New York TImes: Mr. Obama and the Rule of Law

[steven johnson]

Barack Obama 'lawyered' many of his positions in his campaign, giving the impression of a clean break with Bush policies but usually qualifying the approaches with loop holes. The New York Times editorial notes the lack of enthusiasm by the Obama Administration for a complete break with some Bush policies. "Change you can believe in" ... "but not too quickly" might be a more appropriate qualification.

....we never expected President Obama to immediately reverse every one of President George W. Bush’s misguided and dangerous policies on terrorism, prisoners, the rule of law and government secrecy...Last week, the administration notified a federal court hearing appeals by Guantánamo inmates that it was dropping Mr. Bush’s absurd claim that he could declare anyone an “enemy combatant” and deprive that prisoner of judicial process...Mr. Obama’s lawyers did not seem to rule out indefinite military detentions for terrorism suspects and their allies. ...the legal pretext for turning criminal defendants into lifelong military captives.... we were delighted to see Attorney General Eric Holder reverse the Bush policy on releasing documents under the Freedom of Information Act...our distress that the Justice Department had abandoned transparency just last month in a case before the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit. The case involves five men who were seized and transported to American facilities abroad or countries known for torturing prisoners. The Obama administration advanced the same expansive state-secrets argument pressed by Mr. Bush’s lawyers ...

Mr. Obama also should stop resisting an investigation of Mr. Bush’s policies on terrorism, state secrets, wiretapping, detention and interrogation. We know he is struggling with many Bush-created disasters — in the economy, in foreign policy and on and on. But understanding all that has gone wrong is the only way to ensure that abuses will truly end.

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/03/22/opinion/22sun1.html

[midnight]

1. President Obama just the rule of law-thanks.

[FreeJG]

2. Now that the NYT is taking care of the truth...

We don't have to fight here anymore...or be afraid to tell the truth.

We were loud when Bush was doing these things....so where is the outrage that Obama is doing it? This is no time to give a pass to any president.

[liberalmuse]

4. He's been President for what? 60 days?

I'll start paying attention to these lame criticisms when he's had time to even get to all the shit Bush has fucked up.

[Richard Steele]

5. Thanks for your CONCERN.

nm

[liberalmuse]

3. "PRESIDENT", Okay?

It's fucking, "PRESIDENT OBAMA". Why bother reading a column from some asshat who can't even address our President by his proper title?