Yoo: President Can Nuke Countries And Congress Can't Stop Him
John Yoo, America's favorite war crimes cheerleader, stands by his previous statement that the president has the unilateral power to order a nuclear strike without congressional authority. How happy it makes me, that he's carefully nurturing an entire new crop of amoral and lawless constitutional lawyers! (Scott Horton wonders if there wasn't a quid pro quo in the Yoo torture memos.)
First of all, Yoo’s claim that Congress could cut off funds for a nuclear attack or impeach the President after he makes the decision to launch nuclear weapons does little to prevent a nuclear attack. Even assuming that a supermajority of senators supported taking swift action against a rogue President, the fact that Congress subsequently cut of funding for nuclear launches or removed the President from office would be little comfort to the tens of thousands of people already killed in the attack. Yoo’s solution amounts to shutting the barn door long after the horse has fled.
More importantly, Yoo misrepresents the law. As far back as 1804, a unanimous Supreme Court held in Little v. Barreme that Congress has sweeping authority to limit the President’s actions in wartime. That case involved an Act of Congress authorizing vessels to seize cargo ships bound for French ports. After the President also authorized vessels to seize ships headed away from French ports, the Supreme Court held this authorization unconstitutional on the grounds that Congress’ decision to allow one kind of seizure implicitly forbade other kinds of seizure. More recently, in Hamdi v. Rumsfeld and Hamdan v. Rumsfeld, the Court held that the President does not have the power to unilaterally set military policy (in those cases with respect to detention); he must comply with statutory limits on his power. Taken together, these and other cases unquestionably establish that Congress has the power to tell the President “no,” and the President must listen.
John Yoo is a moral vacuum, but he is also a constitutional law professor at one of the nation’s top law schools and a former Supreme Court clerk. It is simply impossible that Yoo is not aware of Little, Hamdi and Hamdan, or that he does not understand what they say. So when John Yoo claims that the President is not bound by Congressional limits, he is not simply ignorant or misunderstanding the law. He is lying.
Yoo has nothing to worry about as long as Eric Holder is the AG.
"Someday somebody related to some of these sufferers, these victims, these collaterally damaged souls, may try to kill you. And I have to tell you, I think you’ll have it coming." - Christopher Cooper
said . . "we create our own reality"?
I think that would automatically line a president up for a death penalty.
Diabolus est Deus Inversus
I read "The Dark Side" by Jane Meyer. I was struck by what a shitty lawyer John Yoo is. How in the hell did he end up at Boalt Hall at U.C. Berkeley?
"false equivalency"
Apparently Boalt Hall believes 'other viewpoints' deserve to be heard.
Other view points? Like serial liars make very good teachers for young students?
It was either a serial liar or a serial killer. Ted Bundy had that Michelin commitment, and Yoo would basically work for peanuts...
it was heartening to hear that if, indeed, the president signed off on attempting to crush the testicles of a child (i guess adults' nads are still fair game) yoo would have resigned. even sick fucks have their limits i suppose...
.. last I heard Yoo said it was A-OK for the prez to authorize the crushing of a child's testicles to make his parents talk ..
When will government of the people, by the politicians, for the corporations perish from this Earth?
Not soon enough!
Yoo admitted, "If I was asked to approve some of these terrible things I'd rather resign than take part in them."
http://rawstory.com/2010/02/top-bush-adviser-...
but, importantly, that goes along with my previous post [below] and the yoo quote in it--Tue, 02/23/2010 - 11:15 — Samson-
to the constitution. They will await Congressional exercise of its duly delegated authority. No, they will search for it.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F5qqfsQGYus
“Why would anyone with a functioning brain believe this guy?”
Some guy with an eating disorder
are looking for career advancement. That can't happen without "wars".
The video didn' play for me. I just looked at a black space for a couple of seconds.
Say what you mean. Mean what you say. But don't say it mean.
My black space was 1:51 seconds. There's something wrong.
Maybe Yoo had it nuked.
Say what you mean. Mean what you say. But don't say it mean.
The Black Space was a visual of Yoo's soul.
The other still works for me, BTW.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9ynY5NvYsZY&fe...
“Why would anyone with a functioning brain believe this guy?”
