Posted on 05/22/2009 5:40:04 AM PDT by kellynla
"We were able to hold it off with George Bush. The idea that we might find ourselves fighting with the Obama administration over these powers is really stunning." -- Unnamed and dismayed human rights advocate, on legalizing indefinite detention of alleged terrorists, New York Times, May 21
WASHINGTON -- If hypocrisy is the homage that vice pays to virtue, then the flip-flops on previously denounced anti-terror measures are the homage that Barack Obama pays to George Bush. Within 125 days, Obama has adopted with only minor modifications huge swaths of the entire, allegedly lawless Bush program.
The latest flip-flop is the restoration of military tribunals. During the 2008 campaign, Obama denounced them repeatedly, calling them an "enormous failure." Obama suspended them upon his swearing in. Now they're back.
Of course, Obama will never admit in word what he's doing in deed. As in his rhetorically brilliant national-security speech on Thursday claiming to have undone Bush's moral travesties, the military commissions flip-flop is accompanied by the usual Obama three-step: (a) excoriate the Bush policy, (b) ostentatiously unveil cosmetic changes, (c) adopt the Bush policy.
Cosmetic changes such as Obama's declaration that "we will give detainees greater latitude in selecting their own counsel." Laughable. High-toned liberal law firms are climbing over each other for the frisson of representing these miscreants in court.
What about disallowing evidence received under coercive interrogation? Hardly new, notes former prosecutor Andrew McCarthy. Under the existing rules, military judges have that authority, and exercised it under the Bush administration to dismiss charges against al-Qaeda operative Mohammed al-Qahtani on precisely those grounds.
(Excerpt) Read more at realclearpolitics.com ...
Let’s be clear. Obama’s acceptance of Bush terror policies, after all his pontificating, isn’t so much about fighting the war on terror, but more so about squashing any future domestic discontent. Every WOT policy will be turned on American citizens who dare speak out and challenge his Presidency.
You posted the money quote, all right. Krauthammer’s last lines. Must-read. Must-read to the very last lines.
I await the awakening of the masses.
His track record to date certainly isn’t reassuring in any way. I hope you are wrong, but I fear you may be right.
Dick Cheney hammered this point home yesterday morning. Despite the apoplectic stammering of the PMSNBC talking heads, the truth of this has now been formed in the minds of the American public. It needs to be reiterated over and over.
Brillant.
Thank you Bush/Cheney.
The evidence is pretty clear. What plausible explanation can he give to to otherwise refute the actions he’s already taken? The FEMA ‘camps’, the right-wing extremist memo, the domestic detention centers. The man clearly fears something, and I seriously doubt its foreign terrorists.
I don't know ... how about New Jersey?
It is disappointing to see respected conservative pundits praise Obama's rhetoric without simultaneously denouncing Obama's lies. Most anyone can read brilliant rhetoric if they consider truth to be irrelevant. Hitler gave brilliant speeches. Should he be praised for that?
“I don’t know ... how about New Jersey?”
Or maybe the South Side of Chicago (the baddest part of town).
I await the awakening of the masses.
We are here. And we should all be taking notes of those who enable him, for the day soon when the blow-back begins. It will come. And the opposition are not all registered Republicans (I know some Dems who feel the same).
And it will not be from my "red neck" friends in fly-over country.
It will begin when the "Obamanista's" who have lost their jobs, homes and cars in the cities come to the streets. Useful idiots.
And the MSM must be held accountable for the "fraud" they have engineered.
I feel the 4th of July will demonstrate more than you expect.
The Army would be out gunned in Chicago!
This is all well and good, but his highness continues to bash Bush about his policies. Even though he’s talking like he’s going to change things drastically...he’s not.
I’m glad that Cheney is out there calling him out on this. If not, he’d be getting a free pass on the “wonderful job he’s doing”.
I hate to say it, but don't hold your breath...
More than that, that speech I saw yesterday became an incomprehensible spoiled snit that went on at least a half hour too long. It was a terrible, self-centered self-serving rationalization fest dedicated to blaming everyone - including dems that opposed him - but himself.
I like Charles but he sometimes kisses butt on one point in order to skewer him on another. He needs to be consistently honest even when choosing his fights carefully.
The MSM is the lie spewing hydra that needs to be destroyed. Destroy the hydra and save America.
Brilliant. Charles cuts is right to the core, as usual.
In this context, "Rhetorically brilliant" constitutes "faint praise" -- not praise. Note also that the rest of Krauthammer's piece sets about "simultaneously denouncing Obama's lies" -- exactly as you require.
The whole of Obama's policies are founded on "rhetorical brilliance", little else.
He must also be getting push back from the military, special ops and CIA. Having sons and friends sons serving..they all were saying that he can’t do what he wants to. Your troops do influence you.
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