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Thursday, November 13, 2008 12:00 AM

Post-partisan harmony vs. the rule of law

A clear consensus is emerging: Obama shouldn't jeopardize all the important things he has to do by investigating crimes committed by Bush officials.

The letters thread is now closed.

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Thursday, November 13, 2008 12:58 PM

I predict that by Jan 21st BushCo will be in prison and everyone in American will have a new puppy. -- Chris Sinnard

I have a 21 pound cat that says there will be no dog at our house!

(maybe another ferret)

Thursday, November 13, 2008 12:56 PM

wbrooksjr

We have bigger fish to fry than this.

I've been seeing this phrase a lot lately. What fish are you talking about?

The entire affair would become immensely political and discredit Obama's whole appeal to the MIDDLE MAJORITY.

Is this the same "Middle Majority" that polls show rank the Bush Administration as basically the Worst Administration ever? Not to mention the "middle majorities" opposition to torture, spying, the war in Iraq, bankster bailouts, etc. etc. etc. as shown by numerous polls? How is acting against their interests by letting war criminals go unpunished appealing again?

Just an FYI, the words "Centrist", "Middle Majority", etc. etc. are all propaganda buzzwords for "The Government and what it wants". "Centrism" is merely perpetuating the status quo while playing divide and conquer with wedge issue. ATM the "center" includes at its core things like torture, aggressive war, massive economic intervention (bailouts), police state, uncritical support for Isreal, etc. etc. etc. etc. Do you consider such things appealing as a card carrying member of the center? To think otherwise is to dissent against the status quo, i.e. not "centrist".

Moderate is a misnomer. It should be Moderate, as in moderating yourself to resolve your cognitive dissonance and prevent yourself from having thoughtcrimes.

Thursday, November 13, 2008 12:52 PM

Ethics Pro

http://www.ratical.org/ratville/JFK/JohnJudge/linkscopy/dictatorTime.html

Thursday, November 13, 2008 12:52 PM

Who is this Middle Majority?

The entire affair would become immensely political and discredit Obama's whole appeal to the MIDDLE MAJORITY.

--wbrooksjr

Honestly, who the hell is this group of people who you think wouldn't want crimes of a President prosecuted? What are your facts and data establishing this group of people exists?

Right now, you just sound like every Beltway talking head, wanting so badly to believe something that you're declaring it a fact.

Thursday, November 13, 2008 12:52 PM

@ Baldie McEagle

I'm genuinely curious, NOB

You're saying the Democrats are too spineless to hold "true criminal proceedings," but they have the ballz to stage a "show trial"?

Yeah, you know ... like Chteney, his sock-puppet, Yoo, Addington, and company.

Cheers,

Thursday, November 13, 2008 12:51 PM

@tim3

C'mon, "get the facts out (behind closed doors)?" "Dirty laundry?" That's comedy gold! Like when the great Kaufman would play these over the top misogynists, you know, as satire?

Cause that's what he was doing.

...right?

Thursday, November 13, 2008 12:49 PM

Trade immunity for cooperation

I'm saying, that doing a little trading is the best you can do in this situation. And really, all you can do is shine a little light on the things that the Bush Administration has done.

Perhaps we should consider removing the President's power of the pardon, by amending the Constitution. That would require an Amendment to the Constitution -- kind of hard to get.

Thursday, November 13, 2008 12:48 PM

wbrooksjr :America's dirty laundry

In this case America's dirty laundry belongs to the world. W's crimes are international, and ought to be tried in international court. If that is not to happen, they must be publicly tried in the US. In any case, the first step is a public disclosure of the crimes with all the dirty details.

Thursday, November 13, 2008 12:47 PM

PDA re:wbrooksjr

I would only add, wha?

Thursday, November 13, 2008 12:45 PM

-- wbrooksjr

Huge numbers of "middle americans" just lost large amounts of their savings and retirement accounts ...... now huge numbers of them are poised to lose their jobs.

Will will see how this group reacts as things get worse.

Thursday, November 13, 2008 12:43 PM

@wbrooksjr

That was awesome.

Seriously, you had me going for a while. Andy Kaufman himself couldn't have done better.

Hats off to you.

Thursday, November 13, 2008 12:42 PM

@Psychlist

I might get as much vindictive pleasure as the next guy in seeing Cheney in chains, but I'm willing to entertain the idea that there might be some greater good in foregoing that pleasure.

Okay, do that entertaining, so we can hear the benefits. Exactly what will be gained by not seeing Cheney prosecuted? Same thing that was gained by not prosecuting Pol Pot or the Rwandan genocide perpetrators? Please, I really can't envision this benefit, so if you think it's there, you'll have to spell it out or better yet, prove it.

Thursday, November 13, 2008 12:40 PM

@NotOrbitBoy

I do not think that W thought he was protecting anybody when he invaded Iraq. I think that for him the issue was "the role of the United States in the world, and my role in making it happen." Once you think that way and are willing to to lie, cheat and steal to get your way, doing other little things that help out the main goal is easy, even if they seem outrageous to others.

So, yes, I think you are missing the point completely with your W justifications.

Thursday, November 13, 2008 12:39 PM

The apologists are out in full force

Everyone needs to calm down and just ignore Obama for the time being. Even though he won the election, Obama is obviously still "playing along" with the elites until he gets into office and puts the hammer down. Best not to start hoping right away though, for Obama will need to continue "playing along" in order to "get things done". But don't hold your breath too long, because the first term is going to be rough and he will not have time to get to the "real" issues, in fact, he will need a second or even a third term in order to REALLY get to the pressing issues. Just hold tight, Change is coming and will be here within the next 12 years of so!

I predict that by Jan 21st BushCo will be in prison and everyone in American will have a new puppy.

Thursday, November 13, 2008 12:38 PM

Kitt, dahlink

"Be a lot easier for a dictator...so long as I'm the dictator, hehe, hehe."--GWB

You made that last quote up, didn't you. No U.S. President could be that stupid, could they? Wait, don't answer that.

Thursday, November 13, 2008 12:38 PM

wow, you guys are shortsighted

We have a financial crisis, two wars and a president-elect who won on a strategy of post-partisan politics. We all know Bush was small-minded and quite possibly a criminal, and we certainly should get the facts out (behind closed doors) so this does not happen again. But a political witch hunt for bureaucrats would send Obama home after four years. The entire affair would become immensely political and discredit Obama's whole appeal to the MIDDLE MAJORITY. No self respecting Democrat wants to see America's dirty laundry aired after we have just won back a big dose of good will from our international friends. We have bigger fish to fry than this. Thank God you fringer's only have a big media presence and very little presence in the actual electorate. When will you crybabies learn - if we lost your (the supposed left base) vote we would still win elections, but if we lose the middle we are sunk. The "mythical middle" (as DailyKos refers to us) is mythical only in it's very real massive proportions.

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