On Torture. Of which both we AND Spain were signatories.

Spain is now following the Global Initiative and beginning a prosecution of the entire Bush Administration, for condoning torture.

The Republicans can yell at Obama all they like, but THE WHOLE WORLD knows what happened with Abu Ghraib, Guantanamo, and Rendition.

Any member of the GIAT (Global Initiative Against Torture) can push these prosecutions, of any signatory banning torture, whose Chief Executive ignores the GIAT...

So like I say, they can yell all they want--(so THAT'S what's holding up all Obama's appointments!) but scream as they might, The Truth Will Out and the War Crimes Tribunals are gathering. If the Pigs think that AMERICANS don't know about the Bush Torture Initiative, think again--every magazine and newspaper has at one time or another, reported on Bush and Torture.

Besides this is all bullshit. We have the votes to pass all of Obama's appointees. If we don't, it's only because of the DemoPublicans who are squatting in our Party's highest levels. There are 47 of them--and if they're helping withold these nominations "until Obama pledges to shut up about Bush's tortures", they ought to be impeached forthwish.

No Republican OR Democrat OR DemoPublican, should want to be associated with protecting the foul Bush administration in ANY degree.

Let the protectors beware--We The People (of ALL political parties) are rapidly becoming AWARE of what's holding up the Obama nominees.

Or--I should say--WHO'S holding them up; in BOTH PARTIES! Beware your political careers, you filthy traitors against everything this country stands for.

[« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5]

 
Advertisement
From The Blog
 
Clownish Far-Right Lawmaker Calls for Another Administration Official to Resign
 
How Fair Are the Criticisms of Rahm Emanuel?
 
The Hollywood Double Standard: Tiger gets cooked, Charlie Sheen gets another free pass
 
Is Greece the New AIG?
 
Confused About Nutrition? Eat Food!
 
Insurer Denies Life-Prolonging Treatment To Five-Year-Old Boy With Cancer
 
Budget Paranoia
 
Why Does the U.S. Assassinate Americans?
 
Jon Stewart: Why Does Sarah Palin Need a Cheat Sheet?
 
We Must Lift the Veil on US Troops in Pakistan
 
MORE 
ALL BLOGS 
 
 
Most Read
Most Emailed
Most Discussed
On REDDIT
On DIGG
 
  1. Shadow Elite: How the World's New Power Brokers Are Upending Our Democracy
  2. New Poll Results Are Proof That Republicans Don't Think
  3. White "Savior-Afflicted" Christians, Black Haitian Babies: This Won't End Well
  4. Why I Had to Stop Making Hardcore Porn
  5. Sarah Palin Aims to Bust Up the Republican Party -- And the Tea Party Movement
  6. One Company Thinks They've Created Fast Food With a Conscience -- Are They Right?
  7. The Newest Diet Trend: What Would Jesus Eat?
  8. Could Your Cell Phone End Up Killing You?
  9. Half-Naked Hot Chicks and Beer: The Sexist Guyland of the Super Bowl Beer Commercial
  10. Top 10 Problems with America Killing Its Own Citizens
loading ...
POWERED BY DIGG'S USERS
ABOUT DIGG