Naomi Wolf: Do The Secret Bush Memos Amount To TREASON? Yes. (Please Kick and Recommend)

[Hissyspit]

http://www.alternet.org/rights/133273/do_the_secret_bush_memos_amount_to_treason_top_constitutional_scholar_says_yes

Do the Secret Bush Memos Amount to Treason? Top Constitutional Scholar Says Yes

By Naomi Wolf, AlterNet. Posted March 25, 2009.

Legal expert Michael Ratner calls the legal arguments made in the infamous Yoo memos, "Fuhrer's law."

In early March, more shocking details emerged about George W. Bush legal counsel John Yoo's memos outlining the destruction of the republic.

The memos lay the legal groundwork for the president to send the military to wage war against U.S. citizens; take them from their homes to Navy brigs without trial and keep them forever; close down the First Amendment; and invade whatever country he chooses without regard to any treaty or objection by Congress.

- snip -

I thought this was -- and is -- certainly one of the biggest stories of our lifetime, making the petty burglary of Watergate -- which scandalized the nation -- seem like playground antics. It is newsworthy too with the groundswell of support for prosecutions of Bush/Cheney crimes and recent actions such as Canadian attorneys mobilizing to arrest Bush if he visits their country.

The memos are a confession. The memos could not be clearer: This was the legal groundwork of an attempted coup. I expected massive front page headlines from the revelation that these memos exited. Almost nothing. I was shocked.

As a non-lawyer, was I completely off base in my reading of what this meant, I wondered? Was I hallucinating?

Astonished, I sought a reality check -- and a formal legal read -- from one of the nation's top constitutional scholars (and most steadfast patriots), Michael Ratner of the Center for Constitutional Rights, which has been at the forefront of defending the detainees and our own liberties.

Here is our conversation:

Naomi Wolf: Michael, can you explain to a layperson what the Yoo memos actually mean?'

Michael Ratner: What they mean is that your book looks moderate in respect to those issues now. This -- what is in the memos -- is law by fiat.

I call it "Fuhrer's law." What those memos lay out means the end of the system of checks and balances in this country. It means the end of the system in which the courts, legislature and executive each had a function and they could check each other.

- snip -

Who has suspended the law this way in the past? It is like a Caesar's law in Rome; a Mussolini's law in Italy; a Fuhrer's law in Germany; a Stalin's law in the Soviet Union. It is right down the line. It is enforcing the will of the dictator through the military.

NW: The mainstream media have virtually ignored these revelations, though it seems to me this is the biggest news since Pearl Harbor.

MR: I think that's right. We had a glimmering of the blueprint for some of this -- when they picked up Jose Padilla, the military went to a prison and snatched an American citizen as if they had a perfect right to do so.

Now we can see that these memos laid the legal groundwork for such actions. We knew the military could do this to an individual. We did not know the plan was to eliminate First Amendment constitutional rights for the entire population.

NW: If Bush only wanted these powers in order to prosecute a war on terror, why does he need to suspend the First Amendment? Isn't that the smoking gun of a larger intention toward the general population?

MR: Part of this plan was actually implemented: for instance, they tried to keep people like Padilla from getting to a magistrate. They engaged in the wiretapping, because according to these memos there was no Fourth Amendment.

They had to be planning some kind of a takeover of the United States to be saying they could simply abolish the First Amendment if the president believed it was necessary in the name of national security. It lays the groundwork for what could have been a massive military takeover of the United States.

Here they crept right up and actually implemented part of the plan, with Padilla, with the warrantless wiretapping. Yet they are saying in the White House and in Congress that it is looking backward to investigate the authors of these memos and those who instructed Yoo and others to write them.

But investigation and prosecutions are really looking forward -- to say we need the deterrence of prosecution so this does not happen again.

MORE

[timtom]

1. K & R

The lack of professional coverage of this infamy means total complicity of the corporate media machine.

[slay]

2. I think people are forgetting the K part of K&R

ahem.. :rofl: K&R woo-hoo! :woohoo:

[peacebird]

3. k&r - but will the justice department take action?

[wildbilln864]

57. nope! nt

[Hissyspit]

4. .

[pleah]

5. K&R

[Spurt]

6. k&r

[SpiralHawk]

7. "Move along. There's nothing to see here." - Corporate media borg

"We don't do news about our buddies, the Republicon Homelanders. We only do hard-hitting stories about Americans. Smirk."

