Republicans Continue to Show Flexibility on Principles When Democrats Are Involved
By Susie Madrak Monday Apr 06, 2009 4:00pmRemember how Republicans insisted that a president deserves to have the advisers he chooses? When it's a Democrat in office - not so much.
Scott Horton in The Daily Beast says the Republicans are holding hostage two Obama nominations to keep the torture memos from being released:
Senate Republicans are now privately threatening to derail the confirmation of key Obama administration nominees for top legal positions by linking the votes to suppressing critical torture memos from the Bush era. A reliable Justice Department source advises me that Senate Republicans are planning to "go nuclear" over the nominations of Dawn Johnsen as chief of the Office of Legal Counsel (OLC) in the Department of Justice and Yale Law School Dean Harold Koh as State Department legal counsel if the torture documents are made public. The source says these threats are the principal reason for the Obama administration's abrupt pull back last week from a commitment to release some of the documents. A Republican Senate source confirms the strategy. It now appears that Republicans are seeking an Obama commitment to safeguard the Bush administration's darkest secrets in exchange for letting these nominations go forward. (...)
The Justice Department source confirms to me that Brennan has consistently opposed making public the torture memos -- and any other details about the operations of the extraordinary renditions program -- but this source suggests that concern about the G.O.P.'s roadblock in the confirmation process is the principle reason that the memos were not released. Republican senators have expressed strong reservations about their promised exposure, expressing alarm that a critique of the memos by Justice's ethics office (Office of Professional Responsibility) will also be released.
"There was no 'direct' threat," said the source, "but the message was communicated clearly -- if the OLC and OPR memoranda are released to the public, there will be war." This is understood as a threat to filibuster the nominations of Johnsen and Koh. Not only are they among the most prominent academic critics of the torture memoranda, but are also viewed as the strongest advocates for release of the torture memos on Obama's legal policy team.
A Republican Senate staffer further has confirmed to me that the Johnsen nomination was discussed at the last G.O.P. caucus meeting. Not a single Republican indicated an intention to vote for Dawn Johnsen, while Senator John Cornyn of Texas was described as "gunning for her," specifically noting publication of the torture memos.
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i want those memos released. we can handle the TRUTH.
But it is NEVER going to happen unless we apply unrelenting pressure on our "representatives". If you are represented by either a Blue Dog or a Republican or a Lieberman (like there's a difference?) then you really need to call, snail and email, fax, and meet with them until they cringe every time they hear your name. Make them aware that there are consequences for their choices and that you vote. Let them know that if they obstruct, you will make time to volunteer to help their opponent come election season. They need to fear an election loss MORE than they fear their parties retribution or the revelation of what is in those memos!
Do you still want those memos released?
Why should Republicans object to the release of the memos? Maybe they have something to hide?
So if Cheney says "we do not torture" and that everything they did was within the law, why the coverup?
THIS is the smoking gun we need!
Lawmakers that don't want to see the laws enforced.
It's sad, and the worst part isn't the Republicans who will obstruct any attempt to serve up any form of justice for the crimes committed - but the Democrats won't even stand up and show the public what the Republicans are doing.
The only way to move forward is to hold those accountable for the crimes against the world that were committed in our name and under the banner of our military. Our soldiers deserve better and well, I was going to say we deserve better but the American public seems to be getting what they deserve, those of us who do pay attention and care about our country are dragged down because we are largely outnumbered by the people who care more about their Rams and their Rims then anything that actually effects their lives.
...I just hope they don't get their guns and commence to shootin over this!
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/04/06/obam...
I am Soooo proud of my president for this.
They're going to have hissy fits over that
until I read this:
http://www.salon.com/opinion/greenwald/2009/0...
This is enough to send everyone screaming in despair.
"But late Friday afternoon, the Obama DOJ filed the government's first response to EFF's lawsuit, the first of its kind to seek damages against government officials under FISA, the Wiretap Act and other statutes, arising out of Bush's NSA program. But the Obama DOJ demanded dismissal of the entire lawsuit based on (1) its Bush-mimicking claim that the "state secrets" privilege bars any lawsuits against the Bush administration for illegal spying, and (2) a brand new "sovereign immunity" claim of breathtaking scope -- never before advanced even by the Bush administration -- that the Patriot Act bars any lawsuits of any kind for illegal government surveillance unless there is "willful disclosure" of the illegally intercepted communications.
In other words, beyond even the outrageously broad "state secrets" privilege invented by the Bush administration and now embraced fully by the Obama administration, the Obama DOJ has now invented a brand new claim of government immunity, one which literally asserts that the U.S. Government is free to intercept all of your communications (calls, emails and the like) and -- even if what they're doing is blatantly illegal and they know it's illegal -- you are barred from suing them unless they "willfully disclose" to the public what they have learned."
Power corrupt, absolute power corrupt absolutely.
So ... let's agree that all of his appointments go through for the condition that the memo's will stay under lock and key through 2012. We can wait as Obama will be re-elected. I understand that we want those who broke the law to be named and shamed but we can use this to our advantage. Just a thought from someone who wants to see Obama succeed!
Well, so what? There will be "war" for the next four years at least if the Republicans get their way on this one.
Obama and the Democrats had better learn to fight down and dirty.
Please Mr. Cornyn, by all means, go "newcular". I would recommend a big, stinky public show of it. Please explain, in great detail, how you are serving the fine folks of Texas by covering up torture. Explain how the release of memos detailing who authorized something that was perfectly legal is justified. We are waiting, Big Bad John!
