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Presidential Poison (the signal to support prosecutions will haunt Obama)
The Wall Street Journal ^ | April 23, 2009 | Editorial

Posted on 04/22/2009 8:10:00 PM PDT by St. Louis Conservative

Mark down the date. Tuesday, April 21, 2009, is the moment that any chance of a new era of bipartisan respect in Washington ended. By inviting the prosecution of Bush officials for their antiterror legal advice, President Obama has injected a poison into our politics that he and the country will live to regret.

Policy disputes, often bitter, are the stuff of democratic politics. Elections settle those battles, at least for a time, and Mr. Obama's victory in November has given him the right to change policies on interrogations, Guantanamo, or anything on which he can muster enough support. But at least until now, the U.S. political system has avoided the spectacle of a new Administration prosecuting its predecessor for policy disagreements. This is what happens in Argentina, Malaysia or Peru, countries where the law is treated merely as an extension of political power.

If this analogy seems excessive, consider how Mr. Obama has framed the issue. He has absolved CIA operatives of any legal jeopardy, no doubt because his intelligence advisers told him how damaging that would be to CIA morale when Mr. Obama needs the agency to protect the country. But he has pointedly invited investigations against Republican legal advisers who offered their best advice at the request of CIA officials.

"Your intelligence indicates that there is currently a level of 'chatter' equal to that which preceded the September 11 attacks," wrote Assistant Attorney General Jay Bybee, in his August 1, 2002 memo. "In light of the information you believe [detainee Abu] Zubaydah has and the high level of threat you believe now exists, you wish to move the interrogations into what you have described as an 'increased pressure phase.'"

(Excerpt) Read more at online.wsj.com ...


TOPICS: Crime/Corruption; Front Page News; Miscellaneous; News/Current Events; Philosophy
KEYWORDS: bho44; bleedingheartattack; bush; cia; democrats; dhimmicrats; enemieslist; first100days; muslim; obama; obamalegacy; obamathekenyan; obamathemuslim; obamatruthfile; politicalpurge; politicalwitchhunt; purge; showtrials; torture; underthebus; worst100days; wot
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To: DannyTN

“Tenet”, not “Tenant”


61 posted on 04/23/2009 5:03:14 AM PDT by reaganaut1
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To: Tublecane

I’d like to have Dick Cheney testify in Congress and kick their butts.


62 posted on 04/23/2009 5:06:12 AM PDT by reaganaut1
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To: RC one
I agree that Newt would be our best bet. I wish I could be as positive as you. I fear the huge evil political machine that the dems and Clintons have created. Let's face it, Congress will not listen. They don't fear our vote. Not when illegals, dead people and our family pets get to vote.
The system is busted.
63 posted on 04/23/2009 6:02:40 AM PDT by odin2008 (EVIL TRIUMPHS WHEN GOOD MEN DO NOTHING)
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To: Verginius Rufus
"The chief target right now may be Cheney, since he has had the temerity to speak out (interviewed on Hannity). Maybe the Obama crowd thinks he will be easily intimidated, but I don't think so."

Vice President Cheney does not sound well to me. It sounds as if he has congestive heart failure, and I pray that all this stress doesn't finish him off. He's a national treasure. No, I'm not a doctor, but I can hear restricted breathing as well as the next person.

64 posted on 04/23/2009 6:11:32 AM PDT by TheOldLady
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To: odin2008

Mr. gorebull-worming-windmills-Texas-water-scheme-the-era-of-Reagan-is-over Newt is a RINO of the first order, one who has acted Conservative but is liberal enough to blow around in the what’s-best-for-Newt wind.


65 posted on 04/23/2009 6:27:36 AM PDT by TheOldLady
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To: exit82

April 22, 2009—the skirmish line is forming. This issue is the proverbial line in the sand.

I believe that too. This cannot be allowed!!!!


66 posted on 04/23/2009 6:33:50 AM PDT by waxer1 ( "The Bible is the rock on which our republic rests." -Andrew Jackson)
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To: When do we get liberated?

It is an outrage that they are even thinking about it. But, remember they are in control and can do anything they want.


67 posted on 04/23/2009 6:35:28 AM PDT by waxer1 ( "The Bible is the rock on which our republic rests." -Andrew Jackson)
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To: Man50D
And speaking of which, when will the GOP Members of Congress begin to denounce this partisan scapegoating? Senior Republicans like Mitch McConnell, Richard Lugar, John McCain, Orrin Hatch, Pat Roberts and Arlen Specter have hardly been profiles in courage.

