Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Krauthammer: Not just criminalization of policy, but declaration of war [between Dems & Repubs]
NRO ^ | 07/13/2009 | Charles Krauthammer

Posted on 07/14/2009 3:46:38 PM PDT by BuckeyeTexan

Krauthammer's take from last night's All-Stars Panel on Special Report with Bret Baier:

On Eric Holder possibly appointing a prosecutor to investigate Bush-era interrogation techniques:

If he does this, it is a terrible mistake. What we heard today, that [the special prosecutor] will only be for rogue interrogators who went outside the law—presumably, you know, [for] sadists who wanted to have a good time out of the rubric of interrogation. I'm not sure there are a lot of those.

What will happen is once you appoint a prosecutor, as we know from past history, he's out of control. There are no limits on what he or she can do. And that means it will not stop with the rogue interrogator. It will go all the way to lawyers. It will go up to politicians.

And what this would be would be a criminalization of policy differences with a previous administration in the middle of two wars—in a way that will create open warfare (a) with the CIA, and (b) between Democrats and Republicans. This is a declaration of war if it...does actually come to pass.



TOPICS: Extended News; Government; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: bho44; bhodoj; congresscritters; constitution; crime; culturalwar; holder; krauthammer; liberalagenda; policy; powergrab; socialistblitzkrieg; torture
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-4041-6061-76 next last
I agree with Krauthammer on this issue. If A.G. Holder does appoint a special prosecutor, the investigation won't stop with rogue officials. It will go all the way up the chain of command in the Bush Administration and Holder knows it. His actions will be an opening salvo in a war between Democrats and Republicans. The war won't contain itself to the political class. It will set off a firestorm in the already heated cultural differences between liberals and conservatives.

As seen by the growth of Tea Party demonstrations and the stockpiling of guns and ammunition, conservatives have had enough of the liberal power grab going on in Washington. Criminalizing policy differences between two administrations could be the last straw. Just as some conservatives feared riots if Obama lost the election, liberals should fear the consequences of pursuing criminalization of policy differences. They see how people united in demonstrations across the country to protest abusive government spending. What do they think will happen when they make criminals out of those who support enhanced interrogation techniques to protect the homeland?

I don't think they fully realize what they're getting into. They're drunk with power. Your thoughts?

1 posted on 07/14/2009 3:46:38 PM PDT by BuckeyeTexan
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

To: BuckeyeTexan

My thoughts are be grateful the Democrats always way over play their hand. This will be doing so in the extreme.


2 posted on 07/14/2009 3:50:43 PM PDT by DB
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: BuckeyeTexan

K-Bump.


3 posted on 07/14/2009 3:51:07 PM PDT by Oldeconomybuyer (The problem with socialism is that you eventually run out of other people's money.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: BuckeyeTexan
They got into power because people respect the due process by which power is transferred in this country, a process which they do not respect themselves, because they won't allow it to operate when it means they lose.

People have been living in a peaceful bubble for too long. They have never seen what happens when you break through the guardrails on the highway, how far it is to the bottom, and what happens when you get there.

4 posted on 07/14/2009 3:53:43 PM PDT by thulldud (It HAS happened here!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: BuckeyeTexan

Remember the broken glass economics theory?? Ludicrous yes... but maybe a Civil War would boost the economy... lol


5 posted on 07/14/2009 3:54:24 PM PDT by GeronL ( Patriotic Insurrectionist at http://tyrannysentinel.blogspot.com)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: DB
Just talking about this sort of thing means that we really will have to put the entire Obama regime on trial for treason once we regain control of the government ~

That's the only way to stop this nonsense.

6 posted on 07/14/2009 3:57:47 PM PDT by muawiyah
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: BuckeyeTexan
As I have posted many, many times in the last few weeks as we watched Obama's poll numbers start to tank: WATCH OUT. These guys are most dangerous when they are threatened and low poll numbers are a threat to both their socialist agenda and to their re-election (and re-re-election!!). It was entirely predictable that they would drum up something to distract the attention of the voting public away from the obvious failures of their domestic policies. (The shoe is yet to drop on their foreign policy failures but that will come soon enough from North Korea, Iran, the Russians in Georgia, Venezuela invading Honduras or whatever. It is inevitable.)

So what better target than good old faithful Bush-Cheney. It has worked for the Dems for years and they believe, foolishly, that there is still milk in that cow. Sorry Obama, that cow has been milked dry and has left the barn. You are on your own now.

But Charles K is right. This will be a disaster if they pursue it so I still hope they will come to their senses.

7 posted on 07/14/2009 3:58:36 PM PDT by InterceptPoint
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: GeronL

What they fail to notice is that turnaround is fairplay. Imagine Obama facing “rogue investigations” after his term is up. Boy would the libs and MSM squawk!!!!


8 posted on 07/14/2009 3:58:55 PM PDT by ak267
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 5 | View Replies]

To: BuckeyeTexan
If the Republicans had only exerted even just a modicum of restraint while in office, then I would feel for them.

Remember that this is not average Republican voters that are being attacked, but specific Republican office holders who showed entirely no lack of restraint in spending our money and expanding the powers of government.

These are the same scumbags who under the rubric of "compassionate conservatism" gave us the "No Federal Mandate Left Behind" law, Medicare part Dumb, ear-marks, CDS's, etc.