Lie to the motherfuckers. Tell 'em you won't release the letters, get your appointments, then let them go nuclear in front of the American people when this shit goes public. I think if we play it right the Repugs may just suck themselves into the black hole of oblivion.
Promise them everything will be buried. Maybe get the requested obstruction on tape for use when the memos get released.
but thought it was too low-down and sneaky. Heh.
At some point it all does come down to hard politics.
The GOP showed during last eight years that when they benefited from putting in people who plainly should not ever have been nominated they were going to do it and make it so.
The Dems let them do it too. Often.
Now. The GOP wants to play the game the other way.
Time to call BS.
Time for hard politics. Shame the bastards until they can't take it.
...and nail those scum-sucking hypocrite Republicans hard.
OK, so if that's true then Republicans (and some 'moderate' Democrats) are taking an overt and public act to shield war criminals from prosecution. I've not been to law school but I seem to remember reading somewhere that protecting a war criminal from prosecution is an offense in and of itself. So somebody should explain to these lawmakers that they are now putting themselves in legal jeopardy.
Another aspect of the international treaties covering torture and war crimes is that it puts an affirmative duty, an obligation on those who are in positions of authority - they MUST pursue investigations where the evidence warrants it. I hope Mr. Obama and Mr. Holder are aware of that. Acting in the manner they have thus far is no different from an accomplice who drives the getaway car after a robbery. It's unconscionable.
Well, if this is the case...
and the Obama administration releases the memos BEFORE the confirmation hearings, they've lost their blackmail lever. Instead, they'll have to deal with the uproar about what they wanted to keep hidden and why. I wouldn't like to be in their shoes.
Say "sure - I'll bury them in the Rose Garden" and then they'll appoint his people and then he says "On second thought, you people have opposed me at every turn so why bother being nice with you dipsticks? Expect indictments."
They're not goign to be nice, they're not going to play fair, so DON'T BOTHER. Get done what needs to get done - DO THE RIGHT THING - and screw these whiny little fascist pigfrackers.
But, like a typical democrat, HE'LL ROLL OVER and do what they tell him.
I just spent eight years listening to quotes by unnamed “sources” that helped ********* the truth, and have no intention listening to them now. No name; no story.
Trying to think of a nine-letter verb that's too naughty to publish.... darn, and my dad was a sailor, too. Oh, well.
I thought it was Latin.
"...and nail those scum-sucking hypocrite Republicans hard"
Maybe it isn't just the republicans who are being hypocritical? If there really is something in the memos that will nail the republicans only, then why wouldn't you just go ahead and release them? Who care if they are going to go "nuclear"?! Go nuclear with what? The sling shot they have left after losing both houses and the presidency? Besides, if its really damning for the repubs, they'll have a hell of a time explaining to voters why they have the right to go nuclear- let alone win any elections in the near future.
Given the question of the legality of the torture in question, does Obama really have a choice whether or not to pursue it? He would really scuttle the investigation just to save these 2 nominees- after the crap he's had to put up with for some of his cabinet nominees?
I doubt that. I wouldn't be surprised if the dems were pushing this story hard in order to give the impression that their hands are tied. These particular nominees aren't that important.
No, I think the democrats must have some serious exposure with these memos and they're obviously quite concerned about what information makes it out to the public. It's already known that Pelosi and other top dems were in on discussions way back when on this program and others.
Being from Texas, I am exceedingly embarrassed, infuriated and disgusted by the political figures and system that have slimmed over this once proud and meaningful State.
It's absolutely sickening that the Republicans want to keep George Bush's, Dick Cheneny's, and John Yoo's war crimes a secret. They are the ones who ordered, and supported torturing people. Their war crimes need to be exposed to the light of day, and they need to be held accountable for their actions. We the American people deserve justice, and the world deserves justice also.
Shows like "24", Faux News, and the people who believe in the bs beliefs expressed in them are also responible for the criminal acts that have taken place during the Bush years. The war crimes, and crimes against humanity must be exposed or America will not be able to stand up to nations like North Korea with any moral authority.
We can not shield people like John Yoo from trail for their criminal acts, just because they are Americans. Wrong is wrong no matter where they live. My heartfelt hope is that President Obama will not submit to the Republicans, and conservatives standing in the way of the Bush Administrations crimes being fully revealed.
at any and all costs.
because they have destroy our economy and now refuse to correct their misstakes! this demand that more of those misguided should be send home forever in the next election.
Why does the Governor of Minnessota does not sit the winner of the Senate race? Is it because he is a republican.
Coleman lost but when he was so call ahead,1 night, was he not the one who demand that Al Franken give up,before the recount that was demanded by law!
I guess Coleman does not accept defeat. What a looser.............
Give the file to Rahm & tell him to do what his instincts tell him. DONE!!
if the Repugnicrats want to filibluster? Let them!...but expose them.
Come one BO: names, time, places and what was said by whom. Total exposure and watch the Republiscums become the scorn of this nation.
Yo play poker Mr. President? Time to go all-in with this hand!
Falling on the Obama DOJ as well.
Take a read of Glenn Greenwald's piece wherein there's mention of the Repukes filibuster.
http://www.salon.com/opinion/greenwald/2009/0...
Republicans ? Principles ? Hey , that's a good one !
Screw those freakin' hypocrits. Who cares if a couple of confirmations are delayed? Release those memos.
He would go ahead with his programs and agenda and nominations and when the freaks fillibuster, order that Pansy who runs the Senate to allow them to talk all they want. Run their batteries out.
or
Get the Senate to "go nuclear" and remove the 60 vote rule. Make it 51/49 like it should be.
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