NAPOLITANO: When the president disregards the law

The Washington Times ^ | 6-4-14 | Andrew Napolitano

[afraidfortherepublic]

On the same weekend that the secretary of veterans affairs resigned amid the scandal of veterans dying before the government’s doctors could treat them in government hospitals; on the heels of another revelation of the National Security Agency’s unconstitutional spying, in which federal agents have been seizing the digital images of our loved ones and friends that have accompanied our emails; and a week after the White House intentionally or negligently revealed the true identity of the CIA station chief in Afghanistan, President Obama announced a new foreign-policy initiative called “No One Left Behind.” The reference was to the sole service member then held in captivity in the venue of America’s longest war, the one most Americans have forgotten: Afghanistan.

Late last week, Mr. Obama announced the release of Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl, who had been held by the Taliban for more than five years. Sgt. Bergdahl apparently shed his weapons and equipment, sent his personal belongings home, and walked into the hands of his captors one day, unwilling to remain a part of his military unit and largely ignorant of the fate that faced him. The president must have been determined to bring Sgt. Bergdahl home at all costs, because the manner of his doing so makes it likely that he violated federal criminal law in the deal he cut with Sgt. Bergdahl’s captors.

The government apparently negotiated with the Taliban, a group characterized by federal law as a non-state terrorist organization. The deal required the United States to release five former senior Taliban intelligence and military officials from the American prison camp at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. Therein lies the legal and constitutional conundrum generated by the post-September 11 contempt for the Constitution that has been a hallmark of Congress, and the Bush and Obama administrations.

[Vendome]

“President Obama announced a new foreign-policy initiative called “No One Left Behind.” ”””

He doesn’t rank as “No One Left Behind”.

In fact, he’s not so much “Unimportant”.

He’s “Not Necessary”.

[gattaca]

ping

[ReaganGeneration2]

“Federal law prohibits any person from providing material assistance to a terrorist organization, even if the organization fails to use the assistance, and even if the use of it produces no measurable harm.”

SGT Bergdahl is a sideshow in this. The release of the Taliban 5 should be investigated as the first article of the president’s potential “high crimes”, which aren’t necessarily technical law violations, but general affronts to the rule of law.

[PGalt]

What “law” Andrew? Taqiyya-talkin’ King Hussein and his criminal gang of totalitarians don’t need no stinkin’ law.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VqomZQMZQCQ&feature=kp

[Joe Boucher]

can you imagine the dems if a conservative pubbie (I know that seems impossible) were doing the kind of crap this punk ass magic negro is???
They’d be going even more insane.

[maddog55]

The end game wasn’t Bergdhal’s release it was getting the Gitmo terrorist released and more will follow.

I saw Lindsey Graham state if he does it again they’ll bring impeachment proceedings which carries the same threat as Obama and his cross this line statement to Syria.

There’s been so many illegal lines crossed by Obama it’s sinful and yet nothing is done.

[Liz]

Judge Nap/tano was brilliant in a Fox news interview-—said Obama is using the discredited “Nixon Defense” (if the president does it, it’s not illegal).

Except, the judge cautioned, even a president cannot cross the line.....he cannot break the law to justify his actions.

[Liz]

Dummycrats are turning tail---running away from the Gitmo/Bergdahl debacle.....but, IMHO, Hillary's slapdown of Obama was a bit harsh (/snix).

Breitbart said Hillary threw Obama under the bus---she was THAT anxious to distance herself from the Gitmo/Bergdahl debacle. I guess Hillary plumb forgot.....Obama is the guy who "adores" her.

Who can forget Obama and Hillary's love fest on CBS' 60 Minutes?

Obomba hustled Hillary on CBS' 60 Minutes to gaze in adoration, after Hill's arrogant dismissal of the Benghazi massacre before Congress. I thought sure Obama was gonna give 'er a B/J on broadcast tv....he was THAT grateful.

Mmmmmmm......Hillary actually "remembered" that she “was personally and intensely involved" in the debate over swapping five Taliban commanders for Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl in 2011 and 2012.

Even though Hillary naturally had "severe reservations" about the potential deal, and was demanding stricter conditions for the release of the prisoners than what President Obama settled for last week.

I love the part where Hillary valiantly asserts she "had a framework deal drawn up that was much tougher on the Taliban than what ultimately got done two years later."

==========================================

Frankly, it's such a relief that Hillary remembers the Gitmo/Bergdahl details b/c she had a nasty fall and was subject to blackouts.

Hillary has had mucho problems "remembering" details about Benghazi. So its pretty amazing that Hillary "remembers" every detail about her part in the Bergdahl/terrorist swap.

=================================================

Hold on a sec, people. This means Hillary must keep a diary....the same diary Wash/Post's Bob Woodward has been looking for.

====================================================

BACKSTORY---News hound Bob Woodward Definitely Doesn’t Buy Hillary’s Benghazi Denial. Woodward doesn’t believe Hillary's whine that it's all about politics. The reporter known for making news claims there are still “serious, unanswered questions about this.”

