Is Obama being too soft on the Bush administration?

[derby378]

Poll question: Is Obama being too soft on the Bush administration?

http://cnnwire.blogs.cnn.com/2009/05/21/obama-slams-bush-administration-for-taking-america-off-course

After September 11, "faced with an uncertain threat, our government made a series of hasty decisions," Obama said.

"I believe that many of these decisions were motivated by a sincere desire to protect the American people. But I also believe that all too often our government made decisions based on fear rather than foresight. That all too often trimmed facts and evidence to fit ideological predispositions."

Obama argued that instead "of strategically applying our power and our principles, too often we set those principles aside as luxuries that we could no longer afford. And during this season of fear, too many of us – Democrats and Republicans; politicians, journalists and citizens – fell silent."

"In other words," he said, "we went off course."

It sounds like he's laying further groundwork for not prosecuting anyone in the Bush administration for war crimes. But what do you think? Is Obama throwing softballs for the Bush junta?

[polichick]

1. For some inexplicable reason, he's treating them with multiple pairs of kid gloves...

I cling to the hope that there is a good reason that we'll one day know ~ rather than that dopey "bipartisan, looking forward" story.

[FrenchieCat]

2. The media and the congress are the people backing up

the Bush/Cheney Administration. Always have been, always will be.

Those who want to avoid that truth and that complication,
should go ahead and blame PRes. Obama for everything.

It's so much easier to go with the elementary "no real thinking required" Black vs. White.

And there I was thinking we were so much better and smarter than that! :eyes:

[derby378]

4. Two words: BULLY PULPIT

Clinton used the Oval Office as one. So did Bush 43. Now it's Obama's turn.

[Politicalboi]

8. But, But, But

Obama's a Black man. :scared:

[FrenchieCat]

9. What do you think he is fucking doing right Now?

If this shit was easy to clean up,
it would have been done long ago.

Easy to sit at your computer and type,
but that ain't really dealing with
the issues at hand.....only simply
proclaiming what should be done
if the world had become perfect the day
Obama took his oath of office.
BREAKING NEWS: It didn't!

If you don't see the Media and the congress
as well as many Americans as a large part of the reason
that simply opening one's mouth doesn't get one what one wants,
then you are living in another world!

Clinton used the bully pulpit to do what, exactly?
Win popular support when lying about an affair?
By signing all of the fucked up legislation put before him
by a Republican ran Congress?

Please tell us what in the fuck did Clinton do with his bully pulpit???????

Bush the smaller used the bully pulpit to scare everyone to death,
after allowing an attack on the United States.....
and the media and the congress played along,
and they are still.

SO plueazzzze.....do not speech me on what the Bully Pulpit has been used for,
and what Obama "could" do.

[Divine Discontent]

15. i think we can make our cases and points without constantly insinuating that others who don't

ascribe to our thinking are thinking like an elementary school child, and not smart enough to appreciate the protection of the B*sh regime.

[The_Casual_Observer]

3. Yes, and it's biting him on the ass. He did come out very strong today however.

[juajen]

5. Not just "yes", but "hell, yes". nt

[YOY]

6. If the shoe was on the other foot do you think the Repugs would return the favor?

From what I've seen they'll prosecute for semen stains on a goddamn dress...let alone something like this that TOTALLY FUCKING WARRANTS IT.

[derby378]

10. That's my point

It's time for Obama and the Dems on Capitol Hill to call the GOP's bluff and push ahead with a special prosecutor, a full investigation, and no immunity for anyone.

If Obama insists that CIA torturers should not be prosecuted, maybe they can still be "flipped" in exchange for their testimony against Bybee, Yoo, Rumsfeld, Cheney, Bush, etc.

We need to demonstrate to the world that we can clean up our own mess.

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

7. I often think he's doing so to protect the Democrats, who in all honest, have been complicit

in the Bush crimes. The Democrats are accomplices in Bush crimes. As Barney Frank admonished, not ALL of them, just the very powerful ones who seem to have attained a fair amount of influence. I think the Blue Dogs and some DLCers gave in to the Bushies. Many of us on the left were proven right and ignored.

[booley]

11. Yes I do think that but

Obama has 4 years to prove me wrong.

He'd better

[gkhouston]

12. It does him no good, none at all, to call them a bunch of evil unprincipled bastards.

We may be able to nail them, legally, on their actions, but calling them out on their motivations which may not be provable at this point in time will only stir up a hornet's nest of ill will to no good purpose. While appearing magnanimous in allowing that they were trying to protect America (something I personally doubt), he drives home the point that facts and evidence were ignored and principles were set aside. So, Mr. President, how many more principles will be set aside -- are you going to do anything about the torturers? Anything at all?

[bigwillq]

13. Yes.

Right now, yes. So is Congress.

[Bluenorthwest]

14. Very much so

And what is so amusing is that he seems to think he's going to get some form of political cover from them in return! It is just so daft.
If the shoe was on the other Party's foot, they would be without mercy and in full hyperbole. People would already be in jail.

[Divine Discontent]

16. I admire those who say no and come up with some weak argument as to why it's okay.

and if it were the other way, and O wanted to torture those who tortured others, and he made a case as to why, those obsessed with him would support that too!

Just gonna have to start clicking IGNORE on those who support every action he takes, because some of these decisions are what I'd expect B*sh to do - not the Democratic president.