The Professor The Politician and The President
Professor Barack Obama taught constitutional law at the University of Chicago Law School for twelve years.
Senator Barack Obama, in February 2008, voted against retroactive telecom immunity. When asked whether he supported “giving (phone companies) retroactive immunity for any illicit cooperation with intelligence agencies or law enforcement, he answered “No … I strongly oppose retroactive immunity in the FISA bill. No one should get a free pass to violate the basic civil liberties of the American people – not the president of the United States, and not the telecommunications companies that fell in line with his warrantless surveillance program [… T]hat is why I am proud to stand with Sen. Dodd and a grassroots movement of Americans who are standing up for our civil liberties and the rule of law.”
Senator Barack Obama, in July 2008, voted for retroactive immunity for the telecoms saying the legislation “… met my basic concerns.”
President Barack Obama’s Justice Department continues to stand behind a Bush era law meant to prevent lawsuits against telecommunications companies accused of illegally sharing private customer information with intelligence agencies.
http://rawstory.com/news/2008/Obama_DOJ_backs_up_Bush_wiretapping_0226.html
“Electronic communication service providers play an important role in assisting intelligence officials in national security activities. Indeed, the intelligence community cannot obtain the intelligence it needs without assistance from these companies,” the Administration’s 18-page brief says.
“The committee was concerned that, without retroactive immunity, the private sector might be unwilling to cooperate with lawful government requests in the future without unnecessary court involvement and protracted litigation,” it adds.
It continues: “The possible reduction in intelligence that might result from this delay is simply unacceptable for the safety of our nation,” directly citing the 2008 findings of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence Report.
It’s too bad we can’t retroactively get Professor Barack Obama’s views about illegal wiretapping.
Or ask Professor Obama about Nixon’s statement, “… when the president does it, that means that it is not illegal.” and Cheney’s response when Chris Wallace asked him, “ …if the President, during war, decides to do something to protect the country, is it legal?” and Cheney replied, “I think as a general proposition, I’d say yes.”
What would Professor Obama say?
What would Professor Obama say to President Obama?
A few days ago I, and millions of Americans, rejoiced in the fact that we now had a president who could talk, not only coherently, but inspirationally, to a joint session of congress for almost an hour. An event unheard of over the last 8 years. We have been inured to the gaffes, malaprops, and flat out gibberish force fed to us by The Bush Regime.
So … we feel an almost overwhelming sense of relief when we see that Our President … can talk.
But shouldn’t we also be feeling the nagging tug of growing alarm that the bedrock crimes of the Bush Regime are still part of How The United States Does Its Business?
From an strange but interesting blog site: Welcome to Everything
http://everything2.com/node/1759870
“When the Nazis were in power, they passed laws that retroactively legalized the crimes they had committed on the path to power, and that covered everything they did while they were there. They were unusually concerned with inventing a whole new concept of justice and jurisprudence, and over-eager intellectuals were happy to oblige. Yet the essential fact of Nazi “law” was that Hitler, as the embodiment of the German people, could do no wrong; everything that the Fuhrer did was legal by definition.”
The Nazi Analogy grows tiresome. Crematoria don’t dot the countryside. Jack booted thugs aren’t stomping down the street beating liberals like a gong wherever they find them. Citizens aren’t snatched from their lives and sent off on secret planes to God-Knows-Where …
Well … Yeah OK we still do that … but one out of three ain’t bad. Or one out of five. Because there’s this:
US Combat Missions in Iraq Will Continue After ‘Pullout’
Obama Pledge to Withdraw Combat Troops Won’t End Combat by Troops
Just one day after reports came out regarding the Obama Administration’s 19 month withdrawal plan from Iraq, the Pentagon was detailing the enormous number of troops that would remain on the ground after Obama ostensibly fulfills his promise to remove all combat troops, and all the combat they’ll be engaging in.
After the “pullout,” as many as 50,000 troops will remain on the ground, and despite being touted as a withdrawal of combat troops, Pentagon spokesman Geoff Morrell conceded that some would continue to “conduct combat operations,” and Iraq would still be considered a war zone. The rest would be what he described as “enablers.”
President Obama promised a 16-month pullout from Iraq during the campaign, but backed off the promise under pressure from the military. Since then he has spoken of a “responsible military drawdown,” but even as he is set to officially unveil this new plan the question of when the troops will actually be out of Iraq entirely seems like it will remain unanswered.
And this:
http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601039&refer=columnist_bohlen&sid=aARDL6bKC_JU
… Obama rushed a decision to send another 17,000 U.S. troops — on top of the 38,000 U.S. soldiers now on the ground — ahead of a comprehensive policy review due in April. That is expected to call for even more troops.
The wars continue … the wiretapping and renditions continue … No one has scotch-taped The Constitution back together and the dead pile up like cordwood.
How much more time are we supposed to give Obama? It’s only been a month. Three more months? Six? Are we supposed to wait a year? How much longer are we to patiently await The Moment when Our Leader unequivocally states that the killing is over and our Constitution is restored?
Why do we think that we have to wait? Why do we think that we have to wait One. More. Minute?
I have a sign. I’ve had it for years. It says, “End The Iraq and Afghanistan Wars. Bring Our Troops Home — Now.”
Not 19 months from now. Not thousands of deaths from now. Not billions of dollars from now.
Now.
The Professor The Politician and The President February 26, 2009
