President Obama To Clarify His Position Today...

[babylonsister]

Obama Seeks To Retake Terrorism Front
By Adriel Bettelheim, CQ Staff

snip//

By delivering an address in the shadow of the Constitution and Bill of Rights, Obama will seek to portray his January decision to shut Guantanamo by Jan. 22, 2010 as essential to restoring the United States’ reputation as a nation built on the rule of law.

“We know that court cases are coming every day that are rendering different judgments about what legal standards there are in this country, the values that we have to uphold, and we’re taking all of that into account in making decisions about how to close Guantanamo Bay,” White House spokesman Robert Gibbs said Wednesday.

The speech is largely intended to mollify the political left, which increasingly suspects Obama is trying to shield his predecessor’s counterterrorism policies from public scrutiny.

Antiwar activists were taken by surprise when Obama restarted the commissions, which critics say do not afford enough due process rights to detainees. And they were baffled when he decided to fight a court order to release the detainee photographs a little more than one month after saying he would turn them over.

Obama met with representatives of several human rights groups on Wednesday to preview the speech.

The address is further evidence of Obama’s tendency to address controversies head on in high-profile speeches — first seen in a speech on issues of race he delivered during his presidential campaign, in March 2008.

But aides say Obama also will use the address to urge Congress to be patient while the administration explores options for relocating Guantanamo detainees. Democrats and Republicans have resisted the prospect of moving detainees entering the United States from the prison at the U.S. Navy base, leading the Senate on Wednesday to strip $80 million for closing the detention center from a supplemental spending bill (HR 2346), in a 90-6 vote.

more...

http://www.cqpolitics.com/wmspage.cfm?docID=news-000003122240

[MannyGoldstein]

1. If Obama Governed As Well As He Spoke, Life Would Be Good

Unfortunately he surrounded himself with DLC, and the Republican-ness rubbed off on him.

[babylonsister]

2. Damn, life is good for you, isn't it.

You can still point your finger and blame it all on someone.

Life will never be good for the likes of you, Manny.

And narrowing it down to 'the Republican-ness rubbed off on him' doesn't do you justice. I'm sure there's a great wallowing rant in there somewhere.

Me, I'll let the guy try to work through all the problems he inherited before dissing him totally, but carry on, as you will.

[jefferson_dem]

3. DLC.

Oh please. Isn't it past time we put that old ooga booga canard to bed?

[TheWraith]

4. If DUers stuck to the facts, life would be good.

Unfortunately some DUers have a tendancy to simply make up their own reality, Bush style, so that they can believe whatever floats their boat.

[HopeOverFear]

6. I'm so glad I'm not seeing what you guys are seeing

Life on DU with the ignore feature is grrrrreat! lol

[Clio the Leo]

5. And whether you like what he says or not the simple fact is....

.... we NEVER got any explanation from the last guy.

Anyone who understands the need for accountability has my trust to do the right thing.