Hillary's new book, Hard Choices, stoutly declares that everything there is to know about Benghazi has already been revealed....she is hoping to silence Republicans by charging politics is behind the continuing probe.

Bob Woodward will not be dissuaded. ".....one of the questions I have -- did she keep a diary? Obama confirmed to Woodward that he keeps a diary. Woodward noted. “Ronald Reagan kept a very detailed diary of Iran Contra, and he finally turned it over.”

The veteran Post reporter also knocked Clinton and Obama....... noting Benghazi is not about partisan politics, as they stoutly aver.

“There are facts,” Woodward asserted. “There is neutral inquiry. And there is a way to look at this and get that information and see if there is new information.”

===============================================

Hillary feels a blackout coming on when she hears or sees the name Benghazi......good thing she has a diary (/snix).

[Sacajaweau]

The Senate is the ultimate decision maker and the Dems own the Senate.

[Sacajaweau]

http://hotair.com/archives/2014/06/03/did-hillary-know-about-the-bergdahl-swap-last-week/

[Liz]

I'm thinking the luncheon was monumentally poor timing.

Hillary's book is coming out w/ a sort of explanation about Benghazi---and she wanted to make sure she and Obama were on the same page....ergo, the supersecret luncheon.

It is a political Catch 22 that she's now confronted w/ the Bergdahl swap ON TOP OF Benghazi, being forced to express diametrically opposing views---her "concerns" about Bergdahl at the same time she's being vilified for abandoning four Americans to their fate in Benghazi.

==============================================

MILITARY.COM reported (during the post-Morsi ousting in Egypt), that US Pentagon officials declined to give specifics on conversations between DOD's Chuck Hagel and brilliant tactician Egyptian Gen al-Sisi.

(NOTE Gen al Sisi, 58, received a masters degree from the U.S. War College in Carlisle, Pa, in 2006. The General is revered by Egyptians for routing the Muslim Brotherhood which Egyptians consider a terrorist organization.)

Although officials would not discuss the specifics of the military-to-military talks, the US would need Gen al-Sisi's approval to move through Egyptian air space if Washington decided to send Marines to aid in the evacuation of U.S. personnel.

READY TO ROLL About 550 Marines and their tilt-rotor MV-22 Osprey aircraft are at bases in Spain and Italy on standby if they are needed. A Navy Amphibious Ready Group with 4,000 Marines and sailors aboard, led by the helicopter assault ship Kearsarge, was also in the region following completion of the Eager Lion training exercises in Jordan.

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AIN'T KARMA A *ITCH, HILLARY? the US helicopter assault ship Kearsarge, WAS in the region, ready to airlift Benghazi personnel to safety. If Hillary did not know the Kearsage was ready to roll, she's as incompetent as the rest of them..... her all-girl State Dept and the venal Obama admin.

Fact is, Americans were lied to----we were told Kearsarge was not available to help endangered Americans in Benghazi.

[Sacajaweau]

http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2014/jun/4/clinton-promised-consult-hill-gitmo-swaps/

[Slambat]

Lindsey Graham, bring impeachment proceedings?
He’s had plenty of reasons already and plenty of time.
If it hasn’t happened yet, it never will.
Besides Obama owns Graham. Graham is a liberal.

[Slambat]

“Except, the judge cautioned, even a president cannot cross the line.....he cannot break the law to justify his actions.”

Someone needs to tell Napotlatano that just not so.
The O’tard has been breaking the law for 5 years now.
No one is stopping him or holding him accountable.

NAPOTLATANO!!!!!

[The_Media_never_lie]

Lindsey Graham is a silly boy.

[The_Media_never_lie]

I seem to recall Hillary had trouble remembering details of the Whitewater records whereabouts......

[Max in Utah]

...this punk ass magic negro...

Almost-negro maybe; he's short on qualifications for that position too.

[tumblindice]

He’s using the ‘Ulysses/Odysses/Polyphemus’ defense as well:
“We are a nation of laws, not men. No man is above the law.”
US v. Nixon (1974)

0bama: “I am no man.”

Zero thinks he’s Xerxes, or god-like, and he’s surrounded by sycophants who do nothing to disabuse him of the fantasy.

[minnesota_bound]

It wasn’t anything minor. It was support for terrorism. obama himself said these 5 terrorists may kill more people.
He has in the past worked personally with terrorists William Ayers (3 years in same office) and his wife Bernardine Dohrn. He has been friends with them for nearly 30 years. All his contacts are supporters of terrorism.

Yet Lindsay Graham says next time, next time it will be maybe impeachment. obama has done so much already that warrants impeachment including mass murder in Mexico and actively supporting the muslim brotherhood terrorist group that he should be impeached now.

The republicans are so weak minded. If they started impeachment proceedings this would stop obama from doing anything more. I do not care if Harry Reid objects. That would not help the democrats at all or even him.