Some guy with an eating disorder
That may have been the point.
Imagine a President like McCain or Palin. Yep, that was a chill that just went down your spine.
Say what you mean. Mean what you say. But don't say it mean.
contemporaries from a rival service academy.
“Why would anyone with a functioning brain believe this guy?”
Some guy with an eating disorder
One of the options on Obama's desk is the use of tactical nukes against Iran
on behalf of Israelfor the good of the planet.I'm holding my breath.
"Well," Yoo replied, "first let me say that all of these wild hypotheticals about interrogation methods or wartime measures were nothing like what we considered in the department and nothing like what I would ever approve in the government."
and, to me, that is one of the more damning answers yoo has given. he is signing off on near-clausewitzian executive powers to seek total war--yet, at the same time, they never really considered how those extra-legal powers might be used.
i guess that is how he sleeps at night.
Computer Network
Attacking Iraq only benefited the U.S. MIC (Republican Favorite) and Corporations.
maybe lots of Ambien
Yoo
It's a hard decision to kill a village full of people, but look at all the villages that are alive today.
about some villages.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zJAz4Uxf06s
“Why would anyone with a functioning brain believe this guy?”
Some guy with an eating disorder
Under the proper circumstances, the U.S. president very likely does have the unilateral power to order a nuclear strike without congressional authority. It is easy to concoct a fitting hypothetical (a missile launched from some offshore location is detected at sea by a U.S. nuclear submarine, and is verified to be heading toward Boston. The sub. has nuclear launch capability and is in the best and most timely position to take out the offending missile.)
All this noise about Yoo's opinions regarding torture, presidential authority, and the like is really very much beside the point. The question is not whether the President has the unilateral authority to order the launch of a nuclear weapon. The question is: what is the U.S. gov't doing to reduce the threat that conditions will arise warranting the exercise of such unilateral power? The answer is: not much.
about 3000 nuke weapons on standby and ready to deliver on a "moments notice"
Wow, this is great! Can the first target be the U.S. Senate?
we are hearing from Iran.
“Why would anyone with a functioning brain believe this guy?”
Some guy with an eating disorder
Dr. Strangelove final scene here
statusquObama, change you can only pretend in
You have gone straight to the precedent I believe Yoo would cite.
“Why would anyone with a functioning brain believe this guy?”
Some guy with an eating disorder
Gentlemen! You can't fight in here, this is the war room!
and
The Doomsday Gap
statusquObama, change you can only pretend in
He is saying that the president has the legal authority to nuke a country then what would be the grounds for an impeachment? Congress could indeed cut funds for all future nuclear attacks but that would do little to deter a president from abusing powers.
that any unilateral decision by a U.S. president to order the launch of a nuclear weapon is, by definition, an abuse of power and an impeachable offense.
I have never seen the movie, "Dr. Strangelove". Should I see it?
Say what you mean. Mean what you say. But don't say it mean.
.
Is it serious, scary, funny or what? I don't like blood and guts movies or scary movies. I won't watch animal movies because no matter what, I always cry. My first choice every time is comedy.
Say what you mean. Mean what you say. But don't say it mean.
of black comedies. Sterling Hayden is a general who goes nuts and orders nuke strikes on USSR. The rest of the movie is trying to stop it happening.
peter sellers starring in multiple rolls. the full title gives some indication of what the movie like "How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb"
it is an anti-war/nuke movie
and a must-see
After DR. Strangelove my favorite was 7 Days in May. The 60s gave us great political films.
YESSSSSS!!!! You should OWN it!!
I am reading reviews of he movie on Amazon. I see that Peter Sellers was in it. That alone is enough to make me want to see it.
Say what you mean. Mean what you say. But don't say it mean.
George C. Scott is incredible, and you would have seen Chill Wills at his best had my link worked. But it would have ruined the ending.
“Why would anyone with a functioning brain believe this guy?”
Some guy with an eating disorder
I think you mean Slim Pickens
Chill never did anything remotely that good.
Of course, the scene where he dukes out the director in Blazing Saddles saying "I work for Mel Brooks" is also high on my list.
“Why would anyone with a functioning brain believe this guy?”