These men are no longer the Republican leadership.

That role has been filled by Sarah Palin and Michelle Bachman.

68 posted on 04/23/2009 8:19:38 AM PDT by happygrl (Hope and Change or Rope and Chains?)
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To: dusttoyou
"CHENEY-PALIN 2012!

If Cheney and Palin were elected in 2012, people would be throwing themselves in front of buses in the East Village and West Hollywood. It would be glorious.

69 posted on 04/23/2009 11:19:01 AM PDT by Big_Monkey
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To: Big_Monkey

CHENEY-PALIN 2012

The MINUTE he announces I’m on the bandwagon.

No one could ever claim Cheney was a RINO! Having a REAL Conservative heading up the show would get a lot of support.


70 posted on 04/23/2009 11:28:35 AM PDT by dusttoyou (CHENEY-PALIN 2012)
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To: St. Louis Conservative; P-Marlowe
More provocation to try to get conservatives to do something stupid enough that he can use it to "justify" police action. Remember, if this thug can't get us to do it, he'll use one of his own ala OKC.

Vent your anger in quiet preparation.

71 posted on 04/23/2009 11:33:05 AM PDT by Carry_Okie (It's time to waterboard that teleprompter and find out what it knows.)
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To: St. Louis Conservative

72 posted on 04/23/2009 11:34:10 AM PDT by william clark (Ecclesiastes 10:2)
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To: St. Louis Conservative
On possibility is that this an attempt to drive a wedge between conservatives, who were okay with President Bush, sort of, and Libertarians who hated him.
But, if Obama and his cronies are really serious, I think this signals that do not intend to be in a position where they can be investigated for their policies. Ever.
I leave the means they might use to avoid this to your imagination...
73 posted on 04/23/2009 11:35:38 AM PDT by Little Ray (Do we have a Plan B?)
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To: P-Marlowe
Obama will prosecute GWB and Cheney OVER MY DEAD BODY!

Nice sentiment but what could you do??

74 posted on 04/23/2009 11:36:01 AM PDT by Churchillspirit
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To: P-Marlowe

I don’t think they’ll go after GWB. If they go after Cheney, they will likely wish they hadn’t.


75 posted on 04/23/2009 11:40:23 AM PDT by Girlene
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To: St. Louis Conservative

This is the most outrageous traitorous thing being considered.
And as the article states....Where are the damned republicans????!!!!


76 posted on 04/23/2009 11:40:54 AM PDT by jackv (Just shakin' my head!!)
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To: MHGinTN

How about someone prosecute leahy for leaking the info on the cell phone intell which cost US dearly.

These pigs don’t care that their asses were spared in the past.

Next we’ll hear that sandy burglar is on the prosecution team charging the Bush officials who spared his fat stinking hide.

liberals are all agents of the devil.


77 posted on 04/23/2009 11:50:16 AM PDT by jackv (Just shakin' my head!!)
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To: ElayneJ
Yes, this is what third world dictators do.

Sadly, I don't see much that differentiates him from just that.

78 posted on 04/23/2009 11:53:30 AM PDT by riri
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To: jazminerose
Anyone else recall when the mentally retarded Speaker was asking if waterboarding was harsh enough?

Here ya go

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1936971/posts

I think Zero & Co started this newer intending for it to go anywhere, remember the "we are moving forward not looking backward" sort of crap. Then Moveon and Pelosi took the wheel of the bus due to the whiff of Cheney blood in the water. Zero is way out of his league and at the mercy of advisers who have agendas that are very sinister.

He really does not want to take this road. A group of people who hardly ever take to the streets just did so in the millions last week and we liked it.

79 posted on 04/23/2009 12:29:23 PM PDT by lovesdogs (I will die on my feet if it is God's will. But I will not live on my knees for any man.)
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To: Lockbar
It will repulse the majority of Americans....

Do not count on this action by Barry Soetero to repulse the majority of "americans". But if the REAL Americans decided to stake their claim in the geographical center of the country, and form a new Republic, and re-introduce the words of the Declaration of Independence and the US Constitution, the extended train wreck that is the now failing nascent obama regime will be effectively squelched.

The constituents that want to ally themselves with this failing regime have every right to keep their rump country, though it may actually be somewhat scattered. Just don't try to impose their failed policies on the resurgent people of the "New America".

80 posted on 04/23/2009 12:56:55 PM PDT by alloysteel (When the chips are down - the buffalo is empty.)
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