- Corporate media borg

[Earth Bound Misfit]

86. ****sigh****

Sad that what you wrote is not the least bit removed from the truth. :shrug:

ETA: Oh yeah, :kick: & Rec

[gratuitous]

8. Compare and contrast, class

The breath-taking overreach of executive power outlined here, and John Boehner's feigned outrage yesterday about Geithner getting involved in winding down the failed non-bank financial institutions:

http://www.reuters.com/article/rbssFinancialServicesAndRealEstateNews/idUSWAT01119520090324

"This is an unprecedented grab of power, and before that occurs, there ought to be a real debate about whether we should give that authority to the Treasury Secretary," Boehner, an Ohio Republican, told reporters.

Yeah right, John. The financial sector has shown itself purely incapable of ordering its own affairs, to the cost of the taxpayers and millions around the world. But we haven't heard a peep out of you about the Bush administration's search for a legal foundation to institute Stalin-era detainments, torture and courts in the U.S.

Just disappear, you flaming hypocritical asshole of motherfuckery.

[yellerpup]

9. He's confessed.

That should save us some money. K&R! :kick:

[Jackpine Radical]

10. There is something I really don't get here. Something makes no sense at all.

So the Bush people were laying the groundwork for a dictatorship. The implication, to my simple mind anyway, would be that they were building it for themselves, structuring a system that would allow them and their successors to stay in power forever. But then they left office after the election. So why did they create all this stuff if they weren't planning to use it? Or were they planning to use it, but something caused them to abandon the fort, so to speak?

[seemslikeadream]

11. something or someone?

that is the question


Has it really been stopped?

[sattahipdeep]

67. chirp chirp chirp Condoleezza Rice chirp chirp chirp

Watch the right hand---- pay no attention to what the left hand is doing ;)


....
"I'll give my advice privately and keep it to myself." chirp

....
"We owe them our loyalty and our silence while they do it." chirp

http://content.usatoday.com/communities/theoval/post/2009/03/64595745/1

"My view is we got to do it our way we did our best. We did some things well, some things not so well. Now, they get their chance." chirp

....
Cheney replied "I wouldn't use that, just because it triggers reactions that we don't need."

He added "But I would ask people — and the press, too — to take an honest look"

Has it really been stopped?

seemslikeadream :hug:

[Torn_Scorned_Ignored]

28. I have a theory

They planned along to round us up. What never enabled this to occur was people en mass never took to the streets. We didn't have the 60's over again about this war.

My 2 cents. (sense)


FEMA Concentration Camps:
Locations and Executive Orders

http://www.mindfully.org/Reform/2004/FEMA-Concentration-Camps3sep04.htm

[Jackpine Radical]

31. Funny--that's exactly the theory I had about Nixon.

The day after the Saturday Night Massacre I expected him to announce a massive invasion of Cambodia or something and wait for everyone to take to the streets, then declare martial law.

[Torn_Scorned_Ignored]

40. Great minds think alike

:hi:

[Duer 157099]

32. That could be part of the illusion

Handing this economic disaster over to the Democrats might have been part of their plan, and they may think they'll recover the presidency in 4 years.

Unless Obama takes any measures to overturn what Bush has done and to prove that it was illegal, there's absolutely NOTHING to prevent it from being done again in the future. In fact, it assures that it will be done again.

If the crimes of the Bush/Cheney years are not prosecuted vigorously by this administration, then I think we have your answer.

[pmorlan1]

39. I Agree it makes little sense

I share your thoughts. I'm thinking that something happened that made them pull back. What that something was I don't know but it was so obvious where all of this was leading so why did they pull back? I keep looking at the Minot AFB & Barksdale AFB incident with the missing nukes. I don't believe the "official story" about that incident and wonder whether forces inside the government put a halt to the plan. But if that was the case why would they let these conspirators go free? I think things are even uglier than we can even imagine. I also wonder whether this was a trial run and they plan on fully implementing this plan the next time they come to power.

[Usrename]

55. Good call.

:fistbump:

[Usrename]

54. Sy Hersh and the Joint Chiefs.

Go back and look at his article on the planning for tactical nuclear strikes against Iran.

http://www.newyorker.com/archive/2006/04/17/060417fa_fact?currentPage=1

Then there were the six nuclear missiles that were stolen from Minot AFB, North Dakota and transported to Barksdale AFB, Louisiana.

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/us_and_americas/article2396127.ece

Once these plots fell apart (Plan A - nuke Iran using the normal chain of command, Plan B - nuke Iran using resources outside the normal chain of command) they have gone to Plan C - lay low and avoid prosecutions for a few years, then take over the executive branch by force.

I don't think these guys just give up or go away quietly. They never lose, even when they lose. These guys are all recyclable. Our Secretary of Defense, Gates, was instrumental in setting up the security protocols for our nuclear arsenal back when he was Strategic Air Command. How else could these six nukes get loose?

