I feel that it is clear now that Obama is not going to prosecute anyone for the crimes of the last eight years. Who knows what would be uncovered and how complicit were the democrats in congress? Really, appointing a special prosecutor like Fitzgerald would be so time consuming. Why should we bother to have justice for politicians? It is just for the poor and not well-connected people.

I think he primarily deals with what he considers political considerations.

He feels the FISA legislation was OK. Brennan and Kappes will run things at the CIA, but torture will be a little problematic now for the agency and Kappes will still run the unidentified foreign prisons.

The rich elitists are getting still richer attempting to save the economic system they destroyed with their greed.

DoJ will be depoliticized and that is good!

I'll not be as frustrated as I was with Bush and his incompetent cronies, but I'll not be content with Obama either. He is, as Glenn articulates, repeating the mistakes of previous democratic administrations and giving the repubs a free ride and will try to build consensus. Foolhardy in my opinion.

I was optimistic and really contributed and worked hard to get him elected. Now I tell myself to be thankful that he won't encourage torture and at least he is intelligent. Maybe something good will happen.

He'll do the right things and maybe succeed with the economy but his foreign policy will be sad and he'll probably even consider what the nenocons of AIPAC have to say. Maybe even consult with Condoleeza Rice and Hadley.

Life is difficult and there are always the politics that have to be considered.

"So I'm still in wait and see mode, hoping for the best, prepared for the worst, and expecting something in-between. It can't possibly be worse than Bush II. But that's a really low threshold for success, and I'm hoping that he will clear it with much room to spare."

Your post, as always, is extremely well thought out. Thanks!

I also believe that "it can't possibly be worse that Bush II." It's going to be very interesting!

We all need some good news!

"We must at least entertain the possibility that someone in Guantanamo Bay is guilty."

Why? The USA just paid money to literally anyone to accuse anyone of anything and the accused were rounded up and tortured in the hope that they might say anything .

"Roland Burris for majority leader

That really is the best idea ever. As you say, it's impossible that it could be worse."

Glenn, It could be worse!

For the worst I would nominate Inhofe.

In the House I would nominate Hoyer.

I only come to Salon for Glenn Greeenwald.

Pretty smart, am I not?

I believe that you are correct and the torture defenders are winning. I am dismayed by all this very effective propaganda put forth exactly as you say, "torture saves lives." It is coming at me from everywhere; christian radio, Joe Scarborough, Pat Buchanan, Smerconish, Dershowitz, Cheney, et al.

War crimes are therefore legal as long as you don't lose the war. If you lose the war then you'll be hanged.

"Do the wingnuts still think they are leading Minutemen against the redcoats? Perhaps they do."

I don't think so. They always proclaim that a huge stick must be wielded, as Israel is doing now against the Palestinians, in order to insure peace. Any means necessary is allowable to obtain the end goal which is submission.

This goal is stated very clearly in the PNAC document put forth by the neocons. submission is necessary, ala Leo Strauss. As Charles Krauthammer always says, when you have the most powerful military, use it to accomplish your goals.

"At the end of the day, if the American public and their government still doesn't understand that there is no excuse for torture, there is still work to be done. As long as the government believes there is room for impunity, some of that work is prosecuting government officials, if only to show that there isn't."

My sense is that there is indeed "room for impunity," and that Obama, who is the key player here in determining whether to hold the culprits accountable and also the American public do not have any appetite for justice. The wingnut talking point is simple and persuasive.

"It saved tens of thousands of lives for a 'little dunk' of 45 seconds and no permanent damage.

Also the fact that many pols were complicit in unison with the beltway press, you've got too much power to overcome.

I admire Glenn trying so hard against overwhelming odds. It's tragic!

I agree with you that sending Marcus and Ignatius and Kristol and Krauthammer emails makes one feel temporarily good. I do it all the the time. "Take that," you elite pundits and journalists. But that feeling of contentment dissipates very fast. These journalists are elitists and neo-cons who don't recognize that punishing the 'have-nots' severely and then forgiving and ass-kissing the 'haves' just doesn't make much sense. But believe me it is the way of the world.