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Hooray already!
On the first day of his presidency, Barack Obama:
1. Forbade White House staff from serving as lobbyists during his presidency
2. Enacted a pay freeze for senior White House staff
3. Revoked Bush’s Executive Order 13233, which allowed presidential files to be kept sealed indefinitely
4. Loosened up limitations on the Freedom of Information Act put in place during the Bush years
5. Announced his intention to close the extra-legal, extra-territorial prison at Guantanamo Bay
6. Specifically limited interrogation methods to those permitted in the Army Field Manual, and upheld the internationally recognized definition of “torture.”
Some things occur to me. First, the fact that numbers 5 and 6 had to be undertaken at all is sign of how just far U.S. Federal government had strayed from their own stated ideals. Being against torture is not exactly a bold moral stance, but, apparently it had to be taken.
Secondly, at this point Obama can now spend the next three years playing World of Warcraft, and the nation will be substantially better off than it was. It would not even be an unparalleled presidential vacation. Bush spent just under three years of his presidency at Camp David or his ranch.
Finally, this quote from an interview with McCain sort of demonstrates why he would not have been an improvement. In an interview, he gave his reasons for partly disapproving of President Obama’s decision to close Guantanamo.
“We should have addressed the issue of those who we know would pose a threat to the United States, but we don't have sufficient evidence to move forward,” he said.
So, the government knows they are a threat, but has no evidence to put them on trial? I understand this sentiment, really I do, but also recognize it as being contrary to the principles of a lawful society. You do not lock people up simply because you’re suspicious of them, even if you have darn good reason. If Lord Sankey were alive, McCain would have been beaten to death with a horsehair wig, while being lectured about “The Golden Thread of British (and American!) Justice.”
Perhaps, if you keep them locked up forever, throwing in an occasional beating when they complain (and beatings are common enough at Gitmo that they happen accidentally…) you will eventually get enough evidence?
Since 2001, 775 people (that we know about) have gone to Guantanamo Bay Detention Center. Only three have been convicted of any charges. 270 remain – of whom, the U.S. only intends to charge 60. The remaining 210 have been held, in some cases for seven years, without charge, and in many cases, with the knowledge that there can never be a charge. To his credit, McCain recognizes this as improper. Unfortunately, he does not regard it as a fundamental crime against the “certain inalienable rights” his nation is founded on.
1. Forbade White House staff from serving as lobbyists during his presidency
2. Enacted a pay freeze for senior White House staff
3. Revoked Bush’s Executive Order 13233, which allowed presidential files to be kept sealed indefinitely
4. Loosened up limitations on the Freedom of Information Act put in place during the Bush years
5. Announced his intention to close the extra-legal, extra-territorial prison at Guantanamo Bay
6. Specifically limited interrogation methods to those permitted in the Army Field Manual, and upheld the internationally recognized definition of “torture.”
Some things occur to me. First, the fact that numbers 5 and 6 had to be undertaken at all is sign of how just far U.S. Federal government had strayed from their own stated ideals. Being against torture is not exactly a bold moral stance, but, apparently it had to be taken.
Secondly, at this point Obama can now spend the next three years playing World of Warcraft, and the nation will be substantially better off than it was. It would not even be an unparalleled presidential vacation. Bush spent just under three years of his presidency at Camp David or his ranch.
Finally, this quote from an interview with McCain sort of demonstrates why he would not have been an improvement. In an interview, he gave his reasons for partly disapproving of President Obama’s decision to close Guantanamo.
“We should have addressed the issue of those who we know would pose a threat to the United States, but we don't have sufficient evidence to move forward,” he said.
So, the government knows they are a threat, but has no evidence to put them on trial? I understand this sentiment, really I do, but also recognize it as being contrary to the principles of a lawful society. You do not lock people up simply because you’re suspicious of them, even if you have darn good reason. If Lord Sankey were alive, McCain would have been beaten to death with a horsehair wig, while being lectured about “The Golden Thread of British (and American!) Justice.”
Perhaps, if you keep them locked up forever, throwing in an occasional beating when they complain (and beatings are common enough at Gitmo that they happen accidentally…) you will eventually get enough evidence?
Since 2001, 775 people (that we know about) have gone to Guantanamo Bay Detention Center. Only three have been convicted of any charges. 270 remain – of whom, the U.S. only intends to charge 60. The remaining 210 have been held, in some cases for seven years, without charge, and in many cases, with the knowledge that there can never be a charge. To his credit, McCain recognizes this as improper. Unfortunately, he does not regard it as a fundamental crime against the “certain inalienable rights” his nation is founded on.
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Seeing as I didn't go into detail...
Of course the Nez Perce took their opportunity to run for Canada but where hunted down by US Soldiers. That doesn't really seem like much of a choice.
There is also Wounded Knee and many other examples.
As far as Japanese internment, most of those interned were not able to afford to move, even if they were given the option to do so.
I could go on but I won't.
Re: Seeing as I didn't go into detail...
Inspiration...
Re: Seeing as I didn't go into detail...
Do you not see a difference in degree between being give a short time to prepare to decide between being sent off with your family and some possessions to an internment camp with bare necessities provided and becoming a nearly-broke traveler hoping to make it in another state including refuge states like Colorado offering to host you for the duration, and being snatched off the street, disappeared from a plane, or sold out of your village to become a regularly brutalized unperson?
Re: Seeing as I didn't go into detail...
Please stop being pedantic about the exact nature of the injustice.
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1) some kind of comprehensive policy on not torturing people
2) something significant on environmental policy (signing kyoto, or whatever)
3) some kind of plan for withdrawal from iraq.
Got one so far!
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I heard he was already meeting with generals on the Iraq thing, but you need to be patient with that. Military plans aren't something you can put together safely untill after you become president, so he probably didn't have a solid plan going in. It'll be great if he actually listens to the generals, instead of ignoring them like Mr. Bush.
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I.. I would argue ANY time in office is well spent playing WoW!
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I do wonder how long it will be before a head of state is discovered to have a WoW addiction...
And if you PK'd his character do you get a visit from the secret service???
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As for McCain, he went on record against the Bill of Rights years ago when he co-sponsored a "reform" (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/McCain-Feingold_Act) limiting political advertising.
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They are being held for reasons ranging from not having any country of citizenship to be released to, to "They weren't a terrorist when they came in, but they sure are now."
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"Since 7 October 2001, when the current war in Afghanistan began, 775 detainees have been brought to Guantánamo. Of these, approximately 420 have been released without charge. As of May 2008, approximately 270 detainees remain.[10] More than a fifth are cleared for release but must nevertheless remain indefinitely because countries are reluctant to accept them."
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guantanamo_Bay_detention_camp
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I laughed out loud at this. It's quite true.
I can't even express how excited I am about President Obama. Nice to see others are happy about the good over the lines.
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It's worth a recession if the U.S. returns to it's ideals.
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http://www.biologicaldiversity.org/news/press_releases/2009/wolves-01-21-2009.html
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