The Plan A plot was foiled by military leaders with a conscience getting together with an unimpeachable reporter. Plan B was foiled by a fluke; a couple ground crew nobodies in Louisiana saw the weapons, recognized what they were, KNEW that security had been breached because there were NO protocols in place (such as multi-level security perimeters) around the weapons, and they notified the chain of command. Purely by coincidence, both of these nobodies were bomb loaders who had previously had special nuclear weapons training. Evidently, the base commander wasn't even aware of the presents of nukes on his base.

Nuking Iran would have been met with enough political resistance that a roundup of dissatisfied and embittered insurgents would have been politically possible using the military and the Haliburton detention centers. About 300,000 of them. One out of every thousand Americans.

Using supercomputers programmed to identify political social networks, this would be enough to stifle any real resistance for at least a generation. Without leaders, there is no ability to organize, and without organization, how do we know who to point our pitchforks at?

Even a well-armed society cannot defend itself without leadership, and that would be obliterated in a day or two. I live in a town of about 30,000. If the sheriffs picked up thirty people in my town no one would do anything. Especially if they had legal anti-terrorism warrants. The folks here certainly wouldn't rise up and make an armed assault on the local police station. Never happen. My guess is that these warrants have already been written and are just waiting to be served.

I don't see how we are out of the woods at all. At some point, all of the disadvantages of creating a martyr will be outweighed by the possibility of being brought to justice. They will not stop. They will not police themselves. They don't even understand why they should have to.

[demigoddess]

64. well, duh!!

K&R

[EVDebs]

83. Fletcher Prouty called this 'The Secret Team' n/t

[NBachers]

70. I think they've been working on it since post-Civil War

and the rise of corporations and Corporate Personhood. You could track it back to the JFK assasination, but the Dulles brothers, modern intelligence services and the Atomic-Corporate Military precede JFK back to post-WWII. You could trace it back to predator-class support for Hitler and betrayal of FDR, but those were an outgrowth of the corporate expansion of the '20's and WWI and the seeds planted in young J. Edgar Hoover in the late 'teens. You can trace it back to the Gilded Age, but the foundations of the Gilded Age were laid in the post-Civil War Industrial Revolution. And before that, the British Empire; before that, Rape & Conquest of the New World; before that . . .

They are methodical. They are patient. We will never roll back everything they accomplished during the Bush Legacy. They are still working on it. And their reptilian brains will gorge themselves with fast-forward fascism again when conditions are right. They are feasting upon us now, and laying the basis for more blood-life-nourishment. How many life-years have they digested in the last year alone? They are waiting - and a slight Obama speed bump doesn't bother them at all . . .

[pberq]

12. Kick and nominated - excellent piece!

[Overseas]

13. K&R !! /nt

[goforit]

14. Treason...YES!!! And MSM was compliant to the threats of Bush/Cheney/Rumsfeld.

[goforit]

15. I do believe this is why Colin Powell and his son are in Duck & Cover mode now.

And this could be every reason why Obama will not prosecute.
His 'friends and supporters' could have participated.

One weakness Obama has, is his friendships will take presidence over justice.

[libodem]

16. .

:kick:

[Laurab]

17. K&R nt

[wizstars]

18. HANG THE BASTARDS! K & R!

with pride!

[WillieW]

22. Yes, Yes, Yes, Yes!

[JDPriestly]

19. Thanks for posting this. I will pass it on.

[KaryninMiami]

20. Kicked, recommended and passing it on. NT

[Lugnut]

21. K&R n/t

[FailureToCommunicate]

23. K & R n/t

[Mnemosyne]

24. Of course.

I've been saying it since 2005, but now no one is laughing at me.

:hi:

[acmavm]

25. K&R

[benld74]

26. THEY only make it easier, don't they? K&R

[Gator_Matt]

27. What happened to public outrage?

I suppose we need the MSM to fan the flames. Instead we have to hear about Obama using a teleprompter.

[caseymoz]

29. If you look at the Presidential Oath of Office:

"I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will faithfully execute the Office of President of the United States, and will to the best of my Ability, preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States."

Bush is a traitor. He was negligent in his duty to the first clause (inattentive leading up to 9/11, excessive vacations, and so on) and he betrayed his oath to the second clause, secretly attacking the Constitution. As such, he's the worst President ever, and a traitor.

But he's going to be tried on torture charges, of that, I'm certain. That at least has a law direct, written law on the books that that very clearly applies to everybody, regardless of their governmental office. After that, I think he might face other charges.

[fascisthunter]

30. You Mean the Left was Right Again???????

oh my....