If Cheney, Bush, and all those scumbags go to jail then fine by me.

We need to flush all those RINOs out of the party anyway.

And yes Cheney is a RINO because being a hawk on Foreign Policy doesn't give him a pass for being a wuss on Domestic Policy.

9 posted on 07/14/2009 3:59:48 PM PDT by who_would_fardels_bear (These fragments I have shored against my ruins)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: DB
My thoughts are be grateful the Democrats always way over play their hand. This will be doing so in the extreme.

You think?

I'll bet most Repug Congressmen stand idly by, a few may even join in.

10 posted on 07/14/2009 4:00:06 PM PDT by Balding_Eagle (Overproduction, one of the top five worries for the American farmer.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: ak267

If they get their way, Obama’s term will never be up


11 posted on 07/14/2009 4:00:43 PM PDT by GeronL ( Patriotic Insurrectionist at http://tyrannysentinel.blogspot.com)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 8 | View Replies]

To: DB

See post #9 for some early circumstancial proof of the correctness of my prediction.


12 posted on 07/14/2009 4:02:39 PM PDT by Balding_Eagle (Overproduction, one of the top five worries for the American farmer.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: BuckeyeTexan

when a special prosecutor was digging for more dirt on clinton the american people were flat out sickened. not by the dirt, but by the out of control prosecutor, the republicans cheering him on, and the ungodly expense of an investigation that seemed to go on and on and on. it reduced the populations general good humor towards republicans. if the dems do this then the result will be the same, they are simply incapable of stopping an investigation which might give them the opportunity to villify bush and cheney again.
that being said, this would set a precedent that could be used to indicte oblabo later on and holder knows it. oblabo knows it. they would not want the next president investigating oblabo for his treasonous determination to socialize this country.


13 posted on 07/14/2009 4:03:45 PM PDT by madamemayhem (there are only two places in the world: over here and over there.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: BuckeyeTexan

I believe the more subtle, yet more pernicious effect of this action in terms of the precedent set will be to make incumbents all the more insistent upon staying in power. If there is now a new precedent to prosecute former office holders for alleged crimes, we move further into the type of third world government anyone with a brain should fear. “Anyone with a brain”, unfortunately, is just slightly less than half the electorate, in case that isn’t clear.


14 posted on 07/14/2009 4:07:35 PM PDT by Attention Surplus Disorder (What kind of organization answers the phone if you call a suicide hotline in Gaza City?)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: who_would_fardels_bear

Yeah that Cheney, what a really squishy moderate he is. Thats clearly why the Dems love attacking him so much...(Sheesh, just when you’ve thought you heard it all). Whatever you’re currently smoking, stop.


15 posted on 07/14/2009 4:08:12 PM PDT by safeasthebanks ("The most rewarding part, was when he gave me my money!" - Dr. Nick)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 9 | View Replies]

To: ak267
Boy would the libs and MSM squawk!!!!

The MSM should be in prison.

And I'm only half-way kidding...

16 posted on 07/14/2009 4:08:21 PM PDT by okie01 (THE MAINSTREAM MEDIA: Ignorance on Parade)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 8 | View Replies]

To: InterceptPoint
As I have posted many, many times in the last few weeks as we watched Obama's poll numbers start to tank: WATCH OUT.

I agree, and I've been saying the same thing. More to the point: I can easily see Obama becoming more and more unstable and paranoid, when his poll numbers inevitably start to tank. I think he's a full-on narcissist, and he thinks all of being President is about HIM. He *needs* the fawning, worshipping masses stretched out before him. Once they stop... he'll turn ugly and paranoid and just plain mean. I would expect that he'll get more easily rattled, and his "performances" will be uneven and unsteady. His decision-making will become chaotic. Could be a bumpy ride.

17 posted on 07/14/2009 4:08:24 PM PDT by Ramius (Personally, I give us... one chance in three. More tea?)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 7 | View Replies]

To: BuckeyeTexan

I think that the Democrats long ago declared war on anyone to the right of Marx.

Unfortunately, many in the GOP still insist that the Dems are their “good friends on the other side of the aisle.”

I suppose it’ll come to a surprise to them when they’re hauled in front of “truth commissions” after lauding the “good works” of Kennedy, Dodd, Frank, etc. as if they were somehow gaining favor with the left.


18 posted on 07/14/2009 4:11:46 PM PDT by Nickname
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: thulldud

I think that’s true. Most conservatives aren’t prone to violence and wouldn’t know where to begin even if they were angry enough to take action. Liberals know that.

Thus the liberal disdain for and scoffing at Tea Party demonstrations. They believe peaceful protests are our only tool.

They’re spending so much of our money that our political contributions have less and less effect. They’ve made significant progress in silencing our vote with election fraud. When our money and our votes are no longer effective weapons, what will we have left? That’s what they’re not considering.


19 posted on 07/14/2009 4:16:03 PM PDT by BuckeyeTexan (Integrity, Character, Leadership, and Loyalty matter - Be an example, no matter the cost.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 4 | View Replies]

To: DB

The GOP will not fight back & Obama knows it. Look at the pathetic Sotomayor hearings.


20 posted on 07/14/2009 4:20:51 PM PDT by gorilla_warrior (Metrosexual hairless RINOs for hopey-changey bipartisan-ness)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-4041-6061-76 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson