Cenk On HuffPo: Should Restoring The Rule of Law Should Be Obama's Top Priority?

[ihavenobias]

By Cenk Uygur

Is straightening out the state of the economy an urgent priority for Barack Obama when he steps into office? Of course!! The financial markets are in turmoil. . People have lost a tremendous amount of money from their savings and nearly everyone is concerned for their jobs.

Global warming has not been addressed at all in the past eight years. And if the experts are right, if we don't address this we might not have to worry about any of the other issues. Saving the earth from a climate catastrophe seems like a pretty high priority.

Iraq has been a mess for five years now and our troops continue to die every single day there for a war we should have never started. is spiraling out of control as the Taliban regains control in some areas of the country.

Then there is healthcare, the ballooning budget and countless other urgent priorities. But despite all this, my top priority for the Obama administration is the Constitution and rule of law.

. The fourth amendment says you need warrant before listening in on Americans' communications? So what, ignore it. We signed the Geneva Conventions that prohibit torture like waterboarding? So what, ignore it. There are no laws that restrict from doing anything they like to Iraqi civilians? So what, let them loose. There are no regulations that would prohibit financial companies from taking enormous risks that can crash the whole economy? So what, let them loose.

Every step of the way, the Bush administration created a lawless atmosphere where they put themselves and usually their corporate friends above the law. This, more than anything else, undermines what this country is all about. It also causes a lot of the other problems that we face today. There were no rules or regulations in the financial markets to check out of control risk taking, so people responded to the incentives that were in place and took a lot of risk. Then, just as you would expect, when that risk came crashing down on their heads, .

The beginning point for fixing all our problems is to restore the United States Constitution, legal system and rules and regulations. They were there for a reason. They are what made us American. Let's put these rules back in place before we do anything else and we'll be half way home. If he does just this, he will already be an infinitely better president than George W. Bush. Give us America back and we can handle the rest.

[OhioChick]

1. K&R

:kick:

[20score]

2. Right on! K&R

[proud progressive]

3. now explain to me why WE do not hold the dems accountable for prosecuting the wrongdoers

and another pet-peeve, why do we in this country NEVER address the CAUSE of a problem?
answer: pick one or more; we are apathetic, lazy, self-righteous, self-centered, spoiled, prejudice

[GreenArrow]

12. complicity

that's why Obama is not going to "restore" the rule of law. It'd be a real change if he'd work to simply establish it.

[CherylK]

4. K & R!

:patriot:

[Azlady]

5. Thanks!

[Danger Mouse]

6. No. The economy comes FIRST.

Unless we want to get slaughtered in 2010, Obama's top priority MUST be the economy and the budget.

[Uzybone]

7. Its a no brainer

The economy and jobs are the number one issue...always.

[Danger Mouse]

8. It's amazing how many DUer's seem anxious for Obama to screw himself over.

:banghead:

[ihavenobias]

11. The funny thing is

I don't really disagree that the economy is #1, but I really dislike the reason you give here, i.e. that his priority should be based purely (or at least primarily) on maintaining Dem power.

Politics is important no question, but how about he puts the COUNTRY first instead of politics? You could even argue that in doing so he'd prevent any "slaughter in 2010" *and* do some good. I'm cautiously optimistic so we'll see.

[Danger Mouse]

19. I'm not saying the reason he should focus on the economy is because of politics...

sorry if that's what it came across as. It's for the benefit of all Americans.

[AtomicKitten]

9. Restoring and reaffirming the Constitution and the rule of law must be the #1 priority.

K&R

[Window]

10. K/R.

:kick:

[Wetzelbill]

13. K&R

[Occam Bandage]

14. No. The economy is by far the top priority.

Then healthcare, then foreign policy. Political retribution is never a priority. As for "restoring the rule of law?" That's pretty easy to do. Obama shouldn't break any laws. There, we're done.

[ihavenobias]

15. Whoa

At first what you wrote was reasonable, until you equated restoring the rule of law with "political retribution".

That's exactly the kind of bogus framing that the right wing uses to dismiss any investigations/punishment of the Bush Administration. That was painful to read, I have to be honest.

[Occam Bandage]

16. No, I did not. I equated political retribution with political retribution.

"Restoring the rule of law" means nothing more than not breaking any more laws, and replacing the ineffectual Bush-era oversight posts with people who know how to do their job. Both will be done as a matter of course, and need not be called a "priority" any more than drinking water will be a "priority" for Obama staff members.

