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Sunday, Nov 8, 2009
How does one use block quotes?-- harpie
[blockquote]how does one use...[/blockquote]
Exactly like that, except you use these< > instead of these[ ].
And then always use preview before clicking publish.
Re: "His current level of silence and total lack of leadership regarding events in Gaza do not leave me with a warm fuzzy feeling about how this is going to work out and thus, I don't share Greenwald's optimism."
barak has the power to name individuals to his administration. He does not have any power, at the moment, to do anything about the war in Gaza. George W. Bush has that power. If Barak Obama gave statements that did not mirror those of George W. Bush Conservatives would be the first ones to accuse Pres9ident-Elect Barak Obama of undermining the current President.
Or, like all Conservatives, are you gearing up to point fingers at Barak Obama for everything that happens, even before he taks office (giving the usual Conservative Free Pass to George W. Bush, of course)?
congrats glenn on getting an "honorable mention in the 20 most annoying liberals" at the Right Wing News. Considering the source, and the good company you're in, it's a compliment.
I notice that their top dog, #1, "most annoying liberal" was conservative Andrew Sullivan.
I guess they probably don't like teh gay ... and most certainly will never forgive apostasy ... or even the slightest breaking of ranks. A bunch of morons, but when you get under their skin, you must be doing something right....
Cheers,
In that case, the OLC could conveivably issue an opinion stating that since the Bush OLC issued an opinion that torture (or illegal surveilance) is legal, Johnsen could issue an opinion that would bar the Obama administration from prosecuting those that obeyed Presidential orders which were made legal by that opinion.Is that correct?
No. Whether to prosecute someone isn't a decision made by OLC. It's possible that the AG could ask OLC for a legal view on whether prior OLC memos bar criminal liability, but that's true no matter who Obama appoints as OLC Chief. Does she strike you as the type who is eager to find ways to immunize former Bush officials from prosecution?
If so, that would give Obama an "out", i he wants it, and keep him from ordering the DoJ from investigating and prosecuting those persons who engaged in illegal activities, including illegal wiretaps and torture among others.
Again, that has nothing to do with Dawn Johnsen. If Obama is determined to find a way not to prosecute Bush officials, then it won't much matter who is at OLC (though, theoretically, his AG could commence prosecutions of that type even if Obama didn't want to).
And, as urgent as I think prosecutions of Bush officials are -- and I doubt there's a topic I've written as much about -- it's not the only issue. There is the issue, beyond that, of how Obama will govern, of whether we'll have our constitutional framework restored, of whether we'll continue to live under a limitless and lawless Presidency, and there, I do think that the appointment of Johnsen can help a great deal.
Yes, it appears that under Bush, the functions of the President's Counsel and OLC have been conflated. Keeping the President "squeaky clean" would seem to me to be more the function of the President's Counsel, but these guys have just moved it all to OLC so that everyone in the Executive Branch is "innoculated" (they hope). I remember having a long discussion about this a few months back with Dirigo. From his questions a few comments up and this discussion of ours, it appears that we all are still left to wonder about what their roles will be in the future. This would be a good line of inquiry during confirmation hearings, because, as you point out, improper influence from the Executive can wreak havoc on the proper functioning of OLC in the future.
"We must resist Bush administration efforts to hide evidence of its wrongdoing through demands . . . and implausible claims that openness will empower terrorists. . . ."
"The greatest fallacy threatening our society today is that one that justifies undermining the Rule of Law by stating that failure to do so would aid the Terrorists. Terrorists cannot destroy America. They can smash our constructions and slay our people, but our ideals and beliefs will go on, and while they go on, America continues. Undermining our Rule of Law WILL destroy our beliefs and ideals, and therefore CAN destroy America. Thus the undermining of the Rule of Law is by far the greater threat. Were upholding the Law CERTAIN to aid the Terrorists, it would still remain the better choice."
Sorry I cannot attribute the quote - perhaps someone could help me?
about Obama. I know the thirsty in the desert are prone to believe in a mirage, but I will be absolutely thrilled to be able to say "I was wrong about Obama."
Only that that troublesome "if..." just keeps hanging around...
Using block quotes:
<blockquote>[stuff to be blockquoted]</blockquote>
Note that Salon's Rev. 0.0.1 pre-Beta HTML parser seems to have difficulty with nesting of tags, and therefore drops such tags as italics or bold if you put in blockquotes ... so if you want them to persist through or beyond a blockquote, you should terminate them and then reinstate them past the blockquote.
Cheers,
Bottom line: if you wanted to appoint some token, loud-mouth, rule-of-law-extremist progressive to placate critics, and you had no intention of listening to what she said, the last place you would put her is as OLC head. -- Glenn
But, can a token LMROLE progressive lodged in OLC do anything to move ahead an agenda of truth-seeking with regard to the illegalities of the Bush administration?
I don't have a good grasp of the extent of what her authority would be, but that doesn't seem to fall in the purview as I understand it.
I think that many, including Johnsen, have called for Bush era OLC opinions to be reviewed and for those without proper legal foundation to be withdrawn by the Attorney General. She seems quite ready to take on that task. -- Jim White
Can she do this (I hope so with all my heart)?
Much of the initial coverage about Fort Hood turned out to be wrong. Is there anything wrong with that?
The accountability imposed by another country for the CIA's kidnapping and torture reveals much about our own.
Fox News' morning show plays to type, talking about whether Muslims in the Army should face "special debriefings"
219 Democrats and one Republican join in favor of the legislation, which passed by a narrow margin
The survivor and author is upset about comparisons some on the right are making to genocide
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