Friday, May 22, 2009

Obama's failure to lead

Jennifer Loven at WaPo gets the lede right:
President Barack Obama fought Thursday to retake command of the emotional debate over closing Guantanamo, denouncing "fear-mongering" by political opponents and insisting that maximum-security prisons in the U.S. can safely house dangerous terror suspects transferred from Cuba.
Back in April I speculated that Obama was about to lose control of the torture debate to Cheney, blogging:
I'll say this for Cheney: unlike the current occupant of the White House, the former VP has spoken with a sense of conviction on the topic of torture.
Obama's speech today comes as more pretty words backed by scant recent evidence of decisive action. And it's rather late in the game. To paraphrase (and modify) that old Bush cliche: You're either with the Constitution, or your against it. I believe there is no "middle ground" in the torture debate on which a leader can stand. That's the main reason Obama has lost control of the debate.

1 comment:

  1. AnonymousMay 25, 2009

    Gwitmo is justified by the absurd claim of protecting the US from terrorists. This all stemmed of course from 9-11, an atrocity that many believe was instigated by the establishment to foment such fear and to introduce fascist legislation.

    Regardless, it is the thin end of the wedge, the US gov. seems to be gradually subverting the Constitution, it's people seem unaware or disinterested by the corruption of the very thing that protects their freedom. Will it one day be viewed as a quaint relic?

    Seeing all those people crying with joy at Obama's election and their final subjugation, all the broken promises, yet they still keep the faith...amazing. Ron Paul seems to be the only decent guy out there but is sadly unelectable. If he was he would be shot like Lincoln and Kennedy.

    The banks, the very evil the founding fathers warned against now run the country for their own aggrandizement. This is through the illegal Fed with its Wall St partners and bought politicians. I am not American so it really isn't my problem, but if I were I would be very, very angry.
    Gravelrash

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