If you're using "restoring the rule of law" as code for "throwing our political enemies in prison," well, then that's political retribution. It might be deserved retribution, but it's retribution nonetheless, and the fact that opposition or support of such a plan breaks down entirely along whether you supported or opposed the Bush administration's policies makes it retribution of a political sort.

[ihavenobias]

17. Eh, you're doing it again

And it's not about "throwing political enemies in prison", it's about holding people who break the law accountable, regardless of if they have an R or D next to their name.

If a CEO steals millions from his company, should no legal action be taken as long as the new CEO does nothing more than not break any more laws and puts in more competent people? Of course not, that's insane!

If nothing else, doing nothing sets a horrible precedent, and that means something in and of itself.

[navarth]

18. "retribution" ?? WTF

How about just enforcing the law so it can't be broken over and over and over again? If it isn't enforced, it's meaningless. And that applies to ANYBODY, not just people we voted against.

[autorank]

20. Cenks Best k*r

We've become a lawless nation. It's reflected in all three branches of government. The Treasury Department rewrote tax code to give away $140 billion to banks. Every tax lawyer interviewed by the Post said, no no, it's not legal. Congress found out but didn't want to ask as not to upset the apple cart. And the Department of Justice didn't even comment. But if some kid steals $201 in my state it's called a felony. Screw this, it can't stand. Go Obama, show us how you survived that right wing U of Chicago as their best Constitutional Law professor!

[matthewf]

21. k&r

[kwenu]

22. Please don't set yourself up for major disappointment. Avenging Bush wrongs won't be a priority.

No president is going to spend his time and agenda focusing on the man who just left the office.

[BeFree]

23. No, It isn't personal

it isn't about one man, it is about equal justice. Blind justice. Many laws have been broken and there must be justice delivered.

Think of the kids... they see that one can get away with breaking laws and they grow up trying to do the same. It is why this country is in such dire straits: too many have gone scot-free and that sets an awful example.

If laws were broken, justice must be swift and harsh. We know laws were broken, eh?

[gravity]

25. You set the example by following the damn laws

Seeking punitive damages to ex presidents sets the example of political vengeance.

[ihavenobias]

26. Hypothetically speaking, let's say that Bush murdered 10 people with his bare hands.

Granted, many here will argue that he murdered hundreds of thousands with his policies but let's stick to the hypothetical.

Would trying to punish him "set the example of political vengeance"? Do you think the crimes of this administration are on the level of jaywalking, i.e. things that are *technically* the law but not really a big deal if they're broken?

[gravity]

30. Is Bush going to continue enacting his policies after Jan 20th?

If Bush personally murdered people, he should be taken off the streets because he has the means to do it again.

[BeFree]

27. So

You are in favor of letting him go scot-free?

Do you feel bush getting justice would be seeking vengeance?

[kwenu]

28. The Bush policies should definitely be changed. But as far as going after Bush...not happening.

At least not as a priority. Keeping jobs and working on healthcare is a greater priority to me than kicking an out-of-office Bush in the ass.

[autorank]

33. So a guy who responsible for killingUS soldiers and 1.2 mil. Iraqi civilians

gets to take a walk. No big deal. Brilliant.

[gravity]

29. I can forgive Bush

I don't subscribe to the conservative notion that we have to punish someone and set an example to actually prevent future problems. How did that work with Germany after WW1?

It is more important to unite this country so we can actually solve our problems of the future. Igniting old political battles would be a greater injustice on the American people and the world.

[BeFree]

31. I can see the headline,. now!

Liberals think GWB should not be tried for war crimes, major theft or lying to the American people.

Liberals are in favor of coddling the criminal bush.... letting him off scot-free.

Rubbish.

[autorank]

34. You investigate first, then have a trial, then punish if guilty

It's called the rule of law.

[autorank]

32. No man or woman is above the law

If you call enforcing the laws vengeance then think again.

If the president broke laws, which there's every reason to believe, then he should be investigated and tried.
If found guilty, he should be sentenced appropriate to the crime.

How could you argue with that. No one is above the law, no one.

[gravity]

24. It isn't even a priority

You don't have to have an agenda to restore the rule of law. You just do it.

[AngryAmish]

35. Crushing Rethuglikkkans should be priority no. 1

Since they are filled with hate they must be kicked out of all schools and workplaces.

[Fire1]

36. Restore Rules of Law and REGULATIONS should be in the

top 5.