Some guy with an eating disorder
As Colonel "BAT" Guano is a scream. Calls everyone "preverts".
Slim Pickens as Major Kong who actually drops the big one, and James Earl Jones is in there too, you gotta get it.
"Gentlemen! There will be no fighting in the war room!"
This one's an important flick pop. You can't miss it.
Gentlemen! You can't fight in here, this is the war room!
statusquObama, change you can only pretend in
But she'll see the BIG BOARD!!!!
Have you seen The Mouse that Roared? or any other Peter Sellers movies? Dr. Strangelove has my highest recomendation.
is beyond belief funny.
“Why would anyone with a functioning brain believe this guy?”
Some guy with an eating disorder
My personal favorite is "Being there". His last movie. A master piece.
personally responsible for the downfall of Kucinich.
“Why would anyone with a functioning brain believe this guy?”
Some guy with an eating disorder
I used to be all about the Pink Panther movies with Peter Sellers. I believe I saw the Mouse that Roared, but I'm just not sure. That may have been around the dating years when no one watched the movie, at least not at the drive-in. :)
Say what you mean. Mean what you say. But don't say it mean.
switchboard confessions, I think you woulda been in the backseat of a BelAir when that film came out. Probably not at the Drive In though.
“Why would anyone with a functioning brain believe this guy?”
Some guy with an eating disorder
I see it came out in 1964. I was for the most part too shy to date much during those times. I did make up for it later when I became more confident.
Say what you mean. Mean what you say. But don't say it mean.
That would put you in the back seat of a Corvair.
(Alice baiting time again.)
“Why would anyone with a functioning brain believe this guy?”
Some guy with an eating disorder
You keep teasing Alice and you might incur the wrath of Milqetoast. You don't want to get smacked around with tea bags, do you?
Don't try to confuse the issue with half-truths and gorilla dust.
.
"Parachutes are allowed in checked or carry-on baggage, but may not be worn in flight."
---Southwest Airlines
This link is dedicated to Alice. Lotsa good editorial content as well as sexy photos.
http://www.corvaircorsa.com/spyder.html
“Why would anyone with a functioning brain believe this guy?”
Some guy with an eating disorder
not a bad-looking car. And despite all the hype over its lack of safety, probably about as safe as the mid-engined model when colliding with a large truck or bus.
"Parachutes are allowed in checked or carry-on baggage, but may not be worn in flight."
---Southwest Airlines
I was never in the back seat of it, but the first car I was ever in on a "date" was a most beautiful 57 chevy that the boy had been given by his dad. It was blk and wht and in primo shape. I still love those cars when they have been taken care of the way they deserved to be.
Say what you mean. Mean what you say. But don't say it mean.
Definitely not Where The Boys Are or a Frankie & Annette "Beach" flick.
Don't try to confuse the issue with half-truths and gorilla dust.
Italians.
“Why would anyone with a functioning brain believe this guy?”
Some guy with an eating disorder
Made me think that if Bush had been about 2 IQ points dumber, we might have been ok. Don't miss this film.
As someone who hasn't even been to a movie theater in over a decade, I don't feel so bad...
"Parachutes are allowed in checked or carry-on baggage, but may not be worn in flight."
---Southwest Airlines
I would rather watch a movie at home. I detest sitting in a theater with other people munching popcorn, talking, shaking the ice in their beverage cup etc. I want to be at home and comfy. I want to pause the movie if I need to leave the room for something.
I'm gonna ask my husband to order this movie from netflix.
Say what you mean. Mean what you say. But don't say it mean.
It's in black & white, but don't be put off. The movie is a parody of the nutcases currently in charge, made in the early sixties... It's like they had a crystal ball...
I love black and white films. They make you pay more attention to the movie and what is happening. Just as black and white photos do.
Say what you mean. Mean what you say. But don't say it mean.
have MANY movies in B&W from the thirties onwards, and I agree.
he has everything from the thirties backward, including talkies in Turkish before there was talkies or Turkey.
“Why would anyone with a functioning brain believe this guy?”
Some guy with an eating disorder
.
and hunting them was best done with talking to (calling) them?
"Parachutes are allowed in checked or carry-on baggage, but may not be worn in flight."
---Southwest Airlines
I am talking about Cinema Ottoman.
