Maybe I am not giving Obama enough credit

[nadine_mn]

Like many crazed socialists, far left extremists (sigh..or America haters as Fox calls us), I have been quietly stewing over some of Obama's more conservative decisions.

However, when earlier he announced that he was not going to pursue prosecution for those just following orders on torture... well I was ready to revolt and secede. Hey I am in Minnesota, I can declare myself part of Sweden - we have Ikea and Swedish sister cities so there.

But an interesting thought came to me as I have been watching and reading the news... what is Obama is *gasp* smarter than I gave him credit for?? By taking some of these conservative stances (ie hey that's not we voted for - we want more change), he is forcing more and more debate out in the open. Watching Jonathan Turley and Keith Olbermann so publicly decry the President's decision on handling of Bushie torture, I realized that when angry citizens start calling their Congress people - it 'forces' Obama to change his mind. So now instead of it looking like he came into office to play politics or get revenge (as rethugs would say), when he changes his mind.. or now leaves the door open... it is the will of the people.

Right now the rethugs in Congress would vote no on a bill introduced by Dems to have Reagan added on Mt Rushmore... they are taking their 'stand' by saying no to everything - even more conservative stuff and of course things that benefit their own constituents. They look and sound so ridiculous that if later on Obama were to request more liberal legislation on areas in health care, education, environment - when rethugs vote no - no one will take them seriously. It will be just more of the same.

Or maybe I am just tired and want change so bad that I am reading more into everything.

[Psychic Consortium]

1. You are correct.

Obama is moving pieces around a chess board.
Watch the game he plays, he is a master.
He will bring down those who have harmed this country one by one.
And they will never know what hit them.

[dorkulon]

2. Sure! And maybe Bush has just been 'acting' like a bad President for 8 years

to teach us a lesson about the evils of imperialism and deregulation. :eyes:

Yes, you're reading your hopes into this.

[lostnotforgotten]

3. Don't Be Swayed - Trust Your Instincts - Obama's Actions Speak To His Leadership

You know, we all know, torture is wrong - morally and legally.

Don't let the Obama supporters, here and elsewhere, convince you otherwise.

[pnwmom]

5. You can know that torture is wrong and also know that there is more than

one way to reach the same end.

Letting pressure for justice build up from the grass roots may well be a wiser decision -- with a stronger eventual outcome -- than immediately appointing a prosecutor.

[lostnotforgotten]

6. Speculation - Does Not Change The Consequences Of Obama's Behavior

eom

[pnwmom]

7. All anyone here is doing, including you, is speculating.

Some of us think Obama is strategizing for the best outcome. Some of us think he's caving in. Only time will tell.

[lostnotforgotten]

8. Agreed - We Are All Speculating - Does Not Change The Fact That Torture Is Illegal

eom

[dorkulon]

10. The difference is that he appears to be caving in, by his own statements.

That's not speculation--he is saying things that, taken at face value, lead one to believe he is caving in. Taking those statements to mean the opposite isn't just speculation, it is pure wishful fantasy.

[pnwmom]

13. His most recent statement left the door open as to prosecution of

the higher-ups.

[babylonsister]

4. What I have found especially impressive is that Mr. Obama

doesn't seem to have a problem changing his mind if he is convinced it's in the best interests of the majority. I haven't seen that in at least 8 years nor anything vaguely resembling it.

I'm also happy that he's pretty much seen how bipartisanship isn't going to happen and is moving forward. If he needed any other proof of that, him staff nominees who have been held back by rethugs whose only marching orders are to obstruct have been a teachable moment.

[MannyGoldstein]

9. There's A Time For Maneuvering, And A Time To Govern

If, in fact, Obama is maneuvering - and I think that's part of what he's doing - he should stop. We're in deep shit right now, the economy needs fixing rather than gifts to the hyperrich. And war crime is non-negotiable.

[empyreanisles]

11. I don't think Obama ever changed his mind. Rahm Emmanuel spoke out of turn.

When Obama declared that the CIA underlings would get a walk, yet failed to make such a definitive statement about the others, THAT WAS HIS STANCE.

Somehow, somewhere, Rahm got the wrong idea and went further than the official policy on the Sunday Morning show.

So while it appears that Obama is stepping back, he is really just correcting what Rahm asserted.

[TornadoTN]

12. I think a lot of us saw this happening when Rahm was named to his post

I know Obama trusts him and he's an important piece of the puzzle when dealing with the goings on at Capitol Hill. But he's also a DLC'er who has done far more to encourage Bush policies than many realize. In short, I have a very shaky trust with this guy - if I can even call it that.

It's clear he was speaking for himself and not the President when he started squashing the notion that the administration wouldn't stand up for the law in the torture issue. I just wonder if he will be brought back on the reservation and put in his place or can we expect more of this as we move forward?