[indepat]

33. Treason is simply a.o.k. if the president committing the treason is a 'puke:

see, now what's so hard understanding such a simple concept? :P

[Wizard777]

34. Reagan got away with treason.

[indepat]

35. Proving the point: treason is a.o.k. if the president committing the treason is a

'puke. :P

[BuyingThyme]

36. This one.

[Kaleko]

37. K & R, of course.

[yy4me]

38. k&r

[tomm2thumbs]

41. K & R

[winyanstaz]

42. K & R

As I am new in posting I am not sure if I am doing this right..to kick and recommend..is just posting a K&R all I need to do?
This needs to get out..and
Like it or not..we HAVE to look at why they didn't continue on..or if they are but in a secret way?

[Pastiche423]

61. Posting a reply will kick the thread to the top

To recommend the thread, click on "Recommend", which is on the bottom left side of the original post.

[winyanstaz]

92. thank you for the info :)

[Juan_de_la_Dem]

43. Rec

[elizfeelinggreat]

44. k & r !

[Starry Messenger]

45. k & r.

[AzDar]

46. K & R

:kick:

[Octafish]

47. Führer’s Law

The United States of America I love doesn't torture anybody. It certainly doesn't need advice from NAZIs or even a whiff of "the Buchenwald touch."

[valerief]

48. Kickety doo dah!

:kick:

[Supersedeas]

49. the Advertisers that control the New Media do not want to flesh this out

[me b zola]

50. K&R

[indepat]

51. Are those who support, aid and abet, and shill for those known or suspected to have

committed treason also guilty of treason: to wit, is it not each citizen's duty to come to the aid of their country in the face of known/suspected treason? :shrug:

[chknltl]

52. KnR eom

[Uncle Joe]

53. Kicked and recommended.

Thanks for the thread, Hissyspit.

[wildbilln864]

56. k&r #140! nt

:hi:

[Lilith Velkor]

58. .

[vssmith]

59. Personally I dont believe any of this for one minute.

There is lots of bullshit going on in our republic to get excited about but this....

[noiretextatique]

60. important story

:kick:

[Pastiche423]

62. K&R!

[rosesaylavee]

63. Thank you for posting.

Bookmarking.

[chill_wind]

65. K & R.

[Jim Sagle]

66. K&R

[lutefisk]

68. Treasonous bastards. What kind of nation allows this to go unpunished?

Ever since Reagan's Central American and Iranian dealings, I've felt this bunch has been slipping in and out of treasonous territory. But I've nearly given up hope any of them will ever be held accountable. This is more important than the economic mess, imho.
:patriot:

[lonestarnot]

69. And now ICE Detention facilities! Room for 400k people 10 months average stay.

[Vattel]

71. No they don't amount to treason.

"Treason against the United States, shall consist only in levying War against them, or in adhering to their Enemies, giving them Aid and Comfort."

[upi402]

80. War crimes is the direction to go

...if law & order is more than a TV show here.

[Vattel]

81. I do think that Bush's attacks on the US Constitution

and our fundamental liberties were obscene. I even hold the extreme view that those attacks rendered the federal government illegitimate when he was in office. But I agree with you that if the aim is punishment, then war crimes is the way to go.

[Tigress DEM]

72. k & r --- it's a stomach turner, but it's the truth.

[ismnotwasm]

73. K&R

[GrannyK]

74. K & R n/t

[sce56]

75. 179th Rec And a Kick to boot n/t

[silverojo]

76. K&R! - n/t

[amborin]

77. K & R

[WillyT]

78. Big K & R !!!

:kick:

[upi402]

79. Is Obama stalling so he can get laws passed?

:shrug:

[pacalo]

82. K&R.

[Imagevision]

84. The MSM is owned by the right wing, why expect news coverage, not opinion, fucking fact!

[Iwillnevergiveup]

85. K&R

Most definitely.

:patriot:

[20score]

87. K&R. Naomi Wolf. She's fantastic.

[G_j]

88. K&R

[ClayZ]

89. K AND R

[snake in the grass]

90. What are they waiting for?

It's really time for the coup de grace!

[Overseas]

91. Kicking again for a Special Prosecutor

Sometimes I think part of the intent behind the very wasteful Ken Starr Prosecutorship was to make the public sick of special prosecutors in general, so we would be loathe to call on one again. Even when one was desperately needed.

If our President turns things over to his AG and a Special Prosecutor, he can get on with the many other things he is doing to rebuild our battered country. He can do his moving forward on the many other fronts this administration needs to address.

But I agree with Michael Ratner that investigating and prosecuting the Bush-Cheney crimes really is looking forward-- by putting up a deterrent with teeth against future abuse from the Executive Branch.