DRONES: It isn't the PERSON - It is the POLICY.

[IdaBriggs]

I trust Obama's judgment, but he is *NOT* going to be President forever. Giving this type of power to THE OFFICE OF PRESIDENT without due process and all of the checks and balances that protect our rights is STUPID.

In case anyone thinks that a MORON or VINDICTIVE SCUMBAG could NOT get into a position to use and/or abuse this power, I politely refer them to

George W. Bush and Vice President Cheney.

These two (expletive deleted) started two wars, flipped the bird at "prisoner of war" conventions (torture!), AND OUTED A CIA AGENT which blew the cover off a company that was used by our intelligence forces for THIRTY YEARS (and how many good people did we lose because of that bit of scumduggery?).

Does anyone seriously believe that Ambassador Wilson and his family wouldn't have been targeted by these bastards if they thought they could get away with it when they didn't toe the then administration's line on starting an unnecessary war? (Accidentally, of course! Must have been victims of terrorist!)



*NEVER* be fool enough to believe that a power that can be abused *WON'T BE* just because a "good guy" is currently in charge.

This is an ILLEGAL AND IMMORAL POLICY - and the fact there is "arguable precedent" thanks to Junior's tenure demonstrates further why Junior was a Disaster for Common Decency and this Country.

Seriously, a whole bunch of folks (Junior, Cheney & Crew) need to be paraded in chains in front of the Hague so "powerful people" understand that the laws of the United States apply to *ALL* of our citizens - including our officials.

[phantom power]

1. we're supposed to be a nation of laws, not men

[JaneyVee]

2. I agree. Unfortunately now that congress will take up the legalities of it it will no doubt be

deemed legal and the drone program will be here to stay. Hopefully we end war and the President dissolves this resolution by executive order, if even possible.

[Jeevus]

4. I agree.

And I cannot support any President who supports policies lacking due process.

Obama, this is quite dictatorial for an alleged liberal.

[ReRe]

5. Note:

K&R

John Brennan = Dick Cheney

Confirmation Hearing begins at 2PM Est today.

[damnedifIknow]

6. A free society takes chances.

I'm beyond tired of being "kept safe."

[Robb]

7. I share your concern, but I still question the relevancy of precedent in the Executive.

History shows when scumbags get into power, the real atrocities they manage have little to do with what the previous administration did or did not.

It's not like Reagan pointed to Carter about anything and said "Look, he did this, too." Reagan devised his own terrors from whole cloth. Dubya never pointed to Clinton.

They don't just change the drapes when they get into the Oval Office these days. An opposition to this policy under a Democratic presidency will mean precisely nothing to any future Republican president.

[cutroot]

8. Please use caution my friends

The trolls are desperately using this as a wedge issue. Yes it is OK to disagree with the president in a democracy. There is a fine line between criticism and attack. If you think that the CIA has not been capable of this type of operation, even without drones, for a very long time. Then you simply have not been paying attention. The only reason we are hearing about this now is because there is already more transparency in this administration. This type of revelation would have been unheard of during any previous presidency. Now that the door is open, the right will use this to try and divide the Democrats.

[DogPawsBiscuitsNGrav]

9. Everytime "we the people" keep quiet about these things so that it doesn't "divide us" we get more &

more taken away. Look how well keeping quiet worked out for all of us when the Repubs kept quiet about the Patriot act. Keeping quiet worked well for us Dems with the NDNA also didn't it? The Repubs are shoving our faces in it and for good reason.

When are we going to step up to the plate and do what's morally & constitutionally right for a change. This shouldn't divide us, it should make us stronger. Only YOU can allow division. WE can make the world a better place.

[cutroot]

10. I did not say be quiet

I am only trying to draw attention to the fact that this is already being used as a wedge issue. The right is throwing the kitchen sink at the president right now. (Fortunately their attention span is short-lived.) He still represents many things that we have been fighting for for a long time.
This particular issue is now out in the open. It will be dealt with by a wiser and more intelligent administration than the previous one. Let's give them the time and support that they need to make the proper decisions.

[farminator3000]

11. but don't forget about the person behind the drones, either...

Dreams in Infrared: The Woes of an American Drone Operator By Nicola Abé - Der Spiegel

http://www.spiegel.de/international/world/pain-continues-after-war-for-american-drone-pilot-a-872726.html

that ^^^ is kind of intense

http://www.propublica.org/article/everything-we-know-so-far-about-drone-strikes


edit: thread
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10022327103

[felix_numinous]

12. And of course is it illegal to have a peace movement!

Peace activists, people protesting nuclear or oil have been called terrorists.

A national peace movement (not just a march but a movement)---and petition to have a Department of Peace--is what the world needs right now. A peace movement to join all people together in peace. But of course Dennis Kucinich was RIDICULED for such a far fetched idea by all the sheeple on both sides of the aisle.

How many countries have been RUINED by these MIC corporate war profiteers? We are only the latest in a long line of countries that have been laid bare by these people--for oil and resources. Because they have not met ENOUGH resistance.

How can we stop the war machine? We the People have to say NO.

[indepat]

13. We can be thankful that should a bad egg ever be president, while such bad egg might kill citizens

on a whim, with impunity, or when perceived to be a political enemy, care will doubtlessly be taken to keep the collateral damage at a reasonable level.