Does anyone know a man named Douglas Kinan? He posted an interesting comment on the WaPo article Glenn referenced in his piece. Here is part of the post:

dougkinan wrote:

My name is Douglas Kinan. I am an Officer of the Court – an Assistant Register at the Massachusetts Trial Court.

As a former DoD employee I conscientiously opposed framing innocent citizen employees and other illegal DoD violations.

Despite overwhelming evidence, the Defense Contract Management Agency’s (DCMA/DCMAE) Chief Counsel, Bruce Krasker and his former Deputy Counsel, Jerome C. Brennan insisted on framing innocent employees. Krasker boasted: “We (the Legal Directorate) can do anything we want. It’s called gaming. We can deny, we can delay…dismiss. We can manipulate the system any way we want.”

Krasker can make this boast because he has cover from the Department of Defense Hotline Director, for fraud, waste and abuse, Leonard C. Trahan, Jr. and the Justice Department.

Concerning two (of many) framed employees, Trahan rationalized it this way: “There were two EEO cases in the District in which Mr. Kinan disagreed with the decisions made by [the Equal Employment Manager] and the [DCMDE Chief Counsel.] Instead of accepting those decisions “as reasonable people can disagree”, they became a ‘cause celebre’ for Mr. Kinan.”

For the rest of this post click here:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/11/12/AR2008111202679_Comments.html

Precisely how is an act construed to be constitutional if its purpose is to 'gain the confidence of' or 'instill confidence in' or 'reassure the people' of any matter?

This is often the reason cited for many acts of the federal government which are so patently violations of the constitution that even the mass of voters call their legislators to 'encourage' them not to support these acts - in particular, the recent bailout evoked this response.

That Litt, or anyone who takes the law seriously could offer that position begs the question: do we now know that most people's opinion is actually that easily swayed?

Off with our heads!

As someone who follows Samantha Power's work, I was excited when Obama made her an advisor to his campaign. Now that the campaign chaos is over I hope she'll be working with the new administration. In any case I'm given to understand that Obama and Power have compatible perspectives on international law and human rights. Many reasonable people have voiced many reasonable criticisms of "A Problem From Hell," but to my knowledge no one has challenged the point, which Power goes to great lengths to demonstrate in that book, that the threat of prosecution does deter potential war criminals. It's difficult to imagine how a president inspired by work like Power's could view the rule of law as an idealistic indulgence, forgoable for the sake of "bipartisanship."

An amazing number of people...are now arguing that all the Good and Important things that Barack Obama is about to do for all of us outweigh the need to subject high political officials to the rule of law.

I agree with Glenn!! Prosecute Bush, Cheney, and all their enablers in the previous administration!!

There. That was easy. For ME to say.

Glenn. YOU are President Obama, the new, first, black president in American history. You're gonna do this?

Not sure if this was mentioned before, but what about getting the U.S. to join the ICC and then defend itself to the other (then) 108 members?

@-- adnoto

There is nothing to stop the rise of 3rd or even multiple parties if the american people come to realize we are living under a duopoly of 2 parties that both have the same vested interests. -- maotsetung

Oh for fucks sake... who are you telling?

And who exactly is going to explain it to the American people? Moulitsas? Hamsher? Glenn Greenwald? Hells no, he was too busy telling anyone who would listen that they had to vote for Obama and Democrats. And that's the problem right there. Those who are politically and socially aware and have a voice are counseling the know-nothings to vest more time and energy into a SURE losing plan. Must vote for Obama... must vote for Obama...it never ends. Your "liberal information gatekeepers" are selling Obama and the Democrats. How do you plan to overcome that? The "good guys" are working against you.

Sorry for the irritation but I don't need it explained to me. Explain it to Greenwald.

Another Republican scandal turns out to be a virgin birth.

Cocktailhag!

Absolutely incredible. People are so shell shocked and trod upon, they'll happily trade and bargain their beliefs and Constitutional Rights, just to be rid of Bush Crime Inc.. "Oh please!.. pleeeease... yes, whatever... just make the bad man go away!" Disgusting. I know of Stockholm Syndrome, I just didn't think it could apply to such a vast number of people. I'm fully aware of Corporate interest in matters of power. That's been a fact of life for a long time. But for people to know that Big Business will try to influence leaders and yet let them do it reflects badly on American morals. I understand people's anxiety on getting over this last President's reign, but not ensuring it doesn't happen again practically GUARANTEES it will! I don't care how many Democratic "leaders" tell me this is practical or expedient. I don't succumb to Jedi Mind Tricks. I've seen these assholes Smirk at me for two terms now and I live to make them regret their arrogance and implied impunity. They not only ran roughshod over the Rule of Law, they expect us TO LIKE IT. Until I'm proven wrong, I believe little Karl's coloring book was Mein Kampf and he applies that philosophy to politics. Nobody believes, actually realizes, that history is an active agent and what we're doing now is no different than past complacency's. As far as Barack using up his political "currency" doing what's legally responsible? The election is proof positive he just hit the Jack Pot. I say spend the Hell out of that "currency" and realize a return on his investment. The people would be shocked, but in a great way. His aggressive primary gambles and Democratic candidacy decisions shown him to be bold when it mattered and shrewd when necessary. Why should he stop now? I knew they'd have their hooks out to drag him down, I just didn't think they'd be so sharp. I'm not accepting this. Now matter how long it take, Bush and Cheney are going to pay for their crimes in a Court of Law. This has become a life mission for me and others. So be it.