You can watch them on stuffed ottomans, however. Or stuffed on ottomans.
“Why would anyone with a functioning brain believe this guy?”
Some guy with an eating disorder
I'm a film noir buff.
Lotsa great B&W oldies on YouTube.
When will government of the people, by the politicians, for the corporations perish from this Earth?
Not soon enough!
no booze or smoking.
Drive-ins aren't so bad, but they're not very practical in FL humidity; that is, if you're trying to watch the movie...
"Parachutes are allowed in checked or carry-on baggage, but may not be worn in flight."
---Southwest Airlines
Me and a friend snuck some beers into our small local theater and about 30 minutes into the movie one of my emptie bottles fell over and rolled down under the seats across the cement floor for several rows.
Everyone in the theater heard it and laughed.
I just checked you can watch Dr Strangelove online on NETFLIX.
Thank you Ray. That's good to know. And thank you also for going to the trouble to find that out for me. I owe you a cocktail in gratitude.
Say what you mean. Mean what you say. But don't say it mean.
for us straights? A roy rogers was a 7up and a bing cherry and straw.
to the nearest Coke machine.
“Why would anyone with a functioning brain believe this guy?”
Some guy with an eating disorder
You'll have to answer to the Coca-Cola company!
Your very welcome. Dr Strangelove is one of my all time favorites along with Young Frankenstein, Harold and Maude, and His Girl Friday.
Dr. Strangelove - 1964 Part 1/11
.. and all 11 parts are there .. I just checked ..
When will government of the people, by the politicians, for the corporations perish from this Earth?
Not soon enough!
Hope the copyright police don't discover it.
I would rather watch a movie at home. I detest sitting in a theater with other people munching popcorn, talking, shaking the ice in their beverage cup etc. I want to be at home and comfy. I want to pause the movie if I need to leave the room for something.
This sounds uncannily familiar. Maybe you and my wife should watch movies together at home, while your husband and I go out to the theater and see a Guy movie. I understand "Hot Tub Time Machine" is coming out soon; my wife already informed she's NOT going with me to see it......
I've been waiting for it for months.
Don't try to confuse the issue with half-truths and gorilla dust.
I can't remember when my husband and I have been to the movies, it must have been at least four years ago. Every week he orders a movie from netflix and watches it on Friday night. Usually I take my little dog and we go in the bedroom and watch something on tv until we fall asleep. It's our Friday night ritual.
He likes movies with lots of suspense. War movies, spy movies and just guy stuff.
Say what you mean. Mean what you say. But don't say it mean.
seen the new Star Trek? Fabulous flick!
For a real funny spoof, rent "The Last Action Hero." Arnold Schwarzeneggar parodies not only his own movies, but his life (Maria is in the movie, and at one point scolds him re: Planet Hollywood.) It's full of great sight gags, as well as stuff we all wonder about (how come all phone prefixes in movies always start with 555?)
I saw it when it was in theaters some 15 years ago with a buddy, expecting a typical "Ah-nold" movie, and couldn't stop laughing (while the teens in the theater all sat around looking confused.)
... probably enjoy the Jason Bourne trilogy w/ Matt Damon (Bourne Identity, Bourne Ultimatum, Bourne Supremacy).
I think he's seen all of the ones available at netflix. My husband is a mild mannered very funny marine biologist by day, but on Friday night he becomes a movie lover of high action and mystery.
Say what you mean. Mean what you say. But don't say it mean.
he works with fishes.
“Why would anyone with a functioning brain believe this guy?”
Some guy with an eating disorder
He works with fishes and sea turtles, birds and all sorts of creatures.
Say what you mean. Mean what you say. But don't say it mean.
Looks like it's going to be funny.
NOBODY 2012
ABSOLUTELY!!
didn't like it the first time - never thought it was funny at all - to me, especially after this past administration and the horror of thinking of a Palin administration...well....
if Obama nukes the 2012 republican convention according to Yoo.
Republicans are liars and simply cannot be trusted.
for the "Old Guard".
at Berkely is having second thoughts about giving this psychotic war criminal a job. He's making a laughing stock of the entire institution. There's no way in the world I would ever consider sending my kids to such a clown act.
is the same school it was when the 60's Rad's demanded the school change and won. It went back to business as usual after they all left.
