Remember This?

[JFN1]

"Now, if I found out that there were high officials who knowingly, consciously broke existing laws, engaged in cover-ups of those crimes with knowledge forefront, then I think a basic principle of our Constitution is nobody above the law -- and I think that's roughly how I would look at it."

That's right - our President, Barack Obama, said this on the campaign trail. (Hat tip to dKos for the quote)

Do you remember hearing this? I sure do. It is one of the reasons I threw my support behind him (I had been an Edwards man before this).

So what should we think of this? Just a broken campaign promise? Or he wasn't including TORTURE as a crime?

I'm not sure what to think...

I spoke to a friend of mine today, who I served with in Korea during the 80's. He feels the same way I do - torture is NOT what we served our country for, it is not an acceptable thing to sweep under the rug, and something we both believe strongly in prosecuting. I wouldn't be surprised if more of the men and women I served in the military with, feel the same way.

I live in pain every day, and will for the rest of my life, because I fought for my country, and the Constitution. Part of the oath we take as soldiers is to protect and defend the Constitution as the highest law in the land.

Letting these SCUMBAGS off for torturing makes a hollow mockery of my pain, and the pain of countless other veterans, and of the lives lost protecting our country and our Constitution.

So before you tell me to settle down about this issue - go for a walk, or a run, or play some basketball or golf - it is more than I can do...and remember that I remember, every day, EXACTLY why I hurt; because I defended a Constitution that has apparently become little more than political lip service...

[The Straight Story]

1. Politics - people tell us what we want to hear, then find reasons later not to do it

It's basic politics history :)
RW politicians have been telling fundies for a long time they think abortion should be illegal. Then they basically ignore the issue once in office.

Playing the base, and then depending on us when they get in power to play the loyalty to party factor and back them up because it is better than having the other party in office.

Yeah, there are differences between the parties, but don't ever expect one to do most of what they say.

[JFN1]

3. I think it is much more than that

Letting the torturers off the hook is the end of the beginning of the final decline of America as the "shining light on the hill."

If Mr. Obama does this, if no one is punished for torture, we have NOTHING left of the moral authority which has allowed us influence throughout the world...

Newt Gingrich wants to continue torturing, and sees our stopping of this ILLEGAL practice as weakness.

He's right, but in a very narrow way: If we fail to prosecute torture, we are WEAK; and badly WEAKENED.

[defendandprotect]

9. Just as we were weakened by the failure to hold those responsible for the coup on JFK . . .

which kept us vulnerable to more right wing political violence ---

which we've certainly gotten since then!

[Tangerine LaBamba]

2. Watch the weasel word in that statement:

" . . . roughly . . . "

Obama's smart, and he left himself the out that he ultimately took.

I share your dismay. I, too, took an oath to uphold and defend that beautiful Constitution, and now I find myself a member of a tribe - all citizens of the United States of America - that condones torture.

We are now a country that tortures. Obama said we shouldn't do that any more. I can tell a little kid not to hit the other little kid any more, but that's no guarantee that he's not gonna throw another punch when I'm not looking.

Dismay, disappointment, a certain kind of heartbreak. I honestly believed in Obama. Now, I have to admit that nothing has changed, and I am sad.....................

[blaze]

4. a certain kind of heartbreak

That's a good description. Kind of a sinking feeling.

I don't WANT to be responsible for torture!

It hurts my heart.

[stillcool]

5. what a shame the President is the only one....

who can do anything in this country. Can you imagine if people raised this kind of a ruckus when the photos, and accusations first came out? I guess the constitution didn't matter so much then.

[JFN1]

7. I understand.

Many of us did do things - we were ignored and discounted. Look in my signature for one of my own efforts. From 2003 - 2006, people downloaded 6.5 million handbills from us, yet not once did all of this effort make a difference - or at least a difference we could see at the time. I myself called for national strikes on more than one occasion, only to be laughed at. So yes, it is a shame that the bulk of Americans seem uninterested - but that is a mighty broad brush to paint us all with...

[readmoreoften]

19. To me, it's not that people are uninterested as much as they have no idea what the hell to do.

You're told all your life that you live in a representative democracy and yet your elected officials behave like front men in service to the military-industrial complex. Demonstrations have proved themselves to be worthless since the world took to the streets in 2003. Anything more than "demonstrating" gets you prosecuted as a terrorist in a very real way. Everyone communicates on a closed circuit capable of being intercepted by the State department.

[Bluebear]

6. 'that's roughly how I would look at it' - - now we see what "rough;y" meant!

[defendandprotect]

8. Thank you for the confirmation of what he thought we heard . . .

yes, Obama did try to appeal to liberals and progressives because without us,
he wouldn't have won the election . . . .

Meanwhile, i think we should all be reminding Obama of what he said--!!!

[BeFree]

10. On the brink is right

It has been the faith in America, that in the end, America would do the right thing, and that has made this country what it is today.

And now, all that's been waterboarded right out of our history. We are now no better than any other country.

Thank you and all the vets for making this a country where i can be free. I salute you all. It's been a great ride. It may be over, we shall see.

[spanone]

11. i'm waiting to see what eric holder does....justice if for the justice dept.

[Individualist]

12. K&R

[NYC_SKP]

13. settle down about this issue -

- go for a walk, or a run, or play some basketball or golf.

We all feel the same way, but differ on strategy. Just let the man work.

He released the memos and this has set wheels into motion that I think will bring people to justice.

Not every single participant as some would like, but there will be consequences.

His quote as a candidate is not inconsistent with his words and actions as President.

Watch what happens.

:patriot:

[slipslidingaway]

14. I also remember this...

we have to distiguish betwen really dumb policies and criminal activies and impeachment should be reserved for extraordinary circumstances.

At that time Bush had already acknowledged spying without a warrant and much was already known about the torture program.

:(


Links here
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=389&topic_id=5492748&mesg_id=5492748


http://www.philly.com/philly/blogs/attytood/Barack_on_torture.html

"Here's his answer, in its entirety:


What I would want to do is to have my Justice Department and my Attorney General immediately review the information that's already there and to find out are there inquiries that need to be pursued. I can't prejudge that because we don't have access to all the material right now. I think that you are right, if crimes have been committed, they should be investigated. You're also right that I would not want my first term consumed by what was perceived on the part of Republicans as a partisan witch hunt because I think we've got too many problems we've got to solve.

So this is an area where I would want to exercise judgment -- I would want to find out directly from my Attorney General -- having pursued, having looked at what's out there right now -- are there possibilities of genuine crimes as opposed to really bad policies. And I think it's important-- one of the things we've got to figure out in our political culture generally is distinguishing betyween really dumb policies and policies that rise to the level of criminal activity. You know, I often get questions about impeachment at town hall meetings and I've said that is not something I think would be fruitful to pursue because I think that impeachment is something that should be reserved for exceptional circumstances. Now, if I found out that there were high officials who knowingly, consciously broke existing laws, engaged in coverups of those crimes with knowledge forefront, then I think a basic principle of our Constitution is nobody above the law -- and I think that's roughly how I would look at it..."

[Nostalgic]

15. Someone ... no ... EVERYONE needs to

remind Barack that he said this!

[BigBearJohn]

16. It doesn't get any CLEARER than this. I have bookmarked this post.

[hootinholler]

17. IIRC no one outside of the DOD and only one of officer rank has been prosecuted.

That oath had no expiration date when I took it.

-Hoot

[elizfeelinggreat]

18. I heard it in Dallas

the crowd cheered wildly.

No one above the law.

So much hope.

:(