"It's OK when our guy does it." "As long as the President has a 'D' after his name"

[ProSense]

"If Bush did this, everyone would be outraged."

Given that Bush did much worse, launched an illegal war, sanctioned torture (and bragged about it) and illegal eavesdropped on Americans, is the expectation implied in those statements that people become as angry at Obama as they were at Bush?

Bush broke the law. President Obama followed it.
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10022990450

[JI7]

1. exactly, the comparison is so stupid, Bush gave reason for people not to trust him

people can try to change the law if they want and disagree with Obama.

but this whole "you ddin't like it when Bush" thing can be so stupid.

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

3. Thanks. You explicated the point of my thread today.

[Purveyor]

2. I agree with your thread title but little else. eom

[DisgustipatedinCA]

4. I feel a purity test coming on

But I'm very angry with the President. I. Can you send me links to kitten pictures or similar? That would be soothing.

[AnotherMcIntosh]

6. A kitty? How about this one?

[DisgustipatedinCA]

7. Not the soothing image I was hoping for but thanks. n/t

[Hekate]

21. Nice kitty

[cherokeeprogressive]

5. I really don't care about past presidents and what they may have done. There is only the present.

President Obama had the opportunity to bring his predecessor to justice and for whatever reason, he and his Department of Justice thought the better of it. For me that's tacit approval, at least in a legal sense. Hell, as far as I'm concerned, he could have had his UN Ambassador go to the Secretary General and asked that the UN take up his illegal war, and his torture. Did he? The fact that he didn't tells me his predecessor is innocent of whatever illegalities we may accuse him of. He could have sent an envoy to The Hague. Did he? Nnnnnope.

President Obama is responsible for everything the Executive Branch has been doing since 12:00 p.m. on 1/20/2009. Plain and Simple. At noon on that day, Barack Obama took the reigns of the Executive Branch and drove the cart in exactly the direction he wanted it to go in.

[progressoid]

11. And future presidents.

What's the next one going to do with these powers?

[Hekate]

20. Probably why Obama recently told Congress to roll back his POTUS powers...

... and take us off permanent war status.

Now, as POTUS, Obama cannot do this by his lonesome. Although he can refrain from actions, he cannot bar future presidents from themselves taking actions still lawful under USA PATRIOT ACT powers.

That is the role of Congress in this government. Congress has to undo the USA PATRIOT ACT, and instead, Congress has re-authorized it over and over, and has expanded it.

Hekate

[ProSense]

12. Well,

"I really don't care about past presidents and what they may have done. There is only the present."

...you may not care, but people do make those statements.

[slipslidingaway]

8. Bush launched an illegal war, sanctioned torture etc. Does Obama know ...

because those are some pretty hefty charges to just sweep under the rug.

[Electric Monk]

19. Oh, SNAP!

[AnotherMcIntosh]

9. Does "sanctioned torture" including giving immunity to water-boarders and continuing force-feedings?

The U.N. seems to think that the forced feeding of prisoners like geese is torture.



Do you disagree?

[msongs]

10. nice try. many historic events were "legal" at the time. remember the 1930's? nt

[OnyxCollie]

13. Re: illegal war, sanctioned torture, and illegal eavesdropping

What did President Obama do about those things?

Found no propaganda program was used to sell the war.

Squashed investigations of torture both here and abroad to protect high level officials.

Broke a promise to filibuster retroactive immunity for telecoms; expanded domestic surveillance.

Given that Bush did much worse and Obama did nothing to prosecute Bush, why do you approve of him, other than he has a "D" after his name?

[Matariki]

14. Some of us here care about ISSUES

not personalities or team sports.

[Progressive dog]

15. I agree with your thread

It is extremely frustrating to see the nasty comments made against President Obama on what is supposed to be a Democratic website.
The NSA program has been in place for years, it was begun illegally under GWB. Revisions to the Patriot act made it legal under Obama.
The FISA act dates to 1978 and was sponsored by Ted Kennedy and signed into law by President Carter. It allowed pen registers (metadata).

[struggle4progress]

16. After the lawless reign of Bush II, I am happy to see a President following the law:

that at least restores us to circumstances in which I know how to address governmental behavior that I do not entirely approve -- namely, by setting out to change the law, an option which seemed rather less meaningful back back when the prior Executive had no respect for the law

[BillyRibs]

17. WTH are you talking About!

I'm angrier at this joker BECAUSE HE HAS A D AFTER HIS NAME!

[ProSense]

18. Yeah, I'm sure you are. n/t