The corporations came back and took Berkely over again. At the rate things are going Berkely will be just another conservative University.
It's Berkeley.
One of my few pet peeves, mainly because (I think) some hippie nun corrected my spelling of it back in the day.
"Parachutes are allowed in checked or carry-on baggage, but may not be worn in flight."
---Southwest Airlines
Has to be one of the most confusing names out there.
Berzerkley?
Cue the Kabuki....
have been replaced by Sports bars on the Berkeley campus.
Beer back in those days was the beverage of the devil.
or of the Regents.
“Why would anyone with a functioning brain believe this guy?”
Some guy with an eating disorder
Hey hey hey.
Let he who is not crazy cast the first stone.
The corporations didn't "come back" - they won the battle at Berkeley. The Regents were on Reagan's side. They wiped out the low- or no-cost education that allowed us riff-raff in.
The major winner of the 60s uprising at the University was the City of Berkeley.
When Reagan called in the national guard and declared martial law, including a 9pm to 6am curfew (or smthg like that) EVERYONE sat inside watching the Berkeley City Council debate "What To Do?" about the CRISIS gripping their city.
And for the first time EVERYONE SAW the City Council in action - the greasy white liars, the Uncle Toms .. and in the next election CLEANED HOUSE.
The pro-business deceitful City Council was replaced by a very progressive slate of officials who did a LOT to improve Berkeley.
When will government of the people, by the politicians, for the corporations perish from this Earth?
Not soon enough!
1) Re
agents - ReAgents are chemicals2) Berkeley
I seriously doubt the Regents are having any qualms about hiring Yoo.
The Regents are a wholy-owned subsidiary of the MICC.
During the 60s on the Berkeley campus Reagan was compared to the Mad King George, the Regents to his closest advisors.
When will government of the people, by the politicians, for the corporations perish from this Earth?
Not soon enough!
was manned by young political operatives who honed their skills during student campaigns at USC. Many were called the “USC Mafia”.
Bush set this country back 50 years leaving many of us scratching our heads wondering why the masses didn't see it.
I haven't had my morning chemicals yet.
"Parachutes are allowed in checked or carry-on baggage, but may not be worn in flight."
---Southwest Airlines
The Board of Regents votes themselves pay raises and then jacks up fees by 30%.
given to a President by his Justice Department back when JFK was around? That is the kind of BS your little brother would give you.
“Why would anyone with a functioning brain believe this guy?”
Some guy with an eating disorder
obviously not for the better.
JFK was killed precisely BECAUSE he would not follow that kind of advice.
JFK fired CIA Director Allen Dulles precisely because of Dulles' involvement in the Operation NorthWoods plans to start a war with Cuba.
The Dulles Boys and their Mafia Cronies REALLY wanted to get back their casinos, prostitutes and life of ease that Castro had taken from them.
Interesting how Allen Dulles ended up on the Warren Commission that decided Lee Harvey Oswald acted alone ..
When will government of the people, by the politicians, for the corporations perish from this Earth?
Not soon enough!
And whitey's on the moon.
“Why would anyone with a functioning brain believe this guy?”
Some guy with an eating disorder
John Foster Dulles and Allen Wesley Dulles cut their teeth getting reparations for Allied Corporations which had suffered losses when their acilities in Enemy Countries were destroyed by the Allies.
These corporations refused to stop doing business with the enemy during the war (after all, how could they be sure which side was going to win?) but demanded AND RECEIVED compensation after the war.
The Dulles Brothers - Bush Family's best friends. Prescott Bush made sure they both had critical positions in the Eisenhower administration, the better to carry out corporate-friendly covery overations .. in Guatemala (United Fruit), Iran (oil), VietNam (heroin, MIC profiteering, etc) ..
Why did Kennedy keep Allen Dulles as CIA Director in the first place? I dunno, but it got him killed.
When will government of the people, by the politicians, for the corporations perish from this Earth?
Not soon enough!
That's why they learned to play the spoons.
Diabolus est Deus Inversus
The CIA did it, Oswald was the patsy.
Oswald was an American military intelligence officer who defected to the Soviet Union and then returned to the US years later.
American intelligence had no idea whose side he was on after he returned.
Setting him up to be the patsy - and killed immediately after by Ruby - solved that embarassing problem as well as fixing blame for the assassination.
When will government of the people, by the politicians, for the corporations perish from this Earth?
Not soon enough!
that nobody cares who did McKinley in.
“Why would anyone with a functioning brain believe this guy?”
Some guy with an eating disorder
I'm sure he also made clear that this only applied to Republican Presidents?
Applicable for a limited time in a case by case basis, offer not good
without Nader in New Hampshire.
“Why would anyone with a functioning brain believe this guy?”
Some guy with an eating disorder
... have you? I keep hearing talk of a Democratic majority, too, but I'm beginning to think it's like the Easter Bunny. Or at least like Punxtatawny Phil - they come out of their hole, see their shadows, bolt right back into their burrow, six more weeks/months/years of Republican thuggery.
FDR had the balls to go after the corporations.
JFK had the balls to stand up. He got shot.
LBJ had the balls to do what was right domestically.
Carter had the balls to say we couldn't go on consuming endlessly.
But I haven't seen a Democratic President with guts since.
When will government of the people, by the politicians, for the corporations perish from this Earth?
Not soon enough!
There hasn't been a Democratic President since.
statusquObama, change you can only pretend in
FDR rescued capitalism.
JFK had the stupidity to stand up in an open car in Dallas.
LBJ had the hots for Doris K. Goodwin
Carter saw rabbits before Dennis K saw UFO's.
Clinton built a bridge to the Bush administration.
Harry Truman was the only Democrat with a pair.
He dropped a pair of nukes on Japan.
He gave Japan a pair of Emperors.
And when time was right, he fired the second one.
The verdict is still out on the new guy. Ain't working out for most starry eyed white folk so far.
“Why would anyone with a functioning brain believe this guy?”
Some guy with an eating disorder
When did this happen?
All I've seen are repukes with a (D) after their name!
About Kim Jong Il lobbing a few nukes in our direction?
I mean, really, if it's good enough for America, there's no reason we should be telling nations like North Korea or Iran that they shouldn't be flinging nukes around.
first.
“Why would anyone with a functioning brain believe this guy?”
Some guy with an eating disorder
misrepresents a few things, in Little v Barlow there is clear Constitutional authority for the Legislative Branch in this instance, Art 1 Sec 8
To declare war, grant letters of marque and reprisal, and make rules concerning captures on land and water;
And for the other two cases mentioned, in Hamdi the USSC ruled that US citizens have the right to challenge their detention as an unlawful combatant. And in Hamdan that there was not act of Congress, nor any explicit authorization for that type of detention in the Constitution for the Executive Branch, that they had to follow current law.
The President is part of the EXECUTIVE branch.
So you're affirming that Congress does, in fact, have authority in this regard?
Looks like one of our resident trolls (tjbb) actually agrees with us. Who'd a thunk it?
is the head of the Executive branch, the USSC decision was about whether the President had the power to construct special tribunals. There was no Congressional act that allowed it(at the time) and it was not listed in the Constitution as one of the powers of the Executive branch. The Constitution does list the President as Commander in Chief of the military though, which does grant him the power to make decisions regarding military acts.
Sorry I should of been a bit more clear.
No he cant
be a bit more specific?
somewhere in the world, a dank dark jail cell awaits this POS.
me-oww!
Ummm...couldn't they shoot a missile at us as a preemptive strike, or as a second response in MAD?
http://www.kidvai.com/windmills/uploaded_imag...
Diabolus est Deus Inversus
Oh yeah, because the government is full of criminals and pussies.
NOBODY 2012
John Yoo -- where is Dexter when we need him? Oh come on, it just a TV program like "24."
How did this man get through law school? How the hell is he teaching?
Is it nit evident to everyone in the country that this man is an idiot. My god it looks like to me the whole party is suffering from mass insanity. They lie without shame. They don't care who gets killed or injured. They have no morals and no intelligence. They are spoiled children and cannot make sound rational decisions.
republicanism/conservatism is a mental illness, it has almost totally destroied our economy, our morals, and the